0fe!i^ —  ^ 


OF   THE 

Theological    Seminary, 

PRINCETON,    N.  J. 

Case,  ^      ""^i^^^rrr^w^t*- Division 

Shelf, /  O  /..G? Section 

Boo7c,  V'  7^  No, Iv. ...;..,. 


^t-^^^^^-'^ 


<^^  2if^ ^^  ^7Cc^^*f;;)U^^^'^ 


i^ 


^- 


K    **    >'      AN 


Paul  &■  Thomas,  Print. 


BOLOMOH. 


A 

DICTIONARY 

OK  Tni: 

HOLY  BIBLE: 

CONTAINING 

AN  HISTORICAL  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  PERSONS, 
A  GEOGRAPHICAL  ACCOUNT  OP  THE  PLACES; 

.i  LITERAL,  CRITICAL,  .9J\'I)  SYSTEMATICAL  DESCRIPTIOjV  01 
OTHER  OBJECTS; 

WHETHER  NATURAL,  ARTIFICIAL,  CIVIL,  RE 

LIGIOUS,  OR  MILITARY; 

AND,   AN  EXPLICATION  OF   THE   APPELLATIVE   TERMS 

MENTIONED    IN    THK 

OLD  AND  NEW  TESTAMENT: 

THE    WHOLE    COMPRISING 

WHATEVER   IS  OP  IMPORTANCE  TO   BE  KNOWN   CONCERNING   THE  ANTZ- 

QUITIES  OF  THE  HEBREWS;  FORMING  A  BODY  OF  SCRIPTURE 

HISTORY,   CHRONOLOGY,  AND   DIVINITY; 

AND,  SERTINO  IN  A  OREAT  MEASURE,  AS  A 

COJ^COBBAJ^rCE  TO  THE  BIBLE. 

— — VSiWiifc— — 

EXTRACTED  CHIEFLY  FROM  CALMET,  AND    OTHERS. 

Collated  with  other  Works  of  the  kind,  with  numerous  Additions  frmn  various 
Authors^  and  a  considerable  quantity  of  Original  Matter, 

BY  JxlMES  WOOD. 

IN  TWO  VOLUMES. 
VOL.  II. 


NEW-YORK: 

TUBLXSHED    BY    GRIFFIN   AND   RUDD,    189    GREENWXCH-3TRtET. 

>Ari,   AND   THOMAS,   PRINTEP.J. 
>-♦-♦• 

1813. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2011  with  funding  from 

Princeton  Theological  Seminary  Library 


http://www.archive.org/details/dictionaryofho01wood 


A 


DICTIONARY 


OP 


THE  HOILY  EIBLE< 


JAB 

I\Vhen  it  relates  to  God,  is  ex- 
^  presaive  of  his  dignity,  Psa. 
ixxki.  10.  his  power,  Geu.  xvii.  1. 
his  self-existence  and  unchangeable- 
ness,  Exod.  iii.  14.  or  the  certainty 
of  his  promises  and  threatenings, 
ExocL  vl.  2.  Numb.  xiv.  35.  Re- 
ferring to  men,  it  expresses  their 
pride,  Isa.  xlvii.  8,  the  certainty  ol' 
what  they  say,  Gal,  v.  2.  Phil.  iii.  19. 
and  their  readiness  to  perform  their 
duty,  Mic.  iii.  8.  IMatt.  xxi.  30. 

JABAL.     See  Lamegh. 

JABBOK  evacuation,  or  dissipa- 
tion, a  brook  on  the  east  of  Jordan, 
rising  in  the  mountains  of  Gilead, 
and  falling  into  Jordan,  a  little  south 
of  the  sea  of  Tiberias.  It  separated 
the  kingdom  of  Sihon  from  that  ol 
Og,  king  of  Bashan ;  and  near  to  it 
Jacob  wrestled  with  the  angel  of  the 
covenant,  and  prevailed,  Deut.  ii.  37. 
Gen.  xxxii.  22. 

JABESH,  drought,  confusion, 
shame,  or  Jabesii-Gilead,  a  city 
of  the  eastern  Manassites,  at  the  fool 
of  mount  Gilead,  about  six  miles  from 
Pella,  where  the  Christian  Jews  found 
refuge  amidst  the  ruins  of  Judea  by 
the  Romans.  It  was  at  no  great  dis- 
tance from  Gadara.  The  inhabitant? 
of  this  city,  neglecting  to  join  their 
brethfcn  against  the  Benjamites  in  the 


JAB 

affair  of  Gibeah,  were  all  put  to  the 
sword,  except  400  virgins,  who  were 
bestowed  on  the  surviving  Benja- 
inites,  Jiidg.  xxi.  About  310  years 
after,  this  city  sustained  a  furious  siege 
from  Nahash,  king  of  the  Ammonites, 
and  the  inhabitants  could  obtain  no 
terms,  but  of  having  their  right  eyes 
nulled  out,  as  a  reproach  to  Israel. 
Unwilling  to  submit  directly,  they 
obtained  a  truce  of  seven  days;  be- 
fore tlie  end  of  Avhich  Saul  at  their 
request,  gathered  an  army,  routed 
the  Ammonites,  and  raised  the  siege. 
In  the  grateful  remembrance  of 
which,  the  valiant  men  of  Jabesh, 
about  forty  years  after,  at  the  hazard 
of  their  lives,  took  the  bodies  of  Saul 
and  his  sons  from  the  wall  of  Beth- 
shan,  where  the  Philistines  had  hung 
them,  and  gave  them  a  decent  in- 
terment, 1  Sam.  xi.  and  xxxi.  1 
Chron.  x.  11,  12. 

JABEZ,  sorrow,  sadness,  grief, 
appears  to  have  been  a  descendant  of 
Judah  by  Ashur.  His  mother  bare 
him  with  much joafn  and  sorrow,  which 
was  the  cause  of  his  name.  His 
noted  religion,  authority,  and  seed, 
rendered  him  more  honourable  than 
his  brethren.  AVith  distinguished  fer- 
vour, he  begged  that  God  would 
truly  and  signally  bless  Iiim  j  would 


JAB 


(     4     ) 


J  A  C 


enlarge  his  faniilj'^  and  inheritance ; 
would  assist  and  direct  him  in  every 
undertaking  f  and  preserve  bim  i'rom 
every  tiling  sinful  and  dangerous. 
God  graciously  granted  his  request, 
1   Chron.  iv.  5 — 10. 

JABIN,  understandings  or  huild- 
ing,  (1.)  A  king  of  Hazor,  in  the 
north  parts  of  Canaan,  and  the  most 
powerful  of  all  the  sovereigns  in  these 
quarters.  Struck  with  the  rapidity 
of  Joshua's  conquests,  he  engaged  all 
the  kings  on  the  north  of  Canaan, 
particularly  the  kings  of  Madon,  Jo- 
bab,  Shimron,  Achshaph,  &c.  to  assist 
him.  Their  whole  forces  rendezvous- 
ed at  the  waters  of  Merom,  to  attack 
the  Hebrews ;  but  the  Lord  deliver- 
ed them  into  Joshua's  hand,  who  gave 
them  an  entire  defeat,  pursued  their 
fugitives  as  far  as  Great  Zidon  to 
the  north-west,  and  to  Mizrephoth- 
rnaim  on  the  east.  He  then  marched 
back  to  Hazor  and  burnt  it,  and 
killed  Jabin  its  king.  Josh.  xi.  (2.) 
Jabin  king  of  Hazor,  and  perhaps 
the  great-grandchild  of  the  former, 
was  a  xery  powerful  monarch,  had 
900  chariots  armed  with  iron  scythes, 
and  an  army  under  Sisera,  his  gene- 
ral, of  997,000  men,  according  to 
Philo  Biblius.  After  he  had  twenty 
years,  from  a?x)ut  2G99  to  2719,  or 
from  2747  to  2767,  mightily  oppress- 
ed the  Hebrews,  his  army  was  routed 
by  Deborah  and  Barak,  and,  it  is  pro- 
bable, that  a  terrible  storm  of  rain 
made  the  river  Kishon  sweep  away 
multitudes  of  them.  Sisera  the  gene- 
ral fled  away  on  his  feet,  and  was  re- 
ceived by  Jael,  the  wife  of  Heber 
the  Kenite,  with  apparent  kindness. 
His  fatigue  occasioned  his  falling  into 
a  deep  sleep.  Jael,  instigated  against 
this  murderer  of  the  Hebrews,  killed 
him  by  driving  a  nail  through  his 
head,  and  afterwards  showed  him  to 
Barak,  Judg.  iv.  and.  r. 

JABiN^EH,  the  same  as  Jahin,  or 
JamntiAj  a  citj'-ofthe  Danites,  on  the 
sea-shore,  and  at  no  great  distance 
southward  of  Joppa.  It  seems  it  had 
been  in  the  hands  of  the  Philistint-3  for 
aoine  time  before  Uzziah  broke  down 
*.be  walls  of  it,  jis  also  those  of  Gath, 


2  Chron.  xxvi.  6.  There  was  a  fa= 
mous  university  of  the  Jews  in  this 
place  some  ages  after  Christ. 

JACINCT,  or  Jacinth,  a  pre- 
cious stone,  of  a  violet  and  purple 
colour,  not  unlike  the  amethyst.  It 
is  very  hard :  but  the  diamond  will 
make  an  impression  on  it.  It  was 
the  ilth  foundation  in  the  new  Je- 
rusalem, Rev.  xxi.  20.  That  which 
some  moderns  call  jacinth,  has  a  yel- 
low  colour,  somewhat  like  aflame. 

JACOB,  he  that  supplants,  or  un- 
dcrmines,  or  the  heel,  the  younger  son 
of  Isaac  and  Rebekah,  was  born  A.  M, 
21 G8  or  2173,  with  Esau.  In  the 
womb  they  had  some  struggling  with 
one  another,  and  the  Lord  informed 
their  mother,  that  she  was  with  twins, 
who  should  become  nations,  but  of 
a  very  different  temper,  state,  and 
condition  ;  but  the  ekler  should  serve 
the  younger.  In  their  birth,  the 
last  took  bold  of  the  other's  heel, 
and  for  that  reason  was  called  Jacob, 
the  heeler,  or  suj)planter.  When  he 
grew  np,  be  was  of  a  quiet  an?l 
peaceable  temper,  and  was  much 
at  home  with  his  mother;  while  his 
brother  was  of  a  restless  temper, 
and  passionately  fond  of  hunting. 
He  bought  the  birthright  of  his  bro- 
ther for  a  mess  of  pottage.  By  pre- 
senting some  savoury  meat,  which 
his  mother  had  prepared,  to  his  dim- 
sighted  father,  and,  pretending  he 
was  Esau,  he  obtained  his  principal 
blessing,  of  a  fat  larnl  well  watered, 
and  of  the  dominion  over  all  his  bre- 
thren. Enraged  at  this,  Esau  re- 
solved to  murder  him.  Rebekah  his 
mother,  who  had  wickedly  advised 
him,  being  informed  of  it,  desired 
Jacob  to  retire  to  Mesopotamia,  to 
her  brother  Laban's  family,  and  abid^; 
there  till  Esau's  fury  should  be  cool- 
ed. Afterwards  she  communicatetl 
the  matter  to  Isaac,  and  told  him 
what  an  insupportable  burden  it 
would  be  to  her,  if  Jacob  should 
marry  a  Canaanitish  woman.  Isaar^ 
sent  for  Jacob,  gave  him  his  blessing, 
and  charged  him  to  go  to  Pandan- 
aram,  and  there  marry  one  of  Labafc 
his  uncle's  daughters. 


J  A  C 


(     5     ) 


J  A  C 


Jacob  departed  privately  from 
Beersheba.  After  sun-set,  probably 
on  the  second  day  of  his  journey,  he 
lighted  on  a  place  called  Lrz,  on 
account  of  the  muKihide  of  almonds, 
or  hazcl-mitSy  that  e;re\v  thereabouts. 
Here  he  laid  himself  down  to  rest 
all  night,  imder  the  open  skj",  \si{h 
a  stone  under  his  head  for  a  pillow. 
Here,  in  his  dream,  he  saw  a  ladder, 
Avhose  foot  stood  on  the  earth,  and 
its  top  reached  unto  heaven;  the 
nngels  of  God  ascended  and  de- 
scended on  the  rounds  of  it.  Aliove 
the  top  of  it  stood  the  Lord  God, 
and  assured  him  he  was  the  God  of 
his  fathers,  Abraham  and  Isaac,  and 
would  give  him  and  his  seed  the 
lanti  of  Canaan  for  their  inheritance, 
make  them  numerous  as  the  sand 
b}'  the  sea-shore,  and  render  all  na- 
tions blessed  in  his  seed.  This  lad- 
der represented  the  providence  of 
God  adniiniatered  by  aiT^els,  and 
managed  by  God  as  a  God  iii  cove- 
nant ;  and  Jesus  Christ  as  the  won- 
der, and  Lord  of  angels,  and  our 
Mediator  between  God  and  wan, 
and  the  way  of  access  to  him  sprung 
from  Jacob  iu  his  humanity,  but  iu  his 
divine  nature  the  Lord  from  heaven, 
and  the  means  of  all  blessings  from 
God  to  sinful  men.  Awakened  from 
his  sleep,  Jacob  was  struck  with  a 
reverential  impression  of  the  divine 
greatness,  took  the  stone  which  he 
had  for  his  pillow,  erected  it  as  a 
monument,  poured  oil  on  the  top  of 
it,  and  called  the  name  of  the  place 
Bethel,  or  the  house  of  God;  and 
he  also  engaged,  that  since  God  had 
promised  to  protect,  and  provide 
for  him,  and  bring  him  back  to  Ca- 
naan, he  would  serve  him,  give  him 
the  tithes  of  all  he  acquired,  and, 
at  his  return,  make  Bethel  a  place 
of  solemn  worship.  Gen.  xxv.  xxvii. 
and  xxviii. 

Encouraged  by  tiii's  vision,  he  went 
forward  to  Haran,  where  Laban  his 
uncle  lived.  Near  to  the  place,  some 
shepherds  informed  him  where  La- 
ban  dwelt;  that  his  familj'  was  well, 
and  that  Rachel  his  daughter  was 
jnst  coming  to  water  her  flock.     A^ 


hor  coming  uj),  he  affectionately  m- 
luted  her,  helped  her  to  water  lier 
Hock,  and  told  lier  that  he  was  the  son 
of  Rebekah  her  aunt.  She  hastily 
informed  her  father,  who  came  and 
conducted  Jacob  to  bis  house.  When 
Jacob  had  continued  here  about  ii 
month,  Laban  proposed  to  give  him 
wages.  Jacob  otTered  seven  yea.s'' 
service  for  Rachel  his  younger,  but 
most  beautiful,  daughter;  and  with 
great  cheerfidness  he  fulfdled  his  en- 
gagement, from  the  great  love  wMiich 
he  bare  to  her.  When  the  marriage- 
night  came,  as  a  providential  pu- 
nishment to  Jacob  for  deceiving  his 
dim-eyed  father,  Laban  conducted 
Leah,  his  elder  daughter,  whose 
Ijeauty  was  far  inferior,  to  Jacob's 
bed,  instead  of  Rachel.  Next  morn- 
ing tlie  cheat  was  discovered ;  and 
Jacob  ^varmly  upbraided  his  uncle 
with  it.  He  pretended  that  it  was 
contrary  to  the  custom  of  their  coun- 
try to  marry  the  younger  daughtev 
first;  but  showing  himself  a  covet- 
ous mortal,  he  told  him  he  miglit 
have  Racliel  too  for  seven  years' 
more  service.  This  Jacob  agreed 
to.  Of  his  two  wives,  Jacob  much 
preferred  Rachel ;  but  God  favour- 
ed Leah  with  children,  viz.  Reuben, 
Simeon,  Levi,  and  Judah;  and,  it 
seems,  she  had  a  thankful  heart.  But 
Rachel  was  barren.  Vexed  at  this, 
she  begged  that  Jacob  would  make 
her  conceive,  or  else  she  should  die 
of  grief,  or  by  some  violent  means. 
With  iixligaation  at  her  rashness,  he 
told  her  he  was  not  a  God,  to  bestow 
or  withhold  the  fruit  of  the  w  ond)  at 
his  pleasure.  She  next  ordered  Bil- 
hah  her  maid,  whom  her  father  had 
given  her,  to  take  her  place  in  her 
husband's  bed,  that  by  her  slie  might 
have  children  to  pass  for  her  own. 
By  this  woman  Jacob  had  two  son«, 
the  one  Rachel  called  Dan,  as  if  she 
hoped  God  would  judge  her,  and 
avenge  her  want  of  children  on  her 
sister;  tiie  other  she  called  Naph 
tali,  as  if  with  great  nrestling  blic 
had  prevailed  against  lier  si.-ter.  In 
imitation  hereof,  Leah  put  her  maiti 
Zilpah  to  Jacob'?  bed.  ai«.d  she  bare 


J  A  C 


G 


J  A  C 


him  iv,'0  sons,  Gad  and  Asiier,  by 
whose  names  Leah  intended  to  hint 
her  expectation  that  a  troop  of  cliii- 
dren  was  coining,  and  that  the  daiigii- 
ters  would  call  her  blessed. — Soon  al- 
ter, Leah,  Avith  her  son  Reoben's 
mandrakes,  hired  her  husband  lor 
Racliers  night  to  sleep  in  her  bed, 
and,  in  consequence  hereof,  bare 
Issachar;  and  after  that,  she  bare 
Zebulun,  and  a  daughter  called 
Dinah :  nor  was  it  long  ere  the 
Lord  pitied  Rachel,  and  gave  her 
a  son,  whom  she  called  Joseph,  in 
hopes  that  she  should  have  another 
sou  added  to  him. 

Jacob's  (ourteen  years'  service  for 
his  two  wives  being  finished,  he 
begged  that  Laban  his  father-in-law 
would  permit  him  to  return  to  his 
country,  and  his  familj"^  alyng  with 
him,  that  he  might  provide  for  him- 
self. Sensible  of  the  advantage  of 
his  service,  Laban  offered  him  what 
"wages  he  pleased  if  he  would  stay. 
To  show  his  dependeirce  on  the  pro- 
vidence of  God,  Jacob  moved,  that 
all  the  spotted  cattle  and  brown 
sheep,  henceforth  produced,  should 
be  his  hire.  Laban,  ex[)ecting  these 
could  not  be  many,  readily  consent- 
ed. To  prevent  all  disputes,  and 
hinder  as  much  as  possible  the  future 
product  of  s|)otted  cattle  and  brown 
sheep,  all  of  these  kinds  vv'ere  re- 
moved to  the  distance  of  three  days' 
journey,  and  entrusted  to  the  care 
of  Laban's  sons;  and  the  rest  were 
committed  to  the  oversight  of  Jacob, 
Instructed  by  a  vision,  Jacob  laid 
speckled,  spotted,  and  ring-streaked, 
rods  of  poplar,  &c.  in  the  watering- 
troughs,  about  the  time  when  the 
stronger  cattle  coupled  and  conceiv- 
ed ;  these  striking  their  imagination 
as  they  drank,  made  them  conceive 
a  spotted  offspring  :  but  he  laid  them 
not  in  when  the  weaker  cattle  con- 
ceived :  by  this  means  all  the  strong- 
er cattle  were  Jacob's,  and  his  flocks 
and  herds  exceedingly  increased. 
Laban  therefore  frequently  changed 
his  hire :  but  whatever  was  allotted 
to  Jacob,  exceedingly  increased. 
Laban  too,  caused  Jacob  to  bear  the 


loss  of  whatever  was  missing  of  hi? 
flocks  or  herds.  After  Jacob  had 
served  other  six  years  v/itii  great  la- 
bour and  fidelity,  Laban  and  his  sons 
carried  themselves  very  surly  to- 
wards him,  pretending  that  he  had 
made  himself  rich  at  their  expense. 
Meanwhile,  God,  in  a  dream,  or- 
dered him  to  return  to  Canaan.  Re- 
solving to  do  so,  he  acquainted  his 
wives  that  he  saw  their  father's  de- 
portment towards  him  changed,  and 
that  he  intended  io  return  to  Canaan. 
They  being  sensible  of  their  father's 
injurious  behaviour,  were  glad  to 
part  with  him.  So  Jacob,  his  wives, 
children,  servants,  and  flocks,  mov- 
ed towards  Canaan,  and  Rachel  car- 
ried off  some  of  her  father's  idols. 
On  the  3d  day  after,  Laban,  inform- 
ed of  their  departure,  pursued  them 
in  no  small  fury ;  but  God,  in  a 
dream,  charged  him  to  beware  of 
giving  Jacob  so  muf  h  as  an  injurious 
word.  On  the  7th  day,  he  overtook 
them  in  the  mountain  of  Gilead. 
Some  sharp  words  were  exchanged, 
and  Laban  heavily  complained  that 
they  had  carried  off  his  gods.  Jacob 
desired  him  to  rummage  all  his  store, 
and  if  his  gods  were  found  with  any, 
let  the  person  be  put  to  death.  La 
baa  searched  with  the  utmost  care; 
but  Rachel  having  taken  the  idols, 
and  put  them  into  the  camel's  fur 
nifure,  sat  upon  them,  pretending 
that  her  indisposition  hindered  her 
rising.  Nothing  of  Laban's  being 
found,  he  and  Jacob  made  a  solemn 
covenant  of  perpetual  friendship ; 
in  testimony  whereof,  they  reared 
a  heap  of  stones,  which  Jacob  call- 
ed Galecd,  or  Gilead,  and  Laban, 
Jcs^ar-sahadutlia,  both  which  desig- 
nations signified  the  heeip  of  witness. 
After  Jacob  had  offered  sacrifice, 
and  given  an  entertainment  to  his 
friends,  Laban  and  his  company  af- 
fectionately parted,  and  returned  to 
Padan-aram,  while  Jacob  and  his  fa- 
mily went  forward  to  Canaan,  Gen. 
xxix.  XXX.  and  xxxi.  When  Jacob 
had  advanced  to  the  ford  of  Jabbok, 
God  showed  him  that  he  was  guard- 
ed  by  augels  on  every  side,  both 


J  A  C 


(     7     ) 


J  A  C 


from  Laban  and  Esau;  therefore  Ja- 
cob called  the  name  of  the  place 
Mahanaim,  i.  c.  the  tnw  armies,  or 
double  camp.  Fearing  the  remains  ol' 
Esau's  resentment,  he  sent  messen- 
gers to  inlorm  him  of  liis  return,  and 
to  supplicate  bin  favour.  Jacol),  iu- 
iormed  by  his  messengers  that  Esau 
came  to  meet  liitn  with  400  men. 
strongly  suspected  his  intentions  were 
murderous,  and  sent  off  before  him 
a  hirge  present  of  220  goats,  220 
sJieep,  30  milch  camels  with  their 
colts,  40  kine,  and  10  bulls,  20  she- 
asses  and  10  foals.  These  he  divi- 
ded into  five  droves,  and  ordered  the 
drivers  of  each  to  tell  Esau  as  they 
met  him,  that  it  was  a  [iresent  to  him. 
By  this  means  he  hoped  to  ap[)ease 
his  brother's  anger.  Meanwhile, 
he  spent  the  Avhole  night  in  solemn 
prayer.  Our  Redeemer  appeared 
to  him  in  the  form  of  a  man,  and  to 
check  him  for  attempting  to  detain 
him  i)y  force,  toux^l»ed  the  hollow  ol 
his  thigh,  till  it  shrank,  and  made 
him  always  after  go  halting;  to  com- 
memorate which,  his  posterity  never 
ate  of  the  similar  sinew  in  animals : 
but  by  weeping  and  supplication  to 
the  Son  of  God,  he  obtained  a  change 
of  his  name  to  Israel,  because,  as  a 
prince,  he  had  wrestled  with  God, 
and  had  prevailed,  and  obtained  a 
solemn  blessing  on  himself  and  his 
seed.  Having  crossed  the  Jabbok,  he 
divided  his  family  into  three  divisions, 
that  if  Esau  murdered  the  foremost, 
the  others  might  flee.  The  two  hand- 
maids and  their  children  w^ent  first ; 
Leah  and  her's  next;  and  Rachel 
and  Joseph  last,  that  she  might  have 
most  opportunity  to  get  off  if  there 
was  danger.  According  to  Jacob's 
direction,  they  all,  in  the  humblest 
manner,  did  obeisance  to  Esau.  Partly 
moved  by  this  deportment,  and  chiefly 
by  the  providence  of  God,  Esau  met 
Jacob  with  the  most  tender  affection, 
generously  refused  his  present,  be- 
cause he  had  much  wealth  already  ; 
but  Jacob  urged  him,  because  the 
I^ord  had  dealt  graciously  with  him, 
and  given  him  the  great  happiness  of 
meeting  him  in  kindness  and  love. 


Esau  offered   to  attend  him  on  his 

Journey  to  mount  Seir;  but  Jacob 
i)egged  he  would  not  trouble  himself, 
as  tlie  flocks  and  little  ones  could 
but  move  very  slowly.  After 
Ksau's  dejjarture,  Jacol»  coming  to 
the  spot  where  Buccolh  was  after- 
wards built,  reared  up  a  house 
lor  himself,  and  booths  for  his 
cattle.  Not  long  after,  he  cross- 
ed the  Jordan  westward,  and  com- 
ing to  Shalem,  he  bought  a  piece  of 
ground  from  Hamor,  the  father  of 
Shechem,  for  a  hundred  pieces  of 
silver,  probably  shekels,  and  if  so  u 
little  more  than  11/.  (is.  sterling. 
Here  he  erected  an  altar,  and  called 
it  El-clohe-Lsrael,  imjiorting,  that 
it  was  sacred  to  God,  the  God  of 
Israel,  Gen.  xxxii.  xxxiii.  He  had 
not  dwelt  long  here,  wlien  Dinah 
his  daughter,  in  the  bloom  of 
youth,  went  to  see  the  young 
women  of  the  country.  Shecheni, 
the  sou  of  Hamor,  and  prince  of 
the  city  of  Shechem,  being  capti- 
vated with  her  comeliness,  took 
her  and  defiled  her.  He  and  liis 
father  begged  her  in  marriage  for 
him,  and  he  offered  them  any 
price  they  pleased,  to  obtain  her. 
Jacob  waited  till  his  sons  came  home. 
They  deceitfully  proposed,  that  the 
Shechemites  should  be  all  circum- 
cised, as  the  only  terms  of  obtaining 
Dinah.  This  they  proposed  as  a, 
means  to  render  them  incapable  to 
defend  themselves,  horribly  abusing 
the  seal  of  God's  covenant,  to  pro- 
mote their  murderous  intentions. 
Dreading  nothing,  Hamor  and  She- 
chem, by  hinting  to  their  people 
how  it  w^ould  gain  them  the  wealtl) 
of  Jacob's  family,  persuaded  them 
to  undergo  the  operation.  On  the 
third  day,  Avhen  they  were  sorest, 
Simeon  and  Levi,  and  perhajjs  a 
number  of  servants,  entered  the  city* 
and  murdered  the  male  inhabitants  ; 
and  the  other  sons  of  Jacob  coming 
up,  seized  on  the  s|)oil.  This  they  did 
to  revenge  Shechem's  using  tlieir 
sister  as  if  a  harlot.  Dreading  the 
resentment  of  the  Canaanites  around, 
and  directed  by   God  to  go  up   to 


J  A  C 


; 


J  A  C 


Bethel  and  dwell  there,  Jacob  re- 
niembering  his  vow  which  he  had 
iriade  as  he  went  to  Padan-arain,  or- 
dered his  family  to  purify  them- 
selves, and  to  j)ut  away  their  strange 
gods;  for  several  of  his  servants 
were  heathens.  They,  and  no  doubt 
Rachel  among  them,  delivered  up 
their  idols  to  him,  and  he  hid  them 
under  an  oak.  Protected  by  God, 
through  a  dread  seizing  the  Canaan- 
ites  around,  he  and  his  family  came 
safe  to  Bethel.  There  he  offered  sa- 
crifices to  God,  who  appeared  to  him, 
and  renewed  his  former  blessing. 
Soon  after,  Jacob  moved  southward 
to  Hebron,  to  visit  Isaac  his  father. 
Meanwhile,  Deborah  his  mother's 
nurse  died,  to  the  no  small  grief  of 
tlie  family.  Rachel  too,  Avho  had 
said  she  would  die  if  she  got  not 
.children,  died  in  childbed  of  her 
second  son,  whom  she,  in  her  last 
agonies,  called  BenonL  the  son  of  my 
sorrom-i  but  his  father  called  him  Ben- 
jamin. She  was  buried  near  Beth- 
lehem. Not  long  after,  Reuben  com- 
mitted incest  with  Bilhah  his  father's 
concubine,  Jacob  had  scarcely  dwelt 
three  years  with  Isaac  his  father, 
when  he  had  Joseph  carried  otf  from 
iiim ;  and  for  twenty-two  years  be- 
wailed his  loss,  imagining  that  some 
wild  I)ea3t  had  devoured  him.  About 
twelve  years  after,  Isaac  died,  and 
was  buried  by  Jacob  and  Esau.  It 
seems  the  two  brothers  inclined  to 
have  lived  together,  but  the  vast 
number  of  their  herds  and  flocks 
would  not  admit  of  it :  tlierefore 
Esau  retired  to  Seir,  leaving  Jacob  in 
the  south  of  Canaan.  Meanwhile  he 
had  his  share  of  atfiiction,  from  the 
<lisorders  which  prevailed  in  the  fami- 
ly of  Judah,  Gen.  xxxv.  to  xxxviii. 
Ai)out  nine  years  after  the  death  of 
Isaac,  Jacob,  distressed  by  a  famine, 
sent  his  ten  elder  sons  to  Egypt,  to 
buy  corn  for  their  subsistence.  At 
their  return,  he  was  shocked  to  find 
that  each  man's  money  was  returned 
in  bis  sack ;  but  more,  that  Simeon 
was  detained  a  prisoner,  and  the  go- 
vernor of  Egypt  had  demanded  a 
tight  of  Benjamin  big  fayourite,  and, 


as  he  thought,  the  only  surviving  son 
of  his  beloved  Rachel.  Pinching 
famine,  and  the  repeated  entreaties 
of  his  children,  particularly  of  Reu- 
ben and  Judah,  obliged  him  to  per- 
mit Benjamin  to  go  with  the  rest  on 
their  second  journey  to  Egypt,  not 
without  distrustful  hints  that  all  these 
things  were  against  him,  and  that 
he  was  bereaved  of  his  children.  On 
their  return,  he  found  that  Joseph 
was  yet  alive,  and  governor  of 
Egypt,  and  that  he  had  sent  for  him 
and  his  family  to  come  hither  for 
subsistence.  He,  with  great  joy, 
left  the  plain  of  Mamre,  near  Hebron, 
and  moved  towards  Egypt.  At 
Beersheba  he  offered  sacrifices  to 
the  Lord,  and  the  Lord  encouraged 
him  to  go  tlown  into  Egypt,  and  as- 
sured him  that  his  seed  should  thence 
return  to  Canaan  at  the  time  fixed 
by  the  promise :  and  that  there  Jo- 
seph should  attend  him  in  bis  last 
moments,  closing  his  eyes.  He,  and 
CO  of  his  offspring,  with  8  wives, 
went  down  into  Egypt,  Avhere  w^ere 
already  Joseph  and  his  two  sons. 
Informed  by  Judah,  who  went  be- 
fore the  rest,  Joseph  met  him  with 
the  utmost  expressions  of  tender 
affection.  Jacob  was  by  him  pre- 
sented to  Pharaoh.  He  wished  that 
monarch  all  true  happiness ;  and 
informed  him  that  he  had  lived 
130  years  chiefly  in  troubles.  Lcl 
U9  learn  the  fruit  of  unhrothcrly  con- 
duct, and  cf  obtaining  blessings  by  un- 
hallowed means.  Jacob  and  his  fami-- 
ly  had  lived  but  1 7  years  in  Egypt, 
when  he  fell  ill  of  his  last  sickness. 
Joseph,  whom  a  little  before  he  had 
bound  by  oath  to  bury  him  in  Ca- 
naan, with  his  two  sons  Manasseh 
and  Ephraim,  came  to  visit  him. 
He  informed  them  of  God's  blessing 
him  at  Luz  or  Bethel;  he  blessed 
Joseph,  assured  him  his  two  son3 
should  form  two  distinct  tribes  of  the 
Hebrew  nation,  but  that  of  Ephraim 
should  be  the  most  numerous  and 
honoured.  He  assured  him,  God 
would  bring  all  his  posterity  back  to 
Canaan  in  due  time  :  and  assigned  to 
Joseph's  seed  a  piece  of  grouud  near 


J  A  D 


(     9     ) 


J  A  I 


Shechem,  which  he  had  first  bought, 
auil  al'tervvards  recovered  by  force 
out  of  the  hand  of  the  Ainorites. 
After  this,  he  convened  his  twelve 
sons,  gave  them  his  last  benediction, 
and  foretold  what  would  befall  their 
families  in  future  ages.  Reuben,  Si- 
meon, and  Levi,  he  reproached  with 
their  sinful  conduct;  and  predicted 
that  God  would  chastise  it  in  the 
afflictions  of  their  offspring.  He  es- 
pecially commended  Judah  and  Jo- 
seph, and  foretold  the  future  glory  of 
their  families.  He  also  prophesied  the 
coming  of  Christ,  and  the  gathering 
of  the  Gentiles  to  him.  Amidst  the 
blessing  of  his  children,  he  expressed 
his  strong  desires  of  the  Messiah's 
incarnation,  and  of  his  own  full  en- 
joyment of  God.  After  charging 
his  sons  to  bury  him  in  the  cave  of 
Machpelah,  where  Abraham,  Sarah, 
Isaac,  Rebekah,  and  Leah,  had  been 
buried,  he  laid  himself  down  on  the 
bed,  and  breathed  out  his  last,  a1>out 
A.  M.  2316,  or  2320,  and  in  the 
147th  year  of  his  life.  After  his 
body  was  embalmed,  and  a  solemn 
mourning  of  70  days  performed  for 
him  in  Egypt,  Joseph  and  his  bre- 
thren, with  the  chief  men  of  Egypt, 
attended  his  corpse  to  its  interment 
in  Canaan.  At  the  threshing-floor 
of  Atad  they  stopped,  and  had  a 
second  mourning  of  7  days ;  on  ac- 
count of  which,  the  Canaanites  called 
the  spot  Abel-mizrainiy  the  mourning 
of  the  Egyptians.  He  was  interred  in 
the  cave  of  Machpelah,  Gen.  xlii.  1 . — 
His  posterity,  as  well  as  himself,  are 
called  Jacob  or  Israel.  A  well  which 
he  used,  and  perhaps  digged,  near 
Shechem,  is  called  his  well,  John 
iv.  12.  Deut.  X.  22.  Josh,  xxiii.  4. 
Psal.  cv.  10—23.  Actsvii.  11—16. 
Hos.  xii. 

JADDUA,  known,  or  Jaddus, 
the  son  of  Jonathan,  and  high  priest 
of  the  Jews.  He  officiated  a  consi- 
derable timeafterthe  captivity,  Neh. 
xii.  1 1 .  He  is  thought  to  be  Jaddus 
who  lived  in  the  time  of  Alexander 
the  Great.  Josephus  says,  that  Alex- 
ander, when  besieging  Tyre,  de- 
manded   some    assistance.    Jaddus 

Vol.  IL 


begged  to  be  excused,  as  he  had 
sworn  fidelity  to  Darius  the  Persian. 
Highly  provoked,  Alexander  vowed 
a  revenge.  After  the  taking  of  Tyre, 
he  marched  towards  Jerusalem.  Af- 
ter the  people  had  exercised  them- 
selves in  fasting  and  prayer,  Jaddus 
and  his  fellow-priests,  directed  by 
God,  met  Alexander  in  their  sacred 
robes.  Struck  with  the  a|)pearance 
of  the  high  priest,  he,  instead  of  re- 
proaching him,  fell  at  his  feet,  and 
told  Pamienio  his  general,  that  such 
a  form  had  appeared  to  him  in  Mace- 
donia, and  promised  him  the  empire 
of  the  world :  and,  at  the  high 
priest's  request,  relieved  the  Jews  of 
their  tribute.  But  as  none  of  Alex- 
ander's historians  mention  this  mat- 
ter, it  is  possibly  a  Jewish  fable. 

JAH.     See  Jehovah. 

JAHAZ,  quarrel,  dispute,  brawl- 
ing, Jahazah,  or  Jahsah  :  proba- 
bly the  Ziza  of  Ptolemy,  a  city  near 
Aroer,  between  Mediba,  and  Dibla- 
thaim,  on  the  north  frontiers  of  Mo- 
ab,  and  near  to  the  spot  where  Moses 
defeated  the  army  of  Sihon.  It  was 
given  to  the  Reubenites,  and  by  them 
to  the  Levites,  Num.  xxi.  23.  Josh, 
xiii.  18.  1  Chron.  vi.  78.  After  the 
death  of  Ahab,  it  seems,  the  Moab- 
ites  seized  on  it.  It  shared  in  the 
ruinous  ravages  of  the  Assyrians  and 
Chaldeans,  Isa.  xv.  4.  Jer.  xlviii. 
21. 

J  AIR,  illu77unaied,  who  dijfuseth 
light,  or  a  river,  (1.)  The  son  of  Se- 
gub,  the  son  of  Hezron,  of  the  tribe 
of  Judah.  By  his  grand-mother,  the 
daughter  of  Machir  the  Manassite,  he 
fell  heir  to  an  estate  eastward  of  Jor- 
dan, and  conquered  the  whole  coun- 
try of  Argob,  as  far  as  the  borders  of 
Geshuri  and  Maachathi,  1  Chron.  ii. 
21— 23.  Numb,  xxxiii.  40,  41.  (2.) 
A  judge  of  Israel,  who  succeeded  To- 
la, A.  M.  2795,  or  2857,  and  govern- 
ed 22  3'ears.  He  was  a  Gileadite,  pro- 
bably of  Manasseh.  He  had  30  sons, 
who  rode  on  30  ass  colts,  and  were 
lords  of  30  towns,  called  Havoth-jair, 
or  the  towns  of  J  air,   Judg.  x.  3 — 5 

JAIR,  or   Jairus,  a  chief  ruler  fo 
the   synagogue  at  Capernaum.     Hia 
B 


J  A  31 


(    10    ) 


JAM 


daughter  being  dangerously  ill,  he 
earnestly  entreated  Jesus  to  come, 
lay  his  hands  on  her,  and  cure  her. 
On  their  way  to  the  house,  some  from 
it  met  him,  and  told  him  it  was 
needless  to  trouble  our  Saviour,  as 
his  daughter  was  dead.  Jesus  said  to 
him,  fear  not,  but  only  believe.  When 
they  entered  the  house,  they  found 
the  mourners  in  great  distress,  and 
preparing  to  attend  the  corpse  to 
the  grave.  Jesus  required  silence,  as 
the  maid  was  not  to  be  given  up  for 
dead.  They  laughed  him  to  scorn. 
To  punish  their  derision  of  him,  he 
put  them  to  the  door ;  and  when  no 
more  but  her  father  and  mother,  and 
three  of  his  disciples  were  present, 
he  took  her  by  the  hand,  and  bade 
her  arise.  She  did  so,  and  Jesus  or- 
dered them  to  give  her  some  victuals, 
Blatt.  ix.  18—26.  Mark  v.  21—43. 
Luke  viii.  41 — 56. 

JAMES,  the  same  as  Jacob,  the 
CJreat,  or  Elder,  and  JOHN  the  Evan- 
gelist, sons  of  Zebedee  and  Salome, 
were  originally  fishers  of  Bethsaida  in 
Galilee,  and  left  every  thing  at  our 
Saviour's  call  to  follow  him.  Matt.  iv. 
21.  Both  were  constituted  Apostles  : 
both  were  witnesses  of  Jesus's  trans- 
figuration, Matt.  X.  2.  and  xvii.  2. 
Both  sought  his  ])erinission  to  call 
down  fire  from  heaven  on  the  Sama- 
ritans, who  refused  to  receive  him;  but 
he  checked  their  furious  zeal,  and  told 
them  that  they  knew  not  what  si)irit 
they  were  of,  Luke  ix.  54.  Our  Sa- 
viour's singular  regard  for  them,  led 
their  molher  to  request  they  might  be 
made  chief  ministers  of  state  iu  his 
temporal  kingdom.  After  thej-  had 
professed  their  ability  to  undergo 
sufferings  with  him,  he  told  them, 
that  suffer  they  must,  but  his  Father 
had  the  disposal  of  eminent  places  in 
his  kingdom.  Matt.  xx.  20 — 24.  i^Iark 
X.  35 — 45.  The}'  witnessed  his  ago- 
uy  in  the  garden,  Matt,  xxvi.  37. 
After  our  Saviours  resurrection,  it 
seems  they  for  a  while  returned  to 
their  business  of  fishing,  John  xxi. 
2,  3.  About  J.  D.  42  or  44,  if  not 
49,  James  was  taken  and  murdered 
by  Herod,  Acts  xii.  1.  and  is   now 


the  pretended  patron  of  Spain. — 
Whether  his  brother  John  was  the 
bridegroom  at  Cana  of  Galilee,  we 
know  not ;  but  he  was  our  Saviour's 
beloved  disciple.  To  him  Jesus,  as 
he  sat  next  to  him  on  the  couch  at 
the  passover,  intimated  who  should 
be  the  traitor.  It  is  believed  that  he 
went  up  to  the  high  priest's  hall, 
and,  being  known  to  the  servants, 
introduced  Peter ;  but  perhaps  that 
disciple  might  be  Nicodemus,  or  Jo- 
seph of  Arimathea,  John  xviii.  15, 
16.  He,  by  our  Saviour's  dying  di- 
rection, took  home  the  blessed  Vir- 
gin to  his  house,  and  provided  for 
her.  At  the  Galilean  sea  he  first 
discovered  our  Saviour  on  the  shore 
to  Peter,  John  xix.  25,  26,  27,  and 
xxi.  1 — 7.  After  dinner  with  our 
Saviour  there,  Peter  asked  him  what 
should  become  of  John  ?  Jesus  re- 
plied, that  it  was  none  of  his  busi- 
ness though  he  should  live  till  his 
coming.  This  expression,  fondly  mis- 
taken, made  many  primitive  Chris- 
tians imagine  that  John  should  never 
die ;  but  his  own,  and  other  histories, 
contradict  this  ill-grounded  fancy, 
John  xxi.  18 — 25.  He  for  a  time 
shared  with  Peter,  in  preaching, 
working  miracles,  and  enduring  per- 
secution from  the  Jews  at  Jerusalem ; 
and  at  Samaria  they  conferred  the 
Holy  Ghost,  by  laying  on  of  hands, 
Acts  iii.  iv.  v.  and  viii.  About  A.D. 
51,  John  continued  a  noted  pillar  of 
the  Christian  church  in  Judea,  Gal. 
ii.  7.  It  is  said,  he  afterwards  preach- 
ed the  gospel  to  the  Parthians  and 
Indians ;  but  it  is  more  evident  that 
he  preached  some  time  in  Lesser  Asia. 
In  Domitian's  persecution,  about  A. 
D.  95,  it  is  said  he  was  cast  into  a 
caldron  of  boiling  oil,  and  coming  out 
unhurt,  vigorous,  and  clean,  was  ban- 
ished to  Patmos,  to  be  starved  to 
death.  Under  the  emperor  Nerva 
he  was  recalled  from  exile,  and  re- 
turning to  Ephesus,  preached  the 
gospel  there  till  he  died,  about  90  or 
100  years  old.  He  appears  to  have 
been  of  a  most  alfectionate  temper; 
and  yet,  it  is  said,  he  leapt  out  of  the 
bath,  whenever   he  understood  that 


J  A  ]>! 


(     H     ) 


JAN 


Cerinthus,  who  denied  the  divinity 
of  our  Saviour,  was  in  it;  so  great 
was  his  zeal.  In  his  old  age,  he 
wrote  three  epistles,  one  to  the  Jew- 
ish Christians  in  general,  another  to 
a  noted  lady,  and  a  third  to  one  Gai- 
ns. The  3coi)e  is,  to  inculcate  bro- 
therly love,  holy  conversation,  self- 
examination,  and  a  cautious  shun- 
ning of  false  teachers,  particularly 
such  as  denied  the  incarnation  and 
true  Godhead  of  our  Saviour.  He 
wrote  a  history  of  Jesus's  life,  con- 
taining a  great  many  things  omitted 
by  the  other  three  evangelists,  chief- 
ly a  number  of  excellent  discourses. 
It  is  principally  calculated  to  evince 
our  Saviour's  divinity.  In  the  isle  of 
Patmos,  he  had  various  revelations 
and  visions.  Thence,  from  Jesus's 
mouth,  he  wrote  seven  epistles  to  the 
Asian  churches ;  and  in  this  book  of 
Revelation,  under  the  visions  of  seals 
opened,  trumpets  sounded,  and  vials 
poured  out,  &c.  he  exhibits  the 
whole  state  of  the  Christian  church 
to  the  end  of  the  world.  From  the 
sublimity  of  his  revelations,  and  his 
vindication  of  our  Saviour's  divinity, 
he  came  to  be -called,  how  properly 
I  shall  not  say,  John  the  divine. — 
The  book  of  his  travels,  and  of  his 
acts,  and  of  the  Virgin  Mary's  death 
and  assumption  to  heaven,  and  the 
creed  ascribed  to  him,  contain  plain 
documents  of  forgery. 

2.  James  the  Less,  called  the  bro- 
ther of  our  Lord.  He  was  the  son 
of  Cleophas  by  Mary  the  sister  of  the 
blessed  Virgin.  For  the  admirable 
holiness  of  his  life,  he  was  surnamed 
the  ju.st.  Our  Saviour  appeared  to 
him,  by  himself,  after  his  resurrec- 
tion, 1  Cor.  XV.  7.  About  three  years 
after  Paul's  conversion  he  was  at  Je- 
rusalem, and  considered  as  a  pillar 
or  noted  supporter  of  the  church 
there.  Gal.  i.  19.  About  fourteen 
years  after,  he  was  present  at  the 
apostolic  council;  and,  speaking 
among  the  last,  he  gave  his  sentiment, 
that  as  God;  according  to  the  ancient 
promises,  had  called  a  church  from 
among  the  Gentiles  to  himself,  it  was 
not  proper  fo  bnrden  <bem  wil.h  Jpw- 


ish  ceremonies,  so  hard  to  be  borne ; 
but  merely  to  require  them  to  for- 
bear eating  of  things  strangled,  and 
blood ;  and  to  abstain  from  fornica- 
tion, and  meats  offered  to  idols.  To 
this  all  present  agreed.  About  nine 
years  after,  he  wrote  an  epistle  to  the 
Jewish  believers,  wherein  he  sharp- 
ly reproves  such  as  pretended  to  faith 
without  good  works,  indulging  them- 
selves in  instability,  naughtiness,  par- 
tiality, reviling,  covetousness,  op- 
pression, vain  swearing,  <tc.  About 
A.  D.  63,  when  Festus  was  dead,  and 
Albinus  had  not  come  to  succeed 
him,  the  Jews  being  exceedingly  en- 
raged at  the  success  of  the  gospel, 
Annanus,  son  of  Annas,  it  is  said, 
ordered  James  to  ascend  one  of  the 
galleries  of  the  temple,  and  inform 
the  people,  that  they  had  without 
ground  believed  Jesus  of  Nazareth 
to  be  the  Messiah.  He  got  up,  and 
cried  with  a  loud  voice,  that  Jesus 
was  the  Son  of  God,  and  would 
quickly  appear  in  the  clouds  to  judge 
the  world.  Many  glorified  God,  and 
believed;  but  the  Pharisees  threw 
him  over  the  battlement.  He  was 
sorely  bruised,  but  got  up  on  his 
knejes,  and  prayed  for  his  murderers, 
amidst  a  shower  of  stones  which  they 
cast  at  him,  tiil  one  of  them  beat  out 
his  brains  with  a  fuller's  club.  To  the 
death  of  thisjust  man,  some  Jews  as- 
cribe the  ruin  of  their  nation.  The 
Talmud  ascribes  a  variety  of  mira- 
cles to  James,  the  disciple  of  Jesus, 
there  called  the  carpenter. 

JANGLING,  foolish  talking  about 
what  people  do  not  understand,  nor 
know  what  they  would  be  at ;  and 
nothing  can  be  more  vain  than  their 
contending  about  opinions  in  religion 
without  the  love  of  Qod  in  the  soul, 
1  Tim.  i.  6. 

JANNES,  answering,  poor,  af- 
flicted, and  JAMBRES,  a  rebel,  hit- 
ter with  poverty,  or  want,  called  by 
Pliny  Jamneand  Jotape,and  by  some 
Jewish  writers,  Johanne  and  Mamre. 
They  were  twoprincipal  magiciansof 
Egypt,  who  withstood  Moses  by  ap- 
ing some  of  his  miracles,  in  the  change 
of  th*^ir  rods  into   serpents,  turning 


JAP 


(     12    ) 


J  A  S 


waters  into  blood,  and  producing 
frogs,  2  Tim.  ii.  8.  Exod.  vii.  viii 
Jonathan,  the  Chaldee  paraphrast, 
fabulously  says  they  were  Balaam's 
sons,  and  attended  him  when  he 
went  to  Balak. 

JANOAH,  tarrying,  resting,  or 
deriving,  Janohah  ;  a  city  of  the 
Ephraimites,  on  their  north  border, 
and  about  twelve  miles  eastwanl  from 
Shechem,  Josh.  xvi.  6.  It  was  taken 
and  ruined  by  Tiglath-pileser,  king 
of  Assyria,  2  Kings  xv.  29. 

JAPHETH,  enlarged,  fair,  per- 
suading, or  enticing,  the  elder  son  of 
Noah,  and  born  A.  M.  1556,  Gen.  x. 
21.  andv.  32.  To  reward  his  kind  and 
modest  behaviour  in  covering  his  fa- 
ther's nakedness,  he  blessed  him,  say- 
ing, that  God  Avould  enlarge  and  per- 
suade him,  and  make  him  to  dwell  in 
the  tents  of  Shem,  and  render  the  off- 
spring of  Canaan  his  servants.  His 
posterity  were  prodigiously  numer- 
ous :  he  had  seven  sons,  Gomer,  Ma- 
gog, Madai,  Javan,  Tubal,  Meshech, 
and  Tiras.  Their  posterity  peopled 
the  north  half  of  Asia,  almost  all  the 
Mediterranean  isles,  all  Europe,  and 
I  suppose,  most  of  America.  How 
the  Greeks  and  Romans,  his  pos- 
terity, seized  on  the  original  residence 
of  the  descendants  of  Shem  in  Syria, 
Palestine,  Mesopotamia,  Assyria,  Per- 
sia, &c.  &c.  how  the  Scythians,  Tar- 
tars, Turks,  or  Moguls,  the  descend- 
ants of  Gog  and  Magog,  have  made 
themselves  masters  of  Southern  Asia, 
may  beseen  under  these  articles.  How 
the  Dutch,  English,  Portuguese,  Spa- 
niards, and  Danes,  have  seized  the 
islands  or  other  settlements  in  South- 
ern Asia  and  places  adjacent,  is  evi- 
dent. I  know  no  country  of  note 
originally  belonging  to  the  offspring 
of  Shem,  part  of  Arabia  excepted, 
that  has  not,  or  is  not  now  claimed 
or  possessed  by  the  offspring  of  Ja- 
pheth.  God  has  perstiaded  multitudes 
of  them  to  become  his  peculiar  peo- 
ple, while  the  Jewish  descendants  of 
Shem  are  cast  off.  How  the  Canaan- 
iTES  in  Cinaan,  Phenicia,  North 
Afric,  Boeotia,  Heraclea,  Arcadia, 
or  Italy,  have  been  enslaved  by  Ja- 


pheth's  Grecian,  Roman,  Vandal,  or 
Turkish  descendants,  is  marked  in 
that  article,  Gen.  ix.  27.  As  Ja- 
pheth  or  Japetus,  was  the  father  of 
the  Greeks,  no  wonder  he  is  so  often 
mentioned  in  their  ancient  fables. 

J  A  P  H I A ,  enlightening,  appearing, 
or  shoiving,  probably  the  same  as 
Japha,  a  city  belonging  to  the  Zu- 
bulunites,  surrounded  with  a  double 
wall,  but  taken  and  cruelly  ravaged 
by  the  Romans',  Josh.  xix.  12. 

JAPHO.     See  Joppa. 

J  AREB,  a  revenger.  We  find  no 
certain  evidence  that  there  was  such 
a  king  of  Assyria ;  perhaps  it  might 
be  read  the  king  of  Jar eb,  because  he 
might  dwell  at  a  place  called  Jareb  ; 
or  the  word  may  be  rendered,  the 
king  that  shall  strive,  that  is,  fight 
against  and  ruin  them,  Hos.  v.  13c 
and  x.  6. 

JARMUTH,  fearing,  seeing,  or 
throwing  down  death,  or  Jermus, 
a  city  about  10  miles  south-west  of 
Jerusalem,  and  as  much  north-east  of 
Elentheropolis,  once  a  famed  city  of 
Judea.  It  was  only  a  village  about 
1400  years  ago.  Josh.  x.  5. 

The  Book  of  J  ASHER,  righteous, 
or  upright,  was  probably  some  noted 
history  of  the  Jewish  nation,  wherein 
things  were  recorded  with  great  care 
and  integrity ;  but  it  was  not  inspii- 
ed,  Josh.  X.  13.  2  Sam.  i.  18. 

JASHOBEAM,  the  captivity  of 
the  people,  the  Hachmonite,  or  Tach- 
monite,  the  same  as  Adino  the  Ez- 
nite.  It  seems  he  was  at  the  head 
of  David's  mighty  men.  He  in  one 
instance  attacked  800,  and  in  another 
300,  and  cut  them  off  to  a  man  :  or 
he  routed  800 ;  slew  300  of  them, 
and  his  followers  slew  the  other  500. 
He,  with  Eleazar  and  Sharamah, 
brake  through  the  army  of  the  Phi- 
listines, and  brought  their  master 
water  from  the  well  of  Bethlehem. 
2  Sam.  xxiii.  8,  16,  17.  1  Chron.  xi. 
11,13,19.  I  suppose  it  was  he  who 
commanded  the  royal  guard  of  24 
thousand  for  the  first  month,  1  Chron, 
xxvii.  2.  but  that  he  was  the  de- 
scendant of  Benjamin  by  Koreh,  I 
dare  not  affirm,  1  Chron.  xii.  6. 


J  A  Z 


(     13     ) 


I  D  L 


JASON,  }i£alins^,  or  one  who  gives 
medicines,  a  kinsman  of  Paul,  and 
his  host  at  Thessalonica,  wlm  hazard- 
ed his  life  in  a  mob  to  preserve  Paul. 
It  seems  he  afterwards  removed  to 
Rome,  Acts  xvii.  7.  Rom.  xvi.  21. 

JASPER,  in  natural  history,  a  ge- 
nus of  Scrupi,  of  a  complex,  irregu- 
lar structure,  of  a  great  variety  of 
colours,  and  emulating  the  appear- 
ance of  the  finer  marbles,  or  semi- 
pellucid  gems.  The  great  charac- 
teristic of  jaspers  is,  that  tliey  all 
readily  strike  fire  with  steel,  and 
make  not  the  least  effervescence  with 
aqua-fortis.  Jaspers,  though  com- 
monly reckoned  among  the  precious 
stones,  ought  undoubtedly  to  be 
ranged  among  the  Scrupi;  being 
only  opaque  crystalline  masses,  va- 
riously debased  with  an  earthy  ad- 
mixture ;  and  to  this  last  ingredient 
it  is,  that  they  owe  all  their  variety  of 
colours,  as  white,  green,  red,  brown, 
and  bluish. 

The  Jasper  is  found  ia  Persia,  the 
Indies,  Syria,  Armenia,  Bohemia, 
&c.  Several  madicinal  properties 
were  ascribed  to  it  by  the  ancients; 
but  at  present  there  is  no  credit  at 
all  given  to  them.  It  was  the  third 
stone  in  the  fourth  row  of  the  high 
priest's  breastplate,  and  the  first 
foundation  of  the  New  Jerusalem, 
Exod.  xxviii.  20.  Rev.  xxi.  19.  God 
is  said  to  be  likened  to  jasper ;  if  it 
was  at  all  emblematical,  it  might  de- 
note his  manifold  excellencies,  shin- 
ing gloriously  in  all  his  dispensations 
of  providence  and  grace. 

JAVAN.     See  Greece. 

RAVELIN.     See  Dart. 

JAW.  The  power,  or  instruments, 
by  which  wicked  men  hold  what 
they  have  acquired,  and  do  violence 
and  mischief  to  others,  are  called 
Jaws,  or  jaw-leclh,  Job  xxix.  17. 
Prov,  XXX.  11. 

JAZER,  aid,  assistance,  or  he  thai 
helps,  or  Jaazer,  a  city  about  15 
miles  north  from  Heshbon,  and  a  little 
south  of  Ramoth-gilead,  at  the  foot  of 
the  mountains  of  Gilead,  near  the 
brook  or  lake  of  Jazer.  It  was  given 
V»v  the  trlbr  of  Gad  to  the  Levites,  but 


afterwards  fell  into  the  hands  of  th^ 
Moabites,  Josh.  xxi.  39.  Isa.  xvi.  9. 

I  RLE  AM,  ancient  people,  or  peo- 
ple decreasing,  or  Bileam,  a  city 
of  the  nestern  IManassites,  on  the 
border  of  Issachar.  It  seems  to 
have  been  given  to  the  Levites  for 
Gath-rimmon,  but  theCanaanites  kept 
possession  of.it.  Josh.  xvii.  11,  12. 
1  Chron.  vi.  70.  Judg.  i.  27.  Gur, 
where  Ahaziah  king  of  Judah  was  slain 
was  hard  by  Ibleam,    2  Kings  ix.  27, 

IBZ  AN,  the  father  of  a  target,  or 
of  coldness,  of  the  tribe  of  Judah, 
succeeded  Jephthali  about  A.  M. 
2823,  or  2878,  and  judged  Israel  7 
years.  He  liad  30  sons,  and  as  many 
daughters,  all  of  whom  he  married 
in  his  own  life-time.  He  was  buried 
in  Bethlehem,  and  succeeded  by 
Elon,  Judg.  xii.  8 — 10. 

ICHABOD.     See  Eli. 

ICONIUM,  coming,  now  Cog- 
Ni,  was  formerly  the  capital  of  Lycao- 
nia  in  Lesser  Asia,  and  stands  in  a 
most  fertile  plain  near  the  lake  Tro- 
gilis,  which  supplies  it  with  fish. 
About  A.  D.  45,  Paul  and  Barnabas 
preached  the  gospel  here,  and  it  is 
said  the  famous  Thecia  was  convert- 
ed. A  persecution  raised  by  the 
malicious  Jews,  obliged  them  to  flee ; 
but  a  Christian  church  continued 
about  800  years  after.  The  ravages 
of  the  Saracens,  but  especially  the 
Seljukian  Turke,  making  it  the  ca- 
pital of  one  of  their  four  sultanies  or 
kingdoms,  reduced  the  Christians  to 
a  very  low  condition.  At  present  it 
is  the  most  noted  place  in  Carama- 
nia,  and  the  seat  of  an  Ottoman 
Beglerbeg.  It  is  surrounded  by  a 
strong  wall  of  about  four  miles,  and 
fortified  with  108  stately  towers,  at 
equal  distances;  but  a  considerable 
part  of  the  inclosed  space  lies  waste. 
None  but  Turks  are  allowed  to  in- 
habit the  city;  but  Jews,  Arme- 
nians, and  Christians  of  the  Greek 
church,  with  their  archbishop,  live 
in  the  suburbs,  Acts  xiii.  54.  and 
xiv.  1 — 5.  and  xvi.  2. 

IDLE,  lazy,  averse  from  work» 
Exod.  V.  8,  17.  a  disposition  totally 
opposite  to  the  spirit  of  the  gospeK 


I  D  O 


k 


14 


I  D  0 


and  is  productive  of  every  kind  of 
evil.  It  is  a  principal  cause  of  po- 
verty and  wretchedness,  of  lust  and 
wickedness.  It  leads  women  to 
prostitution,  and  both  men  and  wo- 
men to  the  gallows,  to  tinal  ruin. 
Abundance  of  idleness  was  in  So- 
dom, which  probably  led  to  the 
other  crimes  that  brought  destruction 
upon  the  city,  Ezek.  xvi.  49.  Eccl.  x. 
18.  Prov.  xix.  13.  Idleness  is  the 
chief  inducement  to  persons  to  be- 
come tattlers,  and  busy  bodies,  wan- 
dering about  from  house  to  house ;  a 
sin  which  3'^oung  widows  are  in  immi- 
nent danger  of  falling  into,  1  Tim.  v. 
11,  12,  13.  Such  persons  as  will  not 
work,  ought  not  to  have  support  from 
their  neighbours,  2  Thess.  iii.  10, 
Idle  words  are  such  as  neither  tend 
to  the  glory  of  God,  nor  the  real 
welfare  of  men,  Matt.  xii.  36.  In 
God's  account  they  are  idle  who  are 
unconcerned  about  the  great  work 
of  their  salvation,  as  no  other  la- 
bour can  yield  permanent  comfort  or 
advantage.  Matt.  xx.  6. 

IDOL,  any  thing  worshipped  in 
the  room  of  the  true  God;  and  par- 
ticularly an  image  or  representation 
of  a  true  or  false  God,  1  John  v.  21. 
1  Cor.  viii.  1.  Idols  are  represented 
in  scripture  as  horrors  which  men 
ought  to  be  terrified  at,  2  Chron. 
XV.  f  16.  as  tormenting  pangs,  Psal. 
cvi.  t  36.  Isa.  xlv.  |  16.  as  dung 
gods,  Deut.  xxix.  f  17.  and  about 
forty-six  other  places;  stumbling- 
hlocks,  Zeph.  i.  |  3.  as  a  shamefid 
fMngy  Jer.  xi.  13.  as  nothings, 
VANITIES,  Lev.  xix.  t  4.  1  Cor. 
viii.  4.  strange  gods,  new  gods,  merej 
npstart  deities,  and  which  the  He-i 
brews  had  not  been  used  to,  Deut.l 
xxxii.  16,  17.  Some  good  authors  j 
suspect  that  idolatry,  or  worshipping ; 
of  false  gods,  or  of  the  true  God  by  j 
images  or  human  devices,  began  be-j 
fore  the  deluge ;  and  some  vainly  ima-  j 
gine  that  Enos  introduced  it,  because  \ 
it  is  said,  that  in  his  days,  men  began 
to  call  on,  or  profane,  the  name  of  the 
Lord.  Soon  a'ter  the  flood,  almost i 
all  the  world  v.ere  mad  on  idolatry.  \ 
Abmham's  father  and  family  served  \ 


other  gods  beyond  the  river  Eu- 
phrates, It  is  evident  that  Laban  had 
idols,  which  Rachel,  who  it  seems 
loved  them  too  well,  brought  away 
with  her.  These,  and  other  idols 
retained  by  some  in  his  family,  Jacob 
hid  under  an  oak,  that  they  might 
use  them  no  more.  Josh.  xxiv.  2, 
Gen.  xxxi.  30.  and  xxxv.  2 — 4.  Pro- 
bably the  sun,  moon,  and  stars,  were 
the  first  objects  of  men's  avowed 
idolatry,  and  tl;e  fire  might  be  wor- 
shipped as  a  symbol  of  the  sun.  Job 
xxxi.  28 — 28.  The  other  idols  men- 
tioned in  scripture,  are,  the  Tera- 
phim,  Golden  Calves,  Baal,  Bel, 
Baalpeor,  Baalberith,  Baalzebub, 
Moloch,  Anammelech,  Adramelech, 
Remphan,  Dagon,  Nergal,  Ashima, 
Nibbaz,  Tartack,  Rimmon,  Nisroch, 
Tammuz,  Sheshac,  Nebo,  Meni, 
Gad,  Mahuzzim,  Ashtaroth,  and 
Succothbenoth  :  sundr}'^  of  which  are 
no  doubt  the  same  under  different 
names.  In  process  of  time,  noted 
parents  or  kings  deceased,  animals  of 
various  kinds,  as  apes,  bulls,  and 
the  like;  plants,  stones,  and  in  fine, 
whatever  people  took  a  fancy  for,  or 
even  imaginary  beings,  came  to  be 
worshipped.  Men  forsaking  their 
true  rest  in  the  Most  High,  and 
finding  no  rest  in  one  idol,  added 
others;  hence,  while  almost  every 
nation  had  idols  peculiar  to  them- 
selves, they  were  ready  to  receive 
those  of  their  neighbours.  Nor  did 
their  higliest  pretences  to  philosophy 
in  the  least  reform  any  country.  The 
Egyptians,  though  high  pretenders 
to  wisdom,  worshipped  pied  bulls, 
snipes,  leeks,  onions,  &c.  The 
Greeks  had  about  30,000  gods. 
The  Gomerians  deified  their  ancient 
kings  and  others.  Nor  were  the 
Chaldeans,  Romans,  Chinese,  &c.  a 
whit  less  absurd.  Neither  did  they 
stick  at  violating  the  most  natural 
affections,  by  murdering  multitudes 
of  their  neighbours  and  children, 
under  pretence  of  sacrificing  them 
to  their  god.  Some  nations  of  Ger- 
many, Scandinavia,  and  Tartary, 
imagined  that  violent  death  in  war, 
or  by  self-murder,  was  the  proper  n:e- 


1  D  O 


15     ) 


I  D  O 


thod  of  access  to  the  future  enjoy- 
ment of  their  gods-  In  far  hiter 
times,  about  64,080  persons  were 
sacrificed  at  the  dedication  of  one 
idolatrous  temple,  in  the  space  of 
four  days,  in  America. 

The  Hebrews  never  had  any  idols 
of  their  own;  but  they  adopted 
those  of  the  nations  around.  Their 
readiness  to  worship  the  golden  calf 
at  Sinai,  strongly  induces  one  to 
think  they  had  practised  that  abo- 
mination in  Egypt,  Exod.  xxxii. 
Ezek.  XX.  7,  8.  They  afterwards 
adopted  the  idols  of  the  Moabites, 
Ammonites,  Canaanites,  Syrians,  &c. 
During  their  862  years  residence  in 
Canaan,  before  the  Chaldean  capti- 
vity, they  relapsed  14  or  15  times 
into  idolatry,  Judg.  ii.  to  2  Kings 
xxiv.  The  kingdom  of  the  ten 
tribes  had  it  long  for  their  establish- 
ed religion;  and  it  was  but  seldom 
the  kingdom  of  Judah  was  fully 
purged  from  it,  the  idolatrous  high 
places  being  seldom  removed,  2 
Kings  xvii.  Etek.  xvi.  xx.  xxiii. 
Jer.  iil.  Since  their  return  from 
Babylon,  the  Jews  have  generally 
abhorred  idols,  and  suffered  no  small 
hardship  on  that  account.  The  Ma 
hometans  too,  are  great  pretenders  to 
zeal  against  idolatry.  The  Papists' 
worship  of  the  Virgin  Mary,  and  oC 
other  saints,  and  angels  unnumbered ; 
of  the  bread  in  the  sacrament,  and  of 
relics  and  images,  is  ho  small  of- 
fence to  them,  as  it  tempts  them  to 
consider  Christianity  itself  as  a  scene 
of  idolatry.  Nor  indeed  are  the 
Christians  of  the  Greek  church,  ge- 
nerally taken,  much  more  free  from 
idolatry  than  the  Papists.  Covetous- 
ness,  in  which  is  implied  a  setting  of 
our  heart  on  Avorldly  things  instead 
of  God,  and  all  inordinate  care  for 
the  baUy,  or  sinful  love  to,  or  trust 
in,  any  creature,  is  idolatry  in  God's 
account,  and  constitutes  the  person 
guilty,  an  idolater,  or  worship- 
per of  idols,  Eph.  V.  5.  Col.  iii.  5. 
Phil.  iii.  19. 

Idolatry,  denotes  the  ascrib- 
ing to  things  and  persons  properties 
'.vhich  are  peculiar   to  God  alone; 


and  such  persons  as  do  it  are  called 
idolaters.     The  principal  source  of 
idolatry  seems  to  be,  the  extravagant 
veneration  for  creatures  and  beings, 
from  which  benefits  .Accrued  to  men. 
Although  the  first  objects  of  idolatrous 
worship  are  thought  to  have  been  the 
sun,  moon,  and  stars ;  yet,  others  have 
believed  the  most  ancient  idolatry  to 
have  been  paid  to  angels;  and  Vos- 
sius  maintains,  that  men  first  depart- 
ed  from   the   worship    v/hich   they 
owed  to  God,    by  rendering  divine 
honours  to  the    two    principles    of 
good  and  evil.     Some  authors  make 
idolatry  to  be  more  ancient  than  the 
deluge,  and  believe  that  it  began  in 
the  time  of  Enos.     The  eastern  peo- 
ple make  no  doubt,  but  that  idolatry 
was  common  before  the  deluge ;  and 
it  is  but  too  probable,  that  in  the  in- 
undation of  wickedness  intimated  by 
the  scripture  in  this  expression.  All 
flesh  had  corrupted  his  way  upon  the 
earth,  impiety  of  worship  was  meant, 
as  well  as  other  irregularities.     Jo- 
sephus,  and  the  generality  of  the  fa- 
thers, seem  of  opinion,  that  after  the 
deluge   idolatry  became  very   soon 
the  prevailing  religion  of  almost  all 
the  world.      Abraham's  forefathers, 
and  even  himself,  were  engaged  in  it, 
as  the  scripture  mentions  with  suffi- 
cient clearness,  Josh.  xxiv.  2.    Epi- 
phanius  believes  it  was  Serug,  the 
grandfather  of  Terah,  who  first  in- 
troduced idolatry  after  the    deluge. 
Others  believe,  that  it  was  Nimrod, 
and  that  he  instituted  the  worship  of 
fire  among  his  subjects,  which  sub- 
sisted  so   long   a    time  in     Persia. 
Others  will  have  it,  that  Ham  the  son 
of  Noah  was  the  inventor  of  idolatry. 
Some  likewise  charged  his  son  Ca- 
naan with  this  crime. 

Groves  and  high  places  are  men- 
tioned in  scripture,  and  the  more  ef- 
fectually to  guard  the  Israelites  from 
idolatry,  God,  in  instituting  the  rights 
of  their  own  worship,  went  directly 
contrary  to  the  practice  of  the  idola- 
trous nations.  Thus,  because  they 
worshipped  in  groves,  he  expressly 
Ibrbade  the  planting  of  a  grove  of  trees 
near  Ms  altar,  Deut.  xvi.  21.      Nor 


I  D  O 


(     16     ) 


J  E  A 


would  he  suffer  his  people  to  offer 
their  sacrifices  on  the  tops  of  hills 
and  mountain?,  as  the  Heathens  did ; 
but  ordered  that  thej'  should  be 
brought  to  one  altar  in  the  place 
which  he  appointed,  Deut,  xiii.  13, 
14.  And  as  for  the  groves,  which 
the  Canaanites  had  planted,  and  the 
Idols  and  altars  which  they  had 
erected  on  the  tops  of  high  moun- 
tains and  hills  for  the  worship  of 
their  gods,  the  Israelites  are  com- 
manded utterly  to  destroy  them, 
Deut.  xii.  2,  3.  The  groves  and 
high  places  do  not  seem  to  have 
been  different;  but  the  places  or 
grove?  planted  on  the  tops  of  hills, 
probably  round  an  open  area,  in 
which  the  idolatrous  worship  was 
performed;  as  may  be  inferred  from 
Ho3.  iv.  13.  The  use  of  groves  for 
religious  worship  is  generally  sup- 
posed to  have  been  as  ancient  as  the 
patriarchal  ages;  for  we  are  inform- 
ed that  Abraham  planted  a  grove  in 
Beersheba,  and  called  there  on  the 
name  of  the  Lord,  Gen.  xxi.  33. 
However,  it  is  not  expressly  said, 
nor  can  it  by  tliis  passage  be  proved, 
that  he  planted  the  grove  for  any  re- 
ligious purpose;  it  might  only  be 
designed  to  shade  his  tent.  The  most 
probable  conjecture  concerning  the 
performance  of  religious  rites  and 
ceremonies  in  groves,  seems  to  be, 
that  it  began  with  the  worship  of 
demons,  or  departed  souls.  It  was 
an  ancient  custom  to  bury  tlie  dead 
under  trees,  or  in  woods.  Deborah 
was  buried  under  an  oak,  near  Beth- 
el, Gen.  XXXV.  8.  Now  an  imagina- 
tion prevailed  among  the  Heathens, 
that  the  souls  of  the  deceased  hover 
about  their  graves,  or  at  least  resolve 
to  visit  their  dead  bodies ;  the  ido- 
laters, who  paid  divine  honours  to 
the  souls  of  their  departed  heroes, 
erected  images  and  altars  for  their 
worship  in  the  same  groves  where 
they  were  buried;  and  thence  the 
custom  of  planting  groves,  and  build- 
ing temples,  near  the  tombs  of  de- 
parted heroes,  2  Kings  xxiii.  15,  16. 
and  to  surround  their  temples  and 
altars  with   groves  and   trees;   and 


these  sacred  groves  being  constantly 
furnished  with  the  images  of  the  he= 
roes  or  gods  that  were  worshipped 
in  them,  a  grove  and  an  idol  came 
to  be  used  as  convertible  terms,  2 
Kings  xxiii.  6.  These  sacred  groves 
were  usally  planted  on  the  tops 
of  hills  or  mountains;  whence 
they  are  called  in  scripture,  bamah, 
high  places.  Perhaps  such  an  ex- 
alted situation  was  chosen  by  idola- 
ters, in  respect  to  their  chief  god,  the 
sun,  whom  they  worshipped,  toge- 
ther Avith  their  inferior  deities,  on 
the  tops  of  hills  and  mountains,  for 
the  sake  of  retirement  from  noise 
and  disturbance  in  their  acts  of  wor- 
ship. And  on  this  account,  proba- 
bly, the  worshippers  of  the  true  God 
had  also  their  proseucha.,  or  places  of 
retirement  for  worship,  generally  on 
hills  or  high  places.  Accordingly, 
we  read  that  Christ  went  up  into  a 
mountain  apart  to  praif.  Matt.  xiv. 
23.  And  at  his  transfiguration,  he 
retired  with  three  of  his  disciples  to 
the  top  of  a  high  mountain  apart. 
Matt.  xvii.  1.  We  see  no  reason 
therefore,  to  conclude,  that  those 
high  places,  of  which  we  read  in  the 
Old  Testament,  where  holy  men 
and  worshippers  of  the  true  God 
paid  their  devotion,  Avere  the  sacred 
groves  of  the  idolaters;  but  rather 
they  were  Jewish  proseticho",  or  sy- 
nagogues. Such  Avere  the  high 
l)laces  by  the  city  Avhere  Samuel 
lived,  and  Avhere  he  sacrificed  Avith 
the  people,  1  Sam.  ix.  12 — 14.  and 
upon  the  hill  of  Gath,  Avhere  Avas  ei- 
ther a  school  of  the  prophets,  or  they 
had  been  hither  to  pay  their  devo- 
tion, Avhen  Saul  met  them,  1  Sam. 
X.  5 — 13.  And  of  the  same  sort  Avas 
the  great  high  place  at  Gibeon, 
where  Solomon  sacrificed,  and  where 
God  appeared  to  him  in  a  dream, 
1  Kings  iii.  4,  5. 

JEALOUS,  suspiciously  vigilant, 
either  against  adultery  or  dan- 
ger. God's  jealously  or  zeal,,  de- 
notes his  distrust  of  creatures;  his 
eminent  care  for  his  people  and  or- 
dinances, and  his  readiness  to  punish 
such  as  injure  them,    Zech.  i.    14. 


J  E  H 


(    17    ) 


J  E  n 


Zeph.  i.  18.  Exo(Uti\.  r>.  Paul's 
holy  jealousy  over  tho  Coriiillnans, 
was  an  earnest  concern  for  their  wel- 
fare, and  a  holy  fear  that  they  had 
done,  or  might  do,  something  wrong, 
2  Cor.  xi.  7. 

JEBUSITES,  inhabitants  of  Jc- 
tnts,  a  tribe  of  the  Cunaanites  that 
dwelt  about  Jerusalem,  and  the  /noun- 
taiuous  country  adjacent,  Numb,  xiii. 
29.  Joshua  cut  off  multitudes  of 
them,  and  soon  after  Jerusalem  was 
taken  from  them;  but  they  quickly 
recovered  it,  Judg.  i.  21.  When, 
about  400  years  after,  David  at- 
tempted to  wrest  this  city  from  them, 
they  rudely  insulted  him,  as  if  their 
blind  and  lame  were  capable  to  de- 
lend  their  well-fortified  walls  against 
all  his  army.  Joab,  however,  toolc 
the  city,  and  no  doubt  killed  multi- 
tudes of  them.  Yet  numbers  of  them 
Ecem  to  have  been  spared,  of  which 
Araunah  was  one,  2  Sam.  v.  and 
Sxiv.  16.  Ekron  shall  be  as  a  Je- 
bitsitc ;  the  Philistines  shall  be  re- 
duced by,  and  incorporated  with,  the 
Jewish  nation  ;  or  shall  be  converted 
to  Christianity  by  Jesus''s  power,  as 
the  Jebusites  were  reduced  by  Da- 
vid, Zech.  ix.  7. 

JEDUTHUN.      See    Ethan. 

JEHOAHAZ,  the  possession  of 
Uic  Lord,  or  the  Lord  seeing,  (1.) 
The  same  as  Aiiaziah,  grandson  of 
Jehoshaphat.  (2.)  The  son  of  Jehu  : 
lie  wickedly  followed  the  example  of 
Jeroboam  the  son  of  Nebat.  To  pun- 
ish his  and  his  people's  wickedness, 
God  gave  them  np  to  the  fury  of  Ha- 
zael  the  Syrian,  who  reduced  the  tejn 
tribes  to  such  a  degree,  that  Jehoahaz 
had  but  ten  chariots^  50  horsemen, 
and  10,000  footmen,  left  him  in  his 
army.  After  he  had  reigned  1 7  years, 
from  A.  M.  3148  to  3165,  he  died, 
and  Jehoash,  who  had  been  installed 
two  years  before,  became  sole  king; 
2  Kings  xiii.  (3.)  Jehoahaz,  or 
Shallum,  the  son  of  Josiah.  He  was 
not  the  eldest;  however,  the  people 
judged  him  fittest  to  govern  in  that 
critical  juncture,  when  Pharaoh-ne- 
cho  had  but  just  killed  his  father ; 
and,  it  seems,  to  prevent  dispi^tes 
Vofc.  II, 


about  his  right,  they  solemnly  anoint- 
ed him.  Me  had  reigned  but  three 
months,  wheij  Pharaoh,  returning 
from  Carclieinish  a  conqueror,  or^ 
dered  him  to  attend  him  at  Riltlath, 
stript  him  of  his  royalty,  and  carried 
him  a  prisoner  to  Egypt,  where  he 
died;  and  placed  Jehoiakim,  hjs  el- 
der brother,  who  perhaps  was  (hen 
a  prisoner  in  Pharaoh's  army,  kinj; 
in  his  stead,  1  Chron.  iii.  15.  2 
Kings  xxiii.  30 — 32.  Jer.  xxii,  11. 
2  Chron.  xxxvi.  1 — 4. 

JEHOASH.     See   JoAsir. 

JEHOIACHIN,  preparation  ov 
strength  of  the  Lard,  Coniah  or 
Jeconiaii,  the  sonof  Jehoiakim,  and 
grandson  of  Josiah.  It  seems,  his 
father  installed  him  when  he  was 
but  eight  years  of  age ;  and  after  hia 
father's  death,  A.  M.  3404,  he,  at 
18,  succeeded  to  the  sole  govern- 
ment. Aftej  a  short  and  wicked 
reign  of  three  months  and  ten  days, 
Nebuchadnezzar,  king  of  Babylon, 
came  up  and  besieged  Jerusalem; 
JehoJachin,  with  Nelaushta  his  mo- 
ther, and  his  wives,  princes,  and 
servants,  surrendered  themselves ; 
and  with  the  principal  arliticers, 
judges,  and  warriors,  to  the  number 
of  18,000,  aiid  the  treasures,  and 
pait  of  the  vessels  of  the  temple, 
were  carried  to  Babylon,  Jer.  xxii. 
24.  2  Kings  xxiv.  8-— 16.  2  Chron. 
xxxvi.  9,  10.  After  37  years  im- 
prisonment in  Chaldea,  Evil-mero>- 
dach  released  him,  and  raised  him  to 
considerable  dignity,  2  Kings  xxv. 
27—30.  Jer.  Iii.  31—34.  Jeremiah 
wascommanded  by  the  Lord  to  write 
him  childless  ;  but  either  that  related 
only  to  his  having  no  children  sit- 
sting  on  the  throne  of  Judah,  or  he 
had  adopted  a  variety  of  chil- 
dren ;  for  we  find  Salathiel,  Malchi- 
ram,  Pedaiah,  Shenazar,  Jacamiali, 
Hoshama,  and  Nedabiali,  mentioned 
as  his  children,  Jer.  xxii.  24 — 30, 
1  Chron.  iii.  17,  18.  Jechonias,  in 
Matt.  i.  11.  sjeems  to  signify  Jehoia- 
kim. 

JEHOIADA.     See  JoAsn. 

JEHOIAKIM,    the  avenging,  or 
confirmation  of  the  Lord,    the  elder. 


J  E  H 


C    IS   ) 


J  E  H 


som  of  Joslah.  When  Pharaoh-necho 
killed  Josiah,  he  probably  took  Elia- 
kirn  prisoiijer:  in  his  return  home,  he 
made  hitn  king  instead  of  Jehoahaz, 
changed  liis  name  to  Jehoialcim,  and 
laid  him  under  a  tribute  of  39,693/. 
1 5s.  sterling.  This  money  Jehoiakiin 
exacted  of  his  subjects  according  to 
their  ability.  At  25  years  of  age  he 
began  his  reign,  and  sat  on  the  throne 
11  years.  He  wickedly  oppressed 
In's  subjects,  to  procure  money  to 
build  himself  a  palace;  he  kept  back 
part  of  the  hire  of  his  workmen  :  he 
abandoned  himself  to  inhumanity 
and  avarice,  Jer.  xxii.  13 — 23.  he 
hated  the  prophets,  who  warned  him 
or  his  people  to  repent  of  their  wick- 
edness, or  threatened  the  judgments 
of  God  against  him.  Urijah,  one  of 
them,  fled  for  his  life  into  Eg3'^pt, 
but  Jehoiakim  sent  Elnathan  the  son 
of  Achbor,  possibly  his  father-in-la^v, 
with  a  troop,  to  bring  him  back; 
they  then  murdered  him,  and  cast 
his  corpse  into  the  grave  of  the 
common  people,  Jer.  xxvi.  20 — 23. 
In  the  fourth  year  of  his  -reign,  he 
had  a  copy  of  Jeremiah's  predictions 
brought  before  him  by  Elishama  the 
scribe,  Delaiah  the  son  of  Shemaiah, 
Elnathan  the  son  of  Achbor,  Gema- 
riah  the  son  of  Shaphan,  and  Mlcha- 
iah  his  son,  and  Zedekiah  the  son  of 
Hananiah.  Jehudi,  who  perhaps  was 
a  scribe,  had  scarcely  read  three  or 
four  leaves,  when  Jehoi«kim,  not- 
withstanding the  intercession  of  El- 
nathan, Delaiah,  and  Gemariah,  cut 
the  roll  with  a  penknife,  and  cast  it 
into  the  fire;  and  sent  Jerahmeel  the 
son  of  Hammelech,  Seraiah  the  son 
of  Azriel,  and  Shelemiah  the  son  of 
Abdeel,  to  apprehend  Jeremiah  and 
Baruch ;  but  the  Lord  knowing  his 
nmrderous  intentions,  kept  them  out 
of  bis  hands.  This  did  but  draw 
down  new  curses  on  his  head.  Ne- 
buchatlnezzar  having  routed  the  ar- 
my of  Pharaoh  at  Carchemish,  pur- 
sued his  victor}^  rendered  himself 
master  of  Canaan  and  part  of  Phe- 
nice.  Jehoiakim  was  taken  prisoner 
\i\  Jerusalem,  and  put  in  chains,  to 
be  carried  to  Bahylon;  but  uu  his 


submission  to  the  conqueror's  terms 
A\  as  restored  to  his  kingdom.  After 
he  had  continued  three  years  a  peace- 
ful tributary,  he  thought  to  have  sha- 
ken off  the  yoke.  Nebuchadnezzar 
detached  a  part  of  his  army  against 
him,  the  rest  being  it  seems  employed 
in  the  siege  of  Nineveh  :  these,  with 
bands  of  Syrians,  Moabites,  and  Am- 
monites, terribly  harassed  the  king- 
dom of  Judah.  After  four  years, 
Nebuchadnezzar,  having  taken  Ni- 
neveh, came  in  person.  Jehoiakim 
was  taken  prisoner,  put  to  death,  and 
his  body  cast  into  a  common  sewer, 
in  the  manner  of  the  unburied  car- 
cass of  an  ass,  2  Kings  xxiv.  2  Chr. 
xxxvi.  Jer.  xxii.  18,  19.  and  xxxvi. 
30.  Perhaps  Jehoiakim  is  put  for 
the  brother  of  Jehoiakim,  viz.  Zede- 
kiah; or  the  yokes  were  made  under 
Jehoiakim,  but  not  sent  till  Zedekiah 
was  king,  Jer.  xxvii.  7. 

JEH0NADA15.     SeeKENiTES. 

JEHORAM.     See  Joram. 

JEHOSHAPHAT,  the  Lord  is 
judge,  or  the  judgment  of  the  Lord, 
the  son  of  Asa  king  of  Judah,  by 
Azubah  the  daughter  of  Shilhi.  At  33 
years  of  age,  he  succeeded  his  father, 
J.  M.  3090,  and  reigned  25  years. 
To  strengthen  himself  against  the 
kingdom  of  the  ten  tribes,  he  placed 
strong  garrisons  in  all  the  cities  of  Ju- 
dixh,  and  in  those  cities  which  his  fa- 
ther had  taken  from  the  Israelites. 
The  more  his  riches  and  honour  in- 
creased, the  more  his  heart  was  lifted 
u]>  in  the  ways  of  the  Lord.  In  the 
third  year  ofhis  reign,  he  ordered  Ben- 
hail,  Obadiah,  Zechariah,  Nathaniel, 
and  Michaiah,  princes,  with  Elishama 
and  Jehoram,  priests,  and  Shemaiah, 
Nethaniah,  Zebadiah,  Asahel,  Shem- 
iramoth,  Jehonathan,  Adonijah,  To- 
bijah,  and  Tob-adonijah,  Levites,  to 
go  through  the  cities  of  Judah,  and 
teach  the  people  the  law  of  the  Lord. 
To  reward  his  zeal,  God  made  his 
neighbours  to  revere  him  :  the  Philis- 
tines and  Arabs  brought  him  large  pre- 
sents of  flocks  or  money  ;  while,  be- 
sides his  garrisons,  he  had  an  enrolled 
militia  of  1,160,000  under  his  gene- 
rals Adndb,  Jelio'hunau,    Amasiah, 


J  E  H 


(     10     ) 


J  E  II 


Eliada,  and  Jehozabail,  2  Chron. 
xvii.  Unhappily,  he  joincMlinafllnily 
with  the  wicktMl  Auab,  anil  married 
his  son  Jchorain  to  Alhaliah  the 
daiigihter  of  Ahab.  This  occasi<med 
his  being  at  Samaria,  an(\  assist  in"; 
Ahab  to  retake  Itainolh-gileatl  iVoni 
the  Syrians;  in  which  war,l)y  the  trea- 
cherous artifice  of  Al«ab,  he  had  lost 
his  life  by  the  Syrian  forces,  had  not 
Cod,  at  his  request,  moved  them  to 
leave  him.  On  his  return  to  Jeru- 
salem, .lehu  the  son  of  Hanani,  a  pro- 
phet, rebuked  him  sharply  for  assist- 
ing Ahab,  a  noted  idolater;  and  as- 


but  the  gathering  of  the  ppoil  look 
them  up  three  days:  the  fourth  <lay 
(hey  observed  a  soleniu  thanksgiving 
to  (Jod,  in  the  valley  called,  front 
(hat  event,  the  valley  of  Jkrachak, 
or  bb.'ssing.  A  few  months  after, 
Jehoshaplmt  joined  his  fleet  hound 
for  Tarsliish,  with  that  of  thi-  ini|)ious 
Ahaziah,  elder  son  of  Ahab.  Ac- 
cording to  the  preiiiction  of  Eliezer, 
the  son  of  Dodavah,  of  Maresha,  the 
fleet  was  dashed  to  pieces  b}'  a  storm 
before  Ezion-geber.  Not  very  long 
after,  Jehoahaphat  and  his  deputy, 
the  king  of  Edoni,  marched  with  the 


sured  him,  that  wrath  fiom  the  Lord  I  wicked  Jehoram,  second  son  of 
hung  over  his  family  and  kingdom  on|  Ahab,  against  the  Moabites,  and  had 
that  account.  Taking  this  faithful 'all  perished  with  thirst,  had  not  Eli- 
admonition  in  good  part,  Jehosha-|sha  procured  them  a  miraculous  sup- 
phat  applied  himself  with  the  utmost;  ply  of  water.  Jehoshaphat  was 
earnestness  to  establish  the  best  civil!  scarcely  dead,  when  the  vengeance 


and  religious  order  in  his  kingdom  : 
the   sodomites,     but   not   the   high 
places,  were  removed.    Scarcely  was 
this  finished,  when  he  was  informed, 
that  a  powerful  league  of  Edomites, 
Ishmaelites,  Hagaranes,  Giblites,  Mo- 
abites, Ammonites,  Amalekites,  Phi- 
listines, Tyrians,  and  Ashurites,  was 
formed  againfit   him;  and   that  the 
army  of  Moabites,  Ammonites,  and 
Edomites,  were  advanced  to  Engedi, 
a  place  about  38   miles  south-east  of 
Jerusalem.     Fearing  that  the  time  of 
threatening  judgments  was  at  hand, 
lie  and  his  people  at  Jerusalem  ob- 
served a  solemn  fast,  to  implore  the 
protection  of  heaven;  and  himself 
prayed,  as  the  mouth  of  the  multi- 
tude, in  the  new  court  of  the  temjile. 
His  prayers  were  heard.     Jahaziel,  a 
prophet,  assured  him  of  an  easy  and 
miraculous   victory,    near  the  rock 
Ziz,  and  on  the   east  of  the  wilder- 
ness of  Jeruel.     The  very  next  daj'^, 
as  the   Hebrew   singers   before  the 
army  began  to  praise  the  Lord,  God 
struck   his   enemies   with  a  frenzy, 
that  they  murdered  one  another ;  and 
first  the  Edomites,  who  had  a  trea- 
cherous,   and   perhaps   a  principal, 
hand  in  this  alliance,  formed  to  root 
out  the  Israelites  from  under  heaven, 
were  destrojed.     Jehoshaphat,   and 


of  God,  occasioned  by  his  alliance 
with  the  family  of  Ahab,  in  tlic  (imo 
of  his  son  Jehoram,  and  grandson 
Ahaziah,  almost  quite  destroyed  his 
famjl}',  ami  reduced  his  kingdom  to 
the  most  wretched  condition,  1  Kings 
xxii.  and  2  Kings  iii.  2  Chron. 
xviii.  to  XX.  Psal.  Ixxxiii. 

The  Valley  ofJehosJiaphat,  was  ei- 
ther the  same  with  the  valley  of  Bc- 
rachah,  or  a  valley  between  Jerusa- 
lem and  the  mount  of  Olives;  or 
perhaps  that  mentioned  by  Joel,  sig- 
nifies no  more  than  the  valley  or 
place  where  the  Lord  shall  JiidgCf 
and  punish  them,  Joel  iii.  2,  12. 

JEHOVAH,    Jah,    and  Ehyeh- 

ASHER-EIIYEII  ;    f   flW   thot-    I  (Oily   OT 

ivill  he  what  I  will  he,  are  the  incom- 
municable names  of  God,  and  signify 
his  absolute  independency,  self-ex- 
istence, eternity,  and  his  being  the 
cause  of  existence  to  all  creatures. 
Jehovah  seems  not  to  have  been 
much  used  in  the  primitive  ages.  It 
is  not  compounded  with  any  of  their 
names,  nor  is  it  found  in  the  speeches 
of  Job  or  his  friends  :  yet  when  God 
says,  that  by  his  name  Jehovah  he 
was  not  known  to  Abraham,  Isaac, 
and  Jacob,  it  means,  that  they  had 
not  seen  it  so  fully  displayed  in  his 
giving  a  being  to,  or  fulfilling  his  pro- 


his  people  had  no  occasion  to  fight  jlmises,  as  would  soon  be  manirested, 


J  E  H 


(     20    ) 


J  E  H 


Kxod.  vi.  2.  This  name,  orten  ren- 
dered Lord  in  our  Bibles,  is  print- 
ed ia  capital  letters,  to  distinguish  it 
from  lord,  signifying  a  governor.  It 
is  oi'teii  joined  in  sacred  inscriptions 
xdlh  other  words,  as  Jehovali-jireh, 
the  Lord  will  see,  or  provide ;  Jeho- 
vah-nissi,  ike  Lord  is  my  banner  ;  Jc- 
iioh  ih-slialom,  the  Lord  will  perfect, 
ov  send  peace:  and  Jchovah-shammah, 
the  Lord  is  there.  It  is  also  com- 
pounded  with  other  words  in  a  mul- 
titude of  names,  as  in  those  begin- 
ning with  Jeho,  and  many  of  those 
in  Jo,  and  those  ending  with  iah. 
Whenever  the  name  Jehovah  is 
given  to  an  anr^el,  it  signifies,  that  he 
is  the  Angel  of  the  Covenant,  that  is, 
the  Son  of  God.  Nor  is  it  given  to 
the  church  in  Jer.  xxxiii.  16.  for 
ihe  words  would  be  better  rendered, 
He  who  shall  call  her,  is  the  Lord  our 
righteousness;  or,  He  shall  be  called 
by  her,  the  Lord  our  righteousness. j 
The  modern  Jews  superstitiously  de- 
cline pronouncing  the  name  Jeho- 
vah.— Jeva,  Jao,  Jahoh,  Jaou,  Jaod, 
and  even  the  Juha  of  the  Moors,  seem 
to  be  but  dLtferent  proaunciatious  of 
Jehovah. 

JEHU,  he  that  is,  (1.)  A  prophet 
that  rebuked  Baasha  and  Jehosha- 
PHAT,  1  Kings  svi.  1 — 7.  2  Chrcn. 
xJx.  1,  2.  (2.)  The  son  of  Jehosha- 
phat,  and  grandson  of  Nimshi,  cap- 
tain of  the  army  to  Joram,  king  of 
Israel.  In  consequence  of  a  divine 
appointment  given  to  Elijah,  Elisha, 
about  eleven  years  after  his  master's 
translation,  sent  a  j^oung  prophet  to 
anoint  him  to  be  king  of  Israel,  as  he 
commanded  the  army  at  Ramoth- 
gilead,  in  Jehoram's  absence.  The 
young  prophet  called  him  aside  from 
his  fellow-officers,  carried  him  into 
a  private  chamber,  anointed  him 
"idth  oil  in  the  name  of  the  Lord ; 
and  told  him,  he  should  cut  oft'  the 
v/hole  house  of  Ahab.  The  pro- 
phet immediately  fxed  off,  that  he 
inightnot  be  known.  Jehu  informed 
his  fellows  what  had  happened, 
end  they  acknowledged  him  king. 
After  giving  orders  that  none  should 
'^lir  from  the  camp  to  carry  tidings, 


i  Jehu  posted  oETin  his  chariot,  to  sffi-- 
prise  Joram  at  Jezreel.  Informed 
of  his  approach,  Joram  sent  one  to 
meet  him,  and  ask  if  all  was  Avell  in 
the  army.  At  Jehu's  orders,  the 
,  messenger  joined  the  company.  A 
i  second  messenger  came  up,  and  did 
,the  same.  Understanding,  by  the 
!  furious  driving  of  the  chariot,  that 
jit  was  like  to  be  Jehu  his  general, 
[Joram,  and  Ahaaiah  king  of  Judah, 
who  had  come  to  visit  him,  set  off 
I  in  their^hariots  to  meet  him.  Joram 
asked  Jehu,  if  all  things  in  the  army 
v/ere  well  and  at  peace  ?  Jehu  told 
him,  he  needed  expect  no  peace 
while  the  v/^horedoms  and  witchcrafts, 
of  Jezebel  his  mother  were  so  many. 
Joram  cried  to  Ahaziah  that  cer- 
tainly a  plot  was  laid  for  their  life, 
and  fled  off:  but  Jehu  killed  him 
with  an  arrow  shot  after  him ;  and 
ordered  Bidkar  to  cast  his  dead  body 
into  the  field  of  Naboth.  By  his 
orders  too,  Ahaaiah  was  pursued  and 
slain.  As  Jehu  rode  through  Jez- 
reel, Jezebel,  with  her  face  painted, 
looking  out  at  a  window,  asked  him, 
if  Zimri,  wlio  slew  his  master,  had 
much  prosperity  ?  Jehu,  loolfing  up, 
asked,  if  any  body  within  favoured 
him  ?  and  two  or  three  eunuchs  look- 
ed out.  At  his  orders,  they  imme- 
diately threw  Jezebel  out  at  the  win- 
dow: the  horses  trod  her  to  death, 
and  in  a  few  minutes  the  dogs  eat  up 
her  whole  body,  except  some  prin- 
cipal bones,  which  Jehu  ordered  to? 
be  interred.  Having  killed  all  that 
pertained  to  Ahab  in  Jezreel,  he  or- 
dered the  nobles  of  Samaria  to  send 
him  the  heads  of  the  70  children  of 
Ahab,  who  had  been  committed  to 
their  care.  Next  day  he  went  tQ 
Samaria,  and  having  met  42  of  the 
near  relations  of  Ahaziah,  lung  of 
Judah,  coming  to  visit  Joram  and  his 
queen,  he  ordered  them  to  be  killed 
on  the  spot.  Going  a  little  farther, 
he  met  with  Jonadab  the  son  of  Re- 
chab,  and  finding  him  hearty  in  hifi 
interest,  took  him  into  his  chariot, 
and  bid  him  go  and  see  his  zeai 
for  the  Lord.  When  he  came  to 
Samaria,  he  glew  all  that  remaiaed 


;* 


Paul  S-  Thomas,  Print. 


JEPHTHAH. 


J  E  P 


(     21     ) 


J  E  P 


jof  the  family  of  Ahab.  Under  a  pre- 
tence of  honouring;  Baal  with  a  very 
fiolenin  festival,  he  ordered  all  the 
|)ries(s  of  ilaal  in  the  kingdom  to  at- 
tend in  his  temple,  without  one  wor- 
shipper of  the  Tleltrew  God  among 
them.  Th«y  did  so.  He  ordered 
his  guards  to  fall  npon  them  in  fJie 
temple,  and  kill  them  to  a  man.  lie 
broke  down  the  image  of  Baal,  de- 
molidlied  his  tem|)le,  and  turned  it 
into  a  draught-house.  To  reward 
Jehu's  labour  in  cutting  oft' the  idola- 
trous family  of  Ahab,  and  destroy- 
ing Baal,  God  promised  to  him  and 
his  seed,  to  the  fourth  generation, 
the  crown  of  the  ten  tribes;  but  of- 
fended with  the  ambition  and  re- 
sentment Avhich  influenced  his  con- 
duct, he  threatened  to  revenge  the 
blood  of  Ahab's  family  on  his  seed. 
As  Jehu  persisted  in  the  worship  of 
the  golden  calves,  and  in  other  wick- 
edness, God  permitted  Hazael,  king 
of  Syria,  terribly  to  ravage  his  terri- 
tories. After  a  reign  of  28  years, 
Jehu  died,  J.  M.  3143,  2  Kings  ix. 
X.  Hos.  i.  4. 

JEiMUEL,  God^s  day^  or  the  Son 
pf  God,  or  Nemuel,  the  son  of  Sime- 
on, Gen.  xlvi.  10.  1  Chron.  iv.  24. 

To  JEOPARD,  is  to  expose  to 
flanger.  Jeopardy,  is  hazard,  pe- 
ril, Judg.  XV.  IS.  ' 

JEPHTHAH,  he  that  opens,  or 
mil  open,  who  succeeded  Jair  in 
judging  the  Hebrews.  He  was  the  son 
of  Gilead,  not  the  son  of  Machir,  by 
a  harlot,  a  native  of  East  Mizpeh  be- 
yond Jordan.  When  his  father's 
lawful  children  expelled  him  the  fa- 
mily, he  retired  into  the  land  of  Tob, 
and  commanded  a  gang  of  robbers. 
The  Hebrews  on  the  east  of  Jordan, 
liaving  been  long  oppressed  by  the 
Ammonites,  and  knowing  his  valour, 
begged  that  he  would  be  their  cap- 
tain, and  lead  them  against  the  ene- 
my. He  reproached  them  with  their 
expulsion  of  him  from  liis  father's 
house;  but  on  their  repeated  en- 
treaties, he  offered  to  be  their 
leader,  if  they  would  submit  to  him 
as  their  chief  after  the  war  should 
be  ended.     They  gave  hirn  their 


oath  that  they  would.  After  lii> 
instalment,  he,  without  success, 
expostulated  with  the  king  of  the 
Anunonites,  on  the  unjustneps  of  hi>» 
pretensions  to  the  land  of  Gilead; 
and  represented,  that  neither  Balak, 
nor  any  other,  for  about  300  year?, 
pretended  to  any  such  claim ;  that 
as  the  Israelites  claimed  no  territory 
but  what  had  been  given  them  by 
God,  he  would  refer  the  matter  to  a 
divine  decision  by  the  sword,  unles;* 
the  Ammonites  gave  up  their  ground- 
less pretensions.  As  the  haughty 
Ammonite  despised  these  just  expos- 
tulations, Jephthah,  animated  by  the 
Lord,  levied  an  army  of  the  Hebrews, 
on  the  cast  of  Jordan.  As  he  pre- 
pared for  battle,  he  rashly  vowed, 
that  if  the  Lord  should  prosper  him, 
he  would  devote  to  him  whatever 
should  first  meet  him  from  his  house. 
A  battle  was  fought,  and  Jephthah 
being  conqueror,  ravaged  the  coun- 
try of  Ammon.  In  his  return  home, 
his  only  daughter,  with  timbrels  and 
dances,  was  the  first  who  met  him 
from  his  house.  At  the  sight  of  her, 
Jephthah  cried  out  that  she  had  trou- 
bled him.  On  hearing  the  matter, 
his  daughter  consented  that  he  should 
do  with  her  according  to  his  vow. 
She  only  begged  he  would  allow  her 
two  months  to  go  up  and  down  in 
the  mountains,  along  with  her  com- 
panions, and  bewail  her  virginity. 
After  she  had  done  with  this  mourn- 
ing, she  returned  to  her  father,  who 
did  with  her  according  to  his  vow. 
What  this  vow  was,  is  disputed  by 
commentators.  Those  who  su[)pose 
that  she  was  sacrificed,  allow  the  sa- 
crifice to  have  been  abominable ;  bat 
remark,  that  the  law  allowed  of  the 
redemption  of  nothing  devoted  under 
the  form  of  a  curse:  that  in  Jeph- 
thah's  age,  idolatry  and  ignorance 
greatly  prevailed;  that  Jephthah'^ 
manner  of  life  promised  small  ac- 
quaintance with  the  law :  that  about 
this  time  the  high  priesthood  was 
transmitted  from  the  family  of  Elea- 
zar  to  that  of  Ithamar,  %vhich  was 
probablj^  occasioned  by  some  horri- 
ble crime :  that  vows  of  perpetual 


\ 


J  E  P 


(     22     ) 


J  E  R 


rirginity  are  matters  of  a  far  laterlthali,  would  heliave  offered  up  thai 
date  :  that  if  there  had  been  no  more  for  a  burnt-offering  ?     No :  because 


in  it  but  perpetual  virginity,  Jeph- 
Ihah  had  too  small  occasion  for  such 
agony  of  mind,  and  tearing  of  his 
clothes  at  the  sight  of  his  daughter : 
tliat  the  plain  tendency  of  the  whole 
passage  is,  to  persuade  us  that  she 
was  sacrificed:  that  not  long  after 
this,  the  story  of  one  I|)higenia,  or 
the  daughter  of  Jephthah,  being  sa- 
crificed by  her  father,  Avas  spread 
through  no  s?nall  part  of  the  east, 
though  a  different  scene  was  fixed 
for  it.  On  the  other  hand,  those 
writers  who  suppose  her  to  have 
been  doomed  to  virginity,  observe 
how  unlawful  such  a  sacrifice  would 
have  been :  that  Jephthah  might 
have  redeemed  her  at  perhaps  no 
more  than  ten  pieces  of  silver,  of 
which  neither  himself  nor  the  priest 
could  be  ignorant :  and  that  the  word 
relative  to  the  custom  of  tlie  Hebrew 
♦laughter?,  which  we  render  lament, 
signifies  to  talk  with;  and  so  impli- 
i^d,  that  Jephthah's  daughter  was  in 
life.  They  likewise  observe  on  ver. 
37,  38.  that  she  bewailed  not  her 
ileath,  but  her  virginity :  but  the  for- 
mer Avould  certainly  have  been  the 
chief  cause  of  lamentation,  if  that 
had  been  vowed.  And  on  ver.  39. 
where  it  is  said,  that  he  did  with  her 


God  had  expressly  forbidden  this. 
And  had  he  not  expressly  forbidden 
murder  ?  But  Mr.  Poole  thinks  the 
story  of  Agamemnon's  offering  up 
Iphigenia  took  its  rise  from  this.  Pro- 
bably it  did.  But  then  let  it  be  ob- 
served, Iphigenia  was  not  murdered. 
Tradition  says,  that  Diana  sent  a 
hind  in  her  stead,  and  took  the  mai»l 
to  live  in  the  woods  with  her.  Should 
any  difficulty  remain  from  the  use  of 
the  conjunctive  particle,  and,  in  ver. 
31,  it  may  be  observed,  that  this  is 
frequently  put  for  the  disjunctive,  or» 
as  Exod.  xxi.  10,  17.  Lev.  vi.  3,  5. 
2  Sam.  ii.  19,  etc.  and  so  the  mean- 
ing is,  That  what  I  first  meet  shatl 
STiirely  he  the  Lord's,  or,  I  tvill  offir 
it-  up  for  a  humi-qffering. 

It  appears  evident,  that  Jephthah 
acted  in  the  sincerity  of  his  heart; 
and  that  the  apostle,  in  his  trophies  of 
faith,  ranks  him  among  real,  saints, 
Judg.  xi.  Heb.  xi.  32. — Whatever 
hazard  and  loss  this  victory  over  the 
Ammonites  cost  Jephthah,  the  haugh- 
ty Ephraimites  were  so  horridly  un- 
grateful, as  to  march  over  Jordan  in 
a  body,  and  threaten  to  burn  his 
house  on  him,  for  fighting  without 
their  concurrence.  He  told  them, 
he  had  invited  them  to  a  share  in  the 


according  to  his  vow  ;  he  adds,  by  way  war,  but  they  came  not.     They  con 


of  declaration  of  the  matter  of  that 
TOAv,  and  she  knew  no  man.  They 
add,  that  the  daughters  of  Israel  went 


tinned  their  insults,  and  railed  at  the 
Gileadites,  as  a  parcel  of  vagabonds 
Ihat  had  been  oblic;ed  to  flee  their 


yearly  to  talk  with  the  daughter  of  I  country,  and  settle  on  the  east  of  Jov- 
Jephthah  the  Gileadite,  four  days  in! dan.  Enraged  at  this,  Jephthah  and 
the  year.    It  seems,  therefore,  really  his  friends  attacked  them  by  force,  and 


astonishing  that  the  general  stream 
of  commentators  sliould  take  it  for 
granted  that  Jephthah  murdered  his 
daughter !  But,  says  Mr.  Henry, "  We 
do  not  find  any  law,  usage,  or  custom, 
in  all  the  Old  Testament,  which  doth 
in  the  least  intimate,  that  a  single 
life  was  any  branch  or  article  of  re- 
ligion." And  do  we  find  any  lav\^, 
usage,  or  custom  there,  which  doth 
in  the  least  intimate,  that  cutting 

THK    THROAT    OF      AN    ONLY      CHILD, 

was  any  branch    or  article   of  reli- 


cut  off  42,000  of  them.  He  judged 
Israel  six  years,  and  died  about  A.  M. 
2823  or  2878,  Judg.  xi.  and  xii. 

JEREMIAH,  exalting  the  Lord, 
or  the  exaltation  of  the  Lord,  the 
son  of  Hilkiah,  a  priest,  proba- 
bly of  the  race  of  Ithamar,  and 
a  native  of  Anathoth.  As  God  very 
early  called  him  to  the  prophetical 
work,  he  begged  to  be  excused  be- 
cause of  his  youth;  but  God  pro- 
mised to  be  with  him,  and  render 
him  as  bold  as  if  he  were  a  bra/eti 


giou?  If  only  a  dog  had  met  Jeph- 1  wall,  in  opposition  to   the  wicketl 


I 


J  E  R 


(     23    ) 


J  E  R 


|>tince3  and  people  of  Judali.  He 
began  his  work  in  the  tiiiiteenth 
year  of  Josiah.  The  first  part  of  his 
prophecy  chiefly  consists  of  a  mix- 
ture of  invectives  agninst  the  sins  of 
the  Jews,  and  of  alarming  threaten- 
insjs  of  heavy  judgments,  and  of  some 
calls  to  repentance,  and  complaints 
of  his  own  afflictions.  Sometimes 
the  mind  of  God  was  represented  to 
liim  by  tigurative  emblems.  By  the 
visionary  emblem  of  an  almond- 
branch,  and  boiling;  pot  with  its  face 
towards  the  north,  God  represented 
that  ruinous  calamities  should  quicklj' 
come  from  Chaldea  on  the  Jewish 
nation.  By  the  marring  of  a  girdle 
in  the  bank  of  the  Euphrates,  was 
signified  the  ruinous  condition  of 
the  Jews  in  Chaldea.  By  the  em- 
blem of  a  potter  making  his  vessels, 
is  figured  out  God's  sovereign  power 
to  form  and  destroy  the  nations  at 
his  pleasure.  By  the  breaking  of  a 
vessel  on  the  wheel,  is  signified  the 
unprofitable  slate  of  the  Jewish  na- 
tion in  Chaldea,  Jer.  i.  xiii.  xviii. 
and  six.  Perhaps  a  great  part  of 
what  we  find  in  the  first  nineteen 
chajiters,  was  pronounced  before  Jo- 
siah had  carried  his  reformation  to 
perfection;  or,  during  it,  there 
might  remain  great  obstinacy  in 
sinning,  and  an  inAvard  cleaving  to 
their  idols.  It  was  also,  perhaps, 
during  this  period  of  Josiah's  reign, 
that  his  fellow-citizens  of  Anathoth 
fought  to  murder  him,  and  were 
threatened  with  ruinous  vengeance 
on  account  of  it.  Or  rather,  a  great 
part  of  these  prophecies  relate  to 
the  time  of  Jehoahaz  and  Jehoiaklm, 
chap.  i.  to  xix. 

When,  about  the  beginning  of  the 
reign  of  Jehoiakim,  he  foretold 
that  Judah  and  Jerusalem  should  be 
rendered  a  desolation,  Pashur,  the 
&on  of  Iramer  the  priest,  chief  go- 
vernor of  the  temple,  smote  him, 
and  put  him  in  the  stocks  in  the  gate 
of  Benjamin.  Jeremiah  assured  him, 
that  he  should  be  terribly  punished 
in  his  person,  and  he  and  his  family 
be  carried  away,  with  other  Jews, 
into  a  wretchetl  captivity.    He  com- 


plained of  the  slanders  that  were 
carried  about  of  hinj,  and  cursed  the 
day  of  his  birth,  Jer.  xix.  and  xx. 
He  warned  the  Jews  to  repent  of 
their  wicked  courses,  if  they  wished 
to  prevent  their  ruin.  The  priests 
and  false  prophets  attcm[)tod  to  stir 
up  the  princes  to  put  him  to  death, 
but  the  people  and  princes  opposed 
it,  and  observed,  that  iMicah  had 
predicted  the  desolation  of  Jerusiv- 
lem,  and  the  ruin  of  the  temple,  and 
yet  Hezekiah  did  him  no  hurt;  but 
he  and  liis  people  turned  to  the  Lord, 
and  the  judgments  were  prevented. 
Not  long  after,  he  predicted  the 
calamities  that  should  come  upoji  the 
Egyptians,  Philistines,  Phenicians, 
Edomites,  Arabians,  Moabites,  Am- 
monites, Syrians,  and  Persians,  by 
the  hand  of  Nebuchadnezzar,  Jer. 
XXV.  xlvi. — xlix.  It  Avas,  perhaps, 
about  this  time  that  he  formed  yokes 
of  wood  to  be  sent  by  the  ambassa- 
dors of  these  nations  to  their  re- 
spective masters  as  a  token  of  their 
servitude  to  Nebuchadnezzar,  and 
his  son  and  son's  son ;  though  he  did 
not  send  them  off  till  the  reign  of 
Zedekiah,  Jer.  xxvii.  1.  During 
the  4th  year  of  Jehoiakim,  he,  under 
the  emblem  of  a  cup  given  around 
to  these  nations,  and  to  the  Jews', 
Medes,  and,  after  all,  to  the  Chal- 
deans, predicted  terrible  and  stupi- 
fying  calamities  to  come  on  then;. 
Jer.  XXV.  In  the  ninth  month  ol 
this  year,  he  caused  Baruch  to  w  rile 
out  a  copy  of  all  his  prophecies 
which  he  had  uttered,  and  to  read 
them  before  the  people  on  a  fast-day 
appointed  by  the  king,  in  order  to 
excite  them  to  repentance.  Mi- 
chaiah,  a  young  prince,  informed 
his  father,  Gemariah,  Delaiah,  and 
other  princes:  they  sent  Jehudi  to 
bring  Baruch  and  the  roll.  Barucii 
read  it  to  them,  and  they  were  much 
aftected:  they  advised  Baruch  and 
Jeremiah  to  hide  themselves,  while 
they  informed  the  king  of  these  pre- 
dictions. Scarcely  had  the  king 
heard  a  few  leaves  read,  Avhen  he 
cut  and  burnt  the  roll,  and  sought 
for  Jeremiah  and  Baruch,    to  put 


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J  E  R 


<iiem  to  death;   but  the  Lord  kept 
them  hid.     By  the  directiou  of  God, 
Jeremiah. caused  Earuch  to  write  a 
new    roll,   acd  added   to  it  several 
threatenings  not  in  the  formei-,  and 
also   predictions  of  Jehoiakim's  un- 
happy death,  Jer,  xxxvi.  It  was  like- 
wise during  the  reign  of  Jehoiaki/n, 
that,  by  trying  the  Rechabites  witli 
drinking  of    Avine,    he   figurative! 
showed  the  unreasonable   nature  of 
the  Jews'  rebellion  agaiiist  the  com- 
mands of  their  heavenly  Father;  antl 
predicted  a    happy  reward   to    the 
Rechabites   for   their  obedience    to 
their  earthly  parent,  Jer.  xxxv.  To- 
wards the  end  of  this  reign  he  de- 
iiounced  judgments   on  Jehoiakim, 
ior  his  pride,  o{)pression,  and  other 
wickedness;  and  soon  after,  on  Je- 
Iioiachin;  and  the  rulers  of  church 
and  state  in  Judah,  chap.  xxii.  and 
xxiii.      In  the  beginning  of  Zede- 
kiah's  reign,  he  delivered  the  yokes, 
emblematic  of  slavery,  to  the  ambas- 
sadors  of  the  various  nations  con- 
cerned, to  be  sent  to  their  masters. 
To  represent  the  hastening  ruin  aaid 
Slavery  of  the  Jews,  he  wore  a  j'^oke 
and  chain  on  his  ov/n  neck,  and  ad- 
vised Zedekiah  to  submit  to  bond- 
age,  as  the  means  of  escaping  ruin. 
Hananiah,  the  son  of  Azur,  of  Gibe- 
on,  a  false  prophet,  broke  his  yoke, 
and  told  the  peopJe  present  in  the 
court  of  the  temple,  that  so  the  Lord 
would  in  two  years  break  or  finish 
the  bondage  of  the  nations  to  the 
Chaldeans.  Jeremiah  ironically  wish- 
ed it  might  be  as  he  had  said,  but 
hinted  there    was  little   ground   to 
expect  it;   and  soon  after  told  Ha- 
naniah,  that  his  uttering  falsehood 
in  the  name  of  the  Lord  should  be 
punished  with  death  that  very  year ; 
which   accordingly   happened,   Jer. 
xxvii.  and  xxviii.     About  this  time 
he  had  his  vision  of  two  baskets  of 
jigs;   the   one  very  good   and   the 
other  very  bad;   by  which  was  re- 
presented  the   piety  and  happiness 
of  many  that  had  been  carried  cap- 
tive to  Babylon  with  Jehoiachin,  and 
the   wickedness  and  ruin  of   those 
who  remained  ia  Jerusalem,  chap. 


xxiv.     Soon  after,  he  sent  a  letler^ 
to  the  captives  in  Babylon,  advising 
them  to  cultivate   fields,  and  build 
houses,  and  pray  for  the    peace   of 
the  country,    as  they  might  expect 
70  years'  continuance  in  Babylon, 
at  the  end  of  which  they  should  be 
delivered :   and   denounced   terrible: 
judgments  of  burning  to  death  by 
the  Chaldeans,  to  Ahab  the  son  of 
Kolaiah,  and  Zedekiah  the  son  of 
Maaseiah,  two  false  j>rophets.    Thia 
letter  he  sent  by  the  hand  of  Elasab 
the  son  of  Shaphan,  and  Gemariah 
the  son  of  Hilkiah,  whom  Zedekiah^ 
sent  probably   with   his   tribute   to 
Nebuchadnezzar.       On    account  of* 
this  letter,  Shemaiah,  a  Nehelandte, 
or  dreamer,  informed  Zephaniah  the 
son  of  Maaseiah  the  priest  at  Jeru- 
salem, and  desired  him  to  put  Jore' 
miah  in  the  stocks  as   a  madman. 
This  letter  was  read  to  Jeremiah  J 
and   he  predicted  the  ruin  of  She- 
maiah and  his  family,  chap.  xxix. 
Twice  this  same  Zephaniah  was  sent 
by  Zedekiah  to  Jeremiah,  to  beg  his 
prayers  for  the  kingdom,  as  it  was  in 
danger  from  the  Chaldeans;  but  he 
assured  the  king,  that  the  city  and 
nation  shouki  be  destroyed  for  their 
wickedness,  chap.  xxxi.  and  xxxvii. 
This  happened  about  the  9th  year  of 
Zedekiah.     His  warnings  had  such 
effect,  that  Zedekiah  and  his  peo- 
ple covenanted   to   leave   off  their 
oppressive  detention   of    their   ser- 
vants; but  they  had  scarcely  dismiss- 
ed  them,  when    they   forced  them 
back;  on  which  account,  Jeremiah 
predicted  God's  giving  the  sword  a 
commission  to  destroy  them,  chap,* 
xxsiv.     When  the  Chaldeans  raised 
the  siege  of  Jerusalem,   to  go  and 
fight  the  Egyptians,  Jeremiah  assur- 
ed the  Jews  they  needed  expect  no 
real  advantage  from  the  Egyptians, 
and  that  the  Chaldeans  would  take 
Jerusalem   and    burn  it   with    fire* 
Meanwhile,    Jeremiah   intended   to 
leave  the  city.     Urijah,  the  son  of 
Shelemiah,  apprehended  him,   as  if 
he  had  intended  to  surrender  himself 
to  the  Chaldeans.     The  princes  casf. 
him  iato  the  duogeoia.      Being  sent 


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.1  E  K 


i 


for  by  Zedekiah,  lie  loKl  him,  lu- 
should  fall  into  the  hands  ol'  the  kkig 
of  Babylon ;  and  begged  he  might  not 
be  returned  to  his  dungeon,  as  he  had 
given  no  oflence.  He  was  allowed 
lo  continue  in  the  court  of  the  pri- 
son. But  Sheiihatiah  the  son  of 
3Iallan,  and  Gedaliah  the  j-on  of 
Pashur,  and  two  other  princes,  of- 
fended with  his  faithful  predictions, 
hegoied  that  Zedokiah  woidd  put 
him  to  death.  Z(xlekiah  bade  them 
t\o  with  him  as  they  pleased.  They 
»hrew  him  into  a  dungeon,  whose 
bottom  was  a  deep  mire,  into  which 
.leremiali  sunk;  but  Ebcduielech 
:  oon  after  procured  liis  lil)ert3'  from 
this;  he  was  returned  to  the  court 
of  the  prison,  and  had  food  allowed 
him  every  daj'.  He  predicted  Ebed- 
melech's  preservation:  he  toid  Ze- 
dekiah, that  his  surrendering  him- 
self to  the  Chaldeans  would  save 
him  and  his  capital ;  but  if  he  did  it 
not,  it  should  be  destroyed,  and  him- 
self taken,  and  reproachfully  used, 
chap-  xxxvii.  and  x\xviii.  It  was 
during,  or  about  the  time  of  his  im- 
prisonment, that  he  foretold  the 
"happy  return  of  the  Jews  from  their 
mournful  captivity;  and  bought  a 
tield  from  Hanameel  his  cousin,  and 
laid  up  the  rights  in  an  earthen  ves- 
sel, as  a  token  that  he  believed  his 
seed  should  return  and  possess  it,  Jer. 
XXX.  to  xxsii.  When  Jerusalem  was 
taken,  he  was  released ;  and  Nebu- 
zar-adan  gave  him  his  choice,  either 
lo  go  to  Chaldea,  and  be  well  pro- 
vided for,  or  abide  in  Canaan  Avith 
Gedai.iah.  He  staid  witli  Geda- 
li4h.  After  that  prince  was  basely 
murdered,  Johanan  the  son  of  Ka' 
reah,  and  liis  followers,  desired  Je- 
remiali  to  consult  the  Lord  whether 
they  should  go  to  Egypt  or  not.  He, 
in  God's  name,  charged  them  AVith 
tlieir  dissimulation,  and  warned 
them  not  to  go  to  Egypt ;  but  they 
pretended,  that  not  the  Lord,  but 
Baruch,  had  directed  him  to  say 
these  things;  and  forced  him  with 
them  into  Egypt.  There,  without 
success,  he  rebuked  their  idolatry, 
and  threatened  them  with  ruin  from 
Vol.  II. 


the  hand  of  the  Chaldeans,  Jer.  xy. 
10 — 11.  and  xxxix.  to  xliv.  After 
prophesying  above  40  years,  he 
«lied  ;  hut  where,  or  in  what  manner, 
we  know  not. 

Besides  hi^  book  of  prophecies,  the 
last  chapter  of  which  was  added  by 
some  other  hand,  Jeremiah  composed 
LAMrMATioNs.  TliOBo  wliich  he 
composed  on  the  occasion  of  Josiah's 
<leath,  MC  suppose  are  lost ;  and  that 
those  which  remain,  are  what  he 
composed  on  the  destruction  of  Je 
rusalem.  Tliey  consist  of  five  chap- 
ters. In  the  first  two  ho  bewails  the 
mi-rrirs  of  the  siege :  in  the  third, 
his  own  particular  aftlictions  :  in  the 
fourth,  he  bewails  the  ruin  of  the 
temj)le  and  city,  and  the  miseries  of 
all  ranks,  kings,  princes,  Nazarites, 
(fee.  and  denounces  ruin  on  the 
Edomites  for  their  cruelty ;  in  the  fifth 
he  further  deplores  the  misery  of  his 
nation,  and  prays  for  deliverance. 
He  cliiefly  insists  on  subjects  mourn- 
ful and  ruinous;  but  has  here  and 
there  the  clearest  displays  of  mercy 
and  grace,  as  in  his  prophecy,  chap, 
iii.  and  xxiii.  and  xxx.  and  xxxi.  and 
xxxii.  and  xxxiii.  His  manner  is 
ordinarily  very  plain.  His  style  is 
not  a  little  enlivened  with  figures, 
and  is  tender  and  moving  to  admi- 
ration. His  Lamentations,  and  part 
of  his  prophecy,  as  chap.  iv.  19.  to 
26.  and  ix.  1,  &c.  are  astonishingly 
pathetic.  A  sagacious  discerner 
would  think  every  letter  written 
with  a  tear ;  every  word  the  sound 
of  a  breaking  heart;  and  the  writer 
a  man  of  sorrows,  who  scarcely  ever 
breathed  but  in  sighs,  or  spoke  but 
iji  groans. 

A  prophecy  relative  to  the  purchase 
of  the  Potter's  field  tor  30  pieces  of 
silver,  found  in  Zoch.  xi.  is  ascribed 
to  Jeremiah,  Matt,  xxvii.  9.  Per- 
haps Jeremiah  might  utter  that  pre- 
diction, and  Matthew  does  not  say 
that  he  wrote  it :  and  it  might  be 
again  uttered,  and  also  written  by 
Zechariab;  or,  as  Jeremiah  anciently 
stood  in  the  front  of  the  prophetic 
writings,  the  Jews  might  call  the 
whole  book  bv  his  name,  as  they  d*<I 
D 


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J  E  R 


the  books  of  Moses  by  their  first 
word ;  or,  as  the  ancient  Greek  co- 
pies were  often  full  of  contractions, 
what  if  zou  was  altered  into  jou  ? 
Nay,  why  should  it  appear  strange, 
to  suppose  Jeremiah  an  addition  of 
the  transcribers,  as  well   as  Cainan? 

Luke  iii.  36 

JERICHO,  his  moon,  or  month,  or 
his  S)veel  s?neU,  a  noted  city  of  the 
Beiijamites,  nearly  eight  miles  west 
from  Jordan,  19  east  from  Jerusalem, 
iind  a  little  southward  from  the  lot  of 
Ephraim,  Josh.  xvi.  1,  7.  The  ground 
was  lower  than  at  Jerusalem,  Luke 
X.  30.  It  was  extremely  fertile,  noted 
for  palm-trees,  and  the  best  of  balm : 
nor  was  there  any  want  of  venomous 
serpents.  Jericho  was  the  first  city  that 
Joshua  espied,  and  took  in  a  miracu- 
lous manner  :  he  devoted  every  per- 
son, save  R.thab  and  her  friends,  to 
ruin,  and  all  the  wealth  to  the  fire,  or  to 
the  Lord;  cursed  the  man  who  should 
rebuild  it  with  the  loss  of  his  eldest 
son  as  he  laid  the  foundation,  and  his 
youngest  as  he  hung  oa  the  gates. 
Though  another  city  of  the  same 
name,  or  called  the  City  of  Palm-trees, 
was  built  near  it,  in  or  before  the  days 
of  Ehud,  and  from  which  the  Kenites 
went  up,  Judg.  iii.  T3.  and  i.  16. 
yet,  for  about  530  years,  no  man 
dared  to  rebuild  Jericho  itself.  At 
5ast,  in  the  daysof  Ahab,  when  men 
had  cast  off  all  fear  of  God,  Hiel,  a 
Bethelite,  rebuilt  it,  and  lost  his  sons 
Abiram  and  Segnb,  according  to  the 
tenor  of  Joshua's  curse,  1  Kings 
xvi.  34.  After  it  was  rebuilt,  no 
body  feared  to  inhabit  it,  ami  there 
was  here  a  noted  college  of  young 
prophets,  foi*  whom  Elisha  cured 
the  bad  taste  o^"  the  Avater,  and 
the  barrenness,  of  the  soil,  which  it 
seems  had  followed  on  Joshua's 
curse,  2  Kings  ii.  Great  numbers 
of  priests  and  rabbins  often  dwelt 
in  it.  In  Christ's  time,  it  was  a 
splendid  city,  and  one  of  the  seals  of 
the  courts  of  goveinment  of  the  He- 
brews ;  and  near  it,  he  cured  two 
If  not  three,  blhid  men,  Mark  ix. 
Luke  xix.  If  it  was  not  almost  sur- 
ro'uitded  with  lulls,  it  had  one  tliat, 


as  it  were,  hung  over  it.  Since  the 
Romans  destroyed  it,  it  has  made  no 
great  appearance.  It  is  now  a  pooF 
village  of  about  30  houses. 

JEROBOAM,  fighting  against^ 
chiding,  or  hicreasing  the  people,  the 
son  of  Nebat  and  Zeruah  of  Zereda, 
in  the  tribe  of  Ephraim.  Solomon  ob- 
serving him  a  bold  and  enterprising 
youth,  appointed  him  to  levy  the  tax 
from  the  tribes  of  Ephraim  and  Ma- 
nasseh.  Ahijah  the  prophet  having 
found  him,  rent  his  garment  into  12 
parts,  and  gave  Jeroboam  ten  of  them, 
as  a  token  that  God  would  make  him 
king  over  ten  of  the  Hebrew  tribes. 
He,  Avithout  waiting  for  Solomon's 
death,  began  to  prepare  the  people 
for  a  revolt.  Informed  of  it,  Solomon 
sought  to  apprehend  him  ;  but  he  fled 
into  Egypt,  whose  king,  Shishak,  was 
disgusted  with  Solomon.  Provoked 
with  the  foolish  answer  of  Rehobo- 
am  to  their  petition  for  redress  of 
their  burdens,  ten  of  the  tribes  re- 
volted, and  set  up  Jeroboam,  who 
was  just  returned  from  Egypt,  for 
their  king.  To  awe  his  subjects 
into  proper  subjection,  he  fortified 
Shechem,  where  he  was  made  king, 
and  rebuilt  Penuel.  God  had  pro- 
mised  to  establish  the  kingdom  to 
him  and  his  seed,  on  condition  they 
should  walk  in  the  ways  of  kins: 
David.  Instead  of  regarding  thesr 
terms,  he,  fearing  that  the  fyequenl 
attendance  of  his  subjects  at  Jerusa- 
lem on  the  worship  of  God,  might 
issue  in  their  re-submission  to  tht^ 
family  of  David,  formed  two  goldeii 
calves:  placed  the  one  at  Bethel  in 
the  south  part  of  his  kingdom,  and 
the  other  at  Dan  on  the  north  ;  and 
ordered  his  subjects  not  to  burdei> 
themselves  Avith  travelling  to  Jeru- 
salem, but  to  A\'orshi|)  the  god  Avho 
had  brought  them  out  of  the  land 
of  Egypt,  as  rejjresented  by  these 
calves.  He  built  high  j)laces,  and 
made  priests  of  the  lowest  of  the  peo- 
ple, regardless  Avhether  they  Avere 
Levites  or  not.  He  appointed  a  so 
lemn  feast  on  the  1 5th  day  of  the- 
eighth  month,  Avhich  Avas  a  nioutl 
after  the  feast  of  tabernacles.- 


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J  E  R 


When  he  had  assembled  the  |)eople 
to  begin  the  worship  of  his  idols,  he 
went  up  to  the  altar  at  Bethel  to 
olTer  sacrifices  thereon.  A  prophet 
J'rom  Judah,  but  not  Iddo,  who  lived 
a  considerable  time  alter,  cried  out. 
that  in  some  future  time,  one  Jo- 
fiiah,  a  descendant  of  David,  shmdd 
pollute  that  altar,  burning  thereon 
the  bones  of  the  idolatrous  priests, 
that  should  serve  at  it;  in  token 
whereof,  it  should  be  now  rent,  and 
the  ashes  thereof  poured  out.  Jero- 
boam stretched  out  his  hand,  and 
gave  orders  to  apprehend  him :  his 
hand  was  immediately  so  withered, 
that  he  could  not  draw  it  in  ;  the  al- 
tar was  rent,  and  the  ashes  poured 
on  the  ground.  At  Jeroboam's  re- 
quest, the  prophet,  by  prayer,  pro- 
cured the  healing  of  his  arm :  but 
refused  his  dinner  and  present,  as 
the  Lord,  in  token  of  his  detestation 
of  the  place,  had  forbidden  him  to 
eat  or  drink  in  it,  or  return  by  the 
way  he  came  to  it :  but  by  the  vil- 
lanous  pretensions  of  a  false  pro 
phet  he  was  brought  back,  and  <le- 
coyed  to  eat  and  drink.  To  punish 
his  disobedience,  a  lion  soon  after 
met  him  and  killed  him,  but  touched 
not  his  ass.  None  of  these  alarming 
f  vents  in  the  least  reformed  Jerobo- 
am. He  proceeded  to  oblige  his 
subjects  to  follow  his  idols,  and  so 
established  that  idolatry  which  at 
last  ruined  the  nation.  Nor  did  Pro- 
vidence forbear  to  punish  him  ;  his 
best  subjects  forsook  his  dominions, 
■nm\  retired  into  the  kingdom  of  Ju- 
dah :  he  had  almost  constant  wars 
with  the  family  of  David,  Rehobo- 
am  and  Abijuh,  in  which  he  had 
.'>00,000  of  his  subjects  cut  off  in  one 
f>attle.  His  only  pious  son,  Abijah, 
fell  sick.  Fearing  to  go  himself,  and 
unwilling  to  be  an  exami)le  of  con- 
sulting the  prophets  of  the  Lord,  be 
-sent  his  wife  in  disguise  to  consult 
Ahijah  if  he  should  recover.  She 
received  but  an  awful  denunciation 
of  death  on  her  child,  and  of  ruin  on 
the  whole  family.  Jerobgam  died, 
after  a  reign  of  22  years:  his  son 
^Tadab  succeeded   him,  and,  in  the 


second  year  of  his  reign,  was  mur- 
dered by  Baasha  at  the  siege  of  (Jib- 
bethon,  and  the  whole  family  de- 
stroj'cd  in  a  most  inhuman  manner, 
and  their  carcasiies  left  to  be  eaten  by 
the  dogs  and  wild  beasts,  1  Kings  si. 
2(5 — -10.  xii. — XV.  2  Chr.  x.  xiii. 

2.  .Iekoboam,  the  son  of  Joasli, 
and  great  grandson  of  Jdiu,  began 
his  reign  about  A.  M.  3179,  and 
reigned  41  years.  He  followed  the 
former  Jeroboam  in  his  idolatrous 
worship  of  the  calves.  The  Lord, 
however,  by  him,  according  to  the 
predictions  of  the  prophet  Jonah, 
restored  the  kingdom  of  the  ten 
tribes  to  its  greatest  splendowr.  All 
the  countries  on  the  east  of  Jocdan 
he  re<Iuced.  It  appears,  from  the 
writings  of  Hosea  and  Amos,  that 
idleness,  effeminacy,  pride,  oppres- 
sion, injustice,  idolatry,  and  luxury, 
mightily  prevailed  in  his  reign.  Nor 
was  it  long  after  his  death,  before 
the  Lord,  according  to  the  predic- 
tions of  Amos,  cut  ofl'  his  family 
with  the  sword.  It  was  23  years  af- 
ter his  death,  ere  his  son  Zechariah, 
could  get  himself  settled  on  the 
throno ;  and  in  six  months,  he,  and 
the  whole  family  of  Jehu  were  mur- 
dered, 2  Kings  xiv.  and  xv.  Hos.  i. 
4,  &c.  Amos  vii.  &c. 

JERUBBAAL,  let  Baal  avcngCy 
or  an  idol  overcame,  or  Jertjbbesh- 
ETH,  the  same  as  Gideon. 

JERUSALEM,  the  vision  of  peace, 
or  the  perfect  vision,  Jebus,  or  Salb:m, 
the  roost  noted  city  of  Canaan,  about 
25  miles  westward  of  Jordan,  and  42 
east  of  the  Mediterranean  Sea.  It 
was  built  on,  and  had  hills  around  it. 
Some  have  thought  it  as  ancient  as  the 
day  s  of  Melchizedek,  and  to  have  been 
his  capital.  It  is  far  more  certain  that 
it  constituted  one  of  the  more  pow 
erful  kingdoms  of  Canaan  in  the 
daj's  of  Joshua;  he  routed  Adoni- 
zedeck, .  the  king  of  it ;  but  that  he 
reduced  the  city  is  not  said.  It  was 
partly  given  to  the  tribe  of  Judah, 
and  partly  to  the  Benjamites,  Josh. 
XV.  03.  and  xviiL  28.  Not  long  af- 
ter Joshua's  death,  the  tribe  of  Ju- 
dah  took  and  burnt  it.  Judges  i.  8. 


J  E  K 


28 


J  E  R 


llie  Jebiisites  rebuilt  and  fortified  it 
to  such  a  <legree,  that  they  tliouglit 
their  bliud  and  lame  suflicient  to  de- 
fend it  ajj;ainst  all  David's  (orces. 
David,  however,  by  means  of  Joab, 
made  himself  mastei-  of  it.  He  built 
a  new  city  on  the  north-west  of  the 
former;  and  a  valley  ran  frojn  wcir! 
to  east,  between  the  two  hilis;  of 
Zion  on  the  south,  and  Acra  on  tlit 
north :  and  over  against  the  north- 
east end  of  Zion,  the  temple  was 
built  on  mount  Moriah.  Under  Da- 
vid and  Solomon,  this  city  was  ex- 
ceedingly enlarged.  We  find  10  or 
II  gates  of  it  mentioned,  v/hich  we 
suppose  situated  in  the  following 
manner:  the  sheep-gale,  near  to 
which  was  the  sheep-market,  on  the 
north-east  and  norlliward  of  the 
temjjle ;  the  Jish-gatc,  at  some  con- 
siderable distance  to  the  westward; 
the  old-gate,  or  gate  of  Dama?cus, 
still  further  westward,  and  which  is 
perhaps  the  same  as  the  high-gate  of 
Benjamin  ;  the  gate  of  Ephraim,  on 
the  north-west ;  the  valley-gate,  at 
the  west  end;  the  dung-gate,  on  Ihc 
south-west;  at  east  from  it,  ihefcim- 
tain-gate  ;  on  the  south-eitst  corner, 
the  water-gate  ;  and  at  the  east  end, 
south  of  the  temple,  the  horse-gate  ; 
and  the  Miphkad,  or  prison-gate. 
The  walls  round  Jerusalem  never 
seem  to  have  been  above  4^  miles, 
if  they  were  anciently  so  much.  On 
these  walls,  towers  were  built,  2 
Chron.  xxvi.  9.  the  tower  of  Meah, 
on  the  east;  of  Hanaueel,  on  the 
north-east ;  of  Hattanourim,  or  the 
furnaces,  on  the  west ;  and  of  Ophel, 
on  the  south.  The  city  had  but  a 
moderate  supply  of  water;  and  what 
they  had  was  brackish.  In  order 
to  prevent  Sennacherib's  having 
plenty  of  Avater  in  the  siege,  Heze- 
kiah  brought  the  stream  of  Oihon, 
which  used  to  run  along  the  south  of 
the  city,  into  it,  and  caused  it  to  run 
straight  eastward.  Pilate  brought 
water  from  Etam,  by  an  aqueduct, 
into  the  city.  It  having  become  the 
residence  of  the  syjnbols  of  the  Di- 
vine Presence,  or  the  Holy  City,  Je- 
rusalem became,    as  it  were,  com- 


mon to  all  the  tribes  of  Israel :  they 
visited  it  thrice  a  year  at  the  solemn 
feasts.  Under  Rehoboam,  it  was 
taken,  and  pillaged  by  Shishak,  I 
Kings  xiv.  20,  27.  2  Chron.  xiii.  2 
— 9,  Under  Amaziah,  it  was  taken 
by  Joash  king  of  Israel,  2  Kings  xiv. 
2  Chron.  xxv.  No  doubt  the  Assy- 
rians took  it  in  the  time  of  Manas- 
sch,  2  Chron.  xxiii.  11.  Pharaoh- 
necho  entered  it;  but  we  do  not 
find  that  he  plundered  it,  when  he 
made  Jehoiakim  king.  Nebuchad- 
nezzar ravaged  it  oftener  than  once, 
and,  after  a  siege  of  about  two  years, 
burnt  it  with  fire,  in  the  11th  year 
of  Zedekiab,  2  Kings  xxiv.  and  xxv. 
2  Chron.  xxxvi.  After  it  had  Iain 
almost  in  ruins  about  136  years,  Ne- 
hemiah,  together  with  Eliashib  the 
high  priest,  and  a  great  number  of 
others,  repaired  its  walls,  and  it  be- 
came populous  as  in  former  times. 
Ijong  after,  Ptolem}'^  took  it  by  stra- 
tagem, and  carried  off  vast  multi- 
tudes of  the  inhabitants  to  Egypt. 
Antiochus  Epiphanes  ravaged  it, 
and  murdered  about  40,000,  and 
sold  as  many  more  to  be  slaves.  Two 
j^ears  after,  ApoUonius  took  it,  anil 
murdered  multitudes  of  the  inhabi- 
tants. Many  of  the  survivors  left 
it  to  the  Heathen,  and  their  idola- 
ters. Judas  Maccabeus  retook  it, 
and  built  a  third  part  on  the  north 
bide,  which  was  chiefly  inhabited  by 
artificers.  Fompey  the  Roman  took 
it  about  sixty  years  before  our  Sa- 
viour's birth.  About  twent3'-four 
years  after,  it  was  taken  by  Socius 
the  Roman,  and  Herod.  About 
A.  D.  70,  after  a  most  miserable 
siege,  it  was  reduced  to  a  heap  of 
ruins  by  Titus.  About  fifty  or  sixty 
years  after,  a  new  city  was  built  on 
mount  Calvary,  where  there  was  for 
some  ages  a  Christian  church ;  but  the 
Jew^s  were  notallowed  to  come  near  it. 
About  A.  D.  360,  Julian,  the  apostate 
emperor,  to  falsify  our  Saviours  pre- 
diction, encouraged  the  rebuilding  of 
the  city  and  temple ;  but  fiery  erup- 
tions, and  earthquakes,  stopped  them. 
About  A.  D.  614,  tiie  Persians  took 
Jerusalem,  and  90,000  of  the  Chris 


J  E  S 


V 


2l» 


.1  B  T 


;ia(i  inhabitants  were  eacrillced  to 
Hie  uialice  of  the  Jews ;  but  i I,  was 
quickly  letakeu  by  Heraclius  (be 
Roman  eraj»eror,  and  the  Jews'  ma- 
lice returned  on  their  own  heads.  In 
A.  D.  tJ37,  tiie  Arabic  Saracens 
seized  on  it.  In  1079,  the  Seljukian 
Turks  took  it  from  tliem.  In  1099 
Godfrey  of  Bouillon,  with  his  Euro- 
pean croisades,  Avrested  it  from  these. 
In  1187,  Salatlin,  the  sultan  of 
Egypt,  took  it  from  tlie  Ciiristian 
croisades.  In  1517,  the  Ottoman 
Turks  took  it  from  the  Egyptians, 
and  remain  still  masters  of  it.  At 
present  it  is  a  place  of  about  three 
miles  circuit,  poor,  and  thin!}'  in- 
habited. On  mount  Moriah,  tliere 
is  built,  but  I  know  not  by  wliotn, 
.1  mock  temple,  inclosed  by  a  court 
of  570  paces  in  length,  and  370  in 
breadth;  afld  where  the  Holy  of  ho- 
lies stood,  is  a  Mahometan  mosque. 
No  Christian  dare  enter  this  enclo- 
sure, under  pain  of  death,-  but  Ihose 
of  different  denominations,  Papists, 
Greeks,  Armenians,  «fec.  visit  the 
church  of  our  Lord's  sepulclire,  with 
plenty  of  foolish  ceremony.  Some 
think,  that  about  the  beginning  of 
the  Millennium,  Jerusalem,  with  the 
Jews  in  it,  shall  sustain  a  terrible 
siege  from  the  armies  of  Gog  and 
Magog;  but  that  the  besiegers  shall 
be  destroyed,  Zech.  xiv.  1 — 5. 

The  gospel  church  is  called  Jenisa- 
lan  :  in  her  is  the  peculiar  presence 
of  God;  in  her  the  tribes  of  holy 
men  meet,  and  serve  him.  O  how 
beautiful  and  compact  her  form ! 
how  firm  her  foundation !  How 
strongly  fortified  and  protected,  by 
the  law?,  perfections,  and  providen- 
ces, of  God ;  how  rich,  wealthy,  and 
IVee,  her  true  members  !  how  readily 
they  Avelcome  others  to  reside  with 
them!  Gal.  iv.  26.  The  heavenly 
state  of  glory  is  called  Jerusalaru,  or 
the  New  Jerusalem^  Rev.  iii.  12. 

JESSE,  a  gift,  oblation,  or  who 
is,  the  son  of  Obed,  and  grand- 
son of  BoAZ.  His  sons  were  Eli- 
ab,  Abinadab,  Shimea,  Netha- 
neel,  Raddai,  Ozem,  and  David. 
His  daughters  were  /cruiah  Ihe  mo- 


ther of  Joab,  Abishai,  and  Asahel, 
and  Abigail  ihe  mother  of  Amasa, 
1  Chron.  ii,  1:5— 10.  Out  of  his  fu- 
mily  did  the  nif>st  and  best  ol  the 
Hebrew  kings,  nnd  even  the  Mes- 
siah, proceed,  1  Sam.  xvi.  1  Chron. 
iii.  Isa.  xi.  1.  As  by  renson  of  his 
extreme  old  age,  he  was  incaprible  1o 
attend  David  in  his  exile,  David  put 
him  and  his  wife  n\ider  the  protec- 
tion of  the  king  of  Moab.  It  is  said 
Ihat  the  Moal)ites murdered  them,  and 
so  drew  David's  resentment  ou  them- 
selves, 1  Sam.  xxii.  3,  4.  2  Sam.  viii. 

JESUS.  See  Joshua  the  son  of 
Nun;  Christ;  God. 

JETHRO,  his  excellence,  his  rc- 
remains,  or  his  posterili/,  a  priest  or 
prince  of  Midian,  the  iather-iu-law 
of  Moses.  Some  believe,  that  he  wag 
priest  to  the  true  God,  and  that  he 
maintained  the  true  religion,  as  being 
a  descendant  of  iMidian,  the  son  of 
Abraham  and  Keturah.  Moses  does 
not  disguise  his  alliance  with  Jethro's 
family,  but  invites  hijn  to  otfer  sacri- 
fices to  the  Lord,  upon  his  arrival  in 
the  camp  of  Israel,  as  one  who 
adored  the  same  God  with  the  Israel- 
ites, Exod.  xviii.  11,  12. 

The  occasion  which  gave  I\Ioses 
the  opportunity  of  making  an  alli- 
ance with  Jethro's  family  was  this ; 
IMoges  having  killed  an  Egyptian, 
who  abused  a  Hebrew,  was  obliged 
to  fly  out  of  Egypt.  He  retired  into 
the  land  of  Midian ;  and  as  he  sat 
down  near  a  well  ^vhere  Jethro's 
daughters  were  watering  their  cattle, 
there  came  some  shepherds,  who 
forced  them  away.  Moses  defended 
the  young  Women,  and  watered  their 
flock.  Their  father  being  informed 
of  what  had  passed,  sentfor  Moses  to 
his  house,  and  gave  him  his  daughter 
Zipporah  in  marriage,  Exod.  ii.  15, 
10,  17,  «tc.  By  her  Moses  had  two 
sons,  Gershom  and  Eliezer.  After 
he  had  been  forty  years  at  Jethro's, 
he  had  the  vision  of  an  angel,  who 
spoke  to  him  in  a  burning  bush,  and 
enjoined  him  to  deliver  the  Israelites 
out  of  Egypt.  Jethro  understanding 
what  the  will  of  GckI  was  in  this  par- 
ticular, permitted  hini  to  return  into 


JEW 


(     30     ) 


J  £  Z 


bis  own  country  with  his  wile  and 
children.  But  Zipporah  having  been 
obliged  to  return  to  her  father's 
house  in  Midiao,  before  she  went 
into  Egypt,  Jethro  brought  her  back 
to  Moses,  who  Avas  then  encamped 
at  the  foot  of  mount  Sinai,  about  a 
year  after  the  Hebrews  came  out  of 
Egypt,  Exod.  xviii.  1,  2,  3,  &c. 
Jethro  sending  notice  to  Moses  of  his 
arrival,  Moses  went  Out  of  the  camp, 
met  him,  fell  prostrate  before  him, 
embraced  him,  introduced  him  into 
his  tent,  and  related  to  him  all  that 
the  Lord  had  done  for  the  Israelites. 
Jethro  blessed  God  for  it,  oftered 
burnt-offerings  and  peace-offcrings, 
and  did  eat  with  Moses,  Aaron,  and 
the  elders  of  Israel,  in  the  presence 
of  the  Lord.  The  next  day,  Moses 
taking  his  seat  in  order  to  jtidge  Is- 
rael, continued  from  morning  to 
evening  employed  in  this  inanner, 
Jethro  reasoned  with  him,  that  tJiis 
was  a  fatigue  above  his  strength  to 
undergo,  and  would  be  tiresome  both 
to  himself  and  his  people  ;  that  there- 
fore he  should  choose  some  men  of 
firmness  and  fortititde,  who  feared 
God,  and  hated  covetousness,  that 
they  might  share  with  him  in  the 
weight  of  government ;  that  the  cog- 
nizance of  lesser  affairs  should  be  re- 
ferred to  them,  and  those  of  more 
consequence  should  be  reserved  to 
himself.  Moses  submitted  to  this 
advice,  as  will  be  seen  mider  the  ar- 
ticle Moses. 

When  the  Israelites  were  upon  the 
point  of  decamping  from  the  wilder- 
ness of  Sinai,  and  proceeding  on  their 
journey  towards  the  land  of  promise, 
Moses  desired  Jethro  to  continue 
with  the  people,  that  he  might  be  a 
guide  to  them;  but  Jethro  refused, 
and  returned  to  Midian,  leaving,  as 
some  believe,  Hobab  his  son,  to  con- 
duct the  Israelites  in  the  wilderness. 
This  is  all  we  know  of  Jethro,  upon 
the  authority  of  scripture :  but  the 
Jews  and  Arabians  have  published 
several  very  fabulous  accounts  relat- 
ing to  him,  which  deserve  little  notice, 

JEWEL,  a  precious  and  cosily 
ornament  of  gold,  silver;  &t;.  Jewels 


were  worn  on  the  forehead,  nose? 
ear,  and  hand :  or  even  in  the  ser- 
vice of  idols,  Ezek.  xvi.  14,  17. 
God's  people  are  his  jewels.^  or  pe- 
culiar treasure;  they  are  dear  to 
him,  rendered  comely  by  his  grace ; 
he  carefully  preserves  them ;  and  by 
them  he  shows  forth  his  honour,  great- 
ness, and  wealth,  Mai.  iii.  17.  The 
lips  of  knowledge  are  as  a  precious 
jewel ;  prudent  and  sensible  speech 
is  valuable  and  honourable,  Prov.  xx. 
15.  A  fair  woman  without  discre- 
tion, is  like  a  jewel  of  gold  in  a 
swine's  snout;  she  makes  but  a  poor 
and  fantastic  appearance,  and  debas- 
eth  her  comeliness  by  her  filthy  prac- 
tices, Prov.  xi.  22. 

JEWS,  praising,  or  confessing. 
There  is  neither  Jew  nor  Greek,  hond 
nor  free,  male  nor  female,  in  Christ  j 
none  is  regarded  before  God,  on  ac- 
count of  any  outward  circumstances; 
and  now,  under  the  gospel,  all  have 
equal  warrant  and  access  to  him,  and 
enjoy  fellowship  with  him,  in  all  the 
blessings  of  grace  and  glory,  Gal. 
iii.  28.  Col.  iii.  11.  A  Jew  outward- 
hj  is  one  who  is  a  descendant  of  Ja- 
cob, or  professor  of  the  Jewish  reli- 
gion. A  Jew  inwardly,  is  a  real 
believer,  who  lives  in  the  fear  of  God, 
answerable  to  his  profession.  See 
Hebrews,  Judah. 

JEZEBEL,  wo  to  the  habitation, 
or  wo  to  the  dunghill,  the  daugh- 
ter of  Ethbaal,  king  of  the  Zido- 
nians,  and  wife  of  Ahab,  king  of 
Israel,  1  Kings  xvi.  31.  This  prin- 
cess introduced  into  the  kingdom 
of  Samaria  the  public  worship  of 
Baal,  Ashtaroth,  and  other  Pheni- 
cian  and  Canaauitish  deities,  which 
the  Lord  had  forbidden  his  people  in 
so  express  a  manner;  and  with  this 
impious  worshij)  there  was  a  general 
l>revalency  of  all  those  abominations 
which  had  formerly  so  much  incensed 
God  against  the  Canaanites,  and  pro- 
cured their  utter  extirpation.  Je* 
zebel  was  so  zealous  for  the  honour 
of  this  false  religion,  that  she  fed  at 
her  own  table  400  prophets  belong- 
ing to  the  groves  consecrated  to  the 
goddess  Ashtaroth-;  and  her  husband 


J  E  Z 


(    -31     ) 


I  F 


Ahab  had,  in  like  manner,  four  hun- 
dred of  Baal's  prophets,  whom  he 
kept  as  the  ministers  of  his  faUe 
gods,  id.  xviii. 

Jezebel  seemed  to  have  undertaken 
the  utter  abolition  of  the  worship  of 
the  Lord  in  Israel,  by  persecuting 
and  massacring  his  propliets ;  and 
she  had  destroyed  them  all,  if  part  of 
them  had  not  been  saved  by  some 
good  men.  Obadiah,  one  of  Abab's 
officers,  for  his  share  preserved  a 
hundred.  Elijah,  who  appeared  at 
this  time,  having  obtained  fire  to  de- 
scend from  heaven  upon  his  burnt- 
otfering,  in  the  sight  of  Ahab  and  of 
all  Israel,  assembled  at  mount  Car- 
mel;  and  the  people  having  killed 
four  hundred  and  fifty  of  Baal's  pro- 
phets, who  were  then  present;  Je- 
zebel sent  a  message  to  Elijah,  de- 
claring, that  the  next  day  she  would 
take  care  he  should  be  despatched : 
whereupon  he  fled,  and  escaped  the 
fury  of  this  impious  queen,  id.  xix. 
Some  time  after,  Ahab  being  desir- 
ous of  buying  Naboth's  vineyard,  and 
this  honest  Israelite  believing  that  he 
ought  not  to  sell  it,  Jezebel  wrote  in 
the  king's  name  to  the  principal  men 
of  Jezreel,  where  he  dwelt,  requir- 
ing them  to  put  him  to  death,  and 
suborn  witnesses  who  should  accuse 
him  of  blaspheming  God,  and  vilif}-^- 
ing  the  king.  These  orders  being  ex- 
ecuted, as  Ahab  was  upon  his  return 
from  Jezreel,the  place  where  this  vine- 
yard Jay,  Elijah  met  him,  and  threat- 
ened him,  in  God's  name,  with  the 
destruction  of  himself  and  family ; 
and  as  to  J-ezebel,  wlio  had  been 
the  first  cause  of  all  this  evil,  be 
foretold  that  her  body  should  be  eat- 
en by  dogs  in  the  field  of  Jezreel,  or, 
according  to  the  Hebrew,  by  the  out- 
ward Avail  of  Jezreel,  id.  xxi.- 
These  predictions  were  literally  ve- 
rified, whejiJehu  the  son  of  Nimshi, 
rebelling  against  Ahab,  and  coming 
to  Jezreel,  Jezebel  painted  her  face, 
and  decked  iier  heatl  with  all  her  or 
naments,  and  looking  out  at  the  w  in- 
dow,  which  was  in  the  apartment 
over  the  citj''  gate ;  and  seeing  Jehu 
as  he  entered  riding  in  bis   chariot, 


she  cried  out,  Had  Zimri  peace  who 
slew  his  master  ?  Jehu  lifting  up  his 
head,  asked  who  she  was  ?  where- 
upon two  or  thiTc  eunuchs  immedi- 
ately made  him  a  very  low  rever- 
ence; and  Jehu  said  to  them,  Tlwow 
her  down.  At  which  words,  they 
that  instant  threw  her''out  of  the  win- 
dow :  and  as  she  fell  into  the  inclo- 
sure  of  the  outward  wall,  she  was 
eaten  up  by  dogs.  Jehu  coming  in 
to  refresh  himg«lf,  said  to  his  people, 
Go,  gee  what  is  become  of  this  un- 
happy woman,  and  bury  lier;  for 
she  is  a  king's  daughter.  They  went, 
and  found  only  her  skull,  her  feet, 
and  the  palnas  of  her  hands,  2  Kings 
ix.  30,  <Lc. 

The  name  Jezebeii  has  often  been 
proverbially  used  to  signify  any  wo- 
man excessively  cruel,  wicked,  or 
given  to  idolatry.  In  this  sense  per- 
haps it  is  applied  to  that  wicked  wo- 
man in  the  church  of  Thyatira,  who 
so  diligently  seduced  people  to  com- 
mit fornication,  and  eat  things  sacri- 
ficed to  idols,  Rev.  ii.  20. 

JEZREEL,  seed  of  God,  or  God 
who  spreads  the  evil,  a  celebrated  city 
of  the  w  estern  Manassites,  situated  on 
the  south  border  of  Issachar.  The 
beautiful  plain  of  Jezreel,  of  about  ten 
miles  in  length,  lay  near  it.  Ahab  had 
his  palace  in  Jezreel,  and  here  his  fa- 
mily were  ruined  :  but  God  revenged 
on  Jehu  the  blood  which  he  had  shed 
in  Jezreel,  because  he  cut  them  off, 
not  in  obedience  to  God,  but  from  a 
selfish  desire  to  obtain  the  throne, 
1  Kings  xxi.  2^  Kings  ix.  and  x. 
Hos.  i.  4 See  Hosea. 

Jezreel,  the  son  of  Etam,  of  the 
tribe  of  Judah,  1  Chron.  iv.  3.  This- 
also  w^as  the  name  of  a  son  of  the 
pro|)het  Hosea,  by  the  harlot  Gomer.. 
w  horn  he  had  married,  Hos.  i.  4. 

IF  is  used  to  express,  (1.)  A  con- 
dition, Deut.  xxviii.  14.  Lukeix.  23. 
(2.)  A  supposition,  Rom.  iv.  2.  (3) 
The  reason  of  a  thin^,  Eph.  iv.  2.  11 
signifies,  (1.)  Surely:  in  this  sense  it 
is  taken  in  oaUis  and  asseverations; 
and  supposes  an  imprecation,  of  some- 
tliing  hurtful  and  destructive,  if  what 
is  threatened;  promised,  or  asserteil.. 


IMA 


<     S2     ) 


I  U  A 


do  ndt  prove  true,  Nniub.  xiv.  23. 
Heb.  Hi.  f  11.  (2.)  Seeing,  Cfen. 
xxviii.  t  20.  (.3.)  Whether  or  not. 
Gen.  viii.  8.  (4.)  When,  Judg.  xxi. 
21.  John  xii.  32. 

IGNOMINY,  shame,  slander, 
Prov.  xviii.  3. 

IGNORANCE,  (1)  Want  of  tire 
true  knowledge  of  God,  Eph.  iv.  18. 
(2.)  Mistake,  surprise,  liev.  iv.  2. 
13.  Heathens  are  ignorant;  desti- 
tute of  the  true  knowledge  of  God, 
Acts  xvii.  23.  Wicked  teachers  are 
ignorant ;  they  know  not  what  thej^ 
ought  to  teach  others,  Isa.  hi.  10. 
Paul  sinned  ignorantly  against  Christ 
before  his  conversion,  not  knowing 
the  truth  of  the  Christian  religion, 
1  Tim.  i.  13.  Peter  and  John  were 
ignorant ;  that  is,  not  trained  up  in  the 
schools  of  polite  learning,  Acts  iv. 
13.  Abraham  in  heaven  is  ignorant 
of  his  children  on  earth;  he  neither 
knows  their  case,  nor  acknowledges 
or  helps  them,  Isa.  Ixiii.  16. 

ILLUMINATED,  endowed  with 
the  saving  knowledge  of  Christ  and 
divine  things,  Heb.  x.  32. 

ILLYRICUM,  rejoicings  making 
merry ^  a  country  on  the  east  of  the 
gulph  of  Venice,  about  480  miles  in 
length,  and  1 20  in  breadth.  It  has  Aus- 
tria and  part  of  Hungary  on  the  north ; 
Mysia,  or  Servia,  on  the  east ;  and 
part  of  Macedonia  on  the  south. — 
.Counting  from  north-west  to  south- 
east, '\i  was  divided  into  Sclavouia, 
Bosnia,  Dahnatia,  and  Albania  ;  but 
sometimes  it  was  taken  in  a  more 
large  sense.  To  relate  the  reduction 
of  this  country  by  Cadmus,  by  Philip 
the  father  of  Alexander,  or  by  the 
Romans;  and  its  ravages  by  the 
Quadi,  Goths,  and  Huns,  and  by  the 
Ottoman  Turks,  under  whom  the 
most  of  it  is  at  present ;  would  be  to 
small  purpose  in  this  work.  Here  the 
gospel  was  ])reached,  and  a  Christian 
church  planted  by  Paul.  The  Cen- 
turiators  of  Magdeburgh  trace  their 
bishops  through  eight  centuries :  and 
i^  this  day  there  are  not  a  few  in  it 
who  have  the  name  of  Christians, 
Rom.  XV.  19. 

IMAGE,  the  representation  or  like- 


ness of  a  person  or  thing,  i\y  picUiSt^ 
and  statues  are  of  men.  Christ  is  th« 
image  of  the  invisible  God;  has  the 
same  nature  as  his  Father,  resembles 
him  in  power;  and  in  his  person- 
Godmau,  and  meditaorial  office,  he  is 
a  bright  representation  of  all  the  per- 
fections of  Jehovah,  Heb.  i,  3.  Col 
i.  13.  Blau  was  made  in  the  image 
of  God;  he  resembled  him  in  the 
spiritual  and  immortal  nature  of  his 
soul,  and  in  his  tiiie  knowledge, 
righteonsness,  and  holiness ;  and  in 
his  dominion  over  the  creatures,  Gen. 
i.  20,  27.  Man  to  his  wife,  is  the 
image  of  God,  in  respect  of  dominion 
and  power,  1  Cor.  xi.  7.  We  are 
born  in  the  image  of  Adam;  like 
him  in  our  natural  form,  and  in  our 
alienation  from  God,  Gen.  v.  3.  and 
we  bear  the  image  of  Christ,  and  arc 
renewed  after  it,  when  our  nature  is 
changed,  and  we  are  thereby  made 
like  God  in  spiritual  knowledge, 
righteousness,  holiness,  and  every 
other  grace,  1  Cor.  xv.  49.  Col.  iii. 
10.  All  images  in  worship  are  ex- 
pressly condemned,  and  are  repre- 
sented as  teachers  cf  falsehood,  as 
none  can  justly  represent  any  divine 
person,  Exod.  xx.  4.  Jer.  x.  3 — 16, 
Hab.  ii.  18.  Psal.  ex  v.  4—3.  and 
cxxxv.  15 — 18.  Many  of  the  hea- 
then images  of  their  gods  were  mon- 
strously mixed  pictures  of  human  and 
brutal  animals.  Some  Avere  prodi- 
giously large.  That  of  Belus,  erected 
by  Nebuchadnezzar  in  the  plain  of 
Dura,  was  at  least  90  feet  high,  and 
nine  feet  thick,  Dan.  iii.  1 .  That  of 
Apollo  at  Rhodes,  was  almost  128 
feet  high ;  and  the  tallest  ships  in 
those  times  might  have  sailed  in  be- 
tween its  legs.  The  image  of  the 
v.'icked,  which  God  despiseth,  is 
their  outward  appearance,  glory,  and 
happiness,  Psal.  Ixxiii.  20.  ' 

We  read  frequentl}'^  in  our  Eng)i.-h 
Bibles  of  graven  images,  and  molten 
images  ;  and  the  words  are  heitome 
so  familiar,  as  names  of  idohitrous 
images,  that  although  they  are  not 
well  chosen  to  express  the  Hebrew 
namee,  it  seems,  says  a  right  rever- 
end author,  not  adviseable  to  change 


I  M  A 


(     33     ) 


I  AI  P 


them  for  others,  that  might  more  ex- 
actly correspond  with  tlie  original. 
— The  graven  image  was  not  a  tiling 
wrouglit  in  metal  by  the  tool  of  the 
workman  we  should  now  call  an 
engraver ;  nor  was  the  molten  image 
an  image  made  of  metal,  or  any  other 
substance  melted,  and  shaped  in  a 
mould.  In  fact,  the  graven  image 
and  the  molten  image  are  the  same 
thing,  under  different  names.  The 
images  of  the  ancient  idolaters  were 
tirst  cut  out  of  wood  by  the  carpen- 
ter, as  is  very  evident  from  the  pro- 
phet Isaiah.  This  figure  of  wood 
was  overlaid  with  plates  either  of 
gold  or  silver,  or  sometimes  perhaps 
of  an  inferior  metal.  And  in  this 
finishfid  state,  itwas  called  a  graven 
image,  (that  is,  a  carved  image,)  in 
reference  to  the  inner  solid  figure  of 
wood;  and  a  molten,  (that  is,  an  over- 
laid or  covered  image,)  in  reference 
to  the  outer  metalline  case  or  cover- 
ing. And  sometimes  both  epithets 
are  applied  to  it  at  once,  "  I  will  cut 
off  the  graven  and  molten  image." 
Again,  "  What  profiteth  the  graven 
and  molten  image  ?  The  English 
word  "  molten,"  conveys  a  notion  of 
melting  or  fusion.  But  this  is  not 
the  case  with  the  Hebrew  Avord,  for 
which  it  is  given.  The  Hebrew  IQJ, 
signifies  generally  to  overspread,  or 
cover  all  over,  in  whatever  manner, 
according  to  the  different  subject 
the  overspreading  or  covering  be 
efiected,  whether  by  pouring  forth 
a  substance  in  fusion,  or  by  spread- 
ing a  cloth  over  or  before,  or  by 
hammering  on  metalline  plates.  It 
is  on  account  of  this  metalline  case, 
that  we  find  a  founder  employed  to 
make  a  graven  image  :  and  that  we 
read  in  Isaiah  of  a  workman  that 
"  melteth  a  graven  image :"  and  in 
another  place,  Ave  find  the  question, 
"  Who  hath  molten  a  graven  image?" 
In  these  two  passages,  the  Avord 
should  be  "  overlayeth,"  and  "  over- 
laid." 

To  IMAGINE,  is  to  form  a  re- 
presentation in  our  mind ;  to  devise, 
Psal.  xxxviii.  12.  Imagination  de- 
notes, (1.)  The  fir'=t  ideas,  purposes. 


and  inclinations,  of  the  soul,  Gen.  vi. 
5.  (2.)  Corrupt  reasonings,  2  Cor. 
X.  5.  In  sundry  places,  the  original 
Avord  might  be  rendered  stubborn- 
ness, .ler.  iii.  17,  &c. 

IMMEDIATELY,  in  a  moment, 
in  a  short  time,  John  v.  9.  Luke 
xix.  11. 

IMMORTAL,  that  which  doth 
not,  or  cannot  die.  God  is  immor- 
tal, and  only  hath  immortality  ;  he 
only  hath  life  in  and  of  himself,  and 
is  infinitely  secure  against  death, 
hurt,  or  ruin  of  any  kind,  1  Tim.  i. 
17.  and  vi.  16.  The  eternal  blessp 
edness  of  the  saints  is  called  immor- 
tality ;  it  can  never  cease,  and  is  free 
from  such  pain,  corruption,  or  de- 
formity as  attends  death,  Rom.  ii. 
7.  it  is  brought  to  light,  that  is,  more 
clearly  discovered  by  the  gospel-dis- 
pensation,  2  Tim.  i.  10.  Our  mor- 
tal body  shall  put  on  immortality., 
Avhen  it  shall  gloriously  rise  from  the 
dead,  and  be  no  more  subject  to  any 
tendency  toward  dissolution  or  de- 
cay, 1  Cor.  XV.  53. 

To  complete  the  notion  of  the  im- 
mortality of  the  soul,  it  is  requisite 
that  three  things  be  considered,  viz. 
(1.)  Its  continuance  after  the  death 
of  the  body;  (2.)  A  state  of  distinct 
perce|)tion;  and,  (3.)  A  state  of 
personality,  or  of  consciousness  or 
memory  of  a  past  life  :  all  three  are 
exemplified,  Luke  XAi.  23 — 28.  and 
all  three  are  necessary  to  a  future 
state  of  rewards  and  punishaients. 

IMMUTABILITY,  the  impossi- 
bility of  changing.  This  is  only  true 
of  the  Supreme  Being,  who  is  abso- 
lutely immutable,  both  in  his  essence, 
because  it  is  absolutely  necessary, 
and  in  his  Avill,  because  it  arises  from 
an  all-comprehensive  and  unerring 
understanding.  Man  may,  and  of- 
ten does,  change:  but  God  is  Avith- 
out  variablcmss,  or  the  least  shadow 
of  turning.  Jam.  i.  17.  the  result  of 
the  absolute  necessity  of  his  nature. 

IMPART,  to  bestoAV  of  oneVful- 
ness  on  others,  Luke  iii.  11.  The 
apostles  Avere  Avilliug  to  impart  their 
souls,  spending  their  strength,  eX' 
erting,  tlreir  skill,  and  exposin!:;  thdr 
E 


IMP 


(     34     ) 


I  N 


liVe,  to  instruct  and  edify  their  hear- 
ers, 2  Thess.  vii.  8. 

IMPEDIMENT  in  speech,  is  that 
which  hinders  one  from  speaking 
plainly  and  readily,  and  makes  liim 
stutter  or  stammer,  Mark  vii.  32. 

IMPENITENT,  not  sorry  for 
past  sins  from  a  right  motive ;  not 
sincerely  resolved  to  forsake  every 
known  sin  from  the  i)resent  moment, 
Rom.  ii.  5. 

I M  P  E  R I OU  S,  haughty,  arrogant ; 
assuniioo:  command,  Ezek.  xvi.  30. 

IMPLx\CABLE,  not  to  be  paci- 
fied ;  inexorable ;  malicious ;  con- 
stant in  enmity.  This  is  one  of  the 
worst  characters  found  amongst  the 
heathen,  and  is  placed  by  the  Apos- 
tle near  the  end  of  his  list,  Rom.  i.  3 1 . 

IMPLEAD,  to  charge  with  crimes 
before  a  judge,  Acts  xix.  38. 

IMPORTUNITY,  earnestness  in 
requesting,  Luke  xi.  8. 

IMPOSSIBLE,  what  cannot  be 
done.  In  respect  to  God's  nature,  it  is 
impossible  for  him  to  lie,  or  deny  him- 
self, Heb.  vi.  18.  Tit.  i.  2.  In  respect 
to  his  power  nothing  good  is  impos- 
sible to  him,  Luke  i.  37.  and  xviii.  27. 
In  respect  to  God's  pur|)oses  and  pro- 
vidential methods,  it  is  impossible  that 
offences  should  not  come,  Luke  xvii. 
In  respect  to  his  attendant  power, 
nothing  miraculous  was  impossible  to 
the  apostles.  Matt.  xvii.  20.  That  is 
impossible  to  men,  which  is  above 
their  strength.  Matt.  xix.  16. 

IMPOTENT,  weak,  diseased, 
without  ability  in  legs,  feet,  &c. 
John  V.  3. 

IMPOVERISH,  to  make  poor,  to 
carry  off  wealth  from  one,  Jer.  v.  1 7 

IMPUDENT,  shameless  in  sin 
ning;  prostitutes,  and  persons  bold 
in  wickedness,  are  impudent,  Prov. 
vii.  13.  Ezek.  iii.  7. 

IMPUTE.  W  e  have  righteotisness 
without  works  imputed  to  us,  when 
we  truly  believe  in  Christ  as  having 
borne  our  sins,  and  given  himself  for 
us,  Rom.  iv.  6,  11.  Sin  is  imputed 
to  a  man  when  he  is  charged  with 
it,  in  order  to  his  suffering  punish- 
ment for  it,  2  Sam.  xix.  19.  Lev. 
xvii.  4.  and  the  not  imputing  it,   im- 


ports the  free  and  full  forgiveness  of 
it,  Rom.  V.  13.  The  Chaldean  king 
imputed  his  power  to  his  god,  ac- 
counted his  idol  to  have  assisted  him 
in  conquering  the  nations,  Hab.  i.  1 1. 
IN,  in  the  midst  of  a  thing,  or 
having  some  very  close  connexion 
with  it.  God  is  in  Christ ;  is  one 
with  him  ;  is  well  pleased  with,  ^nd 
reconciled  to  men  in  him.  And 
Christ  is  in  him :  has  tlie  same  nature 
as  his  Father,  John  xiv.  10.  2  Cor. 
V.  19.  God  is  in  all  the  saints ;  is  spe- 
cially united  to,  and  dwells  in  them 
by  his  Spirit,  Eph.  iv.  6.  God  pur 
posed  in  Christ  to  effect  our  whole 
salvation  through  him,  Eph.  iii.  1 1 . 
The  law  of  the  Spirit  of  life  is  in 
Christ:  the  new  covenant  is  estab- 
lished in  him  :  he  is  the  great  agent 
in  it,  and  the  mean  of  its  operation. 
The  Holy  Ghost,  as  the  Spirit  of 
Christ,  operates  in  us,  by  uniting  us  to, 
and  maintaining  our  fellowship  with 
Christ,  Rom.  viii.  2.  To  believe  or 
trust  in  Christ,  or  in  his  name,  is,  in 
a  way  of  receiving  Christ  as  the  hus- 
band and  Saviour  of  our  souls  offer- 
ed in  the  promises,  to  expect  from 
his  perfections,  relations,  and  work, 
whatever  is  good  and  necessary  for 
us,  John  xiv.  1.  To  live,  move, 
and  have  our  being,  in  God,  is  to  ex- 
ist and  act  by  virtue  of  his  supporting 
and  actuating  intiuence,  Acts  xvii. 
28.  Col.  i.  3.  The  truth  is  in 
Christ;  he  is  the  substance  and  ex- 
emplification of  it ;  by  his  death  it  is 
ratified ;  and  in  beholding  and  re- 
ceiving of  him,  its  light  and  glory  are 
perceived,  and  its  power  is  felt,  Eph. 
iv.  21.  2  Cor.  i.  21.  We  are  bless-^ 
ed,  called,  justified,  adopted,  sancti- 
fied, and  obtain  an  inheritance,  in 
Christ;  our  whole  salvation  was 
purchased  by  him  as  our  ransomer, 
is  lodged  in  him  as  our  treasury,  and 
in  a  state  of  union  to  him  we  share 
of  it;  and  the  enjoyment  of  him,  as 
the  Lord  our  wisdom,  righteousness, 
sanctification,  and  redemption,  is  the 
sum  of  it,  Eph.  i.  3,  4,  6,  &c.  We 
are  in  Christ,  and  he  in  us :  he 
dwells  in  our  heart  by  failh,  and  we 
are  closely  united  to  him  as  our  head. 


I  N  C 


(     35     ) 


I  N  D 


husbantl,  and  root  of  spiritual  inflii- 
euce,  John  xvii.    20.  Rom.    xvi.  7. 
But  persons  are  never  in  the  ScriplmTs 
said  to  be  ii\  Christ,  by  beinc;  mem- 
bers of  his  visible  church,  or  in  out- 
ward profession  onlj',  to  be  joined  to ; 
him,  John  xvi.   U.     To  glory  ?h  the 
jLord,  is  to  make  him  the  object  of  our ; 
spiritual  boastincj,  1  Cor.  i.  31.     To! 
be  strong  in  the  Lord,   be  faithful  in 
the  Lord,  labour  in  the  Lord,  and  sa- 
lute others  in  the  Lord,  is,  in  a  state  of  1 
union  to  Jesus,  and  of  daily  receiving: 
out  of  his  fulness,  to   study  faithful- j 
ness   and   diligence  in   the  work  of! 
preaching  the  gospel,  or  practising  ho- 
liness; and  to  salute  others,  from  love 
to  the  Lord,  and  on  account  of  their' 
bearing  his  image,  Eph>  vi.  10.  1  Cor.j 
iv.  1  7.^Rom.xvi.  12,  22.  To  be  dead  I 
in  sin,  or  perish  in  iniquitj-,  is  to  be 
nnder  the  reigning  power  of  it,  and  to 
die  and  perish  by  means  of  it,  Eph. 
ii.  1.  Josh.  xxii.  20.   John  viii.  21. 
The   accurate   consideration  of  the 
sense  of  this  preposition  ix,  is  often 
of  great  use  to  lead  to  the  true  mean- 
ing of  many  inspired  texts. 

INCENSE,  ttiat  which  is  ordi- 
narily so  called,  is  a  precious  and 
fragrant  gum,  issuing  from  the  frank- 
incense tree.  The  incense  used  in 
Ihe  Jewish  offerings,  at  least  that 
which  was  burnt  on  the  altar  of  in- 
cense, and  before  the  ark,  was  a  pre- 
cious mixture  of  sweet  spices,  stacte, 
onj'cha,  galbanum,  and  pure  frank- 
incense, beaten  very  small.  None 
J)ut  priests  were  to  burn  it :  nor  was 
any  under  pain  of  death  to  make 
any  like  to  it.  This  incense  was 
burnt  twice  a  day  on  the  golden  al- 
tar. On  the  fast  of  expiation,  two 
handfuls  of  it  was  burnt  belbre  the 
ark,  in  the  Holy  of  Holies,  to  pre- 
vent a  curious  and  dangerous  looking 
towards  the  ark.  By  it  was  signified, 
Christ's  precious,  powerful,  and  con- 
stant intercession  within  the  vail, 
w^hich  renders  us  and  our  spiritual 
services  acceptable  to  God,  Exod. 
sxx.  34—38.  Lev.  xvi.  12—14. 
Acceptable  praj^ers  and  praises  are 
called  incense  and  offering,  Mai.  i. 
11.  Psal.  cxli.  2. 


To  be  jNCENstD  against  one,  ie 
to  be  filled  with  rage  and  euniity, 
Isa.  xli.  11.  andxlv.  24. 

INCHAN T.     See  Divination. 

INCLINE.  The  ear  is  inclined, 
when  it  carefully  listen^in  order  to 
hear,  Prov.  v.  13.  The  heart  is  in- 
clined, when  it  is  favourably  dispos- 
ed, Judg.  ix.  3.  The  house  of  a 
harlot  inclines  to  death.  Men's  going 
into  it,  or  indulging  themselves  in 
whoredom,  confirjus  6|)iritual  death, 
and  hastens  forward  their  temporal 
and  eternal  death,  Prov.  ii.  18. 

IN  CLOSE,  (1.)  To  compass,  shut 
up  round  about,  as  with  a  wall  or 
hedge,  Psal.  xxii.  16.  (2.)  To  fix  in 
the  middle  of  a  surrounding  piece  of 
metal,  Exod.  xxxix.  6.  Blen  arei«- 
closcdin  their  own  fat,  when  they  can 
scarcely  see  for  plumpness;  when 
their  wealth  abounds  on  every  side, 
and  their  hearts  are  stupid,  and  des- 
titute of  the  fear  of  God,  Psal.  xvii. 
10.  God  inclose.')  men's  ways  with 
hewn  stone,  when,  bj^  outward  cala- 
mities, he  bereaves  them  of  liberty, 
ease,  or  hope  of  escape.  Lam.  iii.  9.  ■ 

INCONTINENT,  given  to  un- 
chastity  and  intemperance,  2  Tim. 
iii.  3.  Incontinencv,  an  inability 
to  refrain  from  desiring  the  lawful 
pleasures  of  marriage,  1  Cor.  vii.  5. 

INCORRUPTIBLE,  what  can- 
not grow  worse,  or  decay.  Corrup- 
tion shall  put  on  incorrupiion,  when 
our  once  corrupted  and  putrid  bodies 
shall  be  rendered  altogether  free  from 
vileness,  or  tendency  towards  death, 
1  Cor.  XV.  50. 

INCREASE.     See  Grow. 

INCREDIBLE,  what  cannot  be 
believed.  The  resurrection  of  the 
flead  is  not  incredible ;  God's  power 
and  wisdom  can  effect  it ;  his  justice 
and  goodness  require  it;  his  word 
plainly  foretells  it ;  and  his  provi- 
dence hath  already  given  cei'tain 
pledses  of  it.  Acts  xxvi.  8. 

INCURABLE,  what  cannot  be 
healed,  2  Chron.  xxi.  18.  or  what 
can  hardly  be  healed,  Jer.  xx;x.  1 2. 

INDEED,  (1.)  Truly,  assuredly, 
Deut.  ii.  15.  (2.)  Eminently,  in  a 
very  singular  manner.     So  Chris 


I  N  D 


(     36 


J  N  G 


makes  free  indeed,  Avith  a  glorious  li- 
berty, John  viii.  31,  36.  His  flesh 
and  blood  are  meat  indeed,  suited  to 
every  person,  and  are  quickening  to 
the  soul;  do  secure  everlasting  life  and 
strength,  and  are  infinitely  valuable 
and  substantial,  John  vi.  5b.  And 
an  Israelite  indeed,  is  one  truly  and 
eminently  holy,  and  noted  lor  wrest- 
ling with  God,  John  i.  47.  Widows 
indeed,  are  such  as  behave  answerably 
to  their  condition,  and  are  really  poor 
and  destitute,  1  Tim.  v.  3,  5,  1 6. 

INDIA,  a  praising,  confession, 
cojyr  h/,  or  fair,  a  large  country  on 
the  south  of  Asia,  extending  from 
north  to  south  about  2,400  miles,  and 
from  east  to  west  1 ,800.  It  is  chiefly 
watered  by  the  Indus  on  the  west, 
and  the  Ganges  in  the  middle  of  the 
country,  and  the  various  rivers  that 
run  into  these  two.  The  soil  is  very 
fruitful  in  rice,  millet,  fruits,  and 
spices.  This  country  affords  ele- 
phants, camels,  monkeys,  mines  of 
gold  and  silver,  diamonds,  rubies, 
and  almost  all  manner  of  precious 
.stones.  But  what  are  all  earthly 
treasures,  without  the  gospel  of 
Christ,  and  the  influences  of  the 
Holy  Spirit.  The  poor  benighted 
inhabitants  vainly  imagine  that  the 
water  of  the  river  Ganges  will  wash 
away  all  their  sins.  O  when  shall 
divine  light  be  diff"used  through  the 
whole  earth  !  The  empire  of  the 
Persians  and  Greeks  extended  to  the 
north-west  parts  of  it,  Esth.  i.  1. 

INDIGNATION,  anger  min- 
gled with  contempt  or  disgust.  Put 
for,  (1.)  Wrath,  anger  in  one  man 
against  another,  Esth.  v.  9.  (2.) 
The  effects  of  God's  displeasure,  Isa. 
xxvi.  20.  (3.)  Envy,  Acts  v.  1 7, 
(4.)  Messages  of  wrath  to  a  disobe- 
dient people,  Jer.  xv.  17.  (5)  A 
holy  displeasure  against  one's  self 
for  sin,  accompanied  with  a  fear  of 
falling  into  temptations,  so  as  to  be 
overcome  by  them,  2  Cor.  vii.  11. 
Jeremiah  was  filled  with  holy  indig- 
nation  ;  he  Avas  appointed  to  deliver 
messages  of  wrath:  he  Avas  exposed 
to  trouble,  and  to  the  fury  of  the 
Jews;  and  moved  with  holy  zeal  for 


God,  and  indignation  against  their 
evil  Avays,  Jer.  xv.  1 7. 

INDITE,  to  form  thoughts  for 
speech  or  Avriting.  The  word  sig- 
nifies, to  boil  tip,  as  Avater  in  a  spring, 
or  as  the  sacred  oil  in  the  heated  pan, 
Psal.  xlv.  1. 

INDUSTRIOUS,  diligent,  and 
active  in  business,  1  Kings  xi.  28. 

I N  F  ALLIBLE,  Avhich  cannot  faiU 
cannot  admit  of  any  doubt,  Acts  i.  3. 

INFAMY.     See  Reproach. 

INFANT,  a  child  almost  ncAvly 
born,  Luke  xviii.  15,  During  the 
milieunium,  there  shall  not  be  an  in- 
fa?it  of  days  ;  fcAV,  if  any,  abortions 
or  deaths  among  infants;  nor  shall 
professors  of  Christianity  be  so  igno- 
rant, or  easily  tempted  to  sin,  as 
now,  Isa.  Ixv.  20. 

INFERIOR,  lesser  in  honour, 
Avealth,  Avisdom,  or  excellency,  Job 
xii.  3. 

INFIDEL,  an  unbeliever,  who  re- 
ceives not  the  revelations  of  God  in 
scripture,  2  Cor.  vi.  15.  1  Tim.  v.  8. 

INFINITE,  (1 .)  Exceeding  great, 
Nah.iii.  9.  (2.)  Altogether  unbound- 
ed, Psal.  cxlvii.  5.  • 

INFIRMITY.     See  Weakness. 

INFLAME,  to  set  on  fire.  Wine 
inflames  men,  if  drank  to  excess ;  it 
too  much  heats  the  constitution,  and 
provokes  fleshly  lusts,  Isa.  v.  11. 
3Ien  inflame  themselves  Avith  idols, 
Avhen  they  have  a  burning  zeal  for 
their  service  and  AA'orship,  and  are 
ready  to  expend  their  Avealth,  ho- 
nour, and  strength,  in  it,  Isa.  h'ii.  5. 
Inflammation,  a  burning  boil,  ei- 
ther in  the  inner  or  outward  part  of 
the  body,  occasioned  by  an  excessive 
floAV  of  the  blood  into  that  part ;  or 
the  blood  becomes  too  thick,  or 
the  fibres  are  relaxed  or  bruised, 
Deut.  xxviii.  22. 

INFLUENCE,  the  virtue  that 
floAA's  from  one  thing  to  another,  as 
from  the  sun,  moon,  stars,  or  rain, 
to  cause  the  earth  to  bring  fbrth  fruit. 
Job  xxxAaii.  31. 

INFOLD,  to  wrap  up,  catch  hold 
of,  Ezek.  i.  4. 

INGATHERING;  the  feast  of 
ingathering,  r/ v.  after  all  the  product 


I  N  Q 


{     37     ) 


INS 


of  fields  and  vineyards  was  gathered 
in,  uas  the  same  with  the  kkast  of 
tubemacle^,  Exod.  xxiii.  10. 

INGRAFT.     See  Graft. 

INHABIT,  to  dwell  in.  See 
Habitation. 

INHERIT.     See  Heir. 

INIQUITY.     See  Sin. 

INJURE,  to  do  one  wrong  or 
injustice,  Gal.  vi.  12.  An  injurious 
person,  is  one  that  does  wrong  to 
God,  his  people,  «S:c.  1  Tim.  i.  13. 

INK,  a  liquor  for  writing  with  on 
paper,  parchment,  «S:c.  Good  black 
w  riting  ink  may  be  made  by  infusing 
half  a  pound  of  broken  nut  galls, 
four  ounces  of  copperas,  four  ounces 
of  allum,  and  three  ounces  of  gum 
arable,  in  two  quarts  of  rain  water. 
Printers'  ink  is  made  of  nut  or  linseed 
oil,  turpentine,  and  lamp-black.  Chi- 
nese or  Indian  ink,  is  a  rare  com- 
position of  smoke-black,  especially 
of  that  of  fat  pork,  with  some  oil  and 
odoriferous  ingredients;  and  is  made 
up  in  solid  pieces  which  must  be 
dissolved  in  water,  Jer.  xxxvi.  18. 
2  John  12.  3  John  12.  The  people 
of  the  east  were  wont  to  carry  their 
ink-horns  by  their  side;  and  to 
(his  day  the  secretaries,  or  writers, 
in  Turkey,  do  so.  Jesus  Christ  is 
tliought  to  be  the  person  represented 
as  having  an  ink-lwrn  at  his  side,  to 
denote  his  readiness  to  mark  out  his 
people  for  preservation  amidst  com- 
mon calamities,  Ezek.  ix.  2,  3,  11. 

INN,  a  place  for  travellers  to 
lodge,  or  refresh  themselves  at.  In 
ancient  times,  hospitality  was  so 
common,  that  inns  were  much  less 
necessary  than  now :  yet  it  appears 
there  Avere  some  then,  Gen.  xlii.  27. 

INNOCENT,  not  guilty  of 
crimes ;  not  guilty  of  some  particular 
crimes.  Job  xxii.  30. 

INNUMERABLE,  so  many  as 
cannot  be  numbered.  Job  xxi.  33. 

INORDINATE,  disorderly,  ex- 
cessive, Ezek.  xxiii.  11.  Col.  iii.  5. 

INQUISITION,  search,  exami- 
nation, Deut.  xix.  18.  God  makes  in- 
quisition for  blood,  when  in  his  provi- 
dence he  discovers  and  punishes  nmr- 
r^erers  and  oppressors,  Psal.  ix.  12. 


INSCRIPTION,  or  suPKiiscRTr- 

tion,  a  writing  on  pillars,  altar», 
marble,  coins,  A:c.  Acts  xvii.  23. 
Matt,  xxii.  20.  Anciently  the  his- 
tory of  nations,  and  the  principles  of 
science,  were  often  marked  in  in- 
scriptions. A  Grecian  history  of 
about  1318  years  Avas  inscribed  on 
the  Arundelian  marbles.  Graevius 
has  filled  three  volumes  in  folio  with 
inscriptions  of  the  ancient  Greeks 
and  Romans.  At  least,  an  abridge- 
ment of  Moses's  law,  or  a  copy  of 
the  blessings  and  curses,  was  in- 
scribed on  the  altar  at  Ebal,  Deut. 
xxvii.  8. 

INSPIRATION,  a  supernatural 
influence  of  God  apon  the  mind  of  a 
rational  creature,  Job  xxxii.  8.  The 
inspiration  whereby  God  indited  his 
word,  was  not  merely  his  superin- 
tending the  minds  of  the  sacred 
writers,  so  as  to  keep  them  from  er- 
ror, but  his  impressing  their  minds 
in  such  a  manner  as  fully  convinced 
them  they  were  moved  of  God,  and 
his  suggesting  to  them  the  matter 
which  they  should  write,  2  Tim. 
iii.  16. 

INSTANT,  very  eager  and  ear- 
nest, Rom.  xii.  12.  An  instant  is 
a  moment,  or  short  period  of  time, 
Jer.  xviii.  7.  Luke  ii.  38. 

INSTRUCT.     See  Teach. 

INSTRUMENT,  a  tool  where- 
with one  labours,  plays  music,  &c. 
Exod.  XXV.  9.  The  second  causes 
whereby  God  executed  his  works  of 
mercy  or  judgment,  are  his  instru- 
ments, Isa.  xli.  15.  Sword,  famine, 
pestilence,  and  diseases,  are  his  in- 
struments of  death,  Psal.  vii.  13. 
Men's  bodies,  or  members,  are  instru- 
ments of  righteousness  or  unrighteous- 
ness ;  are,  as  it  were,  tools  where- 
iiy  they  work  the  one  or  the  other 
in  outward  acts,  Rom.  vi.  13.  The 
evil  instruments  of  the  churl,  are  the 
sinful  methods  which  he  useth  to  in 
crease  his  wealth,  Isa.  xxvii.  7.  Ze- 
chariah  took  to  him  the  instrument f" 
of  a  foolish  shepherd,  a  scrip  and 
staff,  and  behaved  as  a  foolish  shep- 
herd :  this  signified  the  foolishnes? 
and  tyranny  of  the  Jewish  rulers  af 


I  N  T 


(■     38     ) 


I  N  W 


ter  the  time  of  Christ,  and  was  a 
proper  emblem  of  a  sluggish,  negli- 
gent, covetous,  oppressive,  and  cru- 
el government,  Zech.  xi.  15,  16. 
Tlie  instruments  of  cruelty  in  Simeon 
and  Levi's  habitations,  were  their 
pwords,  wlierewith  they  had  mur- 
dered the  Shechemites,  Gen.  xlix.  5. 

INSURRECTION,  a  rebellious 
rising  of  subjects  against  their  magis- 
trates, Psal.  Ixiv.  2.  Mark  xv.  2. 

INTANGLE,  to  bring  into  such 
trouble  or  danger,  as  that  one  can 
iiardly  escape.  The  Hebrews  were 
intangled  at  tlie  Red  Sea,  the  sea  be- 
ing before  them,  the  Egj'^ptians  be- 
hind them,  and  rugged  rocks  on  each 
hand  of  them,  Exod.  xiv.  3.  The 
Jews  thought  to  iniangle  Christ  in 
his  talk,  by  decoying  him  to  speak 
something  criminal,  and  which  he 
could  not  excuse  nor  defend.  Matt, 
xxii.  15.  The  Jews  were  intangled 
with  the  yoke  of  ceremonies;  they 
were  so  accustomed  to  them,  as  not 
to  be  willing  to  free  themselves  there- 
from, Gal.  V.  1.  Men  are  intangled 
by  their  lusts,  when  inveigled  into 
a  course  of  sin,  2  Pet.  ii.  20.  Men 
are  intangled  in  the  affairs  of  this 
life,  when  the  care  of,  and  labour 
therein,  distract  and  captivate  their 
minds,  2  Tim.  ii.  4. 

INTEGRITY,  downright  hones- 
ty, sincerity,  Job  xxvii.  5. 

INTELLIGENCE,  correspond- 
ence for  information,  Dan.  xi.  30. 

INTEND,  to  aim,  to  purpose, 
Acts  V.  28,  35.  Intknt,  end,  2 
Bam.  xvii.  14.  Acts  x.  29.  The  in- 
tents of  the  heart,  are  its  secret  pur- 
poses and  aims,  Jer.  xxx.  24. 

INTERCESSION,  a  pleading  in 
behalf  of  others.  Chv\%i  makcth  in- 
tercession for  us;  he  aj)pears  before 
God  in  our  nature,  and  pleads  that 
the  blessings  purchased  with  his 
blood  may  be  given  to  us,  Isa.  liii.  12. 
Rom.  iii.  34.  The  Holy  Ghost  makes 
intercession  for  us  with  groanings 
that  cannot  be  uttered ;  he  excites 
to  prayer,  directs  what  to  ask,  and 
enables  us  to  oifer  our  requests  to 
Crod  in  a  duly  earnest  manner,  Rom. 
viii.  26.       We  make  intercession  for 


men,  when  we  plead  with  God  on 
their  behalf,  and  for  his  gifts  and 
graces  to  be  given  to  them,  1  Tim. 
ii.  1 .  In  time  of  universal  apostacy, 
God  wondered  that  there  was  no 
intercessor,  none  to  stand  up  in  he- 
half  of  religion,  and  wrestle  with  him 
for  the  turning  away  of  his  wrath» 
Isa.  lix.  16. 

INTERMEDDLE,  (1.)  To  at- 
tempt to  deal  in,  Prov.  xviii.  1.  (2.) 
To  share  of,  Prov.  xiv.  10. 

INTERMISSION,  ceasing,  break- 
ing off  a  little,  Lam.  iii.  49. 

INTERPRET,  (1.)  To  explain 
the  words  of  one  language  into  those 
of  another,  1  Cor.  xii.  30.  (2.)  To 
show  the  sense  of  something  myste- 
rious and  obscure.  Gen.  xli.  1.  An 
interpreter,  one  among  a  thousand,  is 
one  who  is  well  ac(iuainted  with  the 
will  and  work  of  God,  and  qualified 
to  instruct  afflicted  persons.  Such 
are  few  indeed !  Job  xxxiii.  23. 

INTREAT,  (1.)  To  beseech,  to 
beg  earnestly,  to  i)ra3',  Exod.  viii. 
8.  Gen.  xxiii.  8.  Ruth  i.  16.  (2.) 
To  entertain,  deal  with.  Gen.  xii. 
1 6.  Exod.  v.  22.  To  be  intreated,  is 
kindly  to  regard  and  grant  a  request, 
Gen.  XXV.  21. 

INTRUDE,  proudly  to  press  in 
by  force,  to  pry  into  things  above 
our  reach,  and  which  we  have  no 
call  nor  need  to  know.  Col.  ii.  18. 

INVADE,  to  enter  a  country  with 
a  view  to  cut  off  or  subdue  the  inha- 
i)itants,  or  to  carry  off  their  wealth, 
2  Kings  xiii.  20. 

INVENT,  to  contrive,  find  out, 
Inventions  are,  (I.)  Wise  contri- 
vances, respecting  knowledge,  arts, 
management,  Prov.  viii.  12.  (2.) 
Idolatrous  and  other  sinful  devices 
and  practices,  contrived  by  men  to 
render  themselves  happy  or  honour- 
ed, Psal.  cvi.  29.  and  cxix.  8.  Eccl. 
vii.  29. 

INVISIBLE,  what  cannot  be  seen 
by  our  bodily  eyes,  yet  is  seen  by 
the  eye  of  the  mind,  by  all  who  use 
their  understanding  properly,  Rom. 
i.   20. 

INWARD  :  Inward  parts,  denote 
the  soul  or  heart ;  and  inward  signi- 


J  0  A 


(     39     ) 


J  O  A 


fies  what  belongs  to  the  soul,  Psal.]who  had  raised  anew  rebellion.  He 
li.  6.  An  huvard friend,  is  one  whoujuickly  murdered  Amasa,  when  he 
truly  and  frotn  the  heart  love^  us,  or;came  up.  and  resumed  his  command, 
who  is    very  familiar  with  ns,  and. He    pursued,    and   (piickly  procured 


is  acquainted  with  our  secrets?,  Job 
xix.  19. 

JOAB,  volmtlary,  or  who  has  afa- 
tlicr,  the  eon  of  Zeruiah,  brother  of 
Abishai  and  Asahel,  the  nephew  and 
general  of  king  David,  who  was  a 
faithful  and  valiant  commander;  but 
imperious,  cruel,  and  revengeful.   No 
d  oubt  he  attended  his  uncle  in  his  exile 
under  Saul.     x\t  Gibeon,  he  sinfully 
complied  with  Abner's  proi>osal  of  a 
duel  betwixt  twelve  on  each  side,  of 
David's  and  Ishbosheth's  men.  That 
very  day,  he  defeated  the  troops  un- 
der Abner,  but  lost  Asahel  his  bro- 
ther.    To  revenge  his  death,  he  af- 
terwards treacherously  murdered  Ab- 
ner ;  nor  durst  David  punish  him  for 
so  doing,  as  he  and  his  brother  Abi- 
shai had  the  troops  so  much  at  their 
beck.     By  first  entering  the  cJty  of 
Jerusalem,  and  driving  back  the  Je- 
busite  guards,  he  procured    himseli" 
the   office  of  commander  to  all  the 
Hebrew  troops.     Chiefly   under  his 
direction  of  the  army,  the  IMoabites, 
Philistines,  Edomites,  Syrians,  and 
Ammonites,  were  rendered  tributary 
to  Israel.     By  David's  direction,  he 
basely  promoted  the  murder  of  Uri- 
ah. By  his  oAvn  direction,  the  widow 
of  Tekoah  procured  Absalom's  return 
from  exile.     He  afterwards  obtained 
his  admission  to  court ;  but  was  his 
hearty  opposer,    when  he    rebelled 
against  his  father ;  and,  contrary  to 
David's  orders,  killed  him  as  he  hung 
by  his  hair  in  an  oak-tree.     He  wise 
ly,  but  harshly,  reproved  David  for 
his  excessive  and    ill-timed   sorrow 
for  Absalom's  death,  and  his  neglect 
of  the  brave  warriors,  who  had  rout- 
ed the  rebellious  host.     The  killing 
of  Absalom,  and  his  harsh  usage.  Da- 
rid  resented,  by  displacing  him  from 
his  generalship,   and  putting  Amasa 
his  cousin,    and  the  commander  of 
Absalom's  host,  in  his  room.     Joab, 
however,    attended  his  brother  Abi- 
shai's  troop  as   a  .volunteer,   in   the 
pursuit  of  Sheba,  the  son  of  Bichri, 


the  head  of  Shoba,  and  quashed  his 
rebellion.  He  wisely  remonstrated 
against  David's  numbering  the  peo- 
ple, but  was  obliged  to  execute  that 
task,  and  in  ten  months  pcrformejl 
the  greater  part  of  it,  2  Sarn.  ii.  iii. 
v.  and  viii.  to  xii.  and  xiv.  aniWxviii. 
— Kx.  and  xxiv.  When,  through  old 
age,David  concerned  himself  but  lit  tie 
hfi  the  government  of  the  kingdom, 
Joab  and  Abiathar,  contrary  to  their 
master's  known  intentions,  thought 
to  have  set  up  Adonijah  to  be  his 
successor.  The  attempt  miscarried, 
but  tended  to  increase  David's  dis- 
gust at  Joab.  On  his  death-bed,  he 
charged  Solomon  to  punish  him  for 
the  murder  of  Abner  and  Amasa. 
Some  time  after  David's  death,  Joab 
hearinii;  that  Adonijah  was  executed 
by  Solomon's  orders,  tied  to  the  horns 
of  the  brazen  altar  at  Gibeon  for  re- 
fuge. Solomon  sent  Benaiah,  now 
general  of  the  host,  to  require  him  to 
quit  his  place  of  protection.  Joab 
refused,  and  said,  he  would  die  on 
the  spot.  Solomon  ordered  him  to 
be  put  to  death  where  he  was.  This 
being  done,  he  was  buried  in  his  own 
house,  in  the  wilderness,  1  Kings  i. 
and  ii. 

JO  ASH,  disagreeing,  despairing, 
or  burning,  Jehoash  the  son  of 
Ahaziah,  king  of  Judah.  Jehoshabah, 
the  wife  of  Jehoiada,  the  high  priest 
his  aunt,  preserved  him  from  the  mur- 
derous designs  of  Athaliah,  his 
grandmother,  when  he  was  but  a  j'eai 
old,  and  kept  him  hid  six  years  in  a 
chamber  belonging  to  the  temple. 
When  he  was  seven  years  of  age, 
Jehoiada  entered  into  a  solemn  cov- 
enant Avith  AzariaJi  the  son  of  Jeho- 
ram,  Ishmael  the  son  of  Jehohanan, 
Azariah  the  son  of  Obed,  Maaseiah 
the  son  of  Adaiah,  and  Elishaphat  the 
son  of  Zichri,  to  set  up  young  Joash 
for  their  sovereign,  and  dethrone  the 
wicked  Athaliali.  After  preparing; 
matters  in  the  kingdom,  and  bring- 
ing the  I.evitr?.  an<l  ?uch  other;  a? 


J  0  A 


(     40     ) 


JOB 


they  coukl  trust,  to  Jerusalem,  they 
crowned  him  in  the  court  of  the  tem- 
ple, with  great  solemnity.     Alarmed 
with  the  acclamations,  Athaliah  ran 
to  the  court ;  but  was  quickly  carried 
forth,    and    slain.     Joash    and    his 
subjects  covenanted   with  one  ano- 
ther to    serve  the  Lord,    and    him 
only.     No  sooner  was  Joash  placed 
in  the  palace,  than  the  people  pulled 
dowirthe  statue  of  Baal,  and  demo- 
lished his  temple,   and  slew  Muttan 
his  priest ;  but  the  high  places  were 
not  removed.     Jehoiada  then,  as  tu- 
tor to  Joash,  set  on  foot  the  repairs 
of  the  temple ;    but  it  was  so  slowly 
done,  that  in  the  23d  year  of  Joash, 
it  was  scarcely  begun.      Instigated 
by  Joash,  Jehoiada  set  about  it  ef- 
fectuality, by    a  voluntary  contribu- 
tion.    While  Jehoiada  lived,  Joash 
zealously  promoted  reformation ;  but 
no  sooner  was  that  high  priest  in  his 
e^rave,  than  Joash  hearkened  to  his 
Avicked  courtiers.     The  worship  of 
God  was  neglected,  and  idolatry  pre- 
vailed.    Zechariah  the    priest,    the 
son  of  Jehoiada,    faithfully  Avarned 
the  people  of  their  sin  and   danger. 
By   order  of  Joash,    his  ungrateful 
cousin,  lie  was  stoned  to  death,  I)e- 
tween  the  porch  and  the  altar.    This 
martyr,  when  dying,    assured  them 
that  his  death  should  be  revenged. 
His  prediction  was  quickly  accom- 
plished.    Hazael  invaded  the  king- 
dom ;  but,  with  a  large  sum  of  mo- 
ney, Joash  redeemed  his  capital  from 
plunder.  About  a  year  after,  a  small 
host  of  Syrians  ravaged  the  country, 
defeated    the  huge  army  of    Joash, 
pillaged  his  capital,  and    murdered 
his  princes.     After  loading  Iiim  with 
ignominy    and  disgrace,    they    left 
him;  but  his  own  servants,  soon  af- 
ter,  murdered  him  in  his  own  bed, 
in  the  41st  year  of  his  reign,   A.  M. 
3116  :  and  he  was  buried  in  the  roy- 
al citj^,  but  not  in  the  sepulchres  of 
the  Kings,    2  Kings  xi.    and  xii.  2 
Chron.  xxiii.  xxiv. 

JOASH,  or  Jehoasii,  sou  of  Je- 
hoahaz,  and  grandson  of  Jehu.  Af- 
ter a  reign  of  two  years  in  conjunc- 
tion with  his  father,  he  reigned  four- 


teen more  alone  over  the  kingdonj 
of  Israel.  He  copied  after  the  wick- 
edness of  Jeroboam  the  son  of  Ne- 
bat,  and  perhaps  honoured  him  with 
the  name  of  his  son.  By  Joash,  God 
delivered  the  Israelites  from  their 
Syrian  oppressors.  With  no  small 
concern,  he  visited  the  prophet  Eli- 
sha  in  his  dying  moments ;  and  from 
him  had  the  prediction  of  a  triple 
victory  over  the  Syrians,  Joash  had 
not  long  routed  the  Syrians,  aud  re- 
covered the  cities  which  they  had 
taken  frorii  Israel,  when  Amaziah 
king  of  Judah  provoked  him  to  war  ; 
but  Joash  defeated  him,  pillaged  his 
capital,  and  returned  to  Samaria  in 
triumph,  and  died  A.  M.  3179,  2 
Kings  xiii.  2  Chron.  xxv. 

JOB,     sorrowjul,    crying    out,  or 
abiding    enmity,  a  noted  inhabitant 
of  the  land  of  Uz,  eastward  of  Gilead. 
An  addition  to  the  Septuagint  version 
of  his  book,  as  well  as  Philo,  Aristeas, 
and  Polj-^histor,  and  a  great  many  of 
the  fathers,  reckoned  him  the  same 
as  Johah,  one  of  the  ancient  kings  of 
Edo-M,    and  third  in    descent  from 
Esau  ;  but  it  is  more  probable  that  he 
was  a  descendant  of  Nahor,  by  Huz 
liis  eldest  son,   as  Elihu  was  by  Bui" 
his  second.     Dr.  Owen  thinks  Job 
was  contemporary  with  Abraham,  but 
how  then  could   Eliphaz,  a  descen- 
dant of  Esau,    have  been  his  aged 
friend  ?     Some  place  him  as  late  as 
the  times  of  Ezeldel :  but  how  then 
have  we  no  allusion  in  his  book  to 
the  passage  of  the  Hebrews  through 
the  Red  Sea,  or  their  entrance  into 
Canaan,  though  there   is  to  the  de- 
luge, and  to  the  burning  of  Sodom 
and  Gomorrah  with    fire  and  brim- 
stone ?     This    renders  it    probable, 
that  his  affliction  was  before  the  He- 
brews' departure  from  Egypt ;  though 
perhaps  a  great  part  of  his  140  years 
life  afterwards  might  be  posterior  to 
it.  This  is  confirmed  by  the  consider- 
ation of  Eliphaz,  his  aged  friend,  who 
spoke  first,  his  being  a  Temanite,  and 
consequent!}^  at  least  a  great  grand- 
child of  Esau.     Some  have  pretend- 
ed, that  the  whole  book  of  Job  is  but 
a  dramatic  fiction,  and  that  no  sucji 


JOB 


(    '11     ) 


JOB 


person  ever  existed  :  but  GojVs  men- 
tion of  him  as  a  rij^liteoiis  man,  to- 
o;e(her  MJlh  Noah  and  Daniel,  and 
James's  testimony  to  his  patience  and 
happy  end,  sunicieuflyrefntcdiat  ima- 
gination, Iv/.ek.  xiv.  and  James  v.  11 . 
— At  first,  Job  was  in  a  very  pros- 
perous condition  :  he  had  seven  sons 
and  tliree  daughters,  who  lived  in 
the  utmost  liarmony  and  aftliience : 
he  had  a  prodigious  number  of  flocks, 
herds,  and  servants;  and  was  the 
greatest  man  in  that  country.  His 
piety  and  integrity  were  distinguish- 
ed ;  his  clearness  from  idolatry  and 
unchaslit_v,  and  his  abhorrence  of 
pride  and  injustice  w-ere  remarkable. 
Not  only  did  he  regulate  his  own 
personal  practice,  but  took  care  of 
the  piety  of  his  children.  When  his 
sons  held  their  annual  feasts,  perhaps 
on  their  respective  bitth-days,  he 
always  rose  early  next  morning,  and 
with  prayer  offered  up  sacrifices  for 
them,  fearing  lest  they  might  have 
ginned,  and  cursed,  contemned,  or 
forsaken,  God  in  their  hearts,  Job 
i,  ] — 5.  and  xxix.  and  xxxi. 

Upon  a  certain  day,  w  hen  the  sons 
of  God  were  assembled  together  be- 
fore him,  Satan  presented  himself 
among  them.  In  a  manner  we  do  not 
understand,  God  questioned  the  fiend, 
where  he  had  been  employed  ?  and 
if  he  had  considered,  or  set  his  heart 
against  his  servant  Job,  so  distin- 
guished for  piety  and  goodness  ?  Sa- 
tan insinup^ted,  that  Job  was  but  a 
mercenary  hypocrite,  who  served 
God  to  obtain  anc\  presence  his  un- 
common wealth ;  but  if  he  w  as  sharp- 
ly, or  even  a  little  afflicted,  he  would 
contcmptuousl}-  curse  his  Maker,  and 
bi<l  adieu  to  his  service.  For  the 
manifestation  and  exercise  of  Job's 
grace,  Satan  was  permitted  to  ruin 
all  he  had;  but  limited  from  touch- 
ing his  j)erson.  He  immediately 
vented  his  malice  against  Job :  he 
stirred  u[)  tlie  thievish  Saheans  to  fall 
on  his  cattle.  These  they  drove 
away,  and  his  servants  they  murder- 
ed. He  next  caused  fire  from  hea- 
ven to  fall  on  his  flocks,  and  burn 
them  up,  and  the  servants  that  kept 

Vol.  II. 


them.  Next,  he  excited  the  savage 
Chaldeans  to  fall  on  the  camels  and 
murder  the  servants  who  attended 
them.  ]\Iucb  al>out  the  same  time, 
while  the  ten  ciiildren  feasted  in  the 
house  of  their  elder  brother,  he  rais- 
ed a  terrible  storm,  that  buried  them 
all  in  the  ruins  of  the  house.  In  each 
of  these  disasters,  sojne  one  was  pre- 
serveil,  to  bring  the  tidings  to  Job. 
Scarcely  had  one  finished  his  dole- 
ful story,  when  anotlier  came  with 
his.  In  great  composure,  Job  heard 
all ;  and  at  last,  to  mark  his  grief, 
rent  his  clothes,  and  shaved  off  the 
hair  of  his  head.  With  resignation 
to  the  whole,  he  blessed  God,  who 
hud  given  him  his  children  and 
weallh,  and  who  had  taken  them 
away,  Job  i.  Not  long  after,  Satan 
presented  himself  again  before  God 
in  the  former  manner,  and  was  ask- 
ed where  he  had  been  ?  and  if  he 
had  observed  how  jiiously  .fob  had 
behaved  himself  under  his  heavy  af- 
flictions, which  had  not  been  inflict- 
ed for  any  peculiar  wickedness  ?  He 
suggested,  that  there  was  very  little 
in  Job's  being  content  to  lose  his 
children  and  wealth,  when  his  per- 
son was  untouched;  but  alleged  that 
if  that  were  touched,  he  would  con- 
temptuously curse  God,  and  give  up 
his  service. 

For  the  further  discovery  and  excilci- 
ment  of  Job's  grace,  Satan  was  per- 
mitted to  do  all  that  he  could  against 
his  body,  if  he  but  spared  his  life. 
He  immediately  afllicted  his  body  all 
over  with  most  loathsome  boils.  Job 
laid  himself  down  on  a  dm^hill,  and 
with  a  potsherd  scraped  off  the  pu- 
trid matter  that  ran  from  his  sore^. 
In  an  upbraiding  tone,  his  wife  bid 
him  curse  God,  and  put  an  end  to 
his  life.  He  replied  that  the  motion 
was  quite  absurd,  as  it  becomes  us  to 
receive  aftliction  from  God's  hand, 
as  willingly  as  the  most  agreeable 
outward  favours,  Job  ii.  His  friends, 
hearing  of  his  disaster,  came  to  visit 
him.  The  chief  were  Eliphaz  the 
Temanite,  Biklad  the  Shuhi.e,  Zo- 
phar  the  Naamathite,  with  a  young 
man  named  Elihu.    When  they  saw 


JOB 


^. 


42 


JOE 


Bim  at  a  distance,  they  could  scarcely 
believe  it  was  he :  when  they  came 
near,  they  could  not  speak  to  him 
for  seven  days ;  they  were  so  shocked 
at  hif  trouble,  and  saw  him  so  affect- 
ed with  his  pain.  At  last  Job's  pa- 
tience was  overcome,  and  he  cursed 
the  day  of  his  birth,  and  wished,  that 
cither  he  had  never  been  born,  or 
had  been  soon  after  cut  off  by  death. 
This  occasioned  a  conference  be- 
twixt him  and  his  friends.  Eliphaz 
and  Biidad  took  three  different  turns 
in  the  conversation,  and  Zophar  two. 
To  add  to  his  trouble,  they  insisted, 
that  God  never  punishes  men  with  un- 
co imon  strokes,  but  for  uncommon 
sins.  They  affirmed,  that  certainly 
he  was  a  wicked  hypocrite,  since  he 
had  been  so  uncommonly  punished. 
They  intermingled  a  great  many  ex- 
cellent hints  concerning  God,  and 
advices  to  duty.  He  answered  them 
all  in  their  turns :  he  maintained,  that 
he  was  no  hypocrite,  but  one  who 
feared  God  ;  and  that  distinguished 
afflictions  in  this  world  Avere  often  the 
lot  of  the  godly,  though  eternal  pu- 
nishments in  hell  were  reserved  only 
for  the  wicked.  By  his  reasonings, 
and  his  solemn  protestations  of  his 
integrity,  he  put  them  to  silence. 
Elihu  then  spoke,  and,  admitting 
Job  to  be  a  saint,  he  shavpl)^  reproved 
him  for  his  unguarded  speeches,  and 
his  desire  to  justify  himself  at  the 
expense  of  the  divine  honour.  His 
discourse  introduced  Job's  convic- 
tion. God,  by  a  solemn  speech,  de- 
claratory of  his  power  and  sove- 
reignity in  the  works  of  nature,  par- 
ticularly with  respect  to  the  earth,  the 
sea,  air,  stars,  lions,  goats,  hinds, 
wild  asses,  unicorn,  ostriches,  horse, 
hawks,  eagles,  behemoth,  and  levia- 
than, and  by  a  number  of  pungent 
queries,  Convinced  Job  of  his  igno- 
rance and  vileness,  to  a  great  degree. 
Job  no  sooner  repented  of  his  mis- 
carriages, than  God  reproved  his 
three  friends  for  their  misrepresenta- 
tion of  bis  providence,  and  charged 
them  to  offer  sacrifice,  and  to  desire 
Job  to  pray  for  their  forgiveness. 
Ilereoii,  Job  was  relieved  from  his 


distress.  His  friends  came  to  himOfl 
every  side,  and  each  gave  him  com- 
pliments of  money.  It  was  not  long 
before  his  riches  were  double  of  what 
they  had  been,  and  he  had  as  many 
children  as  before.  These  were  not 
doubled,  as  the  former  were  not  lostj 
but  gone  to  the  eternal  state.  To  his 
three  daughters,  the  most  comely  in 
the  country,  he  gave  names,  Jemima, 
Kezia,  Kercu-hanpuch,  signifying, 
that  his  prosperity,  happiness,  and 
glory,  were  recovered.  After  this 
Job  lived  140  j'^ears,  and  saw  his 
posterity  to  the  fourth  generation. 
The  original  language  of  the  book 
of  Job  is  Hebrew,  but  blended  with 
many  Arabic  and  Chaldee  express 
sions,  and  peculiar  turns,  not  unusual 
in  Hebrew,  which  causes  the  obscu- 
rity and  difficulty  of  this  book;  but 
perhaps  it  was  (he  language  of  the 
Arabs  in  Job's  days.  It  is  said  to  be 
written  in  verse,  but  unconfiued  to 
any  particular  measure,  the  beauty  of 
tlie  verse  consisting  principally  in  no- 
ble expressions,  bold  and  sublime 
thoughts,  lively  emotions,  fine  de* 
scrlplions,  with  a  great  variety  of 
characters.  So  that  there  is  not  in 
all  antiquity  to  be  found  a  piece  of 
poetry  more  copious,  more  lofty, 
more  diversified,  more  adorned,  or 
more  affecting,  than  thisJ  The  au- 
thor, wlioever  he  was,  has  put  in. 
practice  all  the  beauties  of  his  art,  in 
order  to  make  the  four  persons,  whom 
lie  introduces  as  interlocutors,  keep 
up  each  his  proper  character.  As  a 
canonicaLbook  it  was  received  by  the 
Jews,  and  from  theta  adopted  by  the 
Christian  church. 

JOEL,  mllitig,  cDmmandins;-,  hegin- 
ning,  or  swearing,  the  son  of  Pethuel, 
whom  some,  wit'iout  ground,  take  for 
Samuel,  was  one  of  tiie  lesser  pro- 
phets. As  he  makes  no  mention  of 
the  ten  tribes,  it  seems  that  he  pro- 
phesied  after  their  captivity,  in  the 
time  of  Hezekiah  or  Blanasseh.  He 
represents  a  fearful  famine,  occa- 
sioned by  excessive  drought,  and  by 
destructive  vermin ;  he  directs  to 
fasting  and  prayer,  as  the  means  of 
deliverance :  he  iQietclIs  their  rescue 


J  O  H 


i    43    ) 


J  O  H 


fforli  the  famine,  and  the  efTudon  of 
the  Holy  Ghost  oii  inultitiules  in 
the  apostolic  age:  he  predicts  the  ruin 
of  the  Philistines  and  Phenicians,  ami 
perhaps  of  the  Assyrian  arjny  in  the 
valley  of  Jehoshaphat :  he  concludes 
with  promises  of  deliverance  to  the 
Jews  in  the  latter  days. 

J  OH  AN  AN,  liberal,  merciful,  or 
the  gifl  of  the  Lord,  the  son  of  Ka- 
reah,  with  his  brother  Jonathan,  and 
Seraiah,  and  Jezaniah,  and  some  other 
captains,  who  had  fled  off  in  small 
bodies,  came  to  Gedaliah  at  western 
Mizpah ;  and  he  with  an  oath  under- 
took for  their  safely,  if  they  should 
continue  subject  to  the  Chaldeans. 
The}'  informed  Gedaliah  of  Ishmael's 
intended  murder  of  him.  After  itwas 
over,  and  they  had  pursued  Ishmael, 
and  recovered  the  captives  he  had  car- 
ried off,  they  retired  to  Chimliam, 
which  is  by  Bethlehem.  There  they 
desired  Jeremiah  to  ask  direction  of 
God,  whether  they  should  go  to  Egyfit 
or  not.  As  they  were  determined  to 
go  thither  at  any  rate,  they  disregarded 
his  warning  against  it,  and  pretended, 
that  not  God,  but  Baruch,  the  son  of 
Neriah,  had  prompted  him  to  apeak 
so,  that  he  might  deliver  them  up  to 
the  enraged  Chaldeans.  As  Jeremiah 
had  told  them  of  their  dissimulation, 
now  it  appeared.  Johanan,  and  his 
fellow-captains,  carried  all  the  peo- 
ple left  in  the  land,  Jeremiah  not  ex- 
cepted, into  Egypt ;  where,  in  about 
fourteen  years  after,  moat  of  them  had 
a  miserable  end  by  the  Chaldean  in- 
Tasion,  Jer.  xl.  to  xliv. 

JOHN,  the  grace^  gift,  ov  mercy,  of 
the  Lvrd,  the  celebrated  forerunner 
of  our  Saviour,  and  the  Ellas  of  the 
New  Testament.  He  was  the  son 
of  Zecharias,  the  aged  priest,  and  the 
long  barren  Elizabeth.  His  birth  and 
Tvork  were  predicted  by  the  angel 
Gabriel ;  and  his  unbelieving  father's 
dumbness  while  he  was  in  the  womb, 
was  the  miraculous  token  of  its  fulfil- 
ment. Being  conceived  six  months 
before  our  Saviour,  he  leapt  in  his 
mother's  womb  at  the  salutation  of 
the  blessed  Virgin,  now  with  child  ol 
our  Saviour.     At  his  birth,  his  pa- 


rents were  exceedingly  glad;  ami 
his  father  soon  after  had  his  tongue 
;  looked,  and  predicted  his  and  our  Sa- 
jviour's  appearance  and  work.  From 
I  his  infancy,  he  was  endowed  with 
I  the  Holy  Ghost  in  an  extraordinary 
manner:  through  his  whole  life,  he 
was  a  Nazarite,  drinking  neither 
wine  nor  strong  drink.  After  8|)end- 
ing  his  earliest  years  in  his  father's 
house,  he  retired  to  the  deserts, 
where  he  lived  on  locusts  and  wild 
honey,  and  was  occupied  in  medita- 
tion and  prayer.  His  garments  were 
of  camel's  hair,  and  he  was  girt 
about  the  waist  with  a  leathern  gir- 
dle. About  A.  D.  28,  he  began  to 
publish  the  approaching  appearance 
of  the  Messiah,  and  called  the  peo- 
ple to  repent,  because  the  kingdom 
of  God,  or  New  Testament  dispensa- 
tion of  the  gospel,  was  at  hand ;  he  as» 
sured  them,  that  their  circumstances 
were  very  critical :  and  if  they  did 
not  speedily  repent,  the  axe  of  God's 
judgments  would  certainly  cut  them 
off.  Such  as  professed  their  repent- 
ance, and  made  contession  of  their 
sins,  he  baptized  with  water,  charg- 
ing them  to  believe  on  the  Messiah, 
who  was  to  be  immediately  revealed ; 
who  would  endow  them  with  the  Holy 
Ghost,  and  grant  them  the  forgive- 
ness of  their  sins.  He  alpo  directed 
them  how  to  behave  in  their  various 
stations.  Sundry  persona  clave  to 
him  as  his  disciples,  and  assisted  him 
in  calling  the  people  to  repentance. 
Such  wag  his  virtue  and  fame,  that 
many  of  the  Jews  suspected  lie  might 
be  the  Messiah.  He  assured  them, 
he  was  not ;  and.  by  divine  direction, 
informed  them,  that  he  on  v.lioin 
they  should  soon  see  tJie  Holy  Ghost 
descend,  and  remain,  was  the  Mes- 
siah. Jesus  came,  and  desired  bap- 
tism :  John  discerning  his  true  cha- 
racter, would  have  excused  himself, 
as  unlit  for  the  otftce  ;  but  on  Jesus's 
hinting,  that  it  was  necessary  to  hi? 
fultihnent  of  all  righteousness,  he 
complied.  To  the  messengers  sent 
by  the  priests  and  rulers  to  knoT^ 
what  he  professed  to  be,  he  rej.'iied, 
that  be  was  neither  the  Messiah;  not 


W 


sou 


(    44    J 


the  ancieut  Elijah  nor  an  old  pro- 
phet risen  from  the  dead;  but  was  a 
poor  unsubstantial  voice  in  the  Wil- 
derness, calling  theih  to  prepare  for 
the  Messiah,  and  to  ren)ove  everj^ 
hindrance  of  receiving  him.  Next 
tlay,  John  pointed  out  Jesus  to  the 
multitude,  and  soon  after  to  two  of 
his  disciples,  as  the  Lamb  of  God, 
that  taketh  away  the  sin  of  the  world, 
Luke  i.  and  iii.  Matt.  iii.  John  i. 

Not  long  after,  Avhen  John  was 
baptizing  at  Enon,  near  Salem,  where 
was  a  number  of  sji  ill  rivulets,  some 
of  his  disciples  informed  him  that 
Jesus  Christ  had  begun  to  baptize  by 
his  disciples,  and  was  likely  to  be 
followed  by  all  the  country :  he  re- 
plied, that  he  had  no  honour,  but 
what  was  freely  given  him  of  God; 
that  as  Christ  was  the  divine  Bride- 
groom of  the  church,  he  was  glad  to 
iiftve  his  own  honour  vailed  and  dimi- 
nished, that  of  Jesus  might  increase 


and  shine  forth;  and  that  as  Jesus  was  Joined  to  house,  when  one  is  added  to 


a  divine  person,  endowed  with  an  un 
measurable  fulness  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
and  ruler  over  all,  they  could  not 
escape  the  vengeance  of  God,  if  they 
believed  not  on  him,  John  iii.  23 — 
36.  He  was  for  a  while  revered  and 
heard  by  Herod  the  tetrarch  of  Ga- 
lilee; but  having  reproved  that  wick- 
ed man  for  marrying  his  brother's 
wife,  he  was  imprisoned  in  the  castle 
of  Macherus.  From  hence  he  sent 
two  of  his  disciples  to  ask  Jesus,  if 
he  was  the  true  Messiah,  or  if  they 
should  look  for  another  ?  Perhaps  his 
imprisonment,  which  laid  him  aside 
from  his  work,  had  made  his  faith  to 
stagger;  or,  more  probably,  they  were 
sent  for  their  own  confirmation  in 
tlie  faith.  Jesus  bade  them  go  tell 
John  what  miracles  they  sa^v  per- 
formed, and  what  tidings  of  salvation 
they  heard  preached  to  the  poor, 
Matt.  xi.  Soon  after,  to  gratify  the 
malice  of  Herodias,  and  reward  her 
daughter's  fine  dancing,  Iiis  head  w  as 
cut  off,  and  delivered  as  a  present  to 
the  damsel.  His  disciples,  permitted 
by  Herod,  carried  off  his  body,  and 
buried  it.  Re  died  about  a  year  be- 
fore our  Saviour.    Jesus  assure  us. 


that  John  was  no  unconstant  believer 
or  preacher  :  no  reed  shaken  with  the 
wind,  but  one  of  th.e  greatest  men 
that  appeared  in  the  Avorld;  and 
yet  there  is  none  in  heaven,  no  be- 
liever in  the  New  Testament  church ; 
but  hath  clearer  views  of  the  me- 
thod of  salvation,  and  better  tidings 
to  tell,  than  he;  even,  that  Jesus 
hath  died  for  our  offences,  and  is 
raised  again  for  our  justification. 
As  John's  life  Avas  very  austere,  the 
wicked  Pharisees  said,  he  had  a  de- 
vil, but  were  afraid  openly  to  avow 
their  sentiments.  Matt.  xi.  and  xiv. 

JOHN,  the  Evangelist.  See 
James  the  son  of  Zebedee. 

J01N,(1.)  To  knit  or  unite  to- 
gether, Jobxli.  17.  (2.)  To  make 
an  alliance  or  league,  Dan.  xi.  6. 
(3.)  To  enter  into  intimacy  with. 
Acts  viii.  29.  (4.)  To  be  reckon- 
ed with,  Job  iii.  6.  Joining,  is  ap- 
plied, (1.)  To   things;  so   house  is 


another  under  the  same  master,  Isa. 

8.  (2.)  To  persons,  when  they 
are  united  in  marriage,  Eph.  v.  31. 
in  affinity,  2  Chron.  xviii.  1.  in  as- 
sistance, Exod.  i.  10.  or  in  church 
fellowship.  Acts  ix.  26.  or  in  bat- 
tle, army  fighting  close  with  army, 
1  Sam.  iv.  2.  (3.)  To  minds,  when 
people  are  united  in  judgment  and 
affection.  To  he  joined  to  the  Lord, 
is  to  be  spiritually  espoused  to  Christ, 
and  solemnly  devoted  to  his  service, 
1  Cor.  vi.  'l7.  Jer.  1.  5.  To  be 
joined  to  idols,  is  to  be  firmly  intent 
on  worshipping  them,  Hos.  iv.  17. 
To  hejoiiud  to  an  harlot,  is  to  have 
the  affections  set  upon  her,  and  to 
commit  whoredom  with  lier,  1  Cor. 
vi.  16. 

Joints,  are,  (1.)  The  uniting  of 
the  bones  in  an  animal  body,  Dan.  v. 
6.  (2.)  The  uniting  parts  of  an 
harness,  2  Chron.  xviii.  33.  The 
joints  and  bands,  which  unite  Christ's 
mystical  body,  are  their  graces  of 
faith  and  love  fixed  on  him,  and  in 
him  loving  one  another.  Col.  ii.  19. 
Eph.  iv.  16.  The  joints  and  man  otv 
are  mentioned,  Heb.  iv.  12.  to  show 
the  powerful  effect  of  the  ivord  of 


Paul  (f  Thomas,  Prvxt. 


JOHJS*  BAFTIST. 


^>» 


JON 


<     45    ) 


JON 


CJoJ,  throiie:h  the  Spiiit's  iuflucnce, 
piercing  even  to  the  most  secret 
thouc;hts  and  intents  of  the  lieait. 

JOKTAN,  /fc^-^/.s/,  weariness,  or 
contoition,  the  eldest  son  of  Helier; 
not  Jokshan,  (he  peeond  son  of  Ke(u- 
rah,  as  Gahiiel  Avill  have  it;  bnt  this 
Joktan  was  tlic  Kahtan,  or  father  of 
tiie  ancient  AR.vns,  part  of  whom  are 
called  Catanitti  by  Ptolemy.  About 
a  mile  west  from  Mecca,  there  was,  if 
tliere  be  not  still,  a  place  called  Bai- 
sath-yektan,  or  the  divclling  of  Jok- 
tan. Joktan  had  13  sous,  Almodad 
the  father  of  the  Ahntnlae,  or  AHum- 
tae ;  Sheieph,  the  father  of  the  Thala- 
peni,  or  Alajjcni;  Hazarmaveth,  from 
whom  sprung  the  Atramilae,  Cha- 
tramotitae,  or  Chatramonitae;  Jerah, 
or,  as  the  Arabs  call  him,  Yarab  and 
Yorham,  the  father  of  the  Yerache- 
ans,  or  Yorhamites;  Hadoram,  the 
father  of  the  Adramitae,  or  Drimitae ; 
Uzal,  the  father  of  the  Aur.alites,  or 
Ausarites,  in  the  kini^dom  of  the  Ge 
banites;  Diklah;  Obal,  the  father  o 
the  Avalites,  Abulites,  or  Adulites; 
Abimael,  the  father  of  the  Malites; 
JSheba,  the  falher  of  a  tribe  of  the  Sa 
beans;  Ophir,  who  perhaps  gave 
name  toJCopher  a  village  on  the  Ara- 
bian gulph,  or  to  Urphe  an  island 
in  the  Red  Sea,  and  might  be  the  fa 
ther  of  the  Cassanites,  or  Ghassan 
itcs;  Havilah,  whose  posterity  inha- 
]»ited  Chaulan,  or  the  border  of  the 
Sabeans  ;  and  Jobab,  of  whom  came 
the  Jobarites,  or  Jobabites.  The 
Arabs  descended  from  Joktan,  dwelt 
from  Mesha,  which  is  perhaps  the 
same  as  Muza  or  Mecca,  on  the  east 
of  the  Red  Sea,  to  Sephar,  a  mount  of 
the  south-east  of  Arabia  Felix,  Gen. 
X.  23,  30.  1  Chron.  i.  19,  23. 

JONADAB,  or  Jeiioxadab.  See 
Kenitf.s. 

JONAH,  a  dove,  or  he  that  op- 
presses, the  son  of  Araittai,  a  prophet 
of  Gath-hepher,  in  Galilee.  Some 
Jews  would  have  him  to  be  the  widow 
of  Sarepta's  son,  raised  to  life  by  Eli- 
jah; but  the  distance  of  time  ren- 
ders it  alniost  impossible.  Nor  is  it 
a  whit  more  certain,  that  he  was  the 
sou  of  the  Slninamlte  restored  to  life 


by  Elisha,  or  the  young  prophet  wlio 
anointed  Jihu.  It  is  certain  thai  he 
preiliclcd,  that  God  would  restore  lo 
the  Hebrews  the  cities  which  the 
Syrians  had  tak»n  from  them  during 
the  reigns  of  Ahab,  Jehoram,  Jehu, 
and  Jehoahaz,  2  Kings  xiv.  2!).  God 
ordered  this  prophet  to  go  to  Nine- 
veh, and  warn  the  inhabitants  of 
their  approaching  destruction.  Fear- 
ing that  the  merciful  Lord  might 
forbear  punishing  them,  if  they  re- 
pented, and  so  seemingly  tarnish  his 
honour,  Jonah  shipi)ed  off  himself  at 
.loppa  for  Tarshish,  whether  in  Cili- 
cia,  Africa,  or  S|)ain.  is  uncertain ; 
that,  being  out  of  the  promised  land, 
the  sjjirit  of  prophecy  might  Ibrbear 
to  excite  him.  A  storm  quickly 
pursued  the  sltip  wherein  he  was. 
The  Heathen  mariners  awaked  hitn, 
and  required  him  to  call  on  his  Goil 
for  deliverance.  Lots  being  cast  to 
discern  for  whose  sake  the  storm 
arose,  the  lot  fell  on  Jonah.  Witli 
shame  he  confessed  his  guilt  to  the 
mariners.  He  desired  them  to  cast 
him  into  the  sea,  that  the  storm  might 
be  stayed.  With  reluctance  they  at 
last  were  obliged  to  do  it ;  whereon 
the  storm  immediately  ceased.  A 
!arge  fish  swallowed  up  Jonah,  and 
retained  him  safe  in  her  belly  for 
three  days.  There  he  earnestly 
prayed  to  the  Lord,  at  whose  com- 
mand the  fish  vomited  him  alive  ou 
the  dry  land;  but  whether  on  the 
east  end  of  the  Syrian  Sea,  near  Scau- 
deroon,  is  uncertain,  though  that  is 
most  probable.  His  orders  to  warn 
the  Ninevites  of  their  approaching 
destruction,  -were  immediately  re- 
newed. All  obedient,  he  hasted  tc« 
that  vast  city.  He  had  not  travelled 
in  it  above  a  day's  journey,  denounc- 
ing their  ruin,  when  the  king,  whom 
w'e  cannot  suppose  was  Pul,  but  one 
about  50  or  60  years  earlier,  and  all 
his  people,  applied  themselves  to  sor 
lemn  fasting  and  prayer.  Hereupon 
God  forbore  to  execute  his  vengeance 
upon  them,  which  had  been  but 
conditionally  threatened.  Displeased 
with  the  divine  mercj',  Jonah  angrily 
wislied  to  die,  rather  than  live*  and 


JON 


(     46     ) 


J  0  P 


see  his  prediction  unfulfilied.  While 
he  sat  without  the  city,  wailing  lor 
his  desired  view  of  Nineveh's  ruin, 
God  caused  a  gourd  quickly  to 
spring  up,  to  overshadow  him  from 
the  scorching  heat  of  the  sun  :  but 
next  day,  a  worm  having  bitten  its 
root,  it  suddenly  withered.  The 
scorching  sun,  and  blasting  wind,  ve- 
hemently beating  on  Jonah,  he  faint- 
ed, and  angrily  wished  to  die,  and 
averred  to  God  himself,  that  he  was 
right  in  so  doing.  The  Lord  bid 
him  think,  if  he  had  pity  on  the  short 
lived  gourd,  was  there  not  far  more 
reason  for  him,  and  their  Maker,  to 
pity  the  penitent  inhabitants  of  Ni- 
neveh, where  were  above  120,000 
infants,  and  much  cattle  ?  Jon.  i — iv. 
This  prophet  typified  our  Saviour's 
lying  a  part  of  three  days  in  the 
grave;  his  glorious  resurrection  from 
the  dead ;  and  the  publication  of  the 
gospel  to  multitudes  of  sinners,  for 
their  everlasting  salvation. 

JONATHAN,  the  gift  of  the 
Lord,  (1.)  The  son  of  Gershon,  and 
perhaps  grandson  of  Moses.  After  he 
had  officiated  for  some  time  as  idol- 
priest  to  Micah,  at  the  yearly  rate  of 
liif/ victuals,  a  suit  of  clothes,  and  not 
quite  23  shillings  sterling;  he,  pre- 
tending to  consult  his  idol,  assured 
the  Danites  that  their  undertaking  at 
Laish  should  prosper ;  and  afterwards 
went  with  600  Danites;  and  he  and 
his  posterity  were  priests  to  that  idol 
at  Dan,  fill  the  captivity  of  the  land, 
Judg.  xvii.  and  xviii. 

2.  Jonathan,  the  son  of  Saul, 
was  a  pious  prince,  and  of  distin- 
guished valour.  When  the  Philis- 
tines had  invaded,  and  quite  terrified 
the  whole  Hebrew  nation,  near 
Michmash,  where  stood  the  rocks 
Bozez  and  Seneh,  Jonathan,  and  his 
armour-bearer,  taking  it  as  a  divine 
signal,  that  the  Philistines  bade  them 
come  up  to  them  on  the  rock  where 
the  garrison  were  posted,  climbed  up 
on  their  hands  and  feet,  and  slew  20 
men,  within  about  half  an  acre  of 
ground.  At  the  view  of  this  dis- 
f^omfiture,  the  Philistines  were  put 
into  the  utmost  confusion ;  Saul,  and 


his  frighted  troops,  observing  it,  pur- 
sued them.  Not  hearing  his  father's 
rash  sentence  of  death  against  the 
man  who  should  stop  the  pursuit 
till  night,  by  taking  of  food,  Jona- 
than, by  tasting  a  little  honey  on  the 
top  of  his  staff,  as  it  dropped  in  a 
wood,  brought  himself  into  the  ut- 
most danger.  But  the  people  boldly 
told  his  father,  that  they  would  not 
suffer  his  innocent  son,  by  whom  the 
Lord  had  wrought  so  great  a  deliver- 
ance, to  be  unnaturally  murdered, 
2  Sam.  xiv. 

After  David  had  killed  Goliath,, 
Jonathan  conceived  the  strongest  af- 
fection for  him;  he  presented  him 
with  his  robe,  his  bow,  and  girdle; 
he  vindicated  his  character  to  his  an- 
gry father,  and  faithfully  informed 
him  of  the  danger  he  was  in,  even 
though  he  knew  he  was  to  be  king 
ia  his  stead,  after  his  father.  During 
David's  exile,  Jonathan  once  and 
again  resorted  to  him,  and  there  was 
a  covenant  of  mutual  friendship  be- 
twixt them.  He  even  encouraged 
him  to  hope  for  the  Hebrew  throne, 
at  his  own  expense.  Some  years 
after,  to  the  great  grief  of  David,  Jo- 
nathan was  slain  with  his  father  at 
Gilboa.  David  tenderly  bewailed 
his  eleath,  and  showed  the  most  af- 
fectionate kindness  to  Mephiboshetli 
his  son,  1  Sam.  xis.  and  xx.  2  Sam. 
i.  and  i%. 

JOPPA,  or  Japho,  fairness,  heau- 
ty,  or  comeliness,  a  beautiful  sea-port 
on  the  west  of  Canaan,  about  34 
miles  north-west  of  Jerusalem;  from 
which  it  was  seen,  as  it  stood  on  a 
hill  amidst  a  delightful  plain.  It  is 
thought  by  sonie  to  have  been  built 
before  the  flood :  but  afterwards,  it 
perhaps  belonged  to  the  Danites.  In 
the  days  of  Solomon,  it  was  a  noted 
sea-port,  where  the  wood  brought 
from  Lebanon  was  unloaded.  It 
was  probably  so  in  the  time  of  Jero- 
boam the  second,  when  Jonah  sailed 
from  it  to  Tarshish.  Before  its  har- 
bour, the  Maccaliees  burnt  the  Syro- 
Grecian  fleet.  Here  Peter  restored 
Dorcas  to  life,  and  received  the  mes- 
sages of  Cornelius.     Tire  Romans 


J  O  R 


(     47     ) 


J  0  R 


destroyed  it.  We  read  of  no  bishops 
here  til!  the  5th  or  (Uh  century.  In 
the  time  ol  the  Antichrislian  war  of 
the  Croisailcs,  Lewis  of  France,  and 
Godfrey  of  Bouillon,  and  others,  re- 
paired and  adornfMl  it;  hut  in  those 
unhappy  time?,  what  was  one  year 
a  beautifid  city,  was  often,  in  tlie 
next,  a  heap  of  ruins.  At  present, 
and  for  ai:;es  past,  it  hath  had  but  a 
very  poor  harbour,  and  is  remarkable 
for  nothing  but  ruinous  remains  of 
antiquity,  Josh.  xix.  46.  2  Chion.  ii. 
10.  Acts  ix.  and  x. — It  is  now  call- 
ed Jalfa. 

JORAI\I,  the  hcisrht,  or  throivitisr 
down  of  tlic  Lord,  or  Jehobam,  the 
eon  of  Jelioshaphat,  and  son-in-law 
of  kina;  Ahab.  Instigated  by  Athalia 
Ins  wife,  he  was  exceedingly  wicked. 
His  father  made  him  his  partner  in 
the  kingdom  about  A.  M.  3109,  and 
about  five  years  after  he  began  to 
reign  by  himself.  He  murdered  his 
brethren,  Azariah,  Jehiel,  Zechari- 
ah,  Michael,  and  Shephatiah,  whom 
their  father  had  endowed  with  rich 
])resents,  and  made  governors  of 
fenced  cities.  In  idolatry,  and  other 
"wickedness,  he  made  Ahab  his  pat- 
tern. To  punish  his  impiety,  the 
Edomites  revolted,  and  harassed  the 
kingdom  of  Judah.  Though  he  de- 
feated tliem,  yet  they  continued  their 
revolt.  About  the  same  time,  Lib- 
nah,  a  city  of  the  priests,  shook  off 
his  government.  Letters  written  by 
Elijah,  reproached  him  v.ith  his 
wickedness,  and  denounced  fearful 
judgments  against  him  and  his  fami- 
ly. These  threatenings  were  fultil- 
led ;  the  Philistines  and  Arabians  ra- 
vaged his  kingdom,  plundered  his 
palace,  carried  captive  all  his  wives 
and  children,  save  Ahaziah,  the 
youngest,  who  succeeded  him;  and 
soon  after  he,  with  almost  all  his  fa- 
mily, came  to  a  miserable  end.  Jeho- 
ram  was  seized  with  a  terrible  distem- 
per, of  which,  after  two  years,  his 
bowels  fell  out,  and  he  died.  His 
subjects  refused  him  the  ordinary  ho- 
nours of  their  deceased  sovereigns. 
They  neither  burnt  any  spices  for 
him,  nor  iqterrcd  liim  in  the  royal 


sepulchres,  2  Kings  i.   17.  and  viii. 
lU— 25.  2  Chron.  xxi. 

JORAftl,  or  .Ikiioram,  the  son  of 
Ahab,  succeeded  his  elder  brother 
Ahaziah,  A.  M.  3108.  While  Je- 
horam  of  Judah  inlroduced  the  wor- 
ship of  Baal  into  his  kingdom,  this 
Jehoram  of  Israel  removed  the  :-la- 
tues  of  Baal,  which  his  father  had 
erected.  Having  Jehoshaphat  of 
Judah,  and  the  Edomites,  for  his  al- 
lies, he  marched  to  reduce  IMesha, 
the  king  of  the  revolted  Moabites. 
In  tiieir  march  around  the  south  of 
the  Dead  Sea,  they  had  almost  pe- 
rished for  want  of  w^ater.  After  a 
sharp  reproof,  and  bidding  Jehoram 
apply  for  relief  to  the  prophets  of 
his  father  and  mother,  JElisha  pro- 
cured a  miraculous  supplj'^  of  water, 
without  either  wind  or  rain.  The 
Moabites  mistaking  this  Avater,  red- 
dened with  the  beams  of  the  rising 
sun,  for  the  blood  of  tlie  uUies,  furi- 
ously hasted  to  the  spot,  and  were 
mostl}'^  cut  off.  When  Benhad;ui 
sent  Naaman  to  be  healed  of  his  lep- 
rosy, Jehoram  rent  his  clothes,  reck- 
oning it  was  done  to  pick  a  quarrel 
with  him  ;  but  Elisha  removed  his 
fears.  The  Syrian  invaders  often 
laid  snares  for  his  life ;  but  Elisha 
discovered  them,  and  their  design  was 
prev^ented.  When  the  Syrians  be- 
sieged Samaria  till  women  did  eat 
their  own  children,  Jehoram  intend- 
ed to  have  murdered  Elisha,  because 
he  did  not  deliver  the  city  from  its 
misery ;  but  that  being  prevented, 
Jehoram  desperately  concluded  it 
was  needless  to  expect  or  wait  for 
deliverance  from  God.  Jehoram 
sometimes  took  pleasure,  it  is  said,  in 
hearing  Gehazi  relate  the  miracles  of 
Elisha  his  master;  and  reailily  restored 
to  the  Shunamite  her  whole  inherit- 
ance, because  Elisha  had  restored  her 
son  to  life.  After  the  Lord  had  mira- 
culously terriiied  the  S)'rians,  and 
made  them  run  out  of  the  Hebrew  ki  ng- 
dom,  Joram,  it  seems,  took  Ramoth- 
gilead  out  of  their  hands,  at  least  he 
laid  siege  to  it;  but  being  wounded, 
he  went  home  to  Jezreel  to  be  heal- 
ed of  his  wounds;  nor  was  he  long 


J  0  R 


(     48     ) 


JOS 


there,  before  Jehu  came  and  murder- 
ed him,  ami  cast  his  dead  body  into 
the  field,  or  vineyard,  of  Naboth  the 
Jezreelite,  whose  murder  God  had 
threatened  to  avenge  on  the  family 
of  Ahab;  and  when  Jehu  destroyed, 
at  the  same  time  be  killed  Joram  his 
master,  viz.  A.  M.  3120,  2  Kings  ii. 
1 7.  and  iii.  and  v.  and  vi.  and  viii.  to 
X.  2  Chron.  xxii. 

JORDAN,  the  river  of  judgment, 
or  he  that  rejects  judgment,  a  river 
of  no  small  note  in  Canaan.  The 
uppermost  spring  of  Jordan  is  in 
mount  Lebanon,  about  12  miles  north 
of  Cesarea-pbilippi.  After  it  has 
run  about  12  miles  more  to  the  south, 
it  receives  a  more  considerable 
branch,  which,  under  ground,  pro- 
ceeds from  the  lake  Phiala.  About 
15  miles  farther  south,  it  forms 
the  waters  of  Merom,  or  lake  of 
Samechon;  both  names  signifying 
that  it  is  the  higher  lake,  wliicb  is 
near  4  miles  broad,  and  7^  long. 
After  running  about  23  miles  far- 
ther south,  it  forms  the  lake  o'' 
Genesareth,  which  is  about  13  miles 
in  length,  and  5  in  breadth.  From 
thence  it  runs  southward  through  a 
Jong  valley,  whose  air  is  unwhole- 
some, and  most  of  it  desert,  till  it 
loses  itself  in  the  Dead  Sea.  Its  whole 
course  is  about  160  miles.  It  once 
overflowed  its  banks  in  March  or 
April,  by  means  of  the  melting  ol 
the  snow  on  Lebanon  and  Hermon  ; 
but  from  the  joint  testimony  of 
Maundrel  and  Thomson,  it  seems 
it  does  not  so  now,  to  any  consider- 
able degree.  Perhaps  the  reason 
is  that  its  channel  is  now  sunk  so 
deep.  Before  it  enters  the  Dead 
Sea,  its  ordinary  current  is  but  30 
yards  in  breadth,  according  to 
Shaw;  and  no  more  than  25,  ac- 
cording to  Thomson;  but  is  exceed- 
ingly deep,  even  at  the  edge  of  its 
inner  bank.  It  has  an  outer  bank, 
about  a  furlong  distant  from  the  other: 
such  it  seems  was  its  width  when  it 
was  swelled.  Tine  banks  of  a  great 
part  of  it  are  so  covered  with  thick- 
ets, that  in  many  places  one  cannot 
see  it  till  at  the  very  brink  of  it ;  and 


in  these  thickets  lions  were  wont  td 
lodge,  but  were  driven  thence  by 
the  overflowing  of  the  river;  at 
which  season  they  wandered  about, 
and  were  dangerous  to  such  as  dwelt 
near,  Jer.  xlix.  1 9.  The  deep  stream 
of  Jordan  was  divided  under  Joshua, 
and  by  Elijah  and  Elisha.  At  it  John 
baptized  multitudes,  and  our  Saviour 
among  them,  Joshua  iii.  2  Kings  ii. 
Matt.  iii. 

JOSEPH,  increasing,  additional,  or 
perfect,  the  son  of  Jacob  and  Rachel, 
was  born  in  Mesopotamia,^,  M.  2259. 
Very  early,  God  favoured  him  with  a 
prophetic  dream,of  the  eleven  sheaves 
of  his  brethren  doing  obeisance  to 
his  sheaf,  and  of  the  sun,  moon,  and 
eleven  stars,  doing  reverence  to  him. 
These  emblems  imported,  that  all  hia 
father's  family  should  be  under  hi^ 
rule.  On  account  of  his  piety,  and 
for  the  sake  of  Rachel  his  mother, 
Jax^ob  was  extremely  fond  of  him, 
and  made  him  a  party-coloured  coat, 
snch  as  young  princes  then  wore. 
Joseph  too  informed  him  of  some 
wickcdrjcss  his  brethren,  the  sons  of 
Bilhah  and  Zilpah,  had  been  guilty 
of.  On  tiieae  accounts,  his  brethren 
heartily  hated  him.  When  he  was 
seventeen  years  of  age,  his  father, 
who  generally  retained  him  at  home, 
sent  him  to  see  where  his  brethren 
were  feeding  their  flocks,  and  how 
they  were  in  their  circumstances. 
Going  to  Shechem,  and  thence  to 
Dothan,  he  carefully  sought  them  out. 
At  first  sight  of  hira  they  resolved  to 
murder  him,  and  tell  their  father  that 
some  ravenous  beast  had  devoured 
him.  They  took  him  and  stripped 
him.  His  most  moving  appearances 
and  griefs  made  no  impression  on 
the  chief  part  of  them,  but  Reuben, 
who  detested  the  murder,  begged  they 
would  throw  him  into  a  dry  pit ;  fronj 
this  he  intended  to  convey  him  se- 
cretly, that  he  might  escape  to  his  fa- 
ther, AVhile  he  was  labouring  to  ef^ 
feet  this,  some  Islynaelitish  and  Mid- 
ianitish  merchants  passed  that  way, 
carrying  spices  and  gum  from  mount 
Gilead  to  the  land  of  Egypt;  on  a 
sight  of  them,  Joseph's  nine  brethren 


JOS 


(     49     ) 


JOS 


immediately  resolved  to  sell  him  for 
a  slave.  His  price  was  20  pieces  ol" 
silver,  or  about  2/.  Gs.  sterlinq;.  His 
coat  of  divers  colours  they  dipped  in 
the  blood  of  a  kid,  and  carried  to 
their  father,  as  what  they  had  found, 
and  desired  him  to  consider  whether 
it  was  Joseph's  or  not.  He  knew 
the  coat,  and  was  overwhelmed  with 
grief  for  the  loss  of  his  son,  whom  he 
believed  to  have  been  devoured  by 
some  wild  beast,  Genesis  xxx 
xxxvii. 


full  of  baked  meats  on  his  head,  of 
which  the  birds  did  come  and  eat. 
This,  Joseph  told  him,  meant,  that 
in  three  days  he  should  be  executed. 
Both  interpretations  were  verified  by 
the  event :  but  the  butler,  contrary 
to  Joseph's  request,  basely  neglected 
to  exert  himself,  when  restored  to  his 
office,  to  procure  Joseph  his  liberty, 
Gen.  xl. 

Joseph  had  lain  about  three  years  in 

and  {prison,    when  Pharaoh    dreamed   a 

dream  of  seven  fat  kine  devoured  by 


The  Arabian  merchants  sold  him  to  I  seven  lean  kine:  and  afterwards,  of 
Potiphar,  the  captain  of  the  royal  I  seven  good  ears  of  corn  consumed 
guards  of  the  Egyptian  king.  Jo- 1  by  seven  ears  empty  and  withered, 
seph's  good  behaviour  quickly  gain- j  While  Pharaoh  was  uneasy  because 
ed  him  the  esteem  of  his  master,  and  j  no  one  could  explain  his  dreams,  the 
he  made  him  his  steward.  Mean- j  butler  remembered  Joseph's  inter- 
while  his  mistress  conceived  a  cri-|preting  his  and  the  baker's  according 
niinal  passion  for  him.  He  resisted; to  truth;  and  told  Pharaoh  of  him. 
her  impudent  solicitations  for  the  i  Pharaoh  ordered  him  directly  to  be 
gratification  of  her  abominable  lust.  |  brought  from  prison.  Josejjh  after 
When  she  one  day  urgetl  him  with  ^shaving  himself,  and  changing  his 
the  greatest  earnestness,  he  remon- j  clothes,  presented  himself  before  Pha- 
strated,  that  it  would  be  the  highest  raoh. — Scarcely  had  Pharaoh  related 
ingratitude  to  his  kind  master,  whoihisdream,when  Joseph  told  him,  that 


had  given  him  so  much  power  ;  and 
also  the  most  horrid  wickedness 
against  God.  Unmoved,  she  caught 
hold  of  his  garment,  to  force  him  to 
comply.  He  fled  off,  leaving  his 
coat  in  her  hand.  Enraged  at  this 
disappointment,  she  raised  a  terrible 
outcr}^  pretending  to  the  servants, 
and  to  her  husband  when  he  came 
home,  that  Joseph  had  attempted  lo 
debauch  her,  and  at  her  outcries  had 
run  off,  leaving  his  garment  in  her 
hand.  Potiphar  believed  his  wife, 
and  cast  Joseph  into  prison.  Here 
his  virtuous  behaviour  gained  him 
the  favour  of  the  keeper,  if  it  did 
not  also  regain  him  the  favour  of  Po- 
tiphar. The  other  prisoners  were 
entrusted  to  his  care.  The  king's 
butler  and  baker  were  prisoners  at 
that  time.  Each  of  them  dreamed  a 
dream ;  the  butler,  that  he  saw  three 
branches  of  a  vine,  ])ressed  the 
grapes,  and  gave  the  wine  into  Pha- 
raoh's hand.  This,  Joseph  told  him, 
signified,  that  in  three  days  he  should 
be  restored  to  his  office.  The  baker 
dreamed,  that  be  had  three  basket*? 
Vol.  1L 


both  the  dreams  signified  that  there 
should  quickly  be  seven  years  of 
great  plenty,  succeeded  by  as  many 
of  terrible  famine.  He  also  hinted, 
that  it  would  be  proper  to  appoint 
some  person  of  skill  and  prudence, 
to  collect  into  the  royal  granaries  a 
fifth  part  of  the  crop  during  the 
seven  plenteous  years,  that  there 
might  be  a  reserve  of  food  in  the 
years  of  famine.  This  plan  wag 
readily  adopted;  and  Joseph  him- 
self was  made  master  of  the  stores, 
and  second  governor  in  all  the  land 
of  Egypt.  He  ^vas  gorgeously  ar- 
rayed. His  name  was  called  Zaph- 
ncaih-paancah,  which,  in  the  old 
Egyptian  tongue,  signified  the  saviour 
of  the  world ;  but,  in  the  Hebrew, 
might  be  rendered  the  rcvcaler  of  sc- 
crcis.  He  was  married  to  Asenath, 
the  daughter  of  Potipherah,  priest  oi* 
prince  of  On ;  and  had  by  her  two 
sons,  Blanasseh  and  Ephraim.  Dur* 
ing  the  years  qf  plenty,  Joseph, 
with  the  utmost  prudence  and  acti- 
vity, bought,  with  Pharaoh's  money, 
^reat  ouantities  of  oOTn,  and  laid 
G 


JOS 


f     50     ) 


JOS 


it  up  iu  public  granaries. The 

neighbouring  nations,  who  had  laid 
up  little  or    nothing,  soon   felt  the 
pressure  of    famine,    and   came    to 
buy  corn  iu  Egypt.     Jacob  sent  his 
ten  sons  among  the  rest ;   but  he  re- 
tained Benjamin  at  home,  lest  gome 
mischief  should  happen  to  him,     Jo- 
seph knew  his  brethren ;    but  they 
knew  him  not.  Waiting  for  the  ope- 
ration of  divine  Providence,  he  had 
still  concealed  his  case  ;  and  now,  to 
awaken  his  brethren's  conscience,  he 
spake  roughly  to  them,  charged  them 
with  being  spies  come  to  see  how  the 
country  might  be  most  easily  con- 
quered.    After   inquiring  into  their 
family  circumstances,   he  dismissed 
them  on  this    condition,  that  Ben- 
jamin, their  younger  brother,  should 
come  with  them  the  next  time ;  and 
to  secure    this,  kept  Simeon,    who 
perhaps  had  been  most  cruel  to  him, 
prisoner  and  hostage  for  the  bring- 
ing of  Benjamin.     On  this,  their  con- 
sciences terribly  stinged    them    for 
their  cruelty  to  Joseph.  To  try  their 
honesty,  he  caused  each  man's  mo- 
ney to  be  secretly  returned  in  their 
sacks.  Nest  year,  Jacob,  with  great 
reluctance,  sent  Benjamin  with  the 
rest ;  and   they  brought   the  return- 
ed money,  with  more  for  their  new 
loading.     Finding  his  brother  Ben- 
jamin  with  them,  Joseph  prepared 
them  a  feast.     When  they  came  to 
the  steward,    they  told  him  of  the 
return  of  their  money  in  their  sacks. 
He  assured  them,  that  God  had  gi- 
ven them  treasure  in  their  sacks ;  for 
their  money  was  paid  in  his  reckon- 
ing.    When  they  were  called  into 
Joseph's ^ouse,  they  were  mightily 
afraid ;  they  bowed  to  him  with  the 
greatest  reverence.     He  asked  them 
of  the  welfare  of  their  father,  and  if 
Benjamin  was  their  younger  brother. 
Simeon  was  released.     They  dined 
at  a  separate  table  from  the  Egyp- 
tians ;  and,  to  their  surprise,  Joseph 
placed  them  at  the  table  according  to 
their    age.     To  mark  his    peculiar 
love,  lie  ordered  a  five-fold  mess  for 
Benjamin.     His  brethren  were  quite 
aetonieh^d  at  these  things.    Next 


1  morning  their  sacks  were  filled  with 
i  corn ;  and  Joseph's  silver  cup  was, 
by  his  orders,  privately  put  into  Ben- 
jamin's. They  had  scarcely  gone 
out  of  the  city,  when  Joseph  sent  his 
steward  after  them,  to  upbraid  them 
for  their  stealing  his  silver  cup, 
wherein  he  used  to  drink.  Their 
sacks  were,  searched,  and  the  cup 
was  found  in  Benjamin's.  {Shocked 
at  this,  they  returned  to  Joseph, 
and  surrendered  themselves  to  his 
mercy,  to  make  slaves  of  them  alK 
Joseph  refused  to  accept  any  of 
them  for  slaves,  but  Benjamin,  in 
whose  sack  the  cup  had  been  found. 
Judah,  in  the  most  prudent  and  af- 
fectionate manner,  begged  that  he 
would  accept  of  him  for  a  slave,  in- 
stead of  Benjamin,  as  his  father  could 
not  possibly  live,  if  bereaved  of  his 
favourite  son;  and. himself  could  not 
witness  the  anguish  of  his  father,  if 
they  returned  without  Benjamin. — 
Overcome  with  affection,  Jo8ej)h  or- 
dered the  Egyptians  to  leave  him ; 
and  then,  with  a  plentiful  flow  o4' 
tears,  he  told  his  brethren,  that  he 
was  Joseph  their  brother,  whom  they 
had  sold ;  and  he  kindly  encouraged 
them  not  to  fear,  as  God  had  sent 
him  hither  for  their  preservation. 
He  ordered  them  to  go  harmoniously 
home,  and  bring  their  father  and  all 
they  had  down  to  Egypt,  as  the  fa- 
mine would  continue  other  five  years. 
He  sent  waggons  with  them,  to  bring 
his  father's  family  and  furniture.  At 
the  news  of  Joseph's  being  alive,  and 
governor  of  Egj'pt,  Jacob  fainted ; 
but  when  he  saw  the  waggons,  he 
revived,  and  went  off  on  his  journey. 
Joseph  met  his  father  on  the  north- 
east frontier  of  Egypt,  and  great 
were  their  transports  of  mutual  af- 
fection and  gladness.  Joseph  pre- 
sented his  father  to  Pharaoh,  and,  by 
his  direction,  placed  his  father  and 
brethren  in  the  land  of  Goshen, 
whence  their  return  to  Canaan  might 
be  easy. 

The  famine  still  increased,  and  Jo- 
seph, by  the  sale  of  corn,  drew  all 
the  money  of  Egypt  into  the  king's 
exchequer.    When  money  failed,  he 


JOS 


(  51  ) 


JOS 


s^ave  the  Egyptians  corn  for  (heir 
flocks  and  herds :  these  being  ex- 
hausted, he  sold  them  corn  for  their 
lands  and  persons.  Thus  all  the 
Egyptians  became  in  a  manner  the 
property  of  their  king ;  and  they  paid 
him  yearly  a  fifth  part  of  their  crop, 
as  the  proprietor  of  their  land.  Only, 
neither  the  priests  nor  their  lands 
were  thus  pnrchased,  as  they  had 
their  maintenance  from  the  state. 
When  Jacob  died,  about  seventeen 
years  after,  Joseph  and  his  sons  were 
solemnly  blessed  by  him.  The  bless 
ing  implied,  that  his  posterity,  by  Ma 
nasseh,  and  especially  by  Ephraim, 
should  be  signally  numerous  and  ho 
noured.  When  his  father  died, 
Joseph  melted  into  tears ;  and,  ac 
cording  to  his  oath,  buried  him, 
with  great  solemnity,  in  the  cave  of 
Machpelah.  After  his  return  from 
the  interment,  his  brethren,  as  in 
their  father's  name,  by  messengers, 
begged  that  he  would  forgive  them 
what  injury  they  had  done  him,  in 
resolving  to  murder  him,  and  in  sell- 
ing him  for  a  slave.  Joseph  wept, 
and  returned  them  answer,  that  they 
had  nothing  but  kindness  to  exjiect 
from  him,  as  God  had  overruled 
their  evil  designs  for  the  preservation 
of  multitudes.  After  Joseph  had 
lived  110  years,  he  sickened.  He  as- 
sured his  brethren,  that  God  would 
bring  up  their  posterity  from  Egypt; 
and  he  made  them  swear  they  would 
carry  his  bones  to  Canaan  with  them. 
After  his  death,  A.  M.  2369,  his 
body  was  put  into  a  cofiBn,  but  re- 
mained in  Egypt  144  years,  till  the 
Hebrews  carried  it  with  them ;  and 
in  the  time  of  Joshua,  it  was  buried 
near  Shechem,  in  the  very  spot 
which  Jacob,  by  his  blessing,  had  as- 
signed him.  The  Egyptians,  to  this 
day,  ascribe  almost  every  thing 
grand  and  wise  to  Joseph,  Gen. 
xxxix — 1.  Exod.  xiii.  19.  Josh, 
xxiv.  32. 

Was  not  this  patriarch  a  noted  type 
of  our  adored  Saviour  ?  What  a  dis- 
tinguished favourite  of  his  heavenly 
Father!  how  beautiful  the  robe  of 
hia  humanity,  adorned  with  every 


grace!  how  abundantly  blessed  oj' 
his  Father!  what  an  aflectionate  bro- 
tlK'r,  that  visits  us  in  our  wilderness- 
state!  and  how  patient  under  the  in' 
Juries  we  do  him  1  for  if  he  deala 
roughly  with  us,  it  is  to  humble  and 
prove  us,  and  do  us  good  in  our  last 
end !  how  heart-melting  his  disco- 
veries of  himself :  and  how  richly  he 
makes  us  share  the  fatness  of  his 
house !  how  numerous  and  heavy  his 
sufiferings !  how  hated,  reviled,  sold, 
falsely  accused,  condemned,  cruci- 
fied, and  for  three  days  imprisoned 
in  the  grave !  how  patient  under 
his  pressures!  how  attentive  to  the 
hand  of  God  therein !  how  ready  to 
forgive  injuries,  and  render  good  for 
evil !  To  what  amazing  glory  has  he 
entered  through  suffering,  as  the  fore- 
runner of  them  that  believe ! 

Z^  Jc?F,PH  the  carpenter  was  pro- 
l...bly  dead  before  our  Saviour  began 
his  public  ministry,  as  we  never 
hear  of  him  at  the  marriage  of  Cana, 
or  elsewhere;  and  Christ,  when 
dying,  recommended  his  mother  to 
the  care  of  John,  Matt.  i.  and  ii.  &c. 
See  Christ. 

3.  Joseph  of  Arimathea,  a  pri- 
vate disciple  of  our  Saviour's,  and  a 
Jewish  senator,  who,  it  may  be  sup- 
posed, consented  not  to  the  deed  of 
the  sanhedrim,  in  condemning  and 
crucifying  Christ.  He  begged  his 
body  from  Pilate;  and  he  and  Nico- 
demus,  now  more  avowed  followers 
of  Jesus  than  before,  honourably  in- 
terred it  in  Joseph's  new  sepulchre, 
John  xix.  38 — 41.  Matt,  xxvii.  6. 
It  does  not  appea*  that  he  attended 
the  sanhedrim  any  more  after  our 
Lord's  crucifixion. 

4.  Joseph,  or  Joses,  the  brother 
of  James  the  Less,  and  son  of  Cleo- 
phas,  is  thought  to  be  the  same  with 
Barsabas,  Mark  xv.  40.  Matt.  xiii.. 
55.  and  xxvii.  30. 

JOSHUA,  a  saviour,  or  deli- 
verer, Acts  vii.  45.  Heb.  iv.  8.  a 
descendant  of  Ephraim,  born  A.  M. 
2460.  His  first  name  was  Hoshea  j 
but  to  show  that  he  would  render 
Israel  safe  and  happy,  he  wa» 
called    Jchoshua   or    Joshua.     He 


JOS 


(     52    ) 


JOS 


was  a  noted  servant  or  agent  of 
Moses.  By  Moses's  direction,  he 
engaged  and  routed  the  Amalekites, 
and  was  informed  of  God's  per- 
petual indignation  against  that  peo- 
ple. When  Moses  was  on  the 
Mount,  Joshua  tarried  somewhere 
on  the  side  of  it,  and  came  down 
ivith  him.  His  residence  was  near 
the  tabernacle.  Zealous  for  Moses's 
honour,  he  was  for  prohibiting 
Eldad  and  Medad  from  prophe- 
sying. He  was  one  of  the  spies 
that  searched  the  promised  land, 
Exod,  xvii.  and  xxiv.  and  xxxii. 
and  xxxiii.  12.  Numb.  xi.  28,  29. 
and  xiii.  and  xiv.  A  little  before 
Moses's  death,  Joshua  was  solemnly 
installed  in  the  government  of  the 
Hebrew  nation;  and  such  honour 
was  by  Moses  put  upon  him,  as 
tended  to  make  them  reverence 
and  obey  him,  Numb,  xxvii.  18 
— 23.    Deut.  iii.  21.  and  xxxi.  14 

, OQ 

After  IMoses's  death,  God  directed 
and  encouraged  Joshua  to  take  on 
him  the  government  of  the  Hebrews, 
and  promised  to  give  him  his  conti- 
nued presence  and  support.  Joshua 
warned  the  Reubenitcs,  Gadites,  and 
easteiTi  Manassites,  who  were  settled 
by  Moses,  to  prepare  for  crossing  the 
Jordan,  and  conquering  Canaan, 
along  with  their  brethren.  Spies 
w^ere  sent  to  view  Jericho.  These, 
by  means  of  Rahab,  were  preserved 
and  returned  safe,  though  no  small 
search  had  been  made  for  them : 
they  reported,  that  the  Canaanites 
were  in  the  utmost  consternation  for 
fear  of  the  Hebrew  invasion.  At 
this  time,  the  Jordan  overflowed  all 
its  banks;  but  as  soon  as  the  feet  of 
the  priests  who  bare  the  ark  of  the 
Lord,  going  at  the  distance  of  2,000 
cubits,  or  3,643  feet,  before  tiie  host, 
touched  the  brim  of  the  waters  of 
Jordan,  they  parted:  those  above 
stood  like  a  mountain,  and  those  be- 
low ran  oft' into  the  Dead  Sea,  leav- 
ing an  empty  space  of  about  six 
miles,  for  the  HebreAv  tribes  to  pass 
over.  The  priests,  with  the  ark, 
continued  in  the  middle  of  the  chan- 


nel, till  all  were  got  over.  To  com- 
memorate this  event,  Joshua  erected 
12  large  stones  on  the  very  spot 
where  the  ark  had  stood :  and  tak- 
ing 12  other  stones  from  the  mid- 
channel  of  the  river,  erected  them 
on  the  bank.  Some  days  after,  he 
ordered  all  that  had  been  born  for 
38  years  back,  to  be  circumcised; 
fully  assured  of  God's  protecting 
them,  when  sore,  from  their  foes. 
Next,  the  passover  Avas  celebrated. 
On  the  morrow  after,  they  began  to 
eat  the  old  corn  of  Canaan,  and  the 
manna  fell  no  more  about  their  tents. 
Soon  after,  the  Son  of  God  appeared 
to  Joshua  as  a  mighty  man  with  a 
drawn  sword,  and  told  him  he  was 
come  as  commander  of  the  Hebrew 
troops  in  their  approaching  wars. 
Joshua  fell  on  his  face,  and  reverent- 
ly plucked  off  his  shoes,  John  i. — v. 
— Directed  by  God,  Joshua  made 
his  troops  encompass  Jericho  seven 
days,  and  seven  times  on  the  se- 
venth ;  some  priests  carried  the  ark 
before  the  army,  and  others  blew  with 
rams'  horns.  When  they  had  finish- 
ed the  13th  circuit,  they  gave  a  great 
shout,  and  the  walls  of  Jericho  all 
around  fell  flat  to  the  ground.  None 
but  Rahab  and  her  family  were  saved. 
The  metal  found  in  it  was  devoted 
to  the  service  of  God,  and  every 
thing  else  to  ruin ;  and  a  curse  was 
denounced  against  the  rebuilder  of 
the  city.  Achan,  however,  coveted, 
and  took  part  of  the  spoil.— Advised 
by  some,  Joshua,  to  rest  his  troops, 
sent  no  more  than  3,000  to  attack 
Ai.  To  punish  Achan's  theft,  they 
were  repulsed,  and  36  slain.  This 
exceedingly  grieved  Joshua,  as  he 
thought  it  would  make  the  Canaan- 
ites triumph  over  God  and  his  peo- 
ple. After  solemn  prayer,  he  was 
informed  of  the  cause,  and  the  sacri- 
lege was  punished  in  the  death  of 
Achan  and  his  family.  Next,  the 
Lord  ordered  the  whole  Hebrew 
host  to  attack  Ai,  and  to  use  strata- 
gems beside.  It  being  taken,  Jo- 
shua, and  the  Hel)rews,  seem  to  have 
marched  northward  to  Ebal  and  Ge- 
rizzim.  On  Ebal  tliey  erected  stones. 


JOS 


(  w  ) 


JOS 


auil  plastered  them  with  plaster,  and 
wiote  thereon  plainly  a  copy  ot  the 
Mosaic  law?,  or  rather  an  abridi^- 
ment,  or  at  least  the  blessings 
and  curi-es  in  Deuteronomy  xxvii. 
and  xxviii.  An  altar  of  rough  stones 
was  raised,  and  the  burnt-oflerings 
and  peace-oflerings  being  finished, 
the  people  feasted  on  the  flesh  of  the 
last  with  joy  and  gladness,  tlrat  they 
were  tiie  people  of  God.  The  priests 
then  went  down  to  the  valley  of 
Moreh,  between  the  two  hills,  and 
with  a  loud  voice  read  the  blessings 
and  curses.  Six  of  the  tribes,  de- 
scended from  free  women,  with  their 
wives,  and  the  strangers  among 
them,  stood  on  Gerizzim,  and  echoed 
Amen  to  the  blessings.  Six  of  the 
tribes,  four  of  which  were  descend- 
ed of  bond-women,  and  one  of  Reu- 
ben, who  had  lost  his  birth-right, 
with  their  wives,  and  the  strangers, 
stood  on  mount  Ebal,  and  echoed 
their  Amen  to  the  curses  as  they 
Avere  read.  After  this  solemn  de- 
ilication  of  tliemselves  to  God's  ser- 
vice, the  Hebrews  returned  to  Gil- 
gal,  Josh.  vi. — viii.  Deut.  xvii. — 
Next  Joshua  and  the  princes  enter- 
ed into  a  league  with  the  Gibeon- 
ites ;  but  being  convinced  of  his 
mistake,  lie  devoted  that  people  to 
the  slavisli  part  of  the  service  of 
God.  Enraged  that  the  Gibeonites 
had  made  jieace  with  Joshua,  Ado- 
nizedek,  and  four  of  his  neighbour- 
ing princes,  entered  into  a  league  to 
destroy  them.  Joshua,  being  in- 
formed of  it,  marched  to  their  assist- 
ance, and  routed  the  five  kings.  In 
their  flight,  hailstones  killed  multi- 
tudes of  them;  and,  at  Joshua's  re- 
quest, the  sun  and  moon  stood  still 
for  a  whole  day,  to  give  them  light 
to  pursue  the  futigive  Canaanites, 
and  such  as  assisted  them.  A  little 
before  sun-set,  Joshua  caused  these 
kings  to  be  brought  out  of  the  cave 
of  Makkedah,  where  he  had  shut 
+hem  up,  and,  after  his  captains  had 
trampled  on  their  necks,  he  slew 
them  and  hanged  them  on  five  trees. 
Joshua  proceeded  to  burn  their  cities, 
and  slay  the  inhabitants,  all  over  the 


south  part  of  the  promised  land.- 
Perhaps  it  was  some  years  after,  that 
herouted Jabinof Hazorand  his  allies, 
and  made  himself  master  of  the  north 
parts  of  the  country.  After  employ- 
ing his  troops  six  years  in  the  con- 
quest of  Canaan,  he  began  to  divide 
it  to  the  Hebrew  tribes.  Caleb,  and 
after  him  his  brethren  of  Judah,  and 
next  the  tribe  of  Ephraim,  and  the 
western  Manassites,  had  their  shares 
assigned  them.  After  this,  the  ta- 
bernacle was  fixed  at  Shiloh,  and  the 
tribes  of  Benjamin,  Simeon,  Zebu- 
lun,  Issachar,  Asher,  Naphtali,  and 
Dan,  received  their  portion,  and  three 
other  cities  of  refuge  were  appoint- 
ed; and  the  Retbenites,  Gad- 
dites,  and  eastern  Manassites,  were 
dismissed  to  their  hoines.  After  Jo- 
shua had  governed  the  Hebrews  17, 
or,  as  some  think,  23  years,  he,  find- 
ing his  end  api)roaching,  assembled 
the  Hebrews,  rehearsed  to  them  what 
God  had  done  for  them,  and  made 
them  renew  their  solemn  engagements 
to  worship  and  serve  him.  He  died 
aged  110,  and  was  buried  at  Tim- 
nath-serah,  Josh.  ix. — xxiv.  Pro- 
bably himself  wrote  the  book  that 
records  his  transactions,  except  a 
part  of  the  last  chapter  in  it,  which 
records  his  death;  this  must  have  been 
added  by  some  other  person.  The 
Samaritans  have  another  book  of  Jo- 
shua, different  from  ours,  consisting 
of  47  chapters,  carrying  down  the 
history  till  about  100  years  after  our 
Saviour's  death  ;  but  it  is  filled  with 
fables  the  most  childish  and  trifling. 
Joshua  was  a  distinguished  type  of 
our  Redeemer! 

Joshua,  or  Jeshua,  the  son  of 
Jozadek,  or  Josedcch,  was  high 
priest  of  the  Jews  when  they  re- 
turned from  Babylon.  He  assisted 
Zerubbabel  in  rebuilding  the  temple. 
Zechariah  saw  him  represented  as 
standing  before  the  Lord  in  filthy 
garments,  and  Satan  standing  at  his 
right  hand  to  accuse  and  resist  him  : 
but  the  angel  Jehovah  rebuked  the 
devil,  and  arrayed  Joshua  in  pure 
raiment.  Not  long  after,  Zechariah 
was  directed  to  make  a  golden  crown 


JOS 


(     54     ) 


JOT 


for  him,  Ezra  iv.  3.   Hag.  i.  1,  2. 
Zech.  iii.  and  vi. 

JOSIAH,  the  Lord  burns,  or  the 
Jirc  of  the  Lord,  the  son  of  Amon, 
and  king  of  Judah,  began  his  reign  in 
the  8th  year  of  his  age,  A.  M.  3363. 
In  the  8th  year  of  his  reign,  he  began 
to  be  noted  for  liis  piety  and  zeal. 
In  the  1 2th,  he  began  to  purge  Jeru- 
salem and  Judah  from  idols,  and  burnt 
the  deceased  priests'  bones  on  the  al- 
tars of  the  false  gods  which  they  had 
served.  As  the  Assyrians  had  no  more 
power  to  protect  their  whole  territo- 
ries, or  possibly  had  given  him  autho- 
rity to  inspect  the  country  of  the  ten 
tribes,  he  extended  his  power  over  it, 
and  destroyed  the  idols  and  monu- 
mentsoftheir  false  worship.  The  altar 
of  Bethel  he  quite  demolished,  and 
burnt  dead  men's  bones  on  it;  but 
spared  the  bones  of  the  prophet  who 
had  foretold  its  ruin.  Having  de- 
stroyed the  monuments  of  idolatry, 
he  repaired  the  temple  of  the  Lord. 
As  they  were  repairing  the  temple, 
Hilkiah,  the  high  priest,  found  a  co- 
py, perhaps  the  original  one,  of  the 
law  of  Moees,  wliich  had  been  put 
into  the  side  of  the  ark.  Informed 
of  this  book  by  Shaphaa  the  scribe, 
Josiah,  who  it  seems,  had  been  for- 
merly little  acquainted  with  it,  hav- 
ing heard  a  part  of  it  read,  was  ex- 
tremely atfected,  that  the  divine 
laws  had  been  so  broken,  and  such 
fearful  judgments  incurred.  After 
rending  his  clothes  for  grief,  he  sent 
Hilkiah,  Ahikam,  Achbor,  Shaphan, 
and  Asaiah,  to  Huldah  the  pro- 
phetess, wife  of  Shallum  the  kee|H.r 
of  the  royal  wardrobe,  to  consult 
her  what  was  to  be  done.  She  as- 
sured his  messengers,  that  what  was 
threatened  should  be  fulfilled;  but 
on  account  of  Josiah's  piety  and  grief 
for  the  wickedness  that  had  prevail- 
ed, the  stroke  should  be  delayed,  and 
he  should  be  interred  in  his  grave 
before  the  ruinous  calamities  were 
begun.  Finding,  it  seems,  by  this 
book  of  the  laAv,  what  a  shameful 
neglect  there  had  been  of  the  three 
solemn  feasts,  he  ordered  his  sub- 
jects to  celebrate  the  passover,  with 


such  solemnity  and  exactness  as  had 
not  been  done  since  the  days  of  Sa- 
muel. Not  long  before,  if  not  after- 
wards, he  convened  the  ciders  of 
Judah,  and  Avithout  using  any  force, 
caused  his  subjects  to  renew  their 
solemn  covenant  with  God. 

He  gave  orders  to  destroy  the 
soothsayers  and  sodomites  out  of  the 
land,  and  to  pull  down  every  remain- 
der of  superstition  and  idolatry  in  Ju- 
dah and  Jerusalem.  To  defile  the  val- 
ley of  Hinnom,  where  Moloch,  and 
probably  other  idols,  had  been  wor- 
shipped, he  filled  it  with  dead  men's 
bones,  and  brake  down  the  statues. 
Josiah  went  on  in  his  reformation, 
and  while  he  lived  contrnued  emi- 
nently to  fear  God  ;  but  it  appears, 
from  the  prophecies  of  Jeremiah  and 
Zephaniah,  that  most  of  his  subjects 
turned  to  the  Lord  but  in  a  feigned 
manner.  After  he  had  lived  39 
years,  and  reigned  31,  Pharaoh-ne» 
cho,  king  of  Egypt,  marched  his 
forces  that  way.  Josiah,  either  be- 
ing in  a  league  Avith  Nabopolassar, 
kiug  of  Babylon,  or  with  the  Assy- 
rians, levied  an  army  to  stop  him. 
In  the  battle  he  was  slain,  to  the  ex- 
cessive loss  and  grief  of  his  subjects. 
He  died  in  peace  Avith  God  and  his 
conscience,  and  in  a  Avar  in  which 
his  nation  was  not  the  aggressor. 
Jeremiah  composed  lamentations 
over  his  death ;  and  it  seems  his  army 
at  Hadad-rimmon,  in  the  valley  of 
Megiddo,  bcAvailed  it  in  the  most 
affecting  manner.  He  had  four  sons, 
Jehoiakim,  Jehoahaz,  Zedekiah,  and 
Johanan;  three  of  whom  succeeded 
him  on  the  throne,  1  Kings  xiii.  2.  2 
Kings  xxii.  and  xxiii.  2  Chr,  xxxiv. 
and  XXXV.  Zech.  xii.  11. 

JOT,  the  smallest  part.  There  is 
an  allusion  to  the  letter  Jod,  Avhich 
in  the  HebreAv  alphabet  is  very 
small.  Matt.  v.  16. 

JOTHAM,  perfcclw7i  of  the 
Lord,  the  youngest  son  of  Gideon, 
Avho  escaped,  Avhile  his  70  brethren 
Avere  slain  by  Abimelech,  their  bastard 
brother.  By  a  parable  of  olives,  figs, 
and  vines,  refusing  to  reign  over  the 
trees,  while  the  bramble  consented 


J  o  u 


( 


) 


JOY 


which  lie  uttered  witli  a  loud  voice 
ft-oui  the  top  of  an  adjacent  mount, 
he  hinted  to  the  men  of  Shecliem, 
that  since,  while  his  father  and  wor- 
thy brethren  rcliiscd  to  reign  over 
Israel,  they  had  made  the  worst  and 
basest  of  them  their  king,  they  might 
expect  that  he  and  they  should  quickly 
become  mutual  plagues  one  to  ano- 
ther. After  he  luid  finished  this 
parable,  he  fled  away  to  Beer,  and 
concealed  himself,  and  probably  liv- 
ed to  see  his  parable  fulfilled,  .Tudg.  ix. 

JoxnAM,  or  JoATHAM,  the  son 
and  successor  of  Uzziah,  king  of  Ju- 
dah.  When  his  father  became  le- 
prous, Jotham  for  some  years  ruled 
as  his  viceroy.  In  the  25th  year  of 
his  age,  he  commenced  sole  gover- 
nor, J.  M.  3246.  On  the  main  he 
did  that  which  pleased  the  Lord,  but 
permitted  the  people  to  continue 
sacrificing  in  the  high  places.  He 
built  the  great  gate  of  the  temple, 
fortified  part  of  the  wall  of  Jerusa- 
lem, built  castles  on  mountains  and 
in  forests,  reduced  the  revolting  Am- 
monites, and  laid  them  under  tribute. 
But  in  the  end  of  his  reign,  his  king- 
dom was  harassed  by  the  Syrians  un- 
der Rezin,  and  the  Israelites  under 
Pekah.  After  he  had  reigned  16 
years,  he  died,  and  was  succeeded 
by  Ahaz;  and  so  the  t\7entieth  year 
from  the  beginning  of  his  reign,  is 
the  fourth  of  Ahaz,  2  Kings  xv.  30. 
—38.  2  Chron.  xxvii. 

JOURNEY;  a  travelling  from  one 
place  to  another.  A  daxfsjoitrney  is 
reckoned  about  16  or  20  miles.  So 
far  around  the  Hebrew  ferap  were 
the  quails  scattered  for  them.  Numb. 
xi.  31.  Shaw  thinks  the  eZeye/i  <faj/s 
journey  from  Sinai  to  Kadesh-barnea, 
ia  but  about  110  miles,  Deut.  i.  2. — 
A  Sabbath-day's  journey,  is  reckoned 
by  the  Hebrews  at  2,000  cubits,  or 
near  730  paces;  and,  it  is  said,  that 
if  any  Jew  travelled  above  this  from 
the  city  on  a  Sabbath-day,  he  was 
beaten ;  but  it  is  probable  they  were 
allowed  to  travel  as  far  to  the  sy- 
nagogue as  was  necessary,  Acts  i. 
12.  2  Kings  iv.  23.  The  Hebrews 
aeem  to  have  ha^   52  journies  or 


marches  from  Rameses  to  Gilgal, 
Numb,  xxxiii. 

JOY,  or  GLADNESS,  is  delight  of 
the  mind  arising  from  conscious 
possession,  or  from  a  hope  of  en- 
joying something  i)leasaut  or  va- 
luable, 1  Chron.  xii.  4.  Joy  may 
be,  (1.)  Divine,  which  denotes  that 
infinite  pleasure  God  takes  in  his 
|)eople  or  work,  and  in  doing  good 
to,  and  supporting  the  same,  Isa.  Ixii. 
5.  Zeph.  iii.  17.  Psal.  civ.  31.  (2.) 
Natural,  among  wealures,  appearing 
in  natural  cheerfulness,  arising  from 
some  outward  pleasure  or  prosperity, 
Prov.  xxiii.  24.  (3.)  Spiritual,  ex- 
cited by  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  arising 
from  possession  of,  and  a  hope  of  en- 
joying for  ever,  God  in  Christ:  this 
is  attended  with  an  agreeable  ear- 
nestness in  acting  to  his  honour,  'inl. 
V.  22.  Thus  the  saints  rejoice  in 
Christ ;  they  boast  of  their  union  witJi 
him;  they  praise  him  for  his  kind- 
ness to  them,  and  for  what  he  is  in 
himself,  Luke  i.  47.  A  saint's  re- 
joicing 171  MmacJf,  means  his  inward 
satisfaction  in  the  testimony  of  a 
good  conscience.  Gal.  vi.  4.  (4.)  Sha- 
doivy  and  hypocritical,  arising  from  a 
fancied  persuasion  of  relation  to,  aud 
fellowship  with  God,  and  an  ill- 
grounded  hope  of  the  everlasting  en- 
joyment of  him.  Matt.  xiii.  20.  (5.) 
Sinful,  when  men  rejoice  in  their 
sin,  Prov.  xv.  21.  and  even  lawful 
joy  or  mirth  becomes  sinful,  if  it  be 
excessive,  or  takes  place  when  God 
calls  to  mourning  and  grief,  Isa.  xxii. 
13. — Gladness  is  sown  for  the  up- 
right, and  their  hope  is  gladtiess ; 
spiritual  pleasure  and  endless  joy  are 
prepared  for  them,  and  shall  be  their 
portion  for  ever,  if  they  be  faithful, 
Psal.  xcvii.  11.  Prov.  x.  28. 

The  ground  or  object  of  one's  re- 
joicing, is  called  his^'ot/ ;  thus  God  is 
the  joy,  the  exceeding  joy,  of  his  peo- 
ple ;  he,  as  their  iwrtion  and  as  enjoy- 
ed by  them,  is  the  cause  and  ground 
of  their  superlative  joy,  Psal.  xliii.  4. 
Christ's  exaltation  promised  to  him, 
to  encourage  him  in  his  work,  is  the 
joy  set  bcj'orc  him,  Heb.  xii.  2.  The 
heavenly  blessedness    i«  called  the 


J  O  Y 


(     5Q 


I  S  A 


joy  of  the  Lord.  It  will  cousist  in 
our  delightful  enjoyment  of  God  in 
Clirist,  and  much  resemble  that  plea- 
sure he  has  in  our  redemption,  RIatt. 
XXV.  21 — 23.  But  the  joy  of  the 
Lord,  that  is  the  strength  of  saints, 
is  the  ground  of  joy  contained  in  the 
gospel  promises,  and  the  inward 
gladness  arising  from  a  believing 
view  of  them;  both  which  increase 
iheir  spiritual  vigour  and  might, 
Neh.  viii.  10.  Converts  are  the  jot/ 
of  ministers,  who  are  instrumental  in 
bringing  them  to  Christ,  1  Thess.  ii. 
20.  The  temple,  and  its  worship,  was 
the  joy  of  the  Jews,  Ezelc  xxiv.  25. 
Jerusalem  and  Zion  was  the  joy  of 
Ihe  whole  earth  ;  as  God  was  there 
present  and  peculiarly  worshipped, 
there  was  more  ground  of  joy  than 
elsewhere;  or  the  words  may  sig- 
nify, that  they  were  the  joy  of  the 
whole  land,  as  all  the  Jews  took 
pleasure  therein,  and  boasted  tliere- 
of,  Psa.  xlviii.  2.  Lam.  ii.  15.  The 
church  is  created  a  rejoicing,  and  her 
people  a  joy,  when  she  is  so  reform- 
ed, settled,  purged,  and  blessed,  as 
to  abound  with  spiritual  gladness, 
and  to  rejoice  the  heart  of  every  pi- 
ous l>eholder,  Isa.  xlv.  18.  The  fall- 
ing into  temptations,  or  troubles,  is 
to  be  accounted  all  joy,  as  sanctified 
troubles  work  exceedingly  for  our 
teal  good,  Jam.  i.  2.  Thejoy  of  God's 
salvation,  is  the  heart-exliilarating 
blessings  therein  contained,  and  the 
spiritual  gladness  that  issues  there- 
from, Psal.  Ii.  12.  Spiritual  gladness 
is  called  JO?/  iti  the  Holy  Ghost,  as  it 
proceeds  from  his  dwelling  and  work- 
ing in  our  hearts,  Rom.  xiv.  17.  A 
desert  place  is  called  a  joy  of  wild 
asses :  these  animals,  who  abhor  the 
noise  and  multitude  of  cities,  with 
pleasure  haunt  and  feed  there,  Isa. 
xxxiii.  14.  The  Medes  rejoiced  in 
God's  highness ;  they  cheerfully  exe- 
cuted his  awful  judgments  on  the 
Chaldeans,  Isa.  xiii.  3.  Mirth  and 
praise  are  chiefly  the  outward  ex- 
pressions of  jo5^  That  at  the  return 
of  the  prodigal,  is  the  amazing  plea- 
sure on  God's  side,  and  the  joy  and 
praise  on  the  side  of  men  and  angels 


occasioned  by  a  sinner's  conversion, 
Luke  XV.  23 — 32. 

Jovous,  (1.)  .  Pleasant  and  de- 
lightful, Heb.  xii.  11.  (2.)  Full  of 
mirth  and  revelling,  Isa.  xxii.  2. 

IRON,  a  well-known  strong  and 
useful  metal,  and  which  by  skil- 
ful management,  is  rendered  steel- 
Warlike  instruments  were  made  of 
iron.  The  stones  of  Canaan  were 
iron  ;  were  hard,  and  contained  iron- 
ore  ;  or  rather,  iron  was  so  plentiful 
in  that  part,  that  it  was  almost  as  ea- 
sily obtained  as  stones,  Deut.  viii.  9. 
The  heavens  are  iron,  and  the  earth 
brass,  when  the  air  yields  no  rain. 
aud  the  hardened  earth  no  crop,  Lev. 
xxvi.  19.  L'on,  applied  to  yoke,  fur- 
nace, or  sceptre,  denotes  what  is 
galling  and  severe,  Jer.  xxviii.  13. 
and  xi.  4.  Deut.  iv.  20.  Psal.  ii.  9. 
Rev.  ii.  27.  and  xii.  5.  1  Kings  viii. 
61,  &c.  when  applied  to  hoofs,  or 
teeth,  it  denotes  great  power  to  de- 
feat, and  ability  to  destroj',  Mic.  iv. 
13.  Dan.  vii.  7.  Can  iron  break  tJu 
northern  iron  and  the  steel  ?  in  vain 
the  obstinate  Jews  thought  to  out- 
brave the  prophet  Jeremiah,  Avhoni 
God  made  like  an  iron  pillar;  in 
vain  they  attemj)ted  to  resist  the 
Chaldean  army,  Jer.  xv.  12. 

ISAAC,  laughter,  joy,  the  son 
of  Abraham  by  Sarah,  so  called,  to 
mark  the  laughter  and  gladness  occa- 
sioned by  his  birth.  His  mother, 
though  90  years  old,  suckled  him 
herself.  He  was  but  young  when  he 
received  some  bad  usage  from  Ish- 
MAEL.  When  Isaac  was  about  25,  ov 
perha|)s  33;years  of  age,  his  father  was 
commanded  to  offer  him  for  a  burnt- 
oSering.  Isaac  himself  carried  the 
wood  fqr  the  sacrifice.  When  the 
knife  was  just  ready  to  be  plunged 
into  his  throat,  the  execution  was 
divinely  stopped,  and  a  ram  pro- 
vided in  his  stead.  When  he  was 
about  40,  his  father,  by  means  of 
Eliezer,  provided  him  with  Rebekab 
the  Syrian  to  wife.  Isaac  met  her 
in  the  field,  as  she  came,  and  lodged 
her  in  his  mother's  tent,  who  was 
now  dead.  Rebekah  continued  long 
barren;  but  Isaac  entreated  the  Lord 


1  S  A 


(     -^     ) 


I  S  A 


for  her,  ami  was  heard.     In  the  20th 
year  of  their  marriage,  Rebekah  fell 
with  child  of  twins.     They  struggled 
in    her  womb.     Upon    her  inquiry, 
the  Lord  informed  her,  that  the  two 
children  in  her  womb  should  be  very 
ditierent  in    their  tempers,  and  the 
nations  to  spring  from  them  very  dif- 
ferent in  their  fate,  and  that  the  el- 
der should  serve  the  younger.     Her 
two  children  were  Esau  and  Jacob  : 
of  whom  the  first  was  the  darling  of 
his  father,  and  the  last  of  his  mother. 
Gen.  xxi.  xxii.  xxiii.  xxiv.  and  xxvi. 
After  Isaac  had  fallen  heir  to  Abra- 
ham, a  famine  happened  in  Canaan. 
He    retired  to  Gerar,    where    Ani- 
MELEcn  was  king,   in  his  way    to- 
wards Egypt;    but  God  discharged 
him  from  going  down  to  it,  and  es- 
tablished his  covenant  with  him  and 
his  seed.  Fearing  that  the  Philistines 
of  Gerar  might  kill  liim  for  the  sake 
of  his  beautiful  wife,  Isaac  and  Re- 
bekah agreed  to  say,   that  she  was 
his  sister.     But  Abimelech,  from  his 
window,    observing  Isaac   use  such 
familiarity  with  Rebekah  as  was  not 
proper  between  brother    and  sister, 
called  him,    and  reproved    him  for 
saying  that  she   was  his  sister,   and 
thus  laying  a  snare  to  involve   his 
kingdom  in  guilt.     All  the  subjects 
Avere  charged  to  beware  of  injuring 
Isaac  or   Rebekah.     Isaac  had  line 
crops,  and  his  flocks  multiplied  ex- 
ceedingly.    He  opened    the    wells 
which  his    father    had  digged,    and 
which  the  Philistines  had   stopped. 
Finding  Abimelech  ^veary  of   him, 
Isaac  retired  eastward  to  the  valley 
of  Gerar.     Here  his  servants  digged 
wells.     For  two  of  them  the  Philis- 
tines strove,  and  pretended  that  the 
water  was  theirs:   Isaac  called  the 
one  Ezek,  that  is,  contention,  and  the 
other  Sitnah,  that  is,  hatred.     For  a 
third  they  strove  not,  and  he   called 
it  Rehoboth,  as  a  memorial  that  the 
Lord  had  made  room  for  him.  Weary 
of  strife,  he  retired  eastward  to  Beer- 
sheba,  where  God  again  renewed  his 
promise  and    covenant    with    him; 
and    Abimelech,    dreading  the    in- 
crease of  his  Avealth,  came  to  make 
Vol.  II. 


an  alliance  with  him.  When  he  wa^ 
about  the  100th  year  of  his  age,  he 
and  Rebekah  were  mightily  grieved 
with  the  conduct  of  Esau,  because  of 
his  marriage  with  two  Canaanitish 
women,  Gen.  xxvi. 

When  he  was  about  137  years  of 
age,  his  sight  failed  him  exceedingly. 
Supposing  his  death  to  be  at  hand, 
he  deMred  his  son  Esau  to  bring 
him  some  savoury  venison,  that  he 
might  eat,  and  give  him  his  tenderest 
blessing  before  his  decease.  Rebe- 
kah overhearing  it,  caused  Jacob  to 
go  to  the  fold,  and  bring  her  home 
some  flesh,  of  which  she  made  savou- 
ry meat  for  Isaac.  This  she  caused 
Jacob,  whom  she  had  dressed  as  like 
Esau  as  she  could,  to  carry  to  his  fa- 
ther, and  pretend  that  he  was  Esau. 
He  complied  with  her  sinful  direc- 
tions how  to  obtain  the  promised 
blessing.  His  father  suspected,  and 
felt  him;  but  he  constantly  asserted 
that  he  was  Esau.  Isaac,  thereon, 
blessed  Jacob  with  a  fruitful  land, 
and  dominion  over  all  his  brethren. 
Jacob  had  scarcely  gone  off,  when 
Esau  came  Avith  his  venison,  and  de- 
manded his  father's  blessing.  Find- 
ing that  Jacob  had  imposed  on  him, 
Isaac  trembled  exceedingly  at  the 
recollection  of  what  he  had  done  : 
strongly  he  inclined  to  recall  the 
blessing  of  Jacob,  but  he  could  not. 
At  Esau's  bitter  entreaties,  he  bless- 
ed him  in  an  inferior  degree.  Find- 
ing that  Jacob's  life  was  in  danger 
from  Esau,  whom  he  had  supplanted 
of  bis  birthright  and  blessing,  Isaac 
and  Rebekah  agreed  to  send  him  to 
Mesopotamia,  and  charged  him  to 
beware  of  espousing  a  Canaanitess. 
About  43  years  after,  and  10  years 
l)efore  Jacob  went  down  into  Egypt, 
Isaac  died,  and  was  honourably  in- 
terred by  Jacob  and  Esau  in  the 
cave  of  Machpelah.  Here  too,  Re- 
bekah was  buried,   Gen.  xxvii.  and 

:!.\viii.    and  xxxv.  27 — 29 Was 

this  patriarch  a  distinguished  type  of 
our  Saviour  ?  How  often  promised, 
how  earnestly  desired,  how  long  ex- 
pected, and  how  supernatural  his 
birth  !  What  joy  it  gave  to  angels 
H 


I  S  A 


(     58     ) 


ISA 


and  men  !  and  in  his  name  is  the 
whole  joy  and  consolation  of  Israel 
wrapt  up.  He  is  the  only-begotten 
Son  of  Jehovah  ;  yet  with  what 
cheerfulness  he  assumed  our  nature, 
bare  his  cross,  and  laid  down  his  life 
a  sacrifice  for  us  \ 

ISAIAH,  the  health,  or  salvation 
of  the  Lord,  or  Esaias,  the  prophet, 
the  son  of  Amos;  and  it  is  said,  but 
without  any  probable  ground,  that  he 
was  the  cousin  of  king  iTzziah  ;  in  the 
latter  end  of  whose  reign  he  began 
his  [)redictions.  Perhaps  the  first  five 
chapterswere  uttered  before  the  death 
of  that  king.  In  the  year  of  Uzzi all's 
death,  he  had  a  glorious  vision  of  our 
Redeemer,  attended  and  praised  by 
seraphic  angels  and  ministers.  Abas- 
ed in  spirit,    he  bewailed  his    OAvn 
loathsomeness ;  but  a  seraph  touching 
his  mouth  with  a  burning  coal  from 
the  altar,  intimated,  that  his  pollution 
was  purged  away.     Readily  he  of- 
fered himself  to  the  prophetic  work, 
and  was  informed,  that  his  preaching 
should   occasion  the  hardening  and 
ruin  of  his  hearers,  till  the  Assyrians 
should  have  rendered  the  land  almost 
wholly  desolate.     When  Ahaz  and 
his  people  were  put  into  the  utmost 
consternation  by  the  ravages  of   Pe- 
kah  and  Rezin,  Isaiah  told  Ahaz,  that 
he  had  no  reason  to  be  afraid  of  these 
kings,  as  the  ruin  of  them  and  their 
kingdoms  was  at  hand.  When  Ahaz 
refused  to  ask  a  sign  of  the  preser 
vation    of  his    kingdom,  God  gave 
him  the  sign  of  the  Messiah's  pro- 
ceeding from    (he  Jewish  royal    fa- 
mily, as  an  infallible  security  thereof. 
Pointing  to  Shearjashub,  his  child  in 
his  arms,  he  told  Ahaz,    that  before 
that  child  should  come  to   the  years 
of  discretion,  both  Syria  aod  the  ten 
tribes  should   be  desiitute  of  a  king 
He,  however,  told  him,  that  the  As 
Syrians  would  lay  the  land  of  Judah 
almost  desolate,  when  they  ruined  the 
kingdom  of  Israel.  Isaiah  had  another 
son,  whom  the  Lord  ordered  him  to 
call   Maher-shalal-hash-baz;  i.  e.  in 
hastening  to  the  spoil,  make  haste  to 
the  prey  ;  he  assured  the  Jews,  before 
witnesses,    that    before    that    child 


should  be  able  to  cry,  Mi/ father  or 
mother,  the  kingdoms  of  Syria  and 
Samaria  should  be  ruined  by  the  As- 
syrians; and  not  long  after  Judah  be 
brought  to  the  brink  of  ruin,  chap- 
i. — viii.  When  Hezekiah  was  sorely 
distressed  by  his  bodily  distemper, 
and  by  the  Assyrian  invasion,  Isaiah 
})rayed  for,  directed,  and  comforted 
him  ;  but  afterwards  prophesied,  that 
for  his  vanity  his  seed  should  be  eu- 
nuchs in  the  palace  of  Babylon. 
While  Sargon's  army  besieged  Ash- 
dod,  Isaiah,  by  going  barefoot  and 
with  few  clothes  for  three  years,  pre- 
figured the  distressed  condifion  of 
the  Egyptians  and  Ethiopians  for 
three  years  under  the  Assyrian  yoke, 
Isa.  xxxvi.  to  xxxix.  and  xx.  Not- 
withstanding Isaiah's  excellent  quali- 
fications for  his  work,  and  his  faith- 
ful discharge  (hereof,  his  success  was 
small,  Isa.  xlix.  1 — 5.  After  he  had 
proj)hesied  45,  or,  according  to  some, 
60  years,  it  is  thought  he  was  sawn 
asunder,  or,  as  others,  died  a  natural 
death,  about  the  beginning  of  Manas- 
seh's  reign. 

Isaiah's  separate  history  of  king  Uz- 
ziah's  reign,  was  uninspired,  and  is 
now  lost,  2  Chron.  xxvi.  22.  His 
inspired  prophecy jemains.  The  first 
part  of  it  consists  chielly  of  declara- 
tions of  sins  and  threatenings  of 
judgments ;  the  last  27  chapters,  to- 
gether with  chap.  iv.  xi.  xii.  xxv. 
xxxii.  and  xxxv.  consist  chiefly  of 
promises.  In  chap.  i.  ii.  iii.  and  v. 
the  general  scope  is,  to  represent  the 
ingratitude,  unfruit fulness  in  good 
works,  idolatry,  profaneness,  pride 
of  women,  oppression,  drunkenness, 
perverting  of  judgment,  &c.  among 
the  Hebrews ;  and  to  predict  their 
terrible  miseries  by  the  Assyrians, 
Chaldeans,  or  RomonK-  This,  too, 
is  the  scope  of  chap.  vii.  17 — 25. 
and  viii.  and  ix.  and  xxii.  xxiv.  and 
xxvii.  7.  to  11.  and  xxviii.  and  xxix. 
and  XXX.  1 — 17.  and  xxxi.  1 — 3. 
and  lix.  and  Ixv.  and  Ixvi.  In  chap. 
vii.  5 — 9.  and  viii.  4.  and  ix.  8 — 
21.  and  xvii.  he  predicts  the  ruin  of 
Syria,  and  of  the  kingdom  of  the 
te«  tribes;  and  the  calamities  of  the 


I  S  A 


(     59     ) 


I  S  H 


Pliili3tiiics,  chaj».  xiv.  29,  30,  31. 
of  Moal),  (halt.  xv.  and  xvi.  and  xxv. 
10.  of  the  Ejcyptians  and  Elhio- 
pians,  chaji.  xviii.  xix.  xx.  of  the 
Arabians,  chap.  xxi.  13 — 17.  of  the 
Edomiles,  cha|>.  xxi.  11,  12.  and 
xxxiv.  of  Tyre,  chap,  xxiii.  of  the 
Assyrians  before  Jerusalem,  chap. 
X.  xiv.  24 — 27.  and  xviii.  12,  13. 
and  xxvii.  1.  and  xxx.  27 — 33.  and 
xxxi.  4 — fl.  and  xxxiii.  and  xxxvii. 
and  of  the  Chaldeans,  chap.  xiii.  and 
xiv.  and  xxi.  1 — 10.  and  xliii.  14. 
and  xiv.  1—4.  and  xlvi.  1,  2,  11. 
and  xlvii. 

Amidst  these  denunciations  of 
wrath,  we  have  many  pleasant  pro- 
mises of  the  redemption  and  glorious 
kingdom  of  the  Messiah,  as  chap.  i. 
18,  25, 27.  and  ii.  1—5.  and  iv.  2—6. 
and  vii.  14.  and  viii.  14.  and  ix.  6, 
7.  and  xi.  and  xii.  and  xxv.  and  xxvi. 
and  xxviii.  16.  and  xxxr,  &:c.  From 
chap.  xl.  to  the  end,  tlie  deliverance 
of  the  Jews  from  Babylon,  and  the 
vanity  of  idols,  arc  often  occasionally 
hinted;  but  tl»e  chief  scope  is  to  fore- 
tell the  incarnation,  suffering,  and 
glory,  of  the  Messiah ;  the  erection 
of  the  gospel-church  among  the  Gen- 
tiles; the  rejection  of  the  Jews,  and 
their  future  restoration. — The  style 
of  this  prophet  is  sublime  in  the  higli- 
est  degree,  and  his  views  are  ex- 
tremely evangelic. 

Isaiah  is  esteemed  the  most  elo- 
quent of  the  prophets,  has  the  fire  and 
purity  of  Demosthenes;  but  exceeds 
him  greatly  in  his  subject,  as  much 
as  the  imjjortant  concerns  of  eter- 
nity' exceed  the  low  interests  of  (iiiic. 
It  is  said,  that  Isaiah's  body  was  bu- 
'  ried  near  Jerusalem  under  the  Ful- 
ler's oak,  near  the  foimtain  of  Siloam, 
whence  it  was  removed  to  Phineas, 


prophecies  of  Isaiah  still  extant,  he 
wrote  a  book  concerning  the  actions? 
of  I'z/.iah,  as  citetl  in  2  Chr.  xxvi. 
22.  but  it  is  now  lost;  and  Origen, 
Epiphanes,  anil  St.  Jerom,  speak  of 
another  lK)ok  called  "•  The  Ascension 
of   Isaiah." 

ISHKIBENOB,  rcspiralion,  cm- 
i'crsion,  takhif>[  capUvili/,  a  Philistine 
of  the  race  of  giants,  whose  spear 
weighed  300  shekels;  being  upon 
the  point  of  killing  David,  he  was 
himself  slain  by  Abishai,  son  of 
Zeruiah,  2  Sam.  xxi.  "16,  17. 

ISHBOSHETH,  a  mm  of  shame, 
or  the  delay  of  the  man,  or  Eshbaai., 
the  son  and  successor  of  king  Saul. 
In  the  40th  year  of  his  life,  Abner 
made  him  king  in  the  room  of  his  fa- 
ther, over  all  the  Hel)rew  tribes,  ex- 
cept that  of  Judah,  which  clave  to  Da- 
vid. He  reigned  two  years  pretty 
peaceably;  but  Abner's  forwardness 
drew  on  a  war  between  the  party  of 
Ishbosheth  and  the  subjects  of  David. 
It  never  seems  to  have  gone  beyond 
small  skirmishes.  Abner,  taking  of- 
fence at  Ishbosheth's  accusing  him  of 
an  intrigue  with  Rizpah  the  concubine 
of  Saul,  deserted  him,  and  began  to 
set  on  foot  the  interest  of  David ;  but 
he  was  murdered  by  Joab.  Informed 
of  this,  Ishbosheth  lost  all  courage ; 
and,  as  he  took  his  noon-tide  sleep, 
Baanah  and  Rechab,  his  captains, 
and  perhaps  kinsmen,  murdered  him, 
brought  his  head  to  David,  and  were 
rewarded  with  the  ignominious  ioss  of 
their  own  heads.  Ishbosheth's  head 
was  decently  interred  in  the  sepulchre 
of  Abner.  Thus  fell  the  royal  digni- 
ty of  the  house  of  Saul,  A.  M.  3956. 

ISHI,  sabalion,  or  kavins^  regard. 
Thou  shalt  no  more  call  me  Baali,  but 
thou  shalt  call  me  Ishi;  thou  shalt  look 


near   the  sources    of    Jordan;    and  I  on  me  not  as  a  rigid /orrf,  but  as  a  kind 


thence  to  Constantinople,  in  the  reign 
of  Theodosius  the  younger.  The 
eastern  Christians  tell  us,  that  he  for- 
feited the  gift  of  prophecy  twenty- 
eight  years  for  not  0[)posing  king 
Uzziah,  when  he  resolved  to  enter 
the  sanctuary,  where  Avas  the  altar 


and  affectionate  husband ;  and  shalt 
worship  me  in  a  manner  quite  free 
from  the  idolatry  of  Baal,  Hos.  ii.  16. 
ISHMAEL,  God  hath  heard,  (1.) 
The  son  of  Abraham  by  Hagar. — 
When  about  18  years  of  age,  he 
sported   too  roughly   with    Isaac,  a 


of  incense.     The  same  authors  tell  [child  of  four  or   tive.     On  this  ac- 
u*,  lie  lived  12P.  years. — Besides  the  count  he  and  his  molh.er  were  f\- 


I  S  L 


C    60    ) 


I  s  s 


pelled  the  family.     After  being  al- 1  rope,  are  Britain,  Ireland,  and  Ice- 
most  cut  off  with  thirst,  in  his  way  j  land,  and  about  three  or  four  huu- 


to  Egypt,  and  miraculously  refresh 
ed,  he  and  his  mother  took  up  their 
residence  in  the  wilderness  of  Paran, 
and  liA'ed  by  his  shooting  of  venison. 
He  married  an  Egyptian  by  his  mo- 
ther's direction.  According  to  the 
divine  predictions  to  his  father  and 
mother,  he  had  12  sons,  Nabaioth, 
Kedar,  Adbeel,  Mibsam,  Mishma, 
Duniah,  Massa,  Hadar,  Tema,  Jetur, 
Naphish,  and  Kedemash ;  parents  and 
princes  of  12  Arabian  tribes.  He 
had  also  a  daughter,  called  Mahalath, 
or  Bashemath,  who  was  the  wife  of 
Esau  her  cousin.  His  posterity  took 
up  their  residence  between  Havilah 
and  Shur  in  Arabia  the  Stony,  and 
in  part  of  Arabia  Deserta,  and  were 
called  Ishniaelites,  Hagarenes,  and, 
in  the  latter  time,  Saracens.  See 
Arabia.  After  Ishmael  had  lived  1 30 
years,  he  died  amidst  his  friends,  the 
offspring  of  Keturah,  &c.  Gen.  xvi. 
and  xxi.  and  xxv 

2.  Ishmael,  the  son  of  Nethaniah, 
being  one  of  the  royal  family  of  Ju 
dah,  was  sent  by  Balis,  king  of  the 
Ammonites,  to  murder  Gedaliah,  the 
deputy  of  Nebuchadnezzar  over  the 
Jews  who  were  left  in  Canaan.  Af- 
ter he  had  ungratefully  murdered 
that  good  man,  so  unwilling  to  sus- 
pect his  wicked  designs,  and  a  num- 
ber of  Jews  and  Chaldeans  with  him, 
he  murdered  other  70,  whom  he  met 
with,  all  except  ten,  who  begged 
him  to  spare  them,  that  they  might 
discover  to  him  their  hid  treasures. 
The  rest  of  the  Jews  present,  women 
and  children,  he  carried  captive,  and 
marched  towards  his  country  of  Am- 
mon,  where  he  had  d^velt  for  some 
time.  But  Johanan,  the  son  of  Ka 
reah,  and  the  other  warriors,  return- 
ed to  Mi7,peh,  and  finding  what  he 
had  done,  pursued  him,  recovered 
his  captives  and  spoil;  but  himself, 
and  eight  of  his  band,  escaped  safe 
to  the  Ammonites.    See  Jer.  xl.  and 

xli 

ISLE,   Island;  properly   a   spot 
pf  earth  surrounded  with  sea.     The 


dred  smaller  ones.  The  most  noted 
in  the  Mediterranean,  are  Cyprus, 
Crete,  Rhodes,  Eubcea,  Sicily,  Mal- 
ta, Sardinia,  Corsica,  Minorca,  Ma- 
jorca, and  a  multitude  of  lesser  ones. 
Between  Europe  and  America,  are 
the  Azores,  and  Newfoundland ;  and 
on  the  west  of  Africa,  are  the  Cana- 
ries ;  and  almost  straight  west  from 
these,  as  in  the  eastern  bosom  of 
America,  are  the  Caribbee  and  An- 
tille  islands,  the  largest  of  which  are 
Cuba,  Hispaniola,  Jamaica,  and  Mar- 
tinico.  On  the  east  of  Africa  is  the 
isle  of  Madagascar.  On  the  south 
and  south-east  of  the  East  Indies,  are 
Ceylon,  Sumatra,  Java,  Borneo,  Ce- 
lebes, Gilolo,  Mindano,  and  Manilla, 
with  about  12,000  others.  On  the 
south-east  of  Tartary,  are  Japan  and 
Jesso.  The  Hebrews  called  any 
place  separated  by  sea  from  their 
country,  or  even  a  place  on  the  sea- 
coast,  an  island.  So  Lesser  Asia  and 
Europe,  peopled  by  the  descendants 
of  Japheth,  are  called  the  isles  of  the 
Gentiles ;  and  to  these  a  number  of 
promises  of  the  spread  of  the  gospel 
relate,  Gen.  x.  5.  Isa.  xlii.  4, 10.  and 
xlix.  1.  The  isles  on  which  Aha- 
suerus  laid  his  tribute,  were  the  ma- 
ritime countries  of  Lesser  Asia,  and 
the  isles  in  the  eastern  part  of  the 
Mediterranean  Sea,  Esth.  X.  1.  Car 
naan  is  called  an  isle,  Isa.  xx.  6. 

ISRAEL,  a  prince  7vith  God,  or 
prevailing  with  God,  the  name  given 
by  the  angel  to  Jacob,  when  he  wres- 
tled with  him  all  night  at  Penuel,  Gen. 
xxxii.  24.  See  Jacob  and  Hebrews. 
I SRAELITES,  the  descendants  of 
Israel;  first  called  Hebrews  from 
Abraham,  who  came  from  beyond 
the  Euphrates;  afterwards  Israelites, 
from  their  progenitor  Israel;  and, 
lastly,  Jews,  particularly  after  their 
return  from  Babylon,  from  the  tribe 
of  Judah,  the  most  considerable  of 
all. 

ISSACHAR,  reward,  recompense, 
the  fifth  son  of  Jacob  by  Leah.  The 
name  Issachar  was  given  to  him  be- 


most  notfd  isles  gn  the  north  of  En-  cause  the  occasion  of  his  birth  was 


I  s  « 


(     01     ) 


I  T  A 


oy  some  mandrakes  which  Leah 
gave  to  Rachel.  He  had  lour  sons, 
Tola,  Phuvah  or  Phua,  Job  or  Ja- 
shub,  and  Shimron.  When  this  tribe 
came  out  of  Egypt,  they  amounted 
to  54,400,  under  the  government  of 
Nathaneel,  the  son  of  Zuar.  Their 
spy  to  view  the  promised  land,  was 
Igal,  the  son  of  Joseph;  and  their 
agent  to  divide  it,  was  Paltiel,  the 
son  of  Azzan:  they  were  stationed 
before  the  tabernacle,  in  the  camp 
of  Judah,  and  increased  in  the  wil- 
derness to  64,300,  Gen.  xxx.  14.  to 

18.  and  xlvi.  13.  Numb.  i.  8,  29. 
and  X.  14,  15.  and  xiii.  7.  and  xxvi. 
23—25.  and  xxxiv.  20.  They  had 
their  lot  in  one  of  the  richest  places 
of  Canaan,  between  t?ie  Zebulunites 
on  the  north,  an<i  the  western  Ma- 
nassites  on  the  south.  They  were 
extremely  laborious  and  wealthy,  and 
read}"^  like  the  obedient  ass,  to  bear 
the  heaviest  burden  of  labour  or  tri- 
bute. Nor  did  they  forget  to  invite 
one  another  to  the  worshi[)  of  Got!, 
Gen.  xlix.  14,  15.  Deut.  xxxiii.  18, 

19.  Tolah  the  judge,  and  Baasha 
the  king  of  Israel,  were  the  most 
noted  of  this  tribe.  It  seems  their 
princes  were  very  active  in  the  over- 
throw of  Jabin's  army  by  Barak, 
Judg.  V.  15.  Two  hundred  of  the 
principal  men,  who  had  the  rest  un- 
der their  direction,  attended  at 
David's  coronation,  and  brought 
much  provision  with  them.  Under 
his  reign,  Omri,  the  son  of  Michael, 
was  their  deputy-governor,  and 
their  number  able  to  draw  sword 
was  143,600,  1  Chron.  xii.  30, 
40.  and  xxvii.  18.  and  vii.  1 — Q. 
Sundry  of  this  tribe  attended  at  He- 
zekiah's  solemn  passover,  2  Chrou. 
xxx.  18. 

ISSUE,  (1.)  Children,  posterity, 
Gen.  xlviii.  6.  (2.)  A  running  of 
blood,  seed,  &c.  Lev.  xii.  7.  and 
XV.  2.  Ezek.  xxiii.  20.  An  issue  of 
this  kind  was  very  polluting ;  but  a 
mother's  did  not  pollute  her  suck- 
ing child.  Did  it  not  represent  sin 
as  very  infecting  ? — The  issues  from 
death,  that  is,  all  the  means  of  escape 
from  the  most  imminent  danger,  yea 


dealh  itself,  belong  to  the  Lord, 
Psal.  Ixvii.  20.  Out  of  thchcarl  are 
the  issues  of  life ;  the  holy  thoughts 
and  good  works  of  men  demonstrate 
life  to  be  in  their  heart,  and  prepare 
them  for  eternal  life,  Prov.  iv.  23. 
To  issu€,  is  to  spring  forth.  How 
along,  Ezek.  xlvii.  8.  2  Kings  xx.  lO. 
or  to  inarch  forth  in  haste.  Josh, 
viii.  22. 

ITALY,  abounding  with  calves, 
or  heifers,  a  large  peninsula  of 
Europe,  having  the  Aljjs  to  the 
north,  which  separate  it  from  France 
and  Savoy ;  and  it  is  surrounded  on 
all  other  sides  by  the  Mediterranean 
Sea.  It  is  the  most  celebrated  coun- 
try in  Europe,  having  been  formerly 
the  seat  of  the  Roman  empire,  and  al- 
tervvards  of  that  more  singular  usur- 
pation, the  dominion  of  the  Pope ;  for 
this  ecclesiastical  monarch,  under 
the  modest  title  of  servant  of  ser- 
vants, claimed  a  right  to  dispose  not 
only  of  the  affairs  of  such  nations  an. 
acknowledged  his  supremacy,  but 
also  of  Pagan  lands  to  the  ends  of 
the  earth;  bestowing  them  as  an  in- 
heritance on  the  roj'al  supporters  of 
his  church.  Italy  is  so  fine  and  fruit- 
ful a  territory,  that  it  is  sometimes 
called  the  Garden  of  Europe.  The 
air  is  temperate  and  wholesome,  ex- 
cept in  the  land  of  the  church,  where 
it  is  very  indifferent.  The  soil  is 
fertile,  and  produces  wheat,  rice, 
wine,  oil,  oranges,  citrons,  pomegra- 
nates, all  sorts  of  fruit,  flowers,  ho- 
ney, and  silk;  and  in  the  kingdom 
of  Naples  are  cotton  and  sugar.  The 
forests  are  full  of  all  kinds  of  game, 
and  on  the  niountains  are  fine  pas- 
tures, which  feed  vast  numbers  of 
cattle.  Here  are  also  mines  of  sul- 
phur, iron,  several  quarries  of  ala- 
baster, jasper,  and  marble.  Italy  is 
a  mountainous  country;  for  besides 
the  Alps,  which  bound  it  on  the 
north,  there  are  the  Appenuines,  run- 
ning quite  across  it  from  east  to  west, 
as  well  as  mount  Vesuvius,  which  is 
a  volcano,  and  emits  flames;  besides 
several  others.  The  principal  rivers 
are  the  Po,  the  Tiber,  the  Arno, 
the  Adda,   and   the  Adige.       The 


I  T  H 


(     62 


J  U  D 


archbishoprics  and  bishoprics  are 
very  numerous,  and  there  are  seve- 
ral universities.  They  have  onlj"^  one 
language,  whicli  is  a  corruption  of 
the  Latin,  and  is  said  to  be  most 
pure  in  Tuscany.  They  had  an  in- 
quisition, but  not  so  severe  as  that  of 
Spain  :  the  protestant  religion  is  now 
tolerated  under  certain  restrictions, 
and  also  the  Jewish;  yet  most  of  the 
inhabitants  are  Roman  Catholics. 
Rome  is  said  to  be  the  capital  city, 
though  some  will  hardly  allow  it. 
The  inhabitants  have  a  great  many 
good  qualities,  as  Avell  as  bad  ones; 
they  are  polite,  active,  prudent,  in- 
genious, and  politic;  but  then  they 
are  luxurious,  effeminate,  addicted  to 
the  most  criminal  pleasures,  are  very 
revengeful,  and  use  all  sorts  of  ar- 
tifices to  destroy  their  enemies,  which 
produce  a  great  num'^er  of  assassi- 
nations. A  wonderful  ch^n^e  has 
taken  place  in  this  country  vvithhi  a 
few  years.  It  is  now  completely 
under  the  government  of  France ; 
the  Pope  has  lost  all  his  temporal 
dominion  and  authority,  and  is  him- 
self in  a  state  of  exile. — A  hap!>y 
prelude  of  the  total  ruin  of  the  pa- 
pal hierarchy '.  Italy  is  mentioned 
Acts  xxvii.  1.  From  Italy,  it  is 
said,  Paul  wrote  his  epistle  to  the 
Hebrews,  chap.  xiii.  24. 

ITCH,  a  disease  of  the  skin,  in 
which  sharp  and  saltish  humours 
ooze  forth,  and  gather  into  small 
boils,  which  occasion  itching.  Pro- 
bably it  is  produced  by  certain  ani- 
malcules nestling  in  the  skin,  and 
there  breeding  their  young.  Hence, 
one  by  touching  the  infected,  catches 
the  contagion,  as  these  vermin  fasten 
on  his  skin.  In  curing  the  itch,  not 
only  must  all  the  animalcules,  but 
their  eggs,  be  destroyed;  which  is 
easily  done  by  a  proper  application 
of  sulphur.  The  itch  is  two-fold; 
the  moist,  which  is  more  easy  of  cure ; 
and  the  dry,  which  is  with  difficulty 
healed,  Deut.  xxviii.  27, 

ITHAMAR,  the  fourth  son  of 
Aaron.  Never  but  in  Eli's  children 
was  the  high  })ricsthood  vested  in  his 
family ;  but  his  descendants  consti- 


tuted  eight  of  the   orders   of    the 
priests,   1  Chrou.  xxiv.  1 — 3. 

ITUREA,  which  is  guarded,  or 
full  of  mountains,  a  country  on  the 
south-east  of  Syria,  and  eastward  of 
Bashau.  Probably  it  was  denomina- 
ted from  Jetur  the  son  of  Ishmael,  and 
peopled  by  Iris  posterity.  Aristo- 
bulus,  king  of  the  Jews,  compelled 
them  to  receive  circumcision  in  the 
Jewish  manner.  Philip,  a  son  of 
Herod  the  Great,  was  tetrarch  here 
in  our  Saviour's  time,  Luke  iii.  1.  ' 
JUBILEE.  See  Feast. 
JUDAH,  confession,  or  praise 
to  the  Lord,  the  fourth  son  of 
Jacob  by  Leah;  his  name  imports, 
that  his  mother  praised  the  Lord 
for  giving  her  children.  When 
about  1 4  years  of  qge  he  unhai)pily 
contracted  a  familiarity  with  Hira, 
a  Canaanite  of  Adullam ;  in  con- 
sequence of  which  he  married  one 
Shuah,  a  Canaanitess,  by  whom  he 
had  three  sons;  Er,  Onan,  and 
Shelah.  Judah  married  Er,  when 
very  young,  to  Tamar,  a  Canaani- 
tess :  for  his  horrid  wickedness,  the 
Lord  cut  him  otf  by  an  untimely  death. 
According  to  the  then  custom  of  the 
east,  Judah  made  Onan  her  husband, 
that  he  might  raise  up  seed  to  his 
brother.  Onan  knowing  that  the 
seed  should  not  be  reckoned  his,  did, 
in  an  abominable  manner,  prevent 
his  wife's  pregnancy.  For  this,  the 
Lord  cut  him  off  by  death.  Instead 
of  giving  Tamar  Shelah,  his  third 
son  to  be  her  husband,  Judah  amus- 
ed her  with  em{)ty  promises.  This 
gave  her  disgust.  Hearing  that  h^ 
was  to  pass  that  way  to  shear  his 
sheejj,  she  dressed  herself  as  an  har- 
lot, and  sat  by  the  Avay-side  till  he 
jcame  by.  Caught  with  the  snare, 
I  Judah,  now  a  widower,  went  in  to 
her;  for  Avhich,  he  agreed  to  give  her 
a  kid,  and  gave  his  statf  and  bracelet 
as  a  pledge  of  it.  Immediately  after 
he  sent  the  kid  by  his  friend  Hira; 
but  she  could  not  be  found,  and 
the  men  of  the  j)lace  told  him 
that  there  was  no  harlot  among 
them.  Not  long  after,  Judah 
heard  that  Tamar  was  with  child. 


J  U  D 


(     ^3     ) 


J  U  U 


aud  wasi  for  burning  her  alive ; 
but  her  exhibition  of  his  bracelets 
and  slafl'  made  him  (juite  ashamed, 
and  he  ackuowledi^ed  his  fault  in 
tempting  her  to  what  she  had  done, 
in  not  giving  her  Shelah  lor  her  hus- 
band. She  »iiiickly  bare  to  him 
Phares  ami  Zerah,  Gen.  xxxviii. 
Judah  moved  the  selling  ol  .loseph 
to  the  Arabian  merchants,  rather 
than  to  kill  him,  Gen.  xxxvii.  2G,  27. 
He  solemnly  engaged  to  return  Ben- 
jamin safe  to  his  lather,  if  he  per- 
mitted him  to  go  with  them  to  Egypt. 
By  a  most  affecting  oration,  he  plead- 
ed the  cause  of  Benjamin,  when 
charged  with  stealing  of  Josseph's 
cup:  and  by  offering  himself  a  slave 
for  him,  he  melted  the  heart  of  Jo- 
seph, Gen.  xliv.  In  his  last  bene- 
diction, Jacob  constituted  Judah  the 
superior  of  his  brethren,  and  predict- 
ed him  the  father  of  the  Messiah,  and 
allotted  him  a  land  abounding  with 
vines.  The  event  answered  the  pre- 
diction. Judah's  tribe  by  his  three 
sons,  Shelah,  Pharez,  and  Zerah, 
prodigiously  increased.  At  their 
coming  out  of  Egypt  their  fighting 
men  amounted  to  74,600,  under  Nah- 
shon  the  son  of  Aminadab.  In  the 
wilderness  they  increased  to  76,500. 
Their  spy  to  view,  and  agent  to  di- 
vide, the  promised  laud,  Avas  Caleb 
the  son  of  Jephunneh.  They,  with 
the  tribes  of  Issachar  and  Zebulun, 
marched  in  the  first  division  through 
the  wilderness.  Numb.  i.  10.  and 
xiii.  aud  xxiv.  and  xxxiv.  They 
had  the  first,  the  southmost,  and  by 
far  the  largest,  portion,  on  the  west 
of  Jordan.  Soon  after  their  settle- 
ment, they,  instigated  by  Caleb, 
were  the  most  active  to  expel  the  Ca- 
naanites  from  their  territory.  They 
marched  the  first  of  the  Hebrew 
tribes  against  the  wicked  Gibeah- 
ites.  Josh.  XV.  Judges  i.  1 — 10.  aud 
XX.  1 8.  Othniel,  the  first  judge  and 
deliverer  of  Israel,  wa,s  of  this  tribe, 
Judg.  iii.  In  Saul's  war  with  Na- 
hash,  the  men  of  Judah  in  his  army 
were  but  30,000,  and  of  the  other 
tribes  300,000.  In  his  war  with 
Anialek,  no  more  than  10,000  of  this 


tribe  assisted  hlni,  though  the  other 
tribes  luruielurl  him  with  200,000. 
Whether  the  Philistines  had  exceed- 
ingly reduced  the  Iriljfc  of  Judah,  or 
what  else  was  the  cause  of  this  great 
disprojtorlion  on  these  occasions,  we 
know  not.  After  SauTs  death,  the 
Hebrew  kings  began  to  be  of  the 
tribe  of  Judah,  and  family  of  David  : 
nor  did  the  government  ever  depart 
from  them  till  the  Messiah  appeared, 
1  Sam.  xi.  8.  and  xv.  4.  Gen.  xlix. 
10.  See  Hebrfavs.  Judah's  \)o&- 
terity  are  often  called  b3''  his  name. 
Bethlehem  is  called  the  city  of  Judah, 
or  Bethlehem-Judah;  it  was  the  na- 
tive place  of  David  their  king,  2 
Chron.  xxv.  28.  But  there  was 
another  city  called  Judah,  on  the 
south-east  corner  of  the  portion  of 
Naphtali ;  but  whether  on  the  east 
or  west  side  of  Jordan  w"e  cannot 
positively  determine.  Josh.  xix.  34.... 

JUDEA,  conf casing,  or  praising, 
or  Jewry.  The  country  of  Judah  was 
never  so  called  till  after  the  captivity. 
Sometimes  the  whole  land  of  Canaan 
seeiiistohave  been  called  Judea,  Mat. 
xxiv.  16.  Gal.  i.  2i.  but  move  pro- 
perly it  was  divided  into  Perea  be- 
yond Jordan ;  Galilee,  Samaria,  and 
Judea ;  on  the  west  of  Jordan.  Judea, 
thus  taken,  contained  the  original 
portions  of  the  tribes  of  Judah,  Bea- 
jamin,  Dan,  and  Simeon.  It  con- 
sisted of  three  parts ;  the  plain  coun- 
try on  the  Avest;  the  hill  country 
southward  of  Jerusalem;  and  the 
south  on  the  north  borders  of  the 
land  of  Edom,  Matt.  iii.  1.  Acts  ii. 
9.  Zech.  vii.  7. 

JUDAS  ISCARIOT.  Why  he 
was  called  lacariot,  w^hether  because 
he  was  Ish-karioih,  an  inhabitant  of 
Keriolh;  or  because  he  was  Ish- 
scariota,  the  man  who  had  the  bag: 
or  Ish-carat,  the  man  that  cuts  otf ; 
or  Ish-skelcrat,  the  man  of  the  re- 
ward or  bribe;  I  know  not.  Our 
Saviour  chose  him  to  be  one  of  his 
disciples,  and  gave  him  the  charge 
of  what  money  or  piov.don  he  car- 
ried about  with  him.  There  is  no 
evidence  that  his  religious  appear- 
ances, or  his  preaching,  or  miracles. 


J  U  D 


(     64     ) 


J  U  D 


wepe  inferior  to  those  o{  his  bre- 
thren :  but  covetousness  was  proba- 
bly his  besetting  sin.  Highly  pro- 
voked that  Mary  had  spent  so  much 
oil  in  anointing  our  Saviour's  head, 
and  that  he  justified  her  conduct,  he 
resolved,  in  revenge  to  betray  him. 
He  agreed  with  the  chief  priests  and 
elders  to  deliver  him  into  their 
hands  for  30  pieces  of  silver,  about 
3/.  8*.  5d.  He  returned  and  ate  the 
passover  with  his  Master  and  fellow- 
disciples.  At  the  supper  of  bitter 
herbs,  Jesus,  to  gratify  John,  and 
manifest  his  own  divine  omniscience 
pointed  him  out  as  the  traitor.  Fill- 
ed with  rage,  he  jvent  directly  to  the 
chief  priests,  and  brought  a  band  of 
men  to  apprehend  his  Master.  He 
led  them  to  the  garden,  where  Jesus 
was  wont  to  retire  for  his  devotion. 
He,  by  a  kiss  of  our  Saviour,  gave 
them  the  signal  whom  they  should 
apprehend.  No  sooner  had  he  seen 
his  Master  condemned  by  the  Jewish 
council,  than  his  conscience  up- 
braided him ;  he  brought  back  the 
30  pieces  of  silver,  and  confessed  he 
had  betrayed  innocent  blood.  When 
the  Jewish  rulers  told  him,  that 
that  was  none  of  their  business,  he 
might  blame  himself;  he  cast  down 
the  money,  and,  as  they  thought  the 
price  of  blood  was  not  fit  for  the 
treasury,  they,  as  agents  for  Judas, 
gave  it  for  the  Potter's  field,  to  bury 
strangers  in.  Meanwhile,  Judas 
hanged  himself;  but  the  rope  break- 
ing, or  the  tree  giving  way,  he  fell, 
and  his  body  burst  asunder,  and  his 
bowels  gushed  out.  Some  think,  the 
word  we  render  hanged,  imports 
that  he  was  choaked  with  grief,  and 
that  in  the  extremity  of  his  agony, 
he  fell  on  his  face,  and  burst  asunder, 
Matt.  xxvi.  and  xxvii.  Acts  i.  16 — 
20. 

JUDAS,  confession,  or  praise  to  the 
Lord,  or  Jude;  tlie  same  as  Thaddciis 
Lehheiis,  (he  son  of  Cleophas,  and  bro- 
ther of  James  the  Less,  and  the  cousin 
and  apostle  of  our  Lord,  Mat.  x.  3.  At 
his  last  supper,  he  asked  Jesus,  how 
he  would  manifest  himself  to  his  peo- 
ple, and  not  to  the  world  ?  John  xiv. 


22. — It  is  said  he  was  married,  had 
two  grand-children  martyrs  for  the 
Christian  faith;  and  that,  having 
preached  at  Edessa,  and  in  Mesopo- 
tamia, Judea,  Samaria,  Idumea,  and 
chiefly  in  Persia  and  Armenia,  he 
died  in  Lybia :  but  it  is  more  certain, 
that  to  confute  the  Gnostics  and 
others,  he  wrote  an  epistle  to  the 
scattered  Jews.  His  allusions  to  the 
second  epistle  of  Peter,  and  to  the 
second  of  Paul  to  Timothy,  renders 
it  probable  that  it  was  written  after 
A.  D.  66.  From  the  character  of 
saints,  and  the  various  judgments  of 
God  on  sinning  angels  and  men,  past 
or  future,  and  from  the  odious  charac- 
ter of  seducers ;  he  urges  on  them  a 
constant  zeal  for  truth,  and  a  con- 
tinued practice  of  holiness.  His 
quoting  a  saying  of  Enoch,  not  the 
book  that  goes  by  his  name,  and  a 
passage  concerning  the  body  of  Mo- 
ses, made  some  persons  rashly  ques- 
tion the  authenticity  of  his  epistle. 

To  JUDGE,  (1.)  To  try  and  de- 
termine  a  cause,  Exod.  xviii.  13. 
The  manner  of  giving  sentence  was 
diSerent  in  different  nations.  The 
Jewish  judges  gave  sentence,  by  sim- 
ply declaring  to  the  person.  Thou 
art  guilty,  or,  Thou  art  innocent.  The 
Romans  did  it  by  casting  variou? 
tables  into  a  box  or  urn,  marked 
with  an  A,  if  they  absolved;  and 
with  a  C,  if  they  condemned  the 
person.  Some  of  the  Greeks  inti- 
mated the  sentence  of  absolution,  by 
giving  a  white  stone;  and  of  con- 
demnation, by  giving  a  black  one ; 
to  this  an  allusion  is  made,  Rev.  ii, 
17.  (2.)  To  understand  a  matter  :  so 
the  spiritual  man  judgeth  all  things. 
and  is  judged  of  no  man :  he  has  k 
solid  knowledge  of  all  things  im 
portant;  but  no  natural  man  can  un- 
derstand his  views  and  experiences, 
1  Cor.  ii.  15.  (3.)  To  esteem,  ac- 
count, as  if  on  trial,  Acts  xvi.  15. 
(4.)  To  rule  and  govern,  as  one 
having  power  to  try  and  determine 
causes,  Psal.  xlvii.  4.  (5.)  To  pu- 
nish, as  in  consequence  of  trial  and 
sentence ;  and  to  declare  and  de- 
nounce such  punishments,  Heb.  xiii. 


J  U  D 


(    cr,    ) 


J  U  D 


\.  Ezek.  vii.  3 — t^.  ami  xxii.  2.  j 
(ti.)  To  censure  raslily,  IMatl.  vii.  1. 
(7.)  To  appeiir  upon  one's  side,  as! 
in  conso(inence  of  trial  of  his  cause, | 
Prov.  xviii.  18.  Christ  does  notj 
judire  accoidini:;  to  the  scdiis;  ofthfcijc,  \ 
or  hcariiis;  of  the  ear :  dot's  not  esteem  1 
persons  or  thinc;s,  or  give  sentence,, 
merely  according  to  outward  a|)-' 
])earances,  Isa.  xi.  3.  Saints  judge 
the  ivorlif,  judge  angch :  they  now 
condemn  tiie  wickedness  of  the  world  j 
by  their  holy  prolession  and  practice; 
at  the  last  day  they  shall  assent  tO' 
the  sentence  of  damnation  pronoun-' 
red  against  wicked  angels  and  men,j 
1  Cor.  vi.  2.  The  saints  are  Jwr/ircf^j 
according  to  men  in  the  flesh,  and  live 
according  to  God  in  the  spirit ;  when 
they  are  outwardlj-^  corrected  for  their 
past  sin,  or  persecuted  liy  wicked  men, 
and  yet  inwardly  live  a  lite  otiellow- 
bhip  with  God,  1  Pet.  iv.  €.  Men 
\y<iCQ\wejuds:cs  of  evil  thoughts,  when 
in  a  partial  manner  they  prefer  one 
j)erson  to  another,  James  ii.  4. 

A  JtuGE,  is  one  that  tries  the 
cause  of  others,  and  passes  sentence 
upon  them,  Psal.  ii.  10.  God  is  the 
Judge  of  all  the  earth ;  he  rules  over, 
tries,  and  gives  sentence,  on  all  its 
inhahitanls,  Heb.  xii.  23.  Gen.  xviii. 
25.  Christ  is  called  the  Judge ;  he 
is  appointed  by  the  Father  to  try  the 
state  and  actions  of  all  men,  and  to 
pass  the  sentence  of  everlasting  hap- 
jnness  or  misery  upon  them,  2  Tim. 
iv.  1,  8.  Autliorit3%wi~dom,  courage, 
activity,  impartial  equity,  are  neces- 
sary to  qualify  one  to  be  a  judge. 
The  Jews  had  ordinary  judges,  bolh 
for  civil  and  religious  causes.  In 
reforming  the  nation,  Jehoshaphat 
established  two  classes  or  courts  of 
judges;  one  took  notice  of  matters 
pertaining  to  the  Lord,  and  the  other 
of  what  belonged,  to  the  state,  2 
Chron.  xix.  These  Judges,  or  el- 
ders, it  is  said,  were  formed  into 
three  courts:  First,  the  court  of  three 
judges,  which  decided  small  aflairs  of 
loss,  gain,  restitution,  intercalation 
of  months,  &c.  and  had  only  power 
to  punish  Avith  whipj)ing.  Perhaps 
this  was  no  mpre  than  a  court  of  ar- 

VOL.   II. 


bitrafion;  each  party  chose  a  judge, 
and  lh(!  two  chosen  judges  chose  a 
third.     The  second  court  consisted 
of  23  judges.     This  determined  mat- 
ters   of  great   moment    relative    to 
men's  lives.     And  the  third   court 
or   sanhedrim,  consistetl  of  seventy 
or   seventy-two  ju<lges.      This  de- 
terniine<l  in  the  highest  affairs  rela- 
tive to  church  and  stale.     The  high 
priest  was  a  kind  of  supreme  judge. 
Nojudge  was  allowed  to  receive  jire- 
scnts,  nor  to  regard  men  for  either 
l»overty  or  greatness,   or  to  follow  a 
multitude ;  and  all  were  required  la 
honour  them,  Exod.  xxiii-  Dent.  xvi. 
Exod.  xxii.  28.      No  man  was    to 
be  condemned  unheard,  nor  on  the 
testimonj''  of  less  than  two  or  three 
WITNESSES,   John   vii.   51.      Deut. 
xvii.  G.     The  HeJ)rews  had  also  ex- 
traordinary judges,  who,  being  raised 
up  by  God  on  necessary  occasions, 
had  a  kind  of  sovereign  jiower.  Some 
of  tiiem  were  immediately  called  of 
God,  others  were  elected  by  the  peo- 
l)le,  as  Judg.  iii.  and  xi.      Nor  does 
it  appear  that  the  power  o(  each  ex- 
tended  over    all     Israel.     Perhap;* 
Jephthah  did  not  exercise  his  power 
on  the  west  of  Jordan,  nor  Barak  his 
to  the  east  of  it.     These  judges  had 
the  sole  management  of  peace  and 
war,  and  decided  causes  with  an  ab- 
solute authority :  they  executed  the 
laws,  reformed  or  protected  religion, 
punished  idolaters,  and  other  male- 
factors:   but   they   levied  no  taxes, 
nor   had  any  train   but   what  their 
own  revenues  could  alTord ;  and,  in 
fine,  were  much  the  same  as  the  ar- 
chons  of  Athens,  the  dictators   of 
Rome,  the  suftetes  of  Carthage,  and 
the  governors  of  Germany,  Gaal,  and 
Britain,  before  the  Roman  invasion. 
After  the  death  of  Joshua,  and  the 
elders   which    outlived   him,     their 
judges  were,  Othniel,  Ehud,  Sham- 
gar,  Barak,  Gideon,  Abimelech,  To- 
h\,  Jair,  Jejjhthah,  Ibzan,  Elon,  Ah- 
don,  Samson,   along   wilh  Eli,  and 
Samuel.     As  it  is  expressly  said  the 
temple   was  founded  in   the    480th 
vear  after  the  Hebrews  came  out  of 
Egyi'^  '^  '•*'  difficult  lo  calculate  (he 
I 


J  U  B 


(     66     ) 


J  U  D 


time  of  the  Judges,  so  as  to  corres- 
pond herewith ;  and  so  much  the 
more  so,  as  Paul  avers  that  God 
gave  them  Judges  about  450  years, 
1  Kings  vi.  1.  Acts  xiii.  20.  But 
perhaps  Paul's  expression  denotes, 
not  the  time  of  the  judges,  but  the 
period  betneen  the  birth  of  Isaac  and 
the  settlement  in  Canaan,  which  was 
447,  or  about  450  years;  or  if  it  re- 
late to  the  period  of  tlie  judges,  the 
111  years  of  servitude  must  be  taken 
into  the  account ;  though,  accord- 
ing to  the  other  reckoning  in  the 
book  of  Kings,  these  years  of  servi- 
tude must  be  comprehended  imder 
the  years  of  the  judges,  or  the  rests 
procured  by  them.  And  it  may  be 
added,  that  when  it  is  said,  the  land, 
luider  Othuiel,  had  rest  40  years, 
that  perhaps  means  till  the  40th 
year  of  their  settlement;  and  under 
Ehud  and  Shamgar,  80  j'ears  per- 
ha|)s  means  no  more  than  till  the 
80fh  year  of  their  settlement.  Be- 
sides, the  years  of  some  of  the  judges 
might  run  into  those  of  another; 
or  those  of  Samuel  and  Saul  were 
perhaps  but  40  years  between  them 
Or,  the  480  years  n:iay  be  reckoned 
thus :  from  the  departure  from 
Egypt  to  the  settlement  in  Canaan, 
47;  from  thence,  during  the  rests 
of  40,  of  80,  of  40,  of  40  years, 
under  Othniel,  Ehud,  Barak,  Gide- 
on, 200 ;  to  which  add,  for  the  du- 
ration of  the  government  of  Abimc- 
lech,  Tola,  Jair,  Jephtljab,  Ibzan, 
Elon,  Abdou,  Sa^asoii,  and  Eli,  109; 
and  for  Samue?,  Saul,  David,  and 
the  first  four  years  of  Solomon,  124  ; 
and  then  we  have  precisely  480.  Or, 
from  the  departure  from  Egypt,  to 
the  settlemeut  of  the  Reubcnites  and 
Gadites,  40  years ;  from  thence  to 
the  invasion  of  the  Ammojiites,  300; 
Judg.  xi.  20.  thence  fo  the  reign  of 
Saul,  36 ;  and  from  Ihence  to  the 
building  of  the  temple,  84  years ; 
In  all  480.  After  the  death  of  Gi- 
deon, two,  if  not  sometimes  three 
judges,  ruled  at  the  same  lime  in  dif- 
ferent places. 

Probably  the  book  of  Judges  was 
written  by  Samuel,  aad  the  book  of 


Ruth  written  as  an  appendix  thepe- 
to.  In  the  2d  chapter,  at  the  end, 
he  gives  us  a  summary  of  the  whole. 
The  Jebusites  were  masters  of  Jeru- 
salem when  it  was  written,  chap.  i. 
i21.  the  house  of  God  was  no  more 
at  Shiloh,  chap,  xviii.  31.  His  so 
often  marking  that  then  there  was 
I  no  king  in  Israel,  during  the  period 
i  of  that  history,  insinuates,  that  there 
Jwas  a  king  in  Israel  when  the  pen- 
;man  of  this  book  lived.  The  men- 
Ition  of  the  captivity  of  the  land, 
ichap.  xviii.  30.  seems  to  point  this 
book  to  some  writer  more  late  than 
Samuel;  but  he  might  call  that  ra- 
vage of  the  country  under  Eli  a 
captivity ;  or  that  clause  might  be 
long  after  added  by  Ezra. 

jI^DGMENT,  (1.)  Wisdom  and 
prudence,  whereby  a  person  can  judge 
of  what  is  proper  or  improper,  right 
or  wrong,  Jer.  x.  24.  Isa.  xxx.  18, 
Psal.  Ixxii.  1.  (2.)  Strict  equity, 
such  as  should  appear  in  judging, 
Luke  xi.  42.  (3.)  The  power  of 
governing  and  judging  the  Avorld: 
this  the  Father  hath  committed  to 
Christ,  John  v.  22.  and  xvi.  8.  (4.) 
The  judicial  blinding  of  obstinately 
itupenitent  sinners,  John  ix.  39.  (5.) 
The  decision  of  a  judge,  1  Kings  iii. 
28.  (6.)  God's  purposes,  and  the 
execution  of  them,  Rom.  xi.  33.  (7.) 
The  solemn  trial  of  men  at  the  last 
da;/,  tliat  the  wicked  may  be  con- 
demned, and  the  righteous  adjudged 
to  everlasting  life,  Eccl.  xii.  14. 
Jude  9,  \5.  (8.)  The  punishment 
inflicted  for  sin,  Prov.  xix,  29. 
Ezek.  xxx.  14.  Isa.  llii.  8.  (9.) 
The  statutes  or  cojnmandoients  of 
God,  or  ^vhat  be  hath  decided  in  his 
v.'ord,  particularly  in  what  relates 
to  civil  punishments,  PsaL  xix.  7. 
Matt.  xii.  13.  Exod.  xxi.  1.  (10.) 
Courts  for  trying  causes.  Matt.  v. 
21.  (ri.)  Controversies  to  be  tried 
and  decided,  1  Cor.  ^i.  4.  (12.)  Sen- 
timent, opinion,  advice,  1  Cor.  i.  10. 
and  vi.  25.  God  brings  forlh  men's 
judgmcnl  as  the  noon-day,  when,  in 
his  wise  and  righteous  providence,  he 
openly  jnanifests  and  rewards  them 
according  to  the  goodness  and  equi- 


J  U  N 


(     67     ) 


I  V  0 


iy  of  their  cause,  Psa,  xxxvH.  0. 
Zion  shall  be  redeemed  ivilli  judg- 
ment ;  shall  be  delivered  accordiiiG; 
<o  the  wisdom  ami  e(|iiity  ol'  God, 
and  throucli  the  inlliction  ol"  punish- 
ment on  his  Son,  Isa.  i.  27.  Clirist 
brins^s  forth  Jiid-^mcnt  to  the  Gentiles, 
sends  it  forth  unto  victory ;  when 
he  reveals  the  truth  of  God,  fully 
satislies  his  otiended  justice,  and,  in 
a  way  of  executing  veno;eance  on 
Satan  and  his  interests,  forms  a  peo- 
ple to  himself,  Isa.  xlii.  2.  Matt, 
xii.  18,  20.  Now  is  thcjudomciit  of 
this  world  come  ;  now  shall  the  prince 
of'  this  world  be  cast  out.  Now  shall 
God  separate  multitudes  to  himself; 
now  shall  he  bring  down  their  car- 
nal lusts  and  imaginations;  now  shall 
the  Jewish  nation  be  punished  ;  now 
shall  Satan  be  cast  out  from  the  hearts 
of  men,  and  lose  his  authority  in  the 
Avorld,  John  xii.  31.  The  Holy 
Ghost  shall  convince  men  of  judi(- 
incnt,  because  the  prince  of  this  world 
is.jiulge«l;  by  dislodging  Satan  from 
men's  bodies,  and  casting  him  out  of 
their  hearts,  he  shall  demonstrate  Je- 
sus's  power  and  authority,  and  evince 
his  future  appearance  to  judgment, 
John  xvi.  11.  God's  judi(menls  are 
true  and  righteous ;  his  conduct  in  dc- 
Jivering  his  people,  and  punishing  his 
enemies,  corresponds  with  the  predic- 
tions and  threateuings  of  his  word,  and 
the  equity  of  his  nature,  Kev.  xix.  2. 

JULIUS,  downy,  full  of  soft  cot- 
ton, and  tender  hair,  the  centurion 
of  Augustus's  band.  Into  his  hands 
Festus  committed  Paul,  to  convey 
him  prisoner  to  Rome.  He  show-ed 
a  great  regard  for  that  apostle.  See 
Paul.     Acts  xxvii. 

JUNIA,  a  youili,  or  Juntas,  an 
early  convert  to  the  Christian  faith, 
active,  zealous,  and  firm,  in  promot- 
ing the  cause  of  Christ,  on  which  ac- 
count he  and  Adronicus,  one  of  the 
same  spirit  with  himself,  were  high  in 
the  esteem  of  the  apostles,  Rom.  xvi.  7 . 

JUNIPER,  a  well-known  shrub, 
Avhose  male  flowers  are  of  the  amen- 
taceous kind,  and  consist  of  many 
small  prickly  leaves  :  the  fruit  is  a 
roundish  fleshy   kind  of  berry;  the 


kernels  are  angular,  and  the  seed  ob- 
long. The  loaves  are  ever-greeo, 
and  arc  plain  and  simple,  not  uidikc 
those  of  the  cypress.  Its  appearance 
is  a  little  similar  to  that  of  the  cedar, 
audit  seems  some  of  the  Greeks  call- 
ed it  by  that  name.  Tournefort  men- 
tions five  kinds  of  the  juniper.  AVhe- 
ther  the  Hebrew  Rclhem  signities  ju- 
niper, is  not  altogether  certain.  So 
the  ancient  interpreters,  Aquila  and 
Jerome,  indeeil  render  it;  but  the 
valuable  Syriac  translation  renders 
it  turpentine-tree  ;  the  Chaldaic  pa- 
ra[)lH-ase,  and  the  great  Schultens, 
render  it  broom.  It  is  certain  a  tur- 
pentine-tree was  fit  for  Elijah  to  rest 
under,  and  that  the  fuel  of  it  burns 
very  liercely,  1  Kings  xix,  4,  5.  Psa. 
cxx.  4.  but  whether  the  root  of  either 
it  or  juniper  could  be  food,  may  be 
doubted  :  but  it  is  certain  broom  has 
sometimes  a  rape  or  navew  about, 
its  roots  that  may  be  eaten,  Job 
XXX.  4.  As  coals  of  juniper,  or  tur- 
pentine-tree, burn  long  or  fiercely, 
ihey  are  an  emblem  of  terrible  calami- 
ties here,  and  of  everlasting  torments 
hereafter,  Psa.  cxx.  4.  Calmet  thinks 
Rethcm  signifies  any  wild  shrub. 

IVORY,  a  hard  substance,  white 
in  colour,  and  capable  of  a  fine  por- 
lish.  It  is  from  the  tusks  of  ele- 
phants, which  are  hollow  from  the 
base  to  a  certain  height,  and  the  ca- 
vity is  filled  Avith  a  marrowy  sub- 
stance mingled  with  glands.  These 
ivory  tusks  resemble  horns,  Ezek. 
xxvii.  15.  Some  tusks  are  from  90 
to  125  lbs.  weight;  and  one  fouml 
in  the  isle  of  Sumatra,  in  the  East 
Indies,  is  said  to  have  been  330 
pounds.  It  is  reported  that  the  iva- 
ry  of  Ceylon  and  Achem  does  not  be- 
come yellow  by  the  wearing  of  it.  In 
Russia,  and  other  parts  of  Europe,  a 
kind  of  ivory  is  found  buried  in  the 
ground  ;  and  at  Petersburgh  is  a  tusjc 
of  180  pounds  weight:  but  whether 
these  be  real  teeth  of  elephants,  long 
ago  there  dropt,  or  horns  of  fishes 
brought  thither  at  the  flood,  or  a 
kind  of  substance  formed  in  the  earth, 
we  cannot  determine.  Ivory  was  an- 
Iciently  very   plentiful    in  Canaan: 


J  u  s 


(    es    ) 


JUS 


wardrobes,  it  seems,  ^rere  boxed 
^\ith  it,  to  prevent  the  damage  of 
moths,  Psal.  xiv.  8.  Solomon  had  a 
tlirone  of  it,  1  Kings  x.  18,  22. 
Ahab,  and  some  of  the  Israelitish  no- 
bles, had  their  houses  adorned  with 
ST,  and  their  beds  made  of  it,  1  Kings 
xxii.  39.  Amos  iii.  15.  and  vi.  4. 
At  Tyre,  they  sometimes  made  the 
seats  for  the  rowers  of  their  ships  of 
it,  Ezek.  xxxvi.  6.  In  metaphoric 
language,  it  represents  Avhat  is  come- 
ly, pure,  strong,  and  durable.  See 
Belly,  Neck. 

JUPITER,  the  fatlur  that  hclp- 
Cih,  the  great  god  of  the  Heathens. 
Perhaps  the  name  is  derived  from  Jao, 
Jove,  or  Jehovah,  andpatcr,  father. 
It  is  certain,  the  Jupit-ers,  among  the 
Latins,  and  Zeuses  among  the  Greeks, 
were  as  common  as  the  Baals  in  the 
east.  Three  J upiters  were  principally 
famous,  the  son  of  ^thcr,  the  son  of 
Coelus,  but  chiefly  the  son  of  Saturn. 
Hia  father  is  said  to  have  been  king 
of  Crete  about  the  time  of  Moses,  or 
perhaps  300  years  later,  and  to  have 
endeavoured  the  destruction  of  all 
las  children.  When  Jupiter,  who 
was  secretly  brought  up,  came  to 
man's  age,  he  stripped  his  father  of 
his  kingdom,  and  appears  to  have 
been  one  of  the  most  adulterous,  and 
otherwise  unclean  wretches,  that  ever 
breathed.  The  Heathens,  however, 
believed  he  had  the  government  of 
heaven  and  earth ;  and  that  he  gave 
to  his  brother  Neptune  the  govern- 
ment of  the  sea,  and  to  Pluto  the  go- 
vernment of  hell.  See  Noah.  The 
Jews  appear  to  have  known  nothing 
of  Jupiter,  or  Zeus,  till  the  time  of 
Alexander  the  Great.  Anliochus 
Epiphanes  placed  a  statue  of  Jupiter 
Olympius  in  the  temple  of  Jerusa- 
lem; another  of  Jupiter,  the  defender 
of  strangers,  in  the  Samaritan  temple 
at  Gerizzim.  On  account  of  his  gra- 
vity and  majestic  mien,  Barnabas  was 
taken  for  Jupiter  at  Lystra,  Acts 
Xiv.  11,  12. 

JUST,  (1.)  One  who  is  upright 
Slim!  sincere  in  his  actions  and  deal- 
ifigs  with  others,  Luke  xxiii.  50. 
(2?)  Ite  great  CretitOr,  who  is  es- 


sentially just  and  righteous,  and  the 
fountain  of  justice,  Deut.  xxxii.  4, 
(3.)  One  who  is  exceedingly  faith- 
ful, keeping  his  word  and  promise. 
1  John  i.  9.  (4.)  One  who  in  his  life 
and  death  answered  perfectly  the  de- 
mauds  of  the  law  of  God,  1  Pet.  iii. 
18.  (5.)  One  who  is  righteous  by 
faith  in  Christ,  Rom.  i.  17.  (6.)  One 
who  is  not  truly  convinced  of  his  own 
sinfulness,  and  therefore  is  OTily  right- 
eous in  his  own  opinion,  Luke  xviii. 
9.  (7.)  One  that  is  good  natured, 
mild,  and  indulgent.  Matt.  i.  19.  (8.) 
One  of  a  charitable,  liberal  disposi- 
tion, Psal.  xxi.  26. 

JUSTICE,  is,(l.)  That  essential 
perfection  in  God,  whereby  he  is  in- 
finitely righteous  and  just,  both  in  his 
nature  and  in  all  his  proceedings 
with  his  creatures,  Psal.  Ixxxix.  14. 
(2.)  That  political  virtue  which  ren- 
ders to  every  man  his  due,  and  is 
(1.)  Distributive,  which  concerns 
princes,  magistrates,  &c.  Job  xxix. 
14.  (2.)  Commutative,  which  con- 
cerns all  persons  in  their  dealings 
one  with  another.  Gen.  xviii.  19. 

JUSTIFY,  (1.)  To  declare  one 
innocent,  Prov.  xvii.  15.  (2.)  To 
absolve  and  acquit  a  sinner  from  the 
guilt  and  punishment  of  sin,  through 
faith  in  Christ,  Rom.  iii.  28.  and  v. 
9.  (3.)  To  declare  another  to  be 
less  guilty  than  ourselves,  Ezek.  xvi. 
51.  (4.)  To  acknowledge  a  thing  or 
person  to  be  just.  Matt.  xi.  19.  Luke 
vii.  35.  (5.)  To  prove  and  manifest 
one's  self  to  be  in  a  justified  state. 
Jam,  ii.  21.  Itisfmir-fold,  (l.)Falge- 
\y  and  vain-gloriously,  Luke  x.  19. 
and  xyi.  15.  (1.)  Politically,  Deut. 
XXV.  1.  Isa.  v.  23.  (3.)  Legally, 
Rom,  iii.  20.  Gal.  ii.  16.  (4.)  Evan- 
gelically, Rom.  V.  1.  This  is  said  to 
be,  (1.)  By  Christ,  Gal.  ii.  16.  (2.) 
By  grace  freely,  Rom.  iii.  24.  Tit. 
iii.  7.  (3.)  By  faith,  Gal.  iii.  8. 
(4.)  By  his  blood,  Rom.  v.  9.  (5.) 
By  his  knowledge,  Isa.  liii.  11.  To 
justifii/,  is  the  ojjposite  of  condemna- 
tion. God  is  justified,  when  the  right- 
eousness of  his  conduct  is  openly 
manifested  and  declared :  David's 
sin  justijkd  God;  God  appeared  per- 


K  A  B 


(     CO     ) 


K  A  D 


fpctly  ric;li(roiis  in  threatening  or  pu- 
nishing it :  and  his  conlV'ssion  Justi- 
fied God,  as  therein  he  acknowledged 
God's  holiness  and   righteousness  in 
all  that  came  ij|)()ii   him  lor  it,  Psal. 
li.  4.  iiodJKstiJicd Chririt,  in  accept- 
ing his  service,  in    raising  him  from 
the  dead,    and  givitJg  him  glorjs  as 
Ihe  full  evidence  of  his  having  full}' 
finished    what   was  required  of  him, 
Isa.  I.  8.     Christ  was  justified  in  the 
spirit.     By   the  power  of  his  divine 
nature,  he  rose  from  the  grave,  and 
by  the  miraculous   influences  of  the 
Holy  Ghost,  he  w  as  manifested  to  be 
the  righteous  Son  of  God,  who  had 
finished  the  work  which  the  Father 
gave  him  to  do,  1  Tim.  iii.  10.  God 
justifies  men,  when  he  declares  them 
righteous  in    liis  sight,    freed   from 
the  guilt  of  sin,  accepted  into  his  fa- 
vour, and  entitled  to  endless  felicity, 
Rom.   iii.    24,   28,  30.  and  viii.  33. 
and  V.  9.     They  are   considered  as 
ungodly  prior  to  it,  Rom.  iv.  5.  This 
justification  is  not  founded  on  works 
done,   or  to  be  done  by  us;  none  of 
these  are  commensurate  to   the  un- 
changing  law   of   God,    and  all   of 
them  are,  in  ever}''  shape,  excluded 
from   the   nxatter  of   our  justifying 
righteousness  before   God,  Gal.  iii. 
10,  12.  Rom.  iii.  20,  24,  28.  Gal.  ii. 
10.     But  it  springs   from   the   abso- 
hitely  free  grace  of  God,  Tit.  iii.  7. 
Rom.  iii.  24.  and  is  founded  on  the 
death  of  Jesus  Christ,  Gal.   ii.    16. 
Rom.  iii.  24.  and  v.  9,  19.  Phil.  iii. 
8,  9.  Isa.  xlv.  24.  Jer.  xxiii.  6.  and 
xxx,iH.  16.  and  it  is  obtained  by  the 


faith  or  hwndcdsre  of  Christ,  Gal.  iii. 
8.  Rom.  v.  1.  and  iii.  28.  and  iv.  b. 
Isa.  liii.  11.  Good  works  being  thr 
infallible  fruits  of  justification,  they 
justifi/  tlvc  saints;  they  manifest  to 
their  own  conscience,and  to  the  world, 
that  they  are  justified,  and  righteous 
before  God,  James  ii.  21 — 2,5. 

Ourjustitlcation  is  through  the  death 
and  resurrection  of  Christ ;  his  deatli 
is  the  price  and  ground  of  that  very 
righteousaess  in  which  we  are  ac- 
counted righteous  before  God;  and 
in  his  resurrection  he  was  justified  as 
our  public  head,  and  began  to  be 
exalted,  that  he  might  give  us  rc- 
()entance  and  remission  of  sins,  Roni. 
iv.  25.  and  viii.  34.  and  it  is  justifi- 
cation of  life,  inasmuch  as  we  are 
thereby  entitled  to  eternal  life  of  ho- 
nour and  happiness;  and  all  the  per* 
fections  of  God  are  deeply  engaged 
to  bestow  the  same  upon  us,  Rom. 
V.  16,  18.  Men  justifi/  God,  when 
they  acknowMedge  and  declare  the 
righteousness  of  his  conduct,  Luke 
vii.  29,  35.  They  justify  themselves^ 
when  they  imagine  or  declare  them- 
selves blameless  in  whole  or  in  part, 
Luke  X.  29.  and  xvi.  13.  They  jus- 
tify others,  when  tliey  believe  or  de- 
clare them  righteous,  Ueut.  xxv.  1. 
Prov.  xvii.  15.  or,  by  a  worse  prac- 
tice, show  and  vindicate  them  as  leas 
guilty  than  themselves,  Ezek.  xvi. 
51.  Jer.  iii.  1 1. 

JUTTAH,  turiiins;  amay,  a  city 
in  the  portion  of  Judah:  but  whether 
the  same  as  the  city  Juda,  Luke  i. 
32.  is  uncertain,  Josh.  xv.  5b. 


K 


K  A  B 


K  A  D 


KAB,  ameasureof  about  96  solid [ 
inclif^^,  which  is  somewhat  more! 
than  3A  pints  English  wine  measure, 
2  Kings  vi.  25. 

KABZEEIi,  the  congregalion  of 
God,  or  Jekazeij-,  w  as  a  city  of  Ju- 
dah, it  seems,  near  the  west  shored 
the  Dead  Sea,  Josh.  xv.  21.and  here 
Benaiah,  the  general  of  Solomon's 
army,  was  born,   2  Sam.  xxili.  20. 


KADESH,  holiness,  Kedesu,  or 
Kadlsh-baknea,  holiness  of  an 
inconstant  son,  was  a  f)lace  on  the 
south  of  Canaan,  about  24  miles  S. 
from  Hebron,  on  the  edge  of  the  wil- 
derness of  Paran.  It  was  anciently 
called  Enmishpat,  because  there  the 
Canaanites  had  judged  their  jieoiile, 
near  to  a  well,  Gen.  xiv.  7.  Perl.ap» 
it  was  called  Rithma,  from  the  juni- 


K  E  D 


(      70     ) 


K  E  E 


pers,  turpentine-trees,  or  other  shrubs 
that  grew  near  to  it,  Numb,  xsxiii. 
13.  with  xii.  16.  and  xiii.  1.  and 
xxxii.  8.  Here  the  Hebrews  long 
sojourned,  and  from  hence  Moses 
sent  the  sj)ies  to  view  the  promised 
land,  Deut.  i.  46.  Whether  this  be 
the  Kadesh  in  the  wiklerness  of  Zin, 
where  Miriam  died,  I  dare  not  aC- 
lirm.  Lighlfoot  is  positive  it  was, 
and  Wells  thinks  it  was  not.  There 
was  another  Kedesh  in  the  lot  ol 
Naphtali,  which  was  given  to  the 
Gershonites,  and  made  a  city  of  re- 
fuge. Josh.  xxi.  33.  and  xx.  7. — 
Kishon,  of  the  tribe  of  Issachar, 
which  was  also  given  to  the  Ger- 
shonites, was  likewise  called  Kcdcsk, 
1  Chron.  vi.  72. 

KAUMONITES,  micienis,  or 
chief,  a  tribe  of  the  Oauaanites  who 
dwelt  to  the  north-east  of  Canaan, 
near  mount  Herinon.  Possibly  Cad- 
mus, who  retired  to  BcEotia  in  the 
time  of  Joshua  or  David,  was  one 
of  them,  ami  his  Avife  Hermione  had 
her  name  from  Hermon. 

KAN  AH,  of  rccds,  (1.)  A  river 
on  the  southborder  of  the  western  Ma- 
nassites,  by  some  thought  to  be  the 
same  as  Cherith,  socalle<l  from  the 
reeds  or  canes  growing  about  it :  but 
perhaps  it  was  a  different  river,  and 
ran  westward  into  the  Mediterranean 
Sea,  Josh.  xvi.  S.  and  xvii.  9,  10. 
(2.)  Kanah,  a  city  of  the  tribe  of 
Asher,  and  not  far  from  Sidon,  Josh. 
xix.  28.  but  whether  this,  oranotlier 
place  about  four  miles  north  of  Na- 
zareth, was  the  Cana  of  Galilee, 
Avhere  our  Saviour  attended  at  a 
marriage,  I  cannot  certainly  de- 
termine; though,  with  Phocas  and 
Maundrel,  I  rather  incline  to  the 
latter,  as  it  was  much  nearer  the  re- 
sidence of  Christ's  mother,  John  ii. 

KARKOR.  We  suppose  it,  and 
Nobah  and  Jogbehah,  were  all  cities 
about  the  head  of  the  river  Arnon, 
or  a  little  northward  from  it,  Judg. 
viii.  10. 

KEDAR,  blackness,  or  sorrotv, 
a  son  of  Ishmael,  and  father  of  the 
Kedarenes,  who  resided  about  the 
south  parts  of  Arabia  the  Desert,  or- 


dinarily in  tents,  but  sometimes  in 
villages;  theirglory  and  wealth  chiefly 
consisted  in  their  flocks  and  herds. 
Isa.  xlii.  11.  and  xxi.  16.  It  seems 
David  lurked  here  during  the  perse- 
cution of  Saul,  Psal.  cxx.  5.  but  it  is 
more  certain  that  the  olTspring  of 
Kedar  traded  with  the  ancient  Ty- 
rians  in  sheep  and  goats,  Ezek.  xxvii. 
21.  and  that  they  were  terribly  ha- 
rassed by  the  Assyrians  and  Chal- 
deans, in  their  turn,  Isa.  xxi.  17. 
Jer.  xlix.  28. 

KEDEMAH,  ancient,  first,  or 
oriental,  the  youngest  son  of  Ishmael. 
He  could  not  be  the  father  of  the  Kad- 
monites,  as  they  existed  before  he  was 
born.  Gen.  XV.  19.  withxxv.  15.  His 
posterity  roved  about  the  south-east 
of  Gilead,  and  perhaps  gave  name  to 
the  city  of  Kedensoth,  near  the  river 
Arnon,  given  by  the  Reubenites  to 
the  Levites  of  Merari's  family,  Deut. 
ii.  16.  Josh.  xiii.  18.  and  xxi.  37. 

KEEP,  (1.)  To  hold  fast,  preserve 
firnjiy,  2  Tim.  i.  12,  14.  (2.)  To 
watch  over,  protect,  Psal.  cxxvii.  1. 
(3.)  To  preserve,  deliver,  John  xvii. 
15.  (4.)  To  observe,  to  put  in 
practice  sincerely  or  perfectly,  Psal. 
csix.  4.  Matt.  xix.  17,  God  keep!> 
covenant  and  mercy :  according  to  the 
tenor  of  his  covenant,  he  is  ever 
ready  to  forgive,  and  grant  free  fa- 
vours to  his  people,  1  Kings  viii.  23. 
He  keeps  the  door  of  men's  lips,  in 
preserving  them  from  vain,  impru- 
dent, and  sinful  speech,  Psal.  cxii. 
3.  To  keep  the  heart  with  all  dili- 
gence, or  keepins;,  is  watchfully  to 
observe  its  inclinations  and  motions, 
that  it  comply  with  no  temptation, 
no  appearance  of  evil,  and  earnestly 
to  study  that  its  whole  temper, 
thoughts,  and  the  words  and  works 
proceeding  therefrom,  corresi)Oud 
with  the  nnerring  law  of  God, 
Prov.  iv.  23.  To  keep  God's  word, 
statutes,  or  laws,  is  to  believe  them 
firmly  as  the  word  of  God;  to  love, 
esteem,  and  dejight  in  them ;  and 
diligentl}'  endeavour  to  have  our 
whole  life  exactly  conformed  to 
them,  Psal.  cxix.  1  7,  34.  'i'he  barren 
woman  keeps  house,  when  she  is  made 


KEN 


(     71      ) 


KEN 


fo  conceive,  bring  forth,  and  (rain  up 
chiltlren.  Psalm  cxiii.  0.  Tho  arms 
are  called  kapcm ol'  the  house,  which 
shake  in  old  age,  Eccl.  xii.  3. 

KElLAir,  dissolving,  dividinn-,  or 
his  fa.slcnin::;,  a  city  l)elonu;iiiu;  to  the 
tribe  ol"  Jiidali.  It  stood  noitli-west 
of  Hebron,  and  aixjut  10  or  20  miles 
south-west  ol"  Jerusalem,  Josh.  xv. 
-11.  Naham,  or  Achotnaham,  was  the 
prince,  or  chief  proprietor  of  it  in  the 
(lays  of  Joshua,  1  Chron.  iv.  19. 
David  saved  it  from  the  ravage  of  the 
Philistines  during  his  exile;  yet,  had 
he  continued  in  it,  the  inhabitants 
would  have  ungratefully  delivered 
him  up  into  the  hand  of  Saul,  1 
Sam.  xxiii.  1 — 12.  In  the  time  of 
Neheniiah,  it  was  a  considerable 
place,  Neh.  iii.  17,  18.  About  400 
years  after  Christ,  it  was  a  place  of 
some  note.    . 

KEMUEL,  God  hath  raised  vp, 
or  established  him,  the  third  son  of 
Nahor  and  father  of  Aram;  from  him 
proba!)ly  sprung  the  Kamelites,  who, 
Straljo  say?,  duelt  on  the  east  of 
Syria,  and  westward  of  the  Eu- 
phrates, Gen.  xxii.  21 

KENATH,  a  buying,  a  town  of 
the  eastern  Manassites.  Nobah,  one 
of  them,  took  it  from  the  Canaanites, 
and  called  it  after  himself,  Numb. 
xxxii.  42.  It  seems  that  it  after- 
wards recovered  its  ancient  name, 
and  is  placed  by  Pliny  in  Decapolis, 
but  by  Eusebius  in  Trachonitis,  about 
four  miles  from  Jogbehah. 

KENAZ,  this  bewailing,  or  this 
purchase,  fourth  son  of  Eliphaz,  the 
1  on  of  Esau,  and  one  of  the  dukes  o( 
Edom,  Gen.  xxxvi.  15.  (2.)  Father 
of  Olhniel,  and  Caleb's  younger  bro 
ther.  Josh.  xv.  17.  Judg.  i.  13. 

KEXITES,  possession,  purchase, 
or  lamentation,  an  ancient  tribe,  that 
resided  somewhere  in  the  desert  of 
Arabia,  between  the  Dead  Sea  and  the 
gulf  of  Elatii,  if  not  further  to  the 
north-west.  It  seems  they  coalesced 
with  the  Midianites;  "for  Jethro, 
priest  of  Midian,  was  a  Kcnile,  Judg, 
i.  16.  Their  land  was  promised  to 
the  Hebrews,  Gen.  xv.  19.  but  for 
the  sake  of  Jethro.  it  seems  thev 


were   generally  spared,    and   dwelt 
mostly  in  the  inaccessible  rocks  of 
Arabi.i,  Numb.  xxiv.  21.     Such  as 
dwelt  in  the  south  coasts  of  Canaan, 
appear  to  have  mingUHl  themselves 
witii    (he    Amalekiles,     perhaps    to 
avoid  the  ravages  of  the  Philistines; 
liut  by  Saul's  <lirectioii,  as  he  march- 
ed to  destroy  the  Amalckites,  they 
sei>arated   from  them,  and  |)n)hably" 
returned  to  the  soutli  part  of  tiie  lot 
of  Judah,  1   Sam.  xv.  fci.  and  xxvii. 
10.     'J' hey  were  often   harassed  by 
their  enemies,  and  at  last  the   Assy- 
rians carried  the  most  of  them  cap- 
tives into  countries  more  to  the  east- 
ward.   Numb.  xxiv.  21.      Oue  Re- 
chab,  whom  we  sup|)ose  to  have  de- 
scended  from  Hobab,   the   brother- 
in-law  of  Moses,  was  one  of  the  most 
considerable  chiefs  of  the  Kenites, 
and  gave  name  to  a  tribe  of  them. 
These    Kechabites   appear  to  have 
been  subdivided  into  three  tribes,  the 
Tirathites,  the  Shimeathi'cs,  and  the 
Suchalhites :    they    were    proselytes 
to  the  Jewish  religion,   and  nriny  of 
them  followed  the  business  of  scribes, 
1  Chron.  ii.  55.     Jonajlab,    the   sou 
of  Rechab,  and  friend  of  Jehu,  hav- 
ing seen  the  terrible  case  of  the  Jews 
who  lived  in  cities  in  the    time  of 
Ahab,  Jehoram,  <fcc.  and  perhaps  seen 
some  fatal  consequences  of  the  drink- 
ing of  wine,  solemnly  charged  the 
Rechabites  never  to  drink  wine  or 
strong  drink,  nor  to  build  any  houses, 
but  to  dwell  in  tents,  and  feed  cat- 
tle.    This  charge  they  so  carefidly 
observed,   that  Avhen  they  had  fled 
into  Jerusalem  in  the  time  of   Ze- 
dekiah,  which  was  about  300  years 
after,  and  Jeremiah  took  them  into 
an  apartment  belonging  to  the  tem- 
ple, and  urged  them  to  drink  wine, 
they  begged  to  be  excused,  that  they 
might  not  transgress  the   charge  of 
their  ancestor.  The  Lord  declared  his 
high  approbation  of  their  obedience, 
and  promised  to  reward  it  with  the 
perpetual  preservation  of  their  family, 
whether  in  the  Chaldean  caj)tivity, 
or    the   present   disjtorsion   of    the 
Hel)rew  nation,  Jer.  xxxv. 
The  KENIZZITES  were  a  tribe 


KEY 


(     72     ) 


K  I  D 


of  the  ancient  Canaanites,  who  seem 
to  have  resided  in  the  mountains  of 
Judah,  Gen.  xv.  19. 

The  KERCHIEFS  used  by  the 
false  prophetesses,  are  thought  to 
have  been  head-tires,  or  veils  bound 
to  the  head,  so  as  to  cover  most, 
if  not  all  of  the  face.  They  made 
kerchiefs  on  the  head  of  every  sta- 
tue to  hunt  souls;  they  put  them 
on  the  head  of  the  idolatrous  sta- 
tues ;  or  they  put  them  on  the 
head  of  those  they  spoke  to,  as  if  a 
divine  token  of  their  protection,  and 
an  emblem  of  victory:  or  it  may 
mean,  that  they  blind-folded  people 
with  their  delusive  speeches,  Ezek. 
xiii.  IS. 

KERIOTH-HEZRON,  the  ci- 
ties, was  also  called  HAZOR,  and 
was  a  city  of  the  tribe  of  Judah, 
Josh.  XV.  25.  There  was  another  city 
called  Kerioth,  in  the  country  of 
Moab,  and  which  the  Assyrians  and 
Chaldeans  terribly  wasted,  Amos  ii. 
2.  Jer.  xlviii.  24,  41. 

KETURAH,  sweet  smelling,  per- 
fuming.    See  Abraham. 

KEY,  is  often  used  to  denote 
power  and  authority,  Avhereby  per- 
sons are  shut  up,  or  set  -at  liberty. 
Eliakim's  key  of  the  house  of  David, 
was  power  to  transact  affairs  in  the 
kingdom  of  Judah,  as  ministers  of 
Btate  to  Hezekiah,  the  descendant  of 
David,  Isa.  xxii.  12.  Christ  has  the 
key  of  David,  and  openeth  and  no 
man  shutteth,  and  shutteth  and  no 
man  openeth;  he  has  full  power  and 
authority  to  admit  or  exclude  men 
from  the  church,  or  from  heaven; 
and  to  open  or  shut  men's  liearts, 
and  to  open  or  seal  up  the  oracles 
of  God,  as  he  pleaseth.  Rev.  iii.  7. 
He  hath  the  key  of  the  bottomless  pit ; 
the  keys  of  hell  and  of  death  ;  he  hath 
power  and  authority  to  permit  or 
restrain  Satan  ami  his  agents  as  he 
pleaseth ;  and  to  save  from,  or  con- 
demn to  death  an<l  hell,  as  seemeth 
good  in  his  sight,  Rev.  xx.  1.  and 
i.  18.  Ability  and  authority  to  ex- 
plain the  scriptures  to  men,  are  called 
the  key  of  knowledge,  Luke  xi.  52. 
The  keys  of  the  kingdom  of  heaven, 


are  power  and  authority  to  preach 
the  gospel,  and  administer  the  sa- 
craments, and  to  exercise  govern- 
ment and  discipline,  that  men 
may  be  admitted  to,  or  excluded 
from,  the  church,  as  is  proper, 
Matt.  xvi.  19.  The  key  of  the 
bottomless  pit  given  to  the  fallen 
star,  is  thought  by  some  to  refer 
to  Arius,  by  others  to  Antichrist 
and  Mahomet;  it  seems  to  de- 
note pern)ission  from  God  to  send 
forth  and  employ  the  policy  and  le- 
gions of  hell  to  assist  him  in  their 
delusive  projects.  Rev.  ix.  1. 

To  KICK,  is  a  metaphor  taken 
from  a  high  fed  horse,  or  other  ani- 
mal, kicking  with  his  heels  at  his 
owner  when  he  gives  him  provision, 
or  urges  him  forward.  To  kick  against 
God,  is  wantonly  and  slubbornly 
to  rebel  against  him,  and  to  make 
his  benefits  an  occasion  of  it,  Deul. 
xxxii.  15.  To  kick  at  his  sacrifice, 
is  wickedly  to  profane  and  abuse 
it,  in  contempt  and  haired  of  him, 
1  Sam.  ii.  19.  It  was  hard  for 
Paul  to  kick  against  the  pricks ;  it 
was  not  only  without  success,  but 
infinitely  absurd  and  hazardous,  wan- 
tonly and  outrageously  to  rebel 
against  the  Almighty  God,  to  the 
pricking,  tormenting,  and  ruining  of 
his  own  soul.  Acts  ix.  5. 

KID,  a  j'oung  goat,  used  often 
in  sin-offerings;  and  represented 
Jesus  in  the  likeness  of  sinful  flesh, 
and  through  weakness  crucified  to 
make  atonement  for  our  sin,  Numb, 
vii.  and  xv.  and  xxviii.  and  xxix. 
Kids  were  sometimes  given  in  pre- 
sents, and  their  flesh  was  esteemed  a 
delicious  dish ;  but  was  never  to  be 
boiled  in  its  mother's  milk,  as  that 
would  have  had  the  appearance  of  cru- 
elty, and  been  an  imitation  of  Hea- 
thenish superstition,  Gen.  xxxviii. 
1 7.  Judg.  XV.  1.  1  Sara.  xvi.  20.  Judg. 
vi.  19.  and  xiii.  19.  Gen.  xxvii.  9. 
Exod.  xxiii.  19.  and  xxxiv.  26.  In 
allusion  to  which  it  is  said,  Thott 
never  gavcst  me  a  kid,  to  make  merry 
with  my  friends;  thou  never  gavest 
me  any  distinguished  token  of  thy 
favour,  or  such  delightful  experience 


K  I  L 


(     73     ) 


K  I  N 


of  thy  reilopming  goodnoss,  as  I 
might  mcnlion  fo  Die  great  joy  of 
my  friends,  Luke  xv.  25. 

KIDNEYS,  (1.)  Inward  parts  of 
some  animals,  Lev.  iii.  4.  (2.)  The 
kernel  or  substantial  part  of  grains  of 
wlieat,  Deul.  xxxii.  14.  (3.)  The  in- 
most powers,  thoughts,  and  desires, 
of  the  soul,  and  which  are  sometimes 
called  reins. 

K 1 1)  RO  N,  obscure,  making-  black, 
or  .sad,  or  Cedron,  a  brook  wjiich 
runs  south-eashvard,  along  the  east 
side  of  Jerusa-Iem,  through  ^vhat  is 
called  the  valley  of  Jehoshaphat,  or 
valley  of  the  son  of  Hinnoni.  Itruns 
along  the  west  side  of  the  mount  of 
Olives,  between  it  and  the  city,  and 
then  runs  south-eastward  into  the 
Dead  Sea.  David  crossed  it  in  his 
escape  from  Absalom,  and  Jesus  in  his 
way  to  the  garden  of  Gelhsemane,  2 
Sam.  XV.  23.  John  xviii.  1.  The 
brook  Kulron,  though  it  receives  all 
the  rivulets  about  Jerusalem,  is  gene- 
rally but  small,  and  sometimes  dry; 
but  amidst  sudden  and  heavy  rains,  it 
swells  exceedingly,  and  runs  with 
great  violence;  and,  on  such  occa- 
sions carries  off  the  filth  of  the  city, 
which,  by  the  common  sewers  is 
carried  into  it.  The  valley  through 
which  this  brook  runs,  for  about  12 
miles,  is  considerabl  \'  disagreeable  to 
the  sight.  About  the  west  end  of  it, 
Asa,  Hezekiah,  and  Josiah,  burnt  the 
idols  of  their  apostate  predecessors, 

1  Kings  xv.  3.  2  Chron.  xxix.  16. 

2  Kings  xxiii.  4. 

KILL,  SI. AY,  spoken  of  God,  who 
lias  many  waj's  to  deprive  of  life, 
Lam.  ii.  21.  Spoken  of  man,  law- 
fully, when  a  malefactor  is  put  to 
death  by  the  sentence  of  a  magis- 
trate, Deut.  xiii.  9.  unlawfully,  2 
Sam.  xiii.  28.  1  Kings  xxi.  19. — Of 
wrath,  wliich  kills  men,  either  as  it 
preys  upon  their  spirits,  and  wastes 
ihem  inwardly;  or,  as  it  prompts 
them  to  such  rash,  furious,  and  wick- 
ed actions,  as  may  |)rocure  their 
death;  or,  as  it  provokes  God  to  cut 
them  off,  Job  v.  2.  The  kitlin^  of 
beasts,  of  oxen,  fatlings,  or  the  fatted 
"alf,  is  used  in  parables  to  set  forth 

Vol.  II. 


the  provision  made  by  the  death  of 
Christ  for  our  souls,  Prov.  ix.  2. 
Matt.  xxii.  4.  Luke  xv.  27.  'I'he 
saints  are  killed  all  day  long,  when 
they  are  grieved,  oppressed,  antl  per- 
secuted, Psal.  xliv.  22.  Horn.  viii. 
3t).  The  killing  of  Christ's  wilirepses 
b}^  Antichrist,  prol)abIy  includes  not 
only  the  murder  of  their  imdies,  but 
cliien^'  the  seduction  of  Protestants 
from  their  holy  profession  and  zeal 
for  God,  Rev.  xi.  7.  To  kill  with 
the  sword,  includes  all  kinds  of  vio- 
lent deaths,  Rev.  xiii.  13.  God 
slai/s  men  by  the  word  of  his  mouth, 
when  he  denounces  and  executes  his 
desolating  judgments  upon  them, 
Hos,  vi.  5.  The  letter  killeth  ;  the 
Mosaic  disj)ensation  condenms  to 
death  those  who  cleave  to  it.  And  if 
we  adhere  to  the  literal  sense  even  of 
the  moral  law,  if  we  regard  only  the 
precept  and  sanction  as  they  stand 
in  themselves,  not  as  they  lead  to 
Christ,  they  are  doubtless  a  killing 
ordinance,  and  bind  us  down  under 
the  sentence  of  death,  2  Cor.  iii.  0. 
The  desire  of  the  slothful  kills  them ; 
their  delight  in  ease  hurts  their  con- 
stitution, and  exposes  them  to  great 
straits  and  poverty :  or  their  desire 
after  things  for  which  they  care  not 
to  labour,  leads  them  to  methods  that 
bring  them  to  an  unhappy  end,  Prov. 
xxi.  25.  Sin  slays  men,  when  the 
prevalence  of  its  reigning  power, 
and  the  ai>prehension  of  its  guilt, 
render  them  worse,  and  destroy  all 
their  hopes  of  felicity,  Rom.  vii.  11. 
The  Hebrews  sleiying  children  in  the 
vallics,  signifies  their  offering  them 
in  sacrifice  to  Moloch,  or  other  idols, 
in  the  valley  of  the  son  of  Hinnom, 
or  in  other  concealed  places,  Isaiah 
Ivii.  5. 

KIND  (1.)  A  sort.  Gen.  i.  11. 
and  viii.  19.  (2.)  Courteous,  loving, 
and  ready  to  do  good  offices,  Luke 
vi.  35.  1  Cor.  xiii.  4.  2  Cluon.  x.  7. 
The  Hebrews'  kindness  of  youth,  and 
love  of  espousals,  denote  God's  an- 
cient favours  to  them,  and  their 
zealous  profession  of  regard  and 
obedience  to  God  in  the  wilderness, 
when  thev  had  passed  the  Red  Sea, 
K 


K  I  N 


'■i     ) 


K  I  N 


ft  lid  when  Uiey  had  come  to  mount 
Sinai,  Jer.  ii.  2. 

KINDLE,  to  cause  (o  burn,  to 
stir  uj)  strife,  auger,  judgments,  corn- 
passion,  Prov.  xxvi.  21.  Psal,  ii. 
12.  Ezek.  XX.  48.  Hos.  xi.  8. 

KINDRED,  a  number  of  people 
related  to  one  another  by  blood  or 
marriage.  The  all  kindreds  of  the 
earth,  that  shall  mourn  at  Christ's 
second  appearance,  are  the  vast  mul- 
titudes of  wicked  and  worldly  men, 
Rev.  i.  7.  The  all  kindrcd,s  over 
which  Antichrist  rules,  are  vast  num- 
bers of  dilTerent  nations,  sexes,  and 
conditions,  Rev.  xiii.  7.  and  xi.  9. 
God's  New  Testament  peo[ile  are 
gathered  out  of  every  kindred,  and 
tongue,  and  people,  and  nation  ;  they 
are  of  many  dilferent  nations,  fami- 
lies, languages,  and  conditions.  Rev. 
y.  9.  and  vii.  9.  A  glorious  company  ! 

KING,  a  supreme  governor  of  a 
people,  endowed  either  with  legis- 
lative and  executive  powers,  or  ex- 
ecutive only,  for  the  good  of  society. 
At  tirst  the  power  of  kings  was  of 
very  small  extent,  over  but  one  city, 
or  large  village.  Benhadad  had  32 
kings  subject  to  him,  1  Kings  xx.  1, 
16.  In  Canaan,  Adonibezek  cou- 
.quered  70  kings,  and  made  them  eat 
bread  under  his  tal)le.  .Joshua  con- 
quered 31,  Judg.  i.  7.  Josh.  xii. 
Nimrod  of  Bab3ion  Avas  the  first 
king  we  read  of;  but  soon  after,  we 
find  kings  in  Egypt,  Persia,  Canaan, 
Edom,  &c.  Gen.  x.  10.  and  xiii.  and 
xiv.  and  xx.  and  xxxvi.  After  the 
Hebrew^s  were  erected  into  a  sepa- 
rate nation,  God  was  properly  their 
king :  he  gave  them  their  civil  laws  ; 
and  by  the  Urim  and  Thummim,  and 
by  the  prophets,  or  by  visions,  was 
his  mind  declared  to  them.  Moses, 
who  is  called  king  in  Jeshunm,  or  the 
upright  people,  as  well  as  Joshua, 
and  the  judges,  were  but  the  depu- 
ties of  heaven,  and  had  no  legisla- 
tive power.  After  the  Hebrews  had 
been  under  this  government  for  about 
396  3'ears,  they,  comidaining  that 
Samuel's  sons  behaved  unjustly,  beg- 
ged to  have  a  king  like  the  nations 
around.     As  God  had  hinted  to  Mo- 


ses that  the  Hebrews  should  have 
kings  chosen  from  amoag  their  bre- 
thren, and  required  them  to  Avrite 
each  for  himself  a  copy  of  the  law, 
and  observe  the  same  in  their  whole 
conduct,  and  prohibited  them  from 
multiplying  horses,  wives,  or  trea- 
sures; it  seems  their  desire  of  a  king 
was  not  sinful  in  itself,  but  only  in 
its  manner,  as  it  implied  a  weariness 
of  the  divine  government,  and  in  its 
end,  to  be  like  the  nations  around. 
After  laying  before  them  the  manner 
in  which  most  of  the  kings  they 
should  have  would  oppress  them, 
disposing  of  their  tields,  crops,  sons, 
and  daughters,  at  pleasure ;  God 
gave  them  king  Saul  in  his  anger, 
and  afterwards  cut  him  off  in  his 
wrath,  Hos.  xiii.  11.  After  this  their 
theocracy  was  in  a  languishing  con- 
dition, and  their  kings'  power  was 
not  a  little  similar  to  the  just  power 
of  kings  in  our  own  times. 

Besides  Saul,  David,  and  Solomon. 
their  general  sovereigns,  the  tribe  of 
Judah  were  governed  by  Rehoboam, 
Abijah,  Asa,  Jehosha{)hat,  Jehoram, 
Ahaziah,  Athaliah,  Joash,  Ama- 
ziah,  Azariah,  Jotham,  Ahaz,  He- 
zekiah,  Manasseh,  Anion,  Josiah, 
Jehoahaz,  Jehoiakim,  Jehoiacliin, 
and  Zedekiah,  twenty  in  all;  and 
the  ten  tribes  by  Ishbosheth,  Jero- 
boam, Nadab,  Baasha,  Flah,  Zimri, 
Omri,  Ahab,  Ahaziah,  Joram,  Jehu, 
Jehoahaz,  Joash,  Jeroboam,  Zecha- 
riah,  Shallum,  Menahem,  Pekahiah, 
Pekah,  and  Hoshea,  twenty  in  all. 
After  their  return  from  Babylon, 
the  Hebrews  had  no  kings  of  their 
own  for  about  400  years,  but  had 
their  own  deputy-governors  under 
the  Persians  or  Greeks.  After  that, 
Hircanus,  Aristobulus,  Janneus,  and 
his  sons  Hircanus  and  Aristobulus, 
all  high  priests,  ruled  with  supreme 
power.  After  these,  Herod  the 
Great,  Archelaus,  Herod  Agrippa. 
and  Agrippa  his  son,  were  kings 
tributary  to  the  Romans;  and  the 
last  had  scarcely  any  power  at  all, 
but  to  manage  the  atlairs  of  the  tem- 
ple. The  two  books  containing  the 
history   of     the    Hebrew  kings    for 


K  I  N 


(     7*     ) 


K  I  N 


about  456  years,  from  (he  (kath  of 
David  to  the  release  of  Jelioiachin, 
seem  to  have  been  written  at  diflVrent 
times  by  Ahijah  the  Siiiloiiite,  Iddo 
the  seer,  Isaiah,  A:c.  and  to  have  been 
reduced  into  one  work  by  Jeremiah 
or  Ezra.  Tiie  joint  reifjn  of  some 
kin&;s,  the  father  with  the  son,  (he 
reckon! no;  of  the  same  year  to  the 
deceased  kiui^  and  to  liis  successor, 
and  the  inter-reigns  tbiit  happened 
before  the  settlement  of  some  kings, 
as  before  the  reign  of  Omri,  Zecha- 
'iah,  and  Hoshea,  kings  of  Israel, 
and  before  the  reign  of  Azariah  in 
Judah,  render  it  sometimes  diflicult 
to  adjust  the  dales  in  this  book. 

God  is  a  kins,  and  king  of  nations : 
with  great  wisdom  and  [lower  he 
governs  and  jirotects  all  things  in 
heaven  and  earth,  Psal.  xliv.  4. 
Christ  is  a  King  ;  King  of  kings,  and 
Lord  of  lords ;  and  King  of  saints  : 
By  his  Father's  appointnient,  he  go- 
verns and  defends  his  church ;  and 
hath  all  power  in  heaven  and  earth 
given  him,  for  the  jiroraotiou  of  her 
welfare ;  he  restrains  and  conquers 
Jier  enemies;  and,  at  the  last  day, 
lie  will  [)ass  an  irreversible  sentence 
of  judgment  on  the  whole  world, 
Psal.  ii.  6.  and  xlv.  1.  Matt.  xxv. 
li4.Rev.xvii.  14.  and  xix.  16.  The 
king  thaf  reigned  in  ngJitcousness,  and 
princes  that  ruled  in  judgment,  ^vere 
Hezekiah  and  his  governor?,  types 
of  Christ  and  his  ajmstles  and  minis- 
ters, Isa.  xxxii.  1.  Saints  are  kings  : 
they  have  the  kingdom  of  God  with- 
in them;  they  are  heirs  of  the  king- 
dom of  glory;  they  war  against  and 
conquer  sin,  Satan,  and  the  world; 
they  rule  their  own  spirit,  and  go- 
vern their  body ;  and  have  no  small 
influence  on  God's  government  of 
nations  and  churches,  Rev.  i.  6.  and 
V.  10.  and  xx.  4,  Leviathan  is  Am,"- 
over  all  the  children  of  pride,  or 
fierce-looking  monsters  ;  in  strength 
or  bulk,  he  exceeds  all  the  animals, 
Job  xli.  34.  Respecting/(M/r  kings, 
and  king  of  the  north  and  south,  Dan. 
xi.     See  Persians  and  Greeks. 

KINGS,  two  canonical  books  of 
the   Old  Testament;  so  called,  be- 


cause they  contain  the  history  of  the 
kings  of  Israel  and  Judah,  from  the 
beginning  of  Solomon's  reign,  down 
(o  the  Babylonish  cai)(ivity,  a  space 
of  near  GOO  years,  including  the  two 
books  of  Samuel.  In  tire  Septu- 
agint  and  Vulgate,  the  two  books 
of  Samuel  are  called  the  first  and 
second  books  of  Kings;  so  that  in 
these  copies  of  the  Bible  there  are 
four  booTcs  of  Kings.  It  is  probable, 
according  to  some,  that  the  two  books 
of  Kings  were  compiled  by  Ezra, 
from  tlie  public  records.  The  first 
book  of  Kings  contains  an  account  of 
the  latter  part  of  David's  life  and  his 
death,  t  he  nourishing  state  of  Israel  un- 
der Solomon,  his  building  and  dedica- 
ting the  temple,  his  defection  from  the 
true  religion,  and  (he  sudden  decay 
of  the  Hebrew  nation  after  his  death, 
being  divided  into  two  kingdoms. 
The  rest  of  this  book  is  taken  up  in 
relating  the  acts  of  the  four  kings  of 
Judah,  and  eight  of  Israel.  The  se- 
cond book,  which  is  a  continuation 
of  the  history  of  the  kings,  relates 
the  memorable  acts  of  sixteen  kings 
of  Judah,  and  twelve  of  Israel,  and 
the  end  of  both  kingdoms,  by  the 
carrying  off  the  ten  tribes  captives 
into  Assyria,  by  Salmaneser,  and  the 
other  two  into  Babylon  by  Nebu- 
chadnezzar. 

KINGDOM,  1.)  The  country  or 
countries  subject  to  one  king,  Deut. 
iii.  4.  (2.)  The  powei-  of  acting  as 
king,  or  of  supreme  administration, 
1  Sam.  xviii.  8.  and  xx.  31. — God's 
universal  dominion  over  all  things, 
is  called  his  kingdom ;  thereby  he  pre- 
serves, protects,  gives  laws  to,  and 
regulates,  all  his  creatures,  and  can 
dispense  favours  or  judgments  as  he 
pleaseth,  1  Chron.  xxix.  11.  Psal. 
cxlv.  12. 

The  church  of  Christ,  especially  un- 
der the  New  Testament,  is  called  a 
kingdom  ;  He  rules  in  it,  and  main- 
tains order,  safety,  and  hapjnness, 
therein.  It  is  called  the  kingdom  of 
heaven;  it  is  of  a  heavenly  origin, 
has  a  heavenly  governor  and  laws, 
and  is  erected  to  render  multitudes 
fit  for  heaven.  Malt.  iii.  2,  5,  19,  20. 


K  I  R 


(     76     ) 


K  I  S 


and  xiii,  47.  and  xvi.  18.  Col.  i.  13. 
The  saint's  new  covenant  state,  and 
the  work  of  grace  in  their  heart,  are 
called  the  kingdom  of  God,  anil  the 
kingdom  of  hearen.  Therein  God 
erects  his  throne  in  their  heart,  gives 
laws  and  privileges  to  their  soul, 
renders  them  heavenlj^-minded,  and 
meet  to  enter  the  heavenly  glory, 
Matt.  vi.  33.  and  xiii.  31.  Luke 
xvii.  20,  21. 

The  state  of  glory  in  heaven  is  call- 
ed a  kingdom.  How  great  is  its  glory, 
happiness,  and  order !  how  ready 
the  obedience  of  all  the  unnumbered 
subjects  of  God  and  the  Lamb  there- 
in !  Matt.  V.  10.  Luke  xxii.  16.  1 
Cor.  vi.  9. — The  Hebrew  nation,  and 
the  saints,  are  a  kingdoin  oj  priests ; 
they  were,  or  are,  a  numerous  and 
honoured  body,  who  have  access  to 
offer  up  the  sacrifices  of  prayer,  praise, 
and  good  works,  acceptable  to  God 
through  Jesus  Christ,  Exod.  xix.  6. 
1  Pet.  ii.  t  9.  Heathenish  and  Po- 
pish nations,  are  called  the  kingdoms 
of  this  world;  their  ends,  maxims,  and 
manner  of  government,  are  carnal 
and  earthly,  Rev.  xi.  15. 

KINSMAN.     See  Redeemer. 

KIR,  a  city,  a  wall^  Kirheres, 

KiRHARESH,         KlRHARESHETH,        a 

principal  city  of  the  Moabites,  ra- 
vaged by  the  Hebrews  under  Jeho- 
ram,  2  Kings  iii.  25.  and  long  after 
ruined  by  the  Assyrians,  and  by  the 
Chaldeans,  Isa.  xv.  1.  and  xvi.  7, 
11.  Jer.  xlviii.  31.  (2.)  Kir,  a 
place  in  Media,  whither  the  Syrians, 
and  par*:  of  the  Hebrews,  were  carri- 
ed captive  by  the  Assyrians,  and  part 
of  the  inhabitants  of  which  served  in 
Sennacherib's  army  against  Judah,  2 
Kings  xvi.  19.  Amos  i.  5.  and  ix.  7. 
Isa.  xxii.  6. 

KIRJATHAIM,  the  two  citics,the 
meetings,  a  city  on  the  east  of  Jordan, 
about  10  miles  west  of  Medel)a.  It 
seems  to  have  been  built  before  Che- 
dorl.aomer's  ravages.  Gen.  xiv.  15. 
Probably  Sihon  took  it  from  the 
IMoabites,  and  JMoses  tooii.  it  from 
liirn,  and  gave  it  to  the  Reubenites; 
but  the  Moabites  long  after  retook  it. 
It  was  destroyed  by  the  Chaldeans, 


but  was  rebuilt :  and  about  400  years 
after  Christ,  it  was  called  Kariatha, 
Numb,  xxxii.  37.  Jer.  xlvii.  1,  23. 
(2.)  KiRjATHATM,  or  Kartan,  in  the 
tribe  of  Naphtali,  and  given  to  the  Le- 
vites.  Josh.  xxi.  32.  1  Chrou.  vi.  76. 
KIRJATHARIM,  city  of  cities, 
or  the  city  of  those  that  watch,  Kir- 

JATHJEARIM,  KlRJATHBAAL,  Or  BaA- 

ijAH,a  city  of  Judah,  situated  inornear 
to  a  wood  about  9  or  10  miles  north- 
west of  Jerusalem.  It  was  one  of  the 
cities  of  the  Gibeonites.  Here,  it  is 
supposed,  the  ark  of  God  continued 
about  80  or  90  years  afterit  came  back 
from  the  land  of  the  Philistines,  Josh, 
ix.  17.  and  xv.  9,  00.  1  Sam.  vii.  1, 
1  Chron.  xiii. 

KISHON,  hard  sore,  probably  the 
same  with  Ptolemy's  Pagida;  a  river 
that  is  said  to  take  its  rise  in  the  val- 
ley of  Jezreel,  and  run  almost  straight 
westward  into  the  Mediterranean 
Sea,  bj'  the  portof  Accho.  Ur.  Shaw, 
however,  denies  that  its  source  is  so 
far  east  as  some  make  it;  and  af- 
firms that  rising  near  mount  Carmel, 
it  runs  north-west  till  it  enters  the 
sea.  It  hath  a  multitude  of  turnings, 
in  the  manner  of  the  Forth  near  Stir- 
ling. As  a  multitude  of  rivulets  fail 
into  it  from  the  adjacent  hills,  it 
swell's  exceedingly  in  tlje  time  of 
rain.  About  the  east  end  of  it,  Ja- 
bin's  army  was  routed,  and  multi- 
tudes of  them  Avere  carried  down  by 
the  swelling  current  of  this  river.  It 
was  called  ancient,  because  it  seems 
it  had  been  early  famed  on  some  ac- 
count, Judg.  V.  21.  Psal.  Ixxxiii.  9. 
The  city  of  Kedesh,  or  Kadesh,  was 
called  Kishon,  or  Kishion,  which 
stood  on  the  bank  of  this  river,  and 
had  its  streets  winding  hither  and 
thither,  Josh.  xix.  20.  and  xxi.  28. 
with  1  Chron.  vi.  72. 

KISS,  is  used  as  a  token  of  af- 
lection  to  a  friend,  or  of  reverence 
and  subjection  to  a  superior.  Gen. 
xxvii.  26,  27.  1  Sam.  xx.  41.  and 
X.  1.  At  their  meeting  for  religi- 
ous worship,  the  primitive  Christians 
seem  to  have  been  wont  to  kiss  one 
another.  This  the  scripture  requires 
to  be  a  holy  kiss,  and  a  kiss  of  chari- 


K  N  E 


(     -7     ) 


K  N  O 


:>/,  I.  e.  proceeiUjig  from  a  pure  heart, 
am!  in  the  most  Christian  and  chaste 
affection,  Iloin.  xvi.  10.  1  Pet.  v.  14. 
hut  as  this  kiss,  and  the  love-feasts, 
were  very  early  ahused,  to  promote 
unchastity  or  disorder,  the  use  with 
llie  abuse,  was  laid  aside.  Ki.ssing 
has  been  often  ahused  to  cover  trea- 
chery, as  by  Judas  and  Joah,  2  Sam. 
XX.  b.  Matt.  xxvi.  49.  to  pretend 
affection,  as  by  Absalom,  2  Sam. 
XV.  5.  to  excite  unchaste  inclina- 
tions, as  by  the  harlot,  Prov.  vii.  13. 
or  to  mark  idolatrous  reverence  to 
an  idol;  this  was  done,  either  by 
kissing  the  idol  itself,  or  by  kissing 
the  hand,  and  directing  it  towards 
the  idol,  Hos.  xiii.  2.  1  Kings  xix. 
18.  Job  xxxi.  27.  Every  man  shall 
kiss  his  lips  that  giveth  a  right  an- 
swer, i.  c.  shall  love  and  reverence 
him  Avho  bears  a  proper  testimony, 
or  gives  a  right  decision  in  an  affair, 
Prov.  xxiv.  26.  The  kissing  of 
Christ,  or  the  Son,  denotes  the  re- 
ceiving of  him  by  faith,  submission 
to  him,  a  public  profession  of  his  re- 
ligion, Psai.  ii.  12.  Righteousness 
and  peace  have  kissed  each  other: 
that  great  work,  redemption  by 
Christ,  shall  clearly  manifest  God's 
merer/  in  redeeming  his  people  Israel, 
and  in  the  conversion  of  tlie  Gen- 
tiles; lih  trrith  in  fulfilling  that  great 
promise  of  sending  his  Son ;  his 
righteousness  in  punishing  sin,  on  his 
Son,  and  in  conferring  righteousness 
on  guilty  and  lost  creatures ;  and  his 
peace  or  reconciliation  to  sinners,  and 
that  peace  of  conscience  which  at- 
tends it,  Psal.  Ixxxv.  10. 

KITE.     See  Vulture. 

KITTIM.     See  Chittim. 

KNEE,  not  only  signifies  that  part 
of  the  body,  so  called,  but  the  whole 
body,  a  part  being  put  for  the  whole, 
Psal.  cix.  24.  or  for  persons;  so 
weak  and  feeble  knees  denote  weak 
and  disconsolate  persons.  Job  iv.  4. 
Heb.  xii.  12.  Isa.  xxxv.  3.  To  boiv 
the  knees  to  one,  imports  adoration 
of,  or  prayer  to  him,  1  Kings  xix. 
18.  Eph.  iii.  14.  or  to  reverence 
and  he  in  subjection  to  him.  Gen. 
x!i.  43.    Phil.  ii.  10.     To  bring  up. 


or  dandle  on  the  knees,  is  affection- 
ately to  nourish,  as  a  mother  does  her 
own  child,  (ien.  xxx.  3.  and  I.  23. 
Isa.  xlvi.  12.  The  smiling  of  the 
knees  one  against  another,  is  expres- 
sive of  extraordinary  terror  and 
amazement,  Dan.  v.  0. 

KNIFE.  To  put  a  knife  to  our 
throat,  at  the  table  of  the  churl,  is 
carefully  to  restrain  our  appetite,  as 
if  we  were  in  the  utmost  hazard  of 
eating  too  much,  Prov.  xxiii.  2. 
The  knives  used  in  killing  and  cut- 
ting the  sacrifices,  some  think,  though 
perha[)s  with  little  reason,  might  re- 
present Pilate,  Herod,  and  other  in- 
struments of  our  Saviour's  death, 
Ezra  i.  0. 

KNOCK.  Jesus  knocks  at  the 
door  of  oar  heart;  by  his  word.  Spi- 
rit, and  providence,  he  awakens,  in- 
vites, and  urges  us,  to  receive  himself 
as  the  free  gift  of  God,  and  the  Sa- 
viour come  to  seek  and  to  save  that 
which  is  lost.  Rev.  iii.  20.  Our 
knocking  at  his  door  of  mercy,  is,  by 
fervent  and  frequent  prayer  for  hi? 
presence  and  favours,  Matt.  vii.  7,  8. 
Luke  xi.  10. 

KNOW,  (1.)  To  understand,  p^-- 
ceive,  Ruth  iii.  11.  (2.)  To  have 
the  experience  of,  2  Cor.  v.  21,  (3.) 
To  acknowledge,  to  take  particular 
notice  of,  to  approve,  delight  in,  and 
show  distinguished  regard  to,  Isa.  Iv. 
5.  1  Cor.  viii.  3.  John  x.  27.  Amos 
iii.  2.  Gen.  xxxix.  6.  1  Thess.  v.  12. 
(4.)  To  make  known,  and  see  dis- 
covered, 1  Cor.  ii.  2.  (5.)  To  have 
carnal  knowledge  of,  Gen.  iv.  1.  and 
xix.  5.  Judg.  xix.  22. — I  knotv  no- 
thing by  myself;  I  am  not  conscious 
of  any  allowed  wickedness,  2  Cor. 
iv.  4.  We  make  known  our  request? 
unto  God,  when  we,  directed  by  his 
word  and  Spirit,  express  the  desires 
of  our  heart  in  prayer  to  him,  Phil. 
V.  6.  He  that  pcivci-lofh  Iii?  way 
is  known,  when  God  exposes  him  to 
shame  and  punishment  on  account  ol 
it,  Prov.  X.  0. 

Knowledge,  (1.)  The  infinite 
understanding  of  God,  wherebj'  hr 
perfectly  perceive?  and  comprehends 
himself.   an;l    all   things  possible  oj 


K  O  H 


(     78     ) 


K  0  K 


teal,  1  Sam.  ii.  3.  (2.)  A  specula- 
tive knowledge,  whereby  one  has  a 
merely  rational  perception  of  things 
natural  or  divine,  without  any  faith 
in,  or  love  to  God,  either  produced 
or  strengthened  by  it,  1  Cor.  viii.  1. 
Rom.  i.  21.  Ecch  i.  18.  (3.)  A  spi- 
ritual kno^vledge  of  divine  things, 
whereby,  through  the  instruction  of 
God's  Avord  and  Spirit,  we  not  only 
perceive,  but  are  i)0werfully  and 
kindly  disposed  to  believe  in,  and 
love  God  in  Christ  as  our  God,  2  Cor. 
vii.  6.  Johnxviii.  3.  (4.)  The  super- 
natural gift  of  inter[)retiug  dreams, 
explaining  hard  passages  of  scrip- 
ture, or  foreseeing  things  future, 
Dan.  v.  1 2.  1  Cor.  xiii.  2.  (5)  Spi- 
ritual prudence,  and  gracious  expe- 
rience in  the  ways  of  God,  Prov. 
xxviii.  2.  (6.)  Perfect  and  imme- 
diate views  of  the  glorj'^  of  God  in 
heaven;  in  this  Ave  shall  know  God, 
an  we  are  known;  apprehend  his 
existence  and  glorious  excellencies 
and  work,  without  any  mistake,  1 
Cor.  xiii.  12.  (7.)  Instruction,  where- 
by knowledge  is  communicated, 
Prov.  xxii.  17.  (8.)  Some  think  that 
faith  is  called  knowledge,  as  it  sup- 
poses knowledge,  and  is  an  appre- 
hending of  tilings  invisible,  on  tlie 
testimony  of  God.  Isa.  liii.  11.  But 
it  seems  more  proper  to  say,  by  the 
knowledge  of  Christ,  which  supposes 
faith  in  him,  he  shall  justify  many. 

Saints  are  enriched  with  all  know- 
ledge ;  they  are  made  wise  unto  sal- 
vation, and  know  every  thing  im- 
portant concerning  it,  Rom.  xv.  14. 
1  Cor.  i.  5.  1  John  ii.  20.  Through 
knowledge  the  just  shall  be  delivered ; 
by  the  infinite  Avisdom  of  God,  and 
by  means  of  their  faith,  spiritual 
knoAvledge,  and  prudence,  shall  they 
either  escape  trouble,  or  be  happily 
brought  out  of  it,  Prov.  xi.  9. 

KOHATH,  a  congregation,  wrin- 
kle^ or  bluntncss,  the  second  son 
of  Levi,  and  father  of  Amram, 
Izhar,  Hebron,  and  Uzziel.  From 
him,  by  Aaron  the  son  of  Am- 
ram, sprung  the  Hebrew  priests. 
The  rest  of  his  family,  at  their  de- 
])arture    from   Egypt,    A\'ere    8,600 


males,  2,750  of  whom  Avere  fit  for 
service.  They,  under  Elizaphan  the 
son  of  Uzziel,  pitched  on  the  south 
side  of  the  tabernacle,  and  they 
marched  after  the  host  of  Reuben. 
I'heir  business  Avas,  to  carry  on  their 
shoulders  the  ark  and  other  sacred 
utensils  of  the  tabernacle;  but  they 
Avere  not,  under  pain  of  death,  al- 
lowed to  look  at  any  of  these,  except 
perhaps  the  brazen  laver,  Exod.  vi. 
16 — 25.  Numb.  iii.  iv.  and  x.  21. 
Besides  the  thirteen  cities  of  the 
priests,  the  Kohathites  had,  from  the 
Ephraimites,  Shechem,  Gezer,  Kib- 
zaim,  or  .lokmeon,  and  Bethoron; 
from  the  Danites,  Elthekeh,  Gibbe- 
thon,  Aijalon,  and  Gathrimmom ; 
from  the  Avestern  Manassites,  Tan- 
uach,  and  Gathrimmon,  Avhich  either 
Avere  the  same,  or  afterAvards  ex- 
changed for  Aner  and  Ibleam,  Josh, 
xxi.  20—26.  1  Chron.  vi.  66—70. 
In  the  days  of  David,  Shebuel,  Re- 
habia,  Jeriah,  and  Micah,  Avere  the 
chief  of  the  Kohathites;  and  She- 
buel, and  Rehabiah,  descendants  of 
Moses,  had  the  charge  of  the  sacred 
treasures;  4,400  of  the  descendants 
of  Hebron,  and  sundry  of  the  Izhar- 
ites,  were  officers  on  the  east  and 
west  of  Jordan,  in  affairs  civil  and 
sacred,  1  Chron.  xxiii.  12 — 20.  and 
xxvi.  23—32. 

KORAH,  bald,  frozen,  icy,  Ko- 
REii,  Core,  the  cousin  of  Moses, 
son  of  Izhar,  and  father  of  Assir,  EI- 
kanah,  and  Abiasaph.  Envying  the 
authority  of  Moses  and  Aaron,  Ko- 
rah,  together  with  Dathan  and  Abi- 
ram,  sons  of  Eliab,  and  On,  the  son 
of  Peleth,  chief  men  of  the  Reuben- 
ites,  Avith  250  other  chiefs  of  the  con- 
gregation, formed  a  party  against 
them.  It  seems  On  deserted  them 
but  the  rest  kept  in  a  body.  They 
haughtily  upbraided  Moses  and  Aa- 
ron, as  taking  too  much  upon  them, 
since  the  whole  congregation  Avere  sa- 
cred to  God.  Moses  replied,  that  they 
were  too  arrogant  to  find  fault  Avith 
the  prescriptions  of  God,  and  that  to- 
morrow tlie  Lord  Avould  shoAV  Avhom 
he  allowed  to  officiate  in  the  priest- 
hood.     He  advi-sed  Korah,  and  his 


LAB 


(     1^     ) 


LAB 


]1'jO  accorajjlices,  to  appear  with 
their  censers  full  of  incense  on  that 
occasion,  to  stand  the  trial.  They 
did  so,  and  put  sacred  fire  into  their 
censers.  They  also  convened  a  great 
body  of  the  j)eoi)le,  to  rail  on  Moses 
and  Aaron,  at  least  to  witness  God's 
acceptance  of  their  incense.  From 
a  bright  cUmd  hovering  over  tiie  ta- 
bernacle, God  ordered  Moses  and 
Aaron  (o  separate  themselves  from 
the  assembly,  tliat  he  might  destroy 
them  in  an  instant.  Moses  and  Aa- 
ron begged  that  he  would  not  de- 
stroy the  whole  congregation,  for  the 
sin  of  a  few  who  had  stirred  them 
up.  The  Lord  granted  their  re- 
quest, and  directed  them  to  order 
the  congregation  to  flee  as  fast  as 
they  couUl  from  the  tenta  of  Korah, 
Dathan,  and   Abiram.      They  had 


scarcely  retired,  when  the  earth,  ac- 
cording to  Moses's  prediction,  o|)en- 
ed  her  mouth,  and  swallowed  them 
up  alive,  and  all  their  tents  and  fa- 
milies. Meanwhile,  a  fire  from  God 
consumed  the  250  men  that  offered 
incense  with  Korah.  It  seems  the 
sons  of  Korah  detested  their  father's 
arrogance,  and  were  perhaps  mira- 
culously preserved,  and  continued  in 
their  sacred  oftice.  Their  descend- 
ants were  Samuel,  Hcmau,  and 
others,  sacred  musicians  in  the  li:)ie 
of  David;  aud  to  them  were  eleven 
of  the  Psalms,  viz.  42,  44,  45,  40, 
47,  48,  49,  84,  85,  87,  88.  delivered 
to  be  set  to  music,  Exod.  vi.  24. 
Numb.  xvi.  and  xxvi.  9,  11.  1  Chr. 
vi.'  33.  to  38.  and  xxv.  Some  of 
them  were  porters  to  the  temple, 
chap,  xxvi 


LAB 

LAB  AN,  7vhite,  shining,  gentle,  or 
brittle,  the  son  of  Bethuel,  the 
brother  of  Rebekah,  and  father  of  Le- 
ah and  Rachel.  He  appears  to  have 
been  a  very  active  man,  and  to  have 
had  a  great  deal  of  power  in  his  fa- 
ther's life-time ;  but  he  was  an  idola- 
ter, both  outwardly  in  worshipping 
idols,  and  inwardly  in  his  heart,  in 
loving  this  present  evil  Avorld,  Col. 
iii.  5.  See  Eliezer  and  Jacob. 

LABOUR,  (1.)  Diligent  care  and 
pains;  and  so  the  diligent  and  hard 
work  of  the  ministry  is  called  labour, 
and  ministers  labourers;  travelling 
is  also  called  labour,  Prov.  xiv.  23. 
Eccl.  i.  3.  1  Thess.  v.  12.  1  Tim.  v. 
17.  Josh,  vii,  3.  (2.)  The  pangs  of 
a  woman  in  child-birth.  Gen.  xxxv. 
1 6,  1 7.  (3.)  The  fruit  of  labour  and 
diligence,  Exod.  xxiii.  10.  Eccl.  ii. 
10,  11.  Hab.  iii.  17.  (4.)  The  suf- 
ferings and  toils  of  saints  in  this  pre- 
sent life,  in  the  service  of  God,  Rev. 
xiv.  13.  The  labour  of  saints  and 
ministers  includes  both  their  obedi- 
«yice  and  sufferings,  2  Cor.  v.  9.  To 
labour  in  thv  Lord,  i^,    in  a  "fate  of 


LAB 

union  to  the  Lord  Jesue,  and  deriv- 
ing strength  from  him,  to  be  earnest- 
ly employed  in  his  service,  whether 
of  preaching  the  gospel,  sup[>orting 
such  as  do  it,  privately  instructing 
others,  or  caring  for  the  poor,  1 
Thess.  V.  12.  Rom.  xvi.  12.  Christ's 
hiring  labourers  into  his  vineyard, 
at  the  third,  sixth,  ninth,  and  ele- 
venth hours,  either  signifies  the  calls 
of  God  to  men  to  work  in  his  vine- 
yard, under  different  dispensations 
of  divine  mercy ;  or  his  calling 
them  to  a  knowledge  of  the  triilh  at 
different  periods  of  life.  The  for- 
mer of  these  seems  to  be  the  most 
agreeable  to  the  drift  of  the  parable. 
But  if  the  latter  be  thought  the  most 
natural,  it  should  be  remembered, 
that  it  gives  no  ground  to  hope  that 
a  death-bed  repentance  will  ever  be 
accepted  of  God.  For  supposing 
we  consider  those  hired  at  the  ele- 
venth hour,  to  mean  persons  called 
late  in  life  from  darkness  to  light; 
yet  they  are  such  as  labour  in  the 
vineyard,  or  church  of  God,  one 
hour,  tliat  i?.  one-tnrlffh  part  of  their 


L  A  D 


(     80     ) 


L  A  BI 


life.  If  a  man,  therefore,  be  tJO  years 
old,  and  is  i)o>v  just  ready  to  depart, 
if  he  came  itt  at  the  eleventh  hour, 
be  turned  to  God  fully  at  56  years  of 
age,  and  has  been  given  up  to  him 
(he  last  five  years  of  his  life.  Or,  if 
a  man  be  going  oti'  the  stage  of  life 
at  30  3'^ears  of  age,  if  he  came  in  the 
eleventh  hour,  he  has  been  devoted 
to  tlve  Lord's  service  twoj'earsand  a 
half.  Surely  then  it  is  high  time 
for  careless  sinners  to  awake  out 
of  the  sleep  of  sin,  Matthew  xx. 
1—16. 

LACHISH,  who  walks  or  cxhis  of 
himself,  a  city  of  Judah,  about  20 
miles  pouth-east  of  Jerusalem,  and 
^even  south-west  of  Eleutheropolis. 
The  king  of  it  was  one  of  the  assist- 
ants of  Adonizedek  against  the  Gibe- 
onites,  and  had  his  kinccdom  destroyed 
by  Joshua,  Josh.  x.  5,  32,  and  xii.  1 1 . 
and XV.  39.  Rehoboam  fortified  it; 
and  Amaziah  fled  to  it  when  his  ser- 
vants conspired  against  him,  2  Chron. 
xi.  9.  2  Kings  xiv.  19.  As  it  had 
been  most  early,  or  most  eminently 
involved  in  idolatry,  the  inhabitants 
were  ironically  warned  to  escape 
whenever  Sennacherib  invaded  Jir- 
dea,  Mic.  i.  13.  AVhen  became,  he 
besieged  it  with  his  whole  force,  and 
from  hence  he  directed  his  threaten- 
ing letter  to  Hezekiah ;  but  whether 
Lachish  was  taken,  or  whetlier  Sen- 
nacherib raised  the  siege  to  fake 
Libnah  ere  Tirhakah  should  come 
up  with  his  Ethiopian  troops,  I 
know  not,  2  Kings  xviii.  17.  and 
xix.  o.  2  Chr.  xxxvi.  6.  Isa.  xxxvi. 
2.  and  xxxvii.  8.  It  is  certain,  Ne- 
buchadnezzar took  and  demolished 
it,  Jer.  xxxiv.  7.  but  it  was  after- 
wards rebuilt,  and  was  a  place  of 
some  note  about  400  years  after 
Christ. 

LADE.  Blen  are  said  to  be  laden, 
when  oppressed  with  grievous  taxes 
and  hard  servitude,  1  Kings  xii.  11. 
or  are  under  troublesome  ceremo- 
nies and  traditions.  Luke  xi.  46, 
or  oppressed  with  the  guilt,  and  the 
care  of  getting  or  keeping  ill-gotten 
wealth,  Hab.  ii.  6.  or  when  deeply 
conscious  of  guilt   and   misery  the 


soul  is  t)verwiielmed  with  sorrow 
and  trouble  on  account  of  it, 
Matthew  xi.  28.  Isa.  1.  40.  2  Tim. 
iii.  6. 

LADY.     See  Lord. 

LAISH,  or  Leshem.     See  Dan. 

LAKE,  a  very  large  pool  of  stand- 
ing water,  such  as  the  lake  of  Me- 
rom,  Gennesaret,  Sodom,  &:c.  See 
Jordan,  Sea.  Hell  is  called  a  lake 
burning  with  fire  and  hi-imstonc,  to 
represent  the  terrible,  dreadful,  and 
lasting  nature  of  its  torments,  Rev. 
xix.  20.  and  xx.  10 — 15. 

LAMB,  the  young  of  the  sheep, 
under  a  year  old.  The  Hebrew  word 
nty  Sch,  Exod.  xii.  3.  which  is  ge- 
nerally translated  Lamb,  signifies  al- 
so a  kid,  as  appears  from  verse  5,  of 
the  same  chapter,  where  we  are  told 
that  the  Hebrews  at  the  passover 
Avere  at  liberty  to  choose  indifferently 
either  a  lamb  or  kid.  It  was  prohi- 
bited to  sacrifice  the  paschal-lamb 
while  it  used  the  teat,  or  to  seethe  a 
lamb  in  the  milk  of  its  dam,  id.  xxiii. 
19.  Upon  every  other  occasion  the 
law  required,  that  the  j'oung  should 
be  left  eight  days  vrAh  its  dam  before 
it  was  offered  in  sacrifice,  id.  xxii. 
30.  and  Lev.  xxii.  27.  The  prophets 
represent  the  Messiah  to  us  like  a 
lamb:  the  Lamb  of  God  is  the  name 
whereby  John  the  Baptist  called  Je- 
sus Christ,  when  he  saw  him  coming 
to  him,  John  i.  29,  36.  to  signify  the 
innocence  of  this  divine  Saviour,  and 
his  quality  as  a  victim  which  Avas  to 
be  oflered  up  for  the  sins  of  all  the 
world.  Lastlj^,  he  might  allude  to 
these  words  of  the  prophet :  Isa.  liii. 
7.  "  He  is  brought  as  a  lamb  to  the 
slaughter,  and  as  a  sheep  before  his 
shearer  is  dumb,  so  he  openeth  not 
his  mouth."  And  in  many  places 
of  the  Revelations,  v.  6,  8,  12,  13. 
vi.  1.  vii,  9.  xii.  11,  &c.  he  is 
pointed  out  to  us  under  the  idea  of 
a  lamb  that  has  been  sacrificed.  In 
Isa.  xi.  6.  it  is  said,  that  in  the  time 
of  the  Messiah,  the  lamb  and  the 
wolf  will  feed  peaceably  together; 
and  in  the  gospel,  the  Avicked  at  the 
day  of  Judgment  are  compared  to 
goats,    the    righteous   to    sheep  or 


I.  A  M 


C   »i   ) 


t  A  TM 


Jambs.  Our  Saviour  sent  his  disci- 
ples to  preach  the  gospel  to  the  Gen- 
tiles, like  lambs  amidst  wolves,  Luke 
X.  3. 

The  parable  of  the  f.wk-lamb,  2 
fSam.  xii.  1,  &:c.  is  remarkable: — 
iMie  rich  man  tiiat  had  many  flocks 
and  herds  was  David,  Avho  had 
many  wives  and  concubines,  witli 
whom  he  should  have  been  content, 
without  violating  another  man's  bed. 
Bathsheba  was  very  likely  the  only 
wife  of  Urial),  here  called  his  only 
lamb,  with  whom  he  was  perfectly 
well  satisfied,  and  she  with  him. 
The  traveller  means  David's  strag- 
sjling  appetite,  or  wandering  desire; 
which  may  be  said  in  the  beginning 
to  be  like  a  traveller,  in  time  becomes 
a  guest,  and  at  last  entirely  lord  and 
master.  Nathan's  reply,  "  Thou  art 
tiie  man,"  is  as  much  as  to  sny,  Thou, 
O  king,  art  the  offender,  thou  art  the 
judge,  and  hast  pronounced  a  dread- 
ful sentence  against  thj'self. 

LAME,  maimed,  or  enfeebled  in 


shoot  at  that  hush :  others  tliinTc,  tje 
had  slain  two  godly  persons;  and 
that  the  name  of  Tul)al-Cain,  his  son^ 
imported  his  daring  resolution  to 
defy  the  vengeance  of  heaven,  and 
bring  back  Cain  to  his  native  soil. 
Perhaps  rather  he  meant  no  more  but 
to  threaten  his  unruly  wives  Avith 
some  dreadful  mischief,  if  they  were 
not  duly  submissive;  boasting  that  he 
was  able  to  slay  a  man,  sup[)08e  he 
were  wounded ;  and  threatening  that 
if  the  murder  of  Cain,  who  killed 
his  brother,  was  to  be  seven-fold  pu- 
nished of  God,  they  might  expect, 
that  the  murder  of  Lamech,  who  had 
killed  nobody,  should  be  seventy 
times  more  punished. 

By  Adah,  Lamech  Jiad  two  sons; 
Jabel,  who  first  invented  dwelling  in 
tents,  and  roving  about  with  herds 
of  cattle;  and  Jubal,  who  was  the 
first  inventor  of  music  on  harps  and 
organs.  By  Zillah,  he  had  Tubal- 
Cain,  the  first  inventor  of  foundry  and 
smith-work,    and  is  supposed  to  be 


the  liml)s,  2  Sam.  iv.  4.  Lamcnessl  the  Vulcan,  or  god  of  smiths,  among 
in  men  disqualified  them  for  off.ciating  the  Heathea;  and  a  daughter  call- 
as  priests,  or  in  beasts,  for  being  of-  ed  Naamah,  or  the  comely  one,  who 
fered  in  sacrifice.  Did  not  this  inti-  is  perhaps  the  most  ancient  Venus 
mate,  that  in  .Tesus,  our  priest  andjof  the  Pagans,  Gen.  iv.  18 — 24. 
sacrifice,  there  is  no  want  of  ability  (2.)    Lamech,  the  son  of  Methuse- 


to  perform  his  work?  Lev.  xxi.  18 
Deut.  XV.  21.  Persons  weak  in  body, 
or  in  their  intellects  and  grace,  and 


halting  between   different  oj)inion3,  i.  3.  Luke  iii.  36* 


lah,  and  father  of  Noah,  who  lived 
777  years,  and  died  five  years  before 
the   flood.  Gen.  v.  25—31.   1  Chr. 


are  called  lame^  Isa.  xxxiii.  23.  Heb 
xii.  13. 

LAMECH,  poor,  humbled,  or 
smitten,  a  descendant  of  Cain  by  Me- 
thusael.  He  is  reckoned  the  first  that 
ever  married  more  wives  than  one ; 
his  wives  were  Adah  and  Zillah.  One 
day  he,  with  a  solemn  air,  told  them, 
that  he  had  slain,  or  could  slay,  a  man 
to  his  wounding,  and  a  young  man 
to  his  hurt ;  and  that  if  Cain  should 
be  avenged  seven-fold,  Lamech 
should  be  seventy  times  seven-fold 


LAMENT.     See  BFourn. 

LAMENTATIONS,  a  mournful 
poem  composed  by  Jeremiah,  in 
acrostic  verse,  upon  the  destruction  qI 
Jerusalem  by  Nebuchadnezzar;  call- 
ed Echa,  from  the  word  it  begins 
with.  Another  on  the  death  of  Jof^ 
siah,  which  is  supposed  to  be  lost, 
2  Chron.  xxxv.  25.  In  the  two  first 
chapters  of  that  which  is  extant,  Je- 
remiah describes  the  calamities  of  the 
siege  of  Jerusalem :  in  the  third  he 
dei)lores  the  persecutions  himself  had 


The  meaning  of  this  speech  is  not j suffered:  the  fourth  turus  upon  th» 
agreed  on.  Some  thinks  that  in  his  ruin  of  the  city  and  temple,  and  th» 
blindness  he  slew  Cain,  who  was  hid  misfortunes  >  of  Zedekiah:  the  fifth 
In  a  bush,  mistaldng  him  for  a  wild; is  a  kii#  of  prayer  lor  the  Jews  ift 
beast,  and  afterwards  slew  his  own  their  dispersion  and  captivity.  At 
sou,  Tubal-Cain,  fpr  directing  him  to  the  ejnd  he  speaks  of  the  crueliy  of 
Vol,  IL  h 


L  A  M 


(     S2     ) 


LAN 


thfe  Edomites,  who  had  insulted  Je- 
rusalem in  tlieir  misery,  and  coutvi- 
buted  to  her  demolition ;  and  whom 
he  threatens  with  the  wrath  of  God. 
The  style  is  lively,  pathetic,  moving, 
and  tender.  One  would  think,  says 
Dr.  South,  that  every  letter  was  wrote 
with  a  tear,  and  every  word  with  the 
anguish  of  a  broken  heart. 

LAMPS,  a  kind  of  lights  made 
with  oil,  in  a  vessel ;  they  were  ordi- 
narily placed  on  a  high  stand,  or  can- 
dlestick, which  stood  on  the  ground. 
Perhaps  those  used  by  Gideon  and 
his  soldiers  were  a  kind  of  torches 
of  old  linen  rags  wrapt  about  a  piece 
of  iron  or  potter's  earth,  and  from 
time  to  time  moistened  with  oil, 
Jm\g.  vii.  20.  It  seems  Nineveh 
was  taken  in  the  night,  when  the 
■enemy  needed  torches  to  illuntinate 
their  chariots,  Nah.  ii.  3,  4.  Suc- 
cessors are  called  a  lamp,  because 
they  increase  or  continue  the  glory 
of  their  predecessors,  1  Kings  xv.  4. 
Psal.  cxxxii.  17.  The  governors  of 
Judah  are  like  a  torch  in  a  sJicaf 
amiilst  their  enemies;  the  Maccabees, 
and  their  successors  for  about  100 
.  years,  were  noted  destroyers  of  the 
Syro-Grecians,  Arabians,  Edomites, 
Philistines,  and  others;  and  in  the 
beginning  of  the  millennium,  it  is 
thought,  their  governors  will  stiLl 
snore  signally  cut  off  their  foes,  Zech. 
xii.  6.  The  burning  lamp  issuing  out 
of  a  smoking  furnace,  that  passed 
between  the  pieces  of  Abraham's 
divided  birds  ami  animals,  imported 
the  peculiar  presence  of  God  with 
the  Hebrews  in  their  Egyptian  bond- 
age, and  that  their  salvation  there- 
from should  at  last  be  gloriously  ef- 
fected, Gen.  XV.  17.  God  is  likened 
io  a.  lamp ;  he  enlightens,  comforts, 
and  honours  his  people,  2  Sam.  xxii. 
29.  The  seven  lamps  of  the  golden 
candlestick,  figured  out  Jesus  and 
his  church  a*  possessed  of  the  fulness 
©f  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  of  divine 
oracles  and  knowledge,  Exod.  xxv. 
37.  The  Holy  Ghost  is  likened  to 
seven  lamps  of  fire  burning  before 
God's  throne,  to  mark  the  instruc- 
tive, cpiJifofting,  heart-warming,  and 


sin-destroying  nature'of  his  iuflaenct*:- 
Rev.  iv.  5.  The  seven  lamps  o(  the 
golden  candlestick  in  Zechariah's 
vision,  which  received  their  oil  from 
the  bowl  or  fountain  by  pipes,  are 
ministers,  and  truly  religious  people, 
deriving  their  light,  comlbrt,  gifts, 
and  grace,  from  Jesus,  by  the  pipes 
of  ordinances,  reading  the  scriptures, 
meditation,  prayer,  and  by  faith, 
Zech.  iv.  2.  Christ's  ej'es,  i.  e.  his  in- 
finite knowledge,  and  a  discovery  of 
his  atTection  or  wrath,  are  as  lamps  of 
fire,  most  penetrating  and  pure,  and 
3^et  how  terrible  to  his  enemies ! 
Dan.  X.  6,  The  word  of  God  is  a 
lamp  and  light ;  it  discovers  manifold 
mysteries;  it  directs  men's  course, 
and  comforts  their  hearts  amidst  the 
darkness  of  this  world,  Psa.  cxix.  1 05. 
The  lamp  ordained  for  God's  anoint- 
ed, is  either  a  successor  for  the  con- 
tinued honour  of  David's  family,  or 
rather  Jdssus,  who  is  the  light  of  the 
world;  and  the  gospel,  which  from 
age  to  age  maintains  the  fame  and 
honour  of  our  IJedeemer  in  it  where 
it  is  received,  Psal.  cxxxii.  17.  A 
holy  profession  of  religion  is  called  a 
to??/^;  it  renders  men  shining  and  use- 
ful in  instructing  others.  Matt.  xxv. 
3,  4.  Prosperity  is  a  lamp  ;  it  ren- 
tiers men  cheerful,  and  enables  them 
to  diffuse  comfort  to  all  around,  Prov. 
xiii.  9.  and  xx.  20.  See  Candle, 
FrRE,  Light.  The  salvation  of  the 
church  from  her  troubles,  is  likened 
to  a  burning  lamp  ;  it  is  bright  ami 
visible,  and  its  effects  are  instructive 
and  comforting,  Isa.  Ixii.  1. 

LANCE,  a  spear;  but  the  word 
cHiDON  is  translated  target,  1  Sam. 
xvii.  6. 

LANCETS, javelins,  short  spear?. 
1   Kings  xviii.  28. 

LANCH,  to  put  from  shore  into 
the  sea,  Luke  viii.  22. 

LAND,  (1.)  The  whole  cont/- 
nent  of  the  earth,  as  distinguished 
from  the  sea,  Matt,  xxiii.  5.  (2.) 
A  particular  country,  especially  what 
paris  of  it  are  fit  to  be  ploughed, 
Matt.  ix.  26.  Gen.  xxvi.  12.  "Acts 
iv.  37.  Matt.  xix.  29.  (3.)  The 
inhabitants  of  a  country,  Isiu  sxxvii. 


LAN 


(    aj    ) 


LAN 


M.  Canaan  is  called  Immanucl''s 
land,  or  the  Lorti's  land.  It  enjoyed 
the  peculiar  care,  piotoctioii,  pre- 
sence, and  ordinances,  of  our  Uc- 
deenier,  and  ia  it  he  long  dwelt  in 
our  nature,  Isa.  viii.  8.  It  was  a 
l/ind  of  promise,  as  given  by  |)ronn»«' 
to  AbraJj.itn  and  his  seed,  Heb.  xi. 
9,  It  UMs  a  land  of  uj)ri:;hlness ;  as 
there,  men  having  tlieoracles  of  God, 
ought  to  have  walked  uprightly  to- 
wards God  and  man.  Isa.  xxvi.  10. 
Egypt  is  called  a  hind  of  trouble  and 
anguish,  because  there  the  Hebrev/s 
■were  exceedingly  distresse<l,  and  it 
has  long  been  a  scene  of  terrible  ca- 
lamities. Isa.  XXX.  t).  Babylon  was 
a  land  of  graven  images;  idolatry 
mightily  prevailed  in  it,  Jer.  I.  33. 
The  land  of  the  living,  is  this  world, 
in  which  men  are  before  death,  and 
the  heavenly  state,  where  no  death 
ever  enters,  Psal.  cxvi.  9.  and  xxvii. 
13.  The  grave 
darkness  and  of 
death.  Job  x.  21,  22.  and  of  forget 
filncss,  as  men  are  soon  forgotten 
after  they  are  buried^  Psal.  Ixxxviii. 
13. 

LANES,  the  narrow  passages  in 
a  city,  where  poor  people  generall}^ 
dwell,  Luke  xiv.  21. 

LANGUAGE,  a  set  of  words 
made  use  of  by  the  people  of  any 
particular  country  or  countries,  to 
express  their  thoughts.  No  doubt 
God  at  iirst  inspired  men  with  lan- 
guage. Without  supposing  this,  we 
see  not  how  they  could  so  early  con- 
verse with  God,  or  the  man  with  his 
wife.  While  men  lived  so  long,  and 
applied  only  to  the  more  sim[>le  me- 
thods of  life,  as  before  the  flood, 
their  ideas  were  few,  and  their  lan- 
guage was  easily  preserved  without 
alteration.  For  some  time  after  the 
flood,  mankind  were  still  of  one  lan- 
guage and  speech;  but  what  it  was, 
is  not  so  readily  agreed.     Could  we, 


certain,  Noah  did  irot  retire  fo  these 
eastern  legions  before  the  building 
ol  Haliel,  »ud  not  evident  that  he  did 
so  afterwards,  we  cannot  give  into 
this  opinion.  When  we  ol)serve  the 
sini[)rn-ity  an;l  enqdiasis  of  the  He- 
brew tongue;  wlx-n  w<'  consider  how 
exactly  the  Hebrew  names  of  ani- 
mals suit  their  natures,  and  how  pre- 
cisely the  names  of  persons  suit  to  the 
reason  of  their  imposition,  we  can- 
not but  declare  for  the  lleltrew.  It 
is  absurd  for  the  Chaldaic,  Assyrian, 
Arabic,  or  Ethiopic,  to  be  put  in 
competition  in  this  claim.  E very- 
unbiassed  observer  will  plainly  see 
them  but  dialects  of  the  Hebrew 
tongue;  and  perhaiis  they,  as  well  as 
the  Phenician,  were  lor  many  ages 
almost  quite  the  same  with  the  He- 
brew. As  the  .Jews  lived  in  a  man- 
ner so  distinct  from  other  people, 
thej^  bid  fairest  to  [ireserve  their  Ian- 
is  the  land  o/lguage  uncorruj)led.  As  Ave  have  no 
the  shadow  o/'i  standard  book  in  the  Hebrew,  be- 
sides the  Old  Testament,  the  signi- 
fication of  not  a  few  of  its  words, 
seldom  used,  is  not  altogether  cer- 
tain to  us ;  but  by  tracing  them  ia 
similar  v.ords  of  the  Arabic,  &c.  we 
may  arrive  at  what  is  very  probable. 
How  God  confounded  the  language 
of  mankind  at  Babel ;  whether  he 
made  them  forget  the  meaning  of 
their  words,  and  put  one  for  another, 
or  whether  he  inspired  the  most  of 
them  with  new  languages,  is  not  ea- 
sy to  say.  It  is  certain,  the  ancient- 
language  of  the  Gomerians,  Huns, 
Greeks,  Szc.  did  not  a  little  resemble 
the  Hebrew;  and  that  there  are 
other  languages,  such  as  the  Scla- 
vonic, and  sundry  of  America,  be- 
tween which  and  the  Hebrew^  we 
can  scarcely  trace  the  smallest  re- 
semblance. Into  how  many  lan- 
guages speech  was  divided  at  Babel, 
it  is  impossible  to  say.  Alstedius 
enumerates  about   .100;    but  makes 


with  Shuckford,  believe  that  Noah i  only  72  distinguished  ones,  and  five 
went  almost  directly  eastward  to!  chief  ones,  viz.  the  Hebrew,  Greek, 
China,  we  should  readily  imagine,  Latin,  Germanic,  and  Sclavonic.  At 
the  Chinese  language,  which  is  but!  present,  a  sort  of  Arabic  mightily 
simple,  and  its  original  words  very 'prevails  in  western  Asia,  and  in  the 
reyy,  was  the  first  one.     But  as  it  is  north  of  Africa.     Mingled   dialecta 


L  A  ?J 


(     84     ) 


LAN 


of  the  Latin  and  Teutonic,  &c.  most- 
ly prevaii  in  the  we?t  of  Europe. 
The  French  and  English  are  the  most 
esteemed.  When  God  cast  off  the 
Gentiles,  he  confounde«l  their  lan- 
guage; when  he  called  them  back 
to  his  church,  he  gave  his  apostles 
the  miraculous  gift  of  speaking  with 
tongues,  Gen.  xi.  Acts  ii.  The  lan- 
guage of  Canaan,  or  a  pure  language, 
is  a  proper  manner  of  speech  in 
prayer  to  God,  and  edifying  conver- 
sation with  men,  Isa.  xix.  18.  Zeph. 
iii.  9.  As  the  use  of  language  is  to 
convey  ideas  from  one  to  another, 
that  must  be  the  best  style  which 
conveys  them  in  the  most  just,  clear, 
and  affecting  manner,  suiting  at 
once  the  subject  spoken  of,  and  tlie 
person  speaking,  and  those  to  whom 
he  speaks.  To  render  language  per- 
spicuous, every  word  and  phrase,  if 
possible,  should  be  pure,  belonging 
to  the  idiom  in  which  one  speaks; 
should  be  proper,  authorized  by  the 
best  speakers  and  writers  in  that 
language;  and  should  prcci&ely  ex- 
press the  idea  to  be  conveyed,  with- 
out any  foreign  or  superfluous  cir- 
cumstance added  thereto.  In  sen- 
tences, there  ought  to  be  clearness ; 
the  words,  especially  those  which 
express  the  principal  ideas,  being  so 
placed  as  to  mark  the  relation  of  one 
idea  to  another,  without  the  least 
ambiguity  :  there  ought  to  be  unity, 
the  principal  object  being  still  kept 
unchanged,  and  no  way  obscured  or 
wandered  from,  by  a  mention  of  things 
slightly  related  to  it,  whether  in- 
cluded in  parenthesis  or  not :  there 
ought  to  be  strength,  to  as  it  may 
■make  the  more  impression ;  useless 
words  ought  to  be  rejected,  and  the 
principal  words  placed  where  they 
appear  most  brightly,  and  the  mem- 
bers of  the  sentence  made  to  rise  in 
their  importance :  there  ought  (o  be 
HAEMONY,  the  words  being  so  cho- 
sien  or  disposed,  as  the  sound  ma}' 
be  expressive  of  the  sense,  at  least 
jiot  disagreeable  to  the  ear.  In  every 
language,  especially  of  the  eastern 
nations,  whose  imaginations  were 
v/arm,  th^re  is  a  great  usq^of  tropes 


and  figures,  and  which,  if  they  rl%e, 
naturally  from  the  subject  and  from 
the  genius  of  the  speaker,  and  are 
but  sparingly  used,  and  that  only  to 
express  thoughts  of  proper  dignity, 
tend  not  a  little  to  explain  a  subject, 
and  to  embellish  the  style,  by  ren- 
dering it  more  copious,  more  dig- 
nified, more  expressive,  and  more 
picturesque.  Metaphor,  hyperbole, 
personification,  address,  comparison, 
interrogation,  exclamation,  vision, 
repetition,  and  amplification,  are  the 
principal  figures  of  speech.  To  pre- 
serve the  world  from  counterfeit 
writings,  God  has  endowed  every 
man  with  a  style,  or  manner  of  lan- 
guage, peculiar  to  himself;  and  this 
is  concise,  diffuse,  perplexed,  manly, 
smooth,  sprightly,  smart,  gloomy,  or 
dull.  See.  according  to  the  turn  of  the 
person's  passion  or  imagination,  and 
his  habit  of  thinking.  To  hide  pride 
from  man,  scarcely  any  possess  all  the 
graces  of  language;  few  towering 
writers  are  \exy  correct,  and  as  few 
very  correct  writers  have  much  fire : 
nay,  few  authors  write  always  like 
themselves;  but  even  the  elegant  some- 
times sink  into  the  frigid,  or  soar  into 
airy  bombast. — As  sublimity  of  style 
lies  in  the  expression  of  grand  thoughts 
in  few  and  plain  words,  it  must  in- 
deed be  opposite  to  airy  bombast,  or 
Mgh-swoln  language,  without  senti» 
ment,  or  clothing  puny  and  common 
tltoughtis;  and  to  childish  conceits,  sil- 
ly puns,  forced  and  unnatural  antithe- 
sis, unnatural  and  self-opposing  com- 
parisons, affected  jingles  of  sound, 
— and  to  every  ill-timed  elevation  or 
fall  of  the  language,  that  corresponds 
not  with  Ibc  rise  or  fall  of  the  thought  j 
but  it  is  so  far  from  being  contrary  to 
I  real  simplicity  and  plainness,  that 
simplicity  is  one  of  the  principal 
beauties  of  sublime  language;  and 
nothing  is  more  contrary  to  the  true 
sublimity  of  stjie,  than  the  airy  bom- 
bast, and  pert  conceited  manner, 
which  some  absurdly  imagine  to  be  the 
perfection  of  language.  In  respect 
of  ornament,  style  is  either  dry^ 
where  there  is  scarcely  a  word  to  em-' 
hellish,  or  plain,  or  mat,  ovelegat^t,  or 


LAN 


(     «5     ) 


LAN 


florid.  As  holli  Ihe  first  and  last  are 
rxtreinef,  the  t'>r»t  appronching  to 
the  frigid  and  i^rovclliHj?,  and  the 
last  to  the  airy  lionihast,  neither  ie 
much  to  be  coveted. 

As  the  true  pro[)riety  of  lanpiua.je 
has  in  it  suitableness  to  the  subject, 
and  the  persons  concerned,  nothing 
can  be  su|)posed  more  pro[>er  to  be 
used  on  religious  subjects,  or  more 
truly  sublime,  than  the  style  of  the  on- 
hf  wise,  and  the  most  gracious  God, 
in  his  word.  Nor  can  I  imagine, 
what  can  tempt  an^'  to  think  other- 
ivise,  except  it  be  their  vain  aflecta- 
tion  of  idle  romances,  or  their  igno- 
rance of  the  scriptures,  especially  in 
tlie  original  tongues,  and  a  hatred 
of  their  Divine  Autlior. — Can  lan- 
guage more  beautiful ly  correspond 
Avith  its  subject  ?  In  the  descri[)tions 
of  God,  and  his  appearances,  how 
{>;rand  and  majestic  !  Exod.  xv.  1 — 
18.  Deut.  xxxiii.  2— 43.  Psal.  xviii. 
1—18.  Isa.  Ix.  10—28.  and  Ivii.  15. 
Amos  iv.  13.  Hab.  iii.  In  describ- 
ing the  overthrow  of  nature,  cities, 
or  nations,  how  noisv  and  terrifying  ! 
12  Pet.  iii.  9,  10.  Rev.  vi.  14—18. 
Isa.  xxiv.  Jer.  1.  and  li.  Nah.  i.  3 — G. 
and  ii.  1 — 10.  and  iii.  17,  18.  In 
painting  forth  the  iMessiah,  and  the 
glor}"^  and  peace  of  his  kingdom,  how 
eweet  and  delightful !  Isa.  xi.  and  xii. 
ftud  XXXV.  In  gospel-invitations  to 
receive  him  as  the  free  gift  of  God, 
how  soft  and  caplivatin«^ !  Psal. 
xxxiv.  8.  and  Ixxvi.  10 — 12.  Deut. 
xxxii.  39.  Prov.  i.  23.  and  ix.  4,  5. 
and  xxiii.  2G.  Isa.  i.  18.  and  Iv.  1,  3, 
7.  In  expostulation,  how  rapid  and 
urgent !  Prov.  i.  22.  Ezek.  xxxiii. 
11.  lsa.lv.  2.  In  lamentation,  how 
pathetic  and  tender  /  as  if  every  word 
Avas  a  groan,  Jer.  ix.  1.  Lam.  i. — v. 
Matt,  xxiii.  37.  Luke  xix.  41—44. 
In  the  discourses  of  Jesus,  and  tlie 
f'pistles  of  John,  how  familiar,  but 
never  frigid,  grovelling,  or  gathered 
\in  from  the  rabble !  In  God's  pro- 
mulgation of  the  ten  commandments 
Jrom  Sinai,  how  plain,  but  truly  sub- 
lime! 

No  book  has  its  style  more  adorned 
with  every  beautifying   trope  or  fi- 


gure, than  the  oracles  of  God.  As 
liie  historical  part  is  in  general  ptciP 
liarly  plain,  so  the  poetic  and  other 
parts  are  decked  with  all  the  finery 
of  true  ornament.  Tropes  remove 
the  words  nstnl  from  their  natural 
signification,  to  another  someway 
connected  tlierewilh.  These  in  scrip- 
ture, are  drawn  from  things  oin  ions 
and  well  known,  and  represent  the 
object  expressed  under  the  intended 
idea.  When  the  name  of  the  cause 
is  put  for  that  of  the  elTecl,  or  that 
of  the  subject  for  that  of  the  adjunct, 
or  the  reverse,  it  is  called  a  mclono- 
nuf.  Rev.  i.  10.  Zech.  xi.  1.  1  .Joini 
i.  3.  When  more  universal  terms 
are  put  for  such  as  are  more  restrict- 
ed, or  a  whole  for  a  part,  or  the  con- 
trary, it  is  called  a  synecdoche.  Matt. 
iii.  5.  John  xix.  42.  Psal.  i.  1.  Acts 
ii.  41,  When  more  is  signified  than 
the  expression  necessarily  bears,  it 
is  a  meiosis,  or  abatement,  as  is  often 
the  case  in  negative  precepts  and 
promises,  Exod.  xx.  3 — 17,  Isa,  xlii. 
3,  4,  When  less  is  meant  than  the 
expression  naturally  bears,  it  is  an 
hyperbole,  or  excess  of  the  language, 
Gen.  xi.  4.  and  xiii.  16,  Job  xxix. 
G.  2  Sam.  i.  23.  When  the  con- 
trary of  wh<it  the  expression  natu- 
rally signifies  is  meant,  it  is  an  irony, 
Deut.  xxii.  38.  Eccl.  xi.  9.  1  Kings 
xviii.  27,  When  one  thing  is  re- 
presented in  words  that  natively 
mean  a  thing  somewhat  similar,  it  is 
a  metaphor,  John  x,  9.  and  xiv.  0. 
A  metaphor  continued,  or  often  re- 
peated, forms  an  allci^ory,  or  parable. 
Song  i — viii.  Lnke  xv.  Figures 
relate  to  a  whole  sentence.  Their 
principal  kinds  are,  (1.)  Exclama- 
tion, whereby,  as  with  an  outcry,  the 
vehemence  of  some  particular  pas- 
sion is  expresseil,  Zech.  ix.  17, 
Rom.  vii.  24.  (2.)  Dmibt,  where  a 
debate  in  one's  mind  what  he  should 
do,  is  expressed.  Gen,  xxxviii.  30. 
(3.)  Correction,  whereby  one  retracts 
what  he  had  said,  as  too  little,  or  too 
much,  or  as  an  entire  mistake,  Gal. 
ii.  20.  1  Cor.  xv.  10.  (4.)  Sup- 
pression, when  one  stops  be  I  ore  he 
finishes  his  sentence,  as  overwhelm- 


LAN 


(     86     ) 


LAN 


^(\  with  wouder,  grief,  rage,  &c. ;  xx.  (1 G.)  Comparison,  whereby 
Fsal.  vi.  3,  (5.)  Omission,  when  '  things  similar  are  likened  to  one  ano- 
one  seems  to  pass  what  he  phiinly  I  ther  to  illustrate  one  of  them,  Song 
but  briefly  hints,  Heb.  vi.  1.  (6.)jii.  2,  3.  of  this  kind  hve  parables. 
Address,  to  j)ersons  or  things,  Psal.  ((17.)  Lively  (/cscnpfjwj,  wherein,  by 
XXXV.  10.  1  Kings  xxii.  28.  Job  Janice  arrangement  of  the  principal 
xvi.  18.  (7.)  Suspension,  when  the; ideas,  the  thing  is  almost  as  clearly 
principal  point  is  reserved  till  the  |  represented  as  if  it  were  before  our 
last,  and  the  reader  or  hearer  kept  I  eyes,  2  Pet.  iii.  9,  10  (18.)  Vision^ 
in  expectation  of  it,  Luke  xvii.  28,  or  image,  whereby  things  distant,  or 
30.  (8.)  Interrogation,  when  ques-' unseen,  are  represented  in  a  lively 
tions  are  asked,  and  sometimes  an-  ( and  emphatic  manner,  to  raise  won- 
swered  in  a  discourse;  to  which  ex-\der,   terror,  compassion,   care,  Rev. 


jiostulalory  reasoning  with  one,  may 
be  rethiced,  John  iii.  4.  Gen.  xviii 


xviu.    9—19.    Heb.  xii.    1.     (19.) 
Personification,    when    qualities,   or 


14.  Isa.  Iv.  2.  and  X.  3.  (9.)  P/y-I  things  inanimate,  are  represented, 
vention,  where  an  objection  is  directly !  as  if  thinking,  speaking,  hearing,  or 
or  indirectly  started  and  answered;! acting,  as  rational  persons,  Isa.  i.  2. 
to  which  may  be  joined  pra7iunitio)i,\  and  xiv.  8 — 12.  Rom.  viii.  22.  Job 
whereby  one,  in  the  beginning  of  I  xxviii.  22.  (20.)  Change  of  person 
bis  discourse,  guards  himself  against  I  or  time,  as  when  a  speaker  puts  him- 
the  prejudice  and  misapprehension  of  I  self  for  others,  or  the  present  time 
those  he  speaks  to,  Rom.  ix.  1 — 6,  |for  the  past  or  future,  &c.  Isa.  xvi. 
19 — 23.  (10.)  Concession,  in  which '9.  and  liii.  12.  To  this  may  be  re- 
something   is  granted  in  order  to  in-jduced,  introduction  of  persons  speak 


fer  some  other  thing  from  it,  Job 
six.  4.  Rom.  ii.  17 — 24.  James  ii. 
19.  (IL)  Repetition  of  the  same 
ideas,  in  the  same  or  in  different 
words,  Fsal.  xviii.  1 — 3.  and  xxii.  1. 
Isa.   ixi.   10.     (12.)  Circiwilocidion, 


ing,  Isa.  iii.  7.  and  iv.  1.  (21.) 
Transition,  from  one  subject  to  ano- 
ther, in  which  a  subject  tending  to 
illustrate  the  principal,  is  sometinjea 
abruptly  introduced,  1  Cor.  xii.  31. 
Isa.  xi.  and  xii.  Rom.  xiv.  1.     (22.) 


ivhereby,  to  avoid  indecency,  or  the  Sentence,  is  a  short  and  lively  remark 


like,  a  thing  is  described  in  words 
more  in  number,  or  less  plain,  Jer. 
xxii.  28.  Job  xviii.  4.  (13.)  Ampli- 
fication, when  every  principal  ex- 
pression in  a  passage,  adds  plain- 
ness, strength,  or  grandeur,  to  what 
vent  before ;  to  which  climax,  or 
gradation,  where  the  term  or  phrase 
conclusive  of  the  former  expression 
begins  the  next,  raav  be  added,  Isa. 
i.  22,  23.  Rom.  viii".  29,  30.  (14.) 
Omission  ef  copulatives,  to  mark  ea- 
gerness of  passion,  Rom.  i.  29 — 31. 
and  sometimes  frequent  repetition  of 
'Copulatives,  renders  a  sentence  so- 
lemn, and  every  verb  or  substantive 
therein  emphatic,  Rev.  V.  12.  (15.) 
Opposition,  whereby  things  different, 
or  contrary,  are  placed  together,  that 
liie  nature  of  either,  or  both,  may 
be  shown  with  more  clearness  and 
force,  1  Tim.  i.  13.  2  Cor.  v.  7. 
Rom.  viii.  L   Marii  xvj.   16,  Ezek. 


on  what  is  treated  of,  Rom.  iii.  31. 
To  which  may  be  reduced,  ipophene- 
nia,  or  a  concluding  remark  on  a  dis- 
course, Rom.  xi.  33. 

LANGUISH,  the  world,  or  earth, 
languisheth,  when  its  surface  is  wi- 
thered, its  cities  destroyed,  and  in- 
habitants killed,  Isa.  xxiv.  4.  and 
xxxiii.  9.  Vines,  olives,  flowers, 
and  other  vegetables,  languish,  when 
they  wither  and  fade,  Jer.  xxiv.  7, 
Joel  i.  10.  Nah.  i.  4.  Persons  lan^ 
gzdsh,  when  they  become  weak,  and 
their  comeliness  fades,  Jer.  xv.  9. 
Psal.  xii.  4. 

LAODICE  A,  just  people.  There 
were  at  least  six  cities  of  this  name ; 
but  the  scripture  mentions  only 
that  of  Phrygia,  on  the  river 
Lycus,  near  Colosse.  It  was  anci- 
ently called  Jupiter's  city,  and  then 
Rhoas;  but  Seleucus,  or  perhaps 
Antiochus,  the  Syro-Greciaii  lung. 


T.  A  P 


(     37     ) 


LAV 


rebuilt  it,  and  cnlird  it  Landicea,  af- 
l«r  his  wile.  TlH)iij:h  Paul  never 
preached  in  it,  yet  a  Christian 
church  iva?  early  i)lanted  lu-re. 
They  were  in  the  same  danger  of 
false  teachers  a^f  the  Colossians,  and 
therefore  Paul  orders  his  e()istle  to 
tlie  Colossians  to  be  read  to  them. 
He  also  mentions  a  letter  fr;^m  Lao- 
decia;  but  whether  it  was  the  epis- 
tle to  Timothy,  or  that  to  the  Ephe- 
sians,  which  the  Laodiceans  had  had 
tlie  perusal  of,  or  whether  it  was 
some  letter  the  Laodiceans  had  sent 
him,  we  know  not.  There  is  still 
extant,  a  letter  pretended  to  be  that 
of  Paul  to  the  Laodicean  church ;  but 
it  is  agreed  to  be  spurious,  and  Ti- 
motheus,  a  priest  of  Constantinople, 
says,  it  was  forged  by  the  Mani- 
checs,  Col.  ii.  1.  and  iv.  1.5,  10. 
About  A.  D.  96,  the  Christians  of  La- 
odicea  were  become  extremely  igno- 
rant, proud,  self-conceited,  and  care- 
less about  eternal  things:  Jesus 
Christ  therefore  <lirected  John  to 
write  them  an  epistle,  lor  their  con- 
viction and  amendment.  At  present, 
Laodicea  is  not  only  unchurched,  but 
is  a  mere  desert,  with  some  ruins 
scarcely  sufficient  to  mark  that  ever 
such  a  city  was  in  the  place,  and  is 
called  Eskhissar  by  the  Turks,  Rev. 
i.  11.  andiii.  15—21. 

LAPWLN'G.  Calmet  thinks  the 
Duchiphah  is  the  hoopohoo,  which  is 
a  bird  about  the  bigness  of  a  thrush. 
Its  beak  is  long,  black,  thin,  ami  a 
little  hooked.  It  has  a  tuft  of  fea- 
thers on  its  head,  which  it  raises  or 
lowers  as  it  pleaseth.  Its  legs  are 
grey  and  short;  its  neek  and  sto- 
mach reddish;  its  wings  and  tail 
black,  witli  white  streaks;  its  wings 
roundish  at  the  point ;  its  flight  slow. 
In  northern  countries,  it  is  seen  but 
about  three  months  of  the  year;  dur- 
ing the  rest  of  it,  it  probably  re- 
moves to  warmer  regions.  Its  form 
J5  beautiful,  but  its  voice  is  hoarse 
juid  unmusical.  It  generally  makes 
it*  nest  in  old  ruins,  or  on  way  sides. 
It  fee(5s  much  on  ^vo^nls,  and  on  hu- 
man dung,  and  makes  its  nest  there- 
of.    Others  Wke  thi3  birtl  to  be  the 


black-brea«ted  Tringn,  wilh  a  Iian^r- 
ing  cre?t  or  top  on  its  head,  it  is  a 
bcaulifid  bird,  about  the  size  of  a  |Ti- 
geon,  and  very  conirnoii  in  ten  coun- 
tries through  most  of  Europe.  Oa 
each  foot  it  has  f(uir  toes,  connected 
ae  those  of  the  duck.  1 1  is  very  dex- 
terous in  decoying  persons,  or  dogif, 
from  its  nest,  Lev.  xi.  10. 

LARGE.  Assyria  was  a  larirCf 
extensive  country,  or  i)lace,  Isal 
xxii.  18.  IIos.  iv.  10.  David  w;w 
set  in  a  large  place,  or  room,  when  he 
had  great  liberty  and  comfort,  and 
was  advanced  to  extensive  power 
land  authority,  Pt:alm  xviii.  19.  and 
ixxxi.  8.  and  cxviii.  5. 
I     LAbCIVlOUSNESS.  SeeWAN- 

,  TON. 

I  LAST,  (1.)  Late,  later,  or  latest 
'in  time.  Gen.  xlix.  1.  God  is  the 
first  ojul  the  last ;  is  from  eternity  t« 
I  eternity,  Isa.  xliv.  0.  (2.)  Worst  iu 
'condition:  Many  tJmt  arc jirxt  shall 
be  last,  andthc  last  shall  be  first :  the 
Jews,  that  were  first  brought  info  a 
church-state,  and  had  the  gospcJ 
first  preachetl  to  them,  shall  in  the 
end  be  most  miserable;  and  the 
Gentiles,  that  were  last  called  to  the 
fellowship  of  God's  Son,  shall,  mul- 
titudes of  them,  be  for  ever  most 
happy,  Matt.  xix.  30.  and  xx.  10. 

The  LATIN  tongue,  was  the  lan- 
guage of  the  ancient  Romans,  though 
now  in  general  it  is  only  learned  in 
the  schools;  biii  the  Italian,  French, 
Spanish,  and  in  i)art  the  English  and 
Portuguese  languages,  are  derived 
from  it,  John  xix.  20. 

LAUD,  to  praise,  extol,  Rom. 
XV.    11. 

LAVER,  a  vessel  for  washing- 
The  Mosaic  lavcr  was  made  of  the 
fine  brazen  looking-glasses,  which 
the  Hebrew^  women  brought  to  Closes 
for  the  service  of  the  tabernacle: 
This  laver  held  the  sacred  water  for 
the  priests  to  wash  their  hands  and 
feet  with,  by  cocks,  at  Avhich  ifc 
seems  tlie  water  ran  into  basons.  It 
stood  between  the  altar  and  tiie  en- 
trance of  the  tabernacle.  Exodus 
xxxviii,  8.  Solomon  made  ten  new 
lavcri).     According  to  Caliiiet.  lliese 


L  A  U 


< 


) 


LAW 


consisted  of  two  vessels,  a  square 
one  placed  above  another  shaped  like 
a  bason.  Tiie  square  vessel  was 
adorned  with  the  figures  of  the  head 
of  an  ox,  lion,  and  cherubim,  drawn 
thereon.  The  bason  was  supj)orted 
by  a  cherub  standing  on  a  pedes- 
tal, which  was  mounted  on  brazen 
wheels,  to  run  on  from  one  place  to 
another.  Each  of  these  contained 
40  batiis.  These  lavers  contained 
water  to  wash  the  jtleces  of  the  sa- 
crifice, and  were  placed  five  on  the 
south  side,  and  five  on  the  north  side 
of  the  entrance  to  the  temple;  but 
Aha;:  removed  them  off  their  bases, 
to  make  way  for  his  idolatrous  Avor- 
ship,  1  Kings  vii.  27 — 39.  2  Chron. 
iv.  6 — 14.  2  Kings  xvi.  17.  Solo- 
mon also  made  a  huge  lavcr,  contain- 
ing 2,000  baths  for  ordinary,  and 
3,000,  or  about  6,420  gallons  and 
three  pints,  on  extraordinarj^  occa- 
sions. This  was  supported  by  12 
brazen  oxen,  three  of  v/hich  had  their 
heads  towards  every  quarter;  this  was 
lor  the  priests  to  Avash  in,  and  Avas 
called  the  hra~cn  sea^  1  Kings  vii. 
22—44.  2  Chron.  iv.  Some" think 
these  lavers  represented  Jesus  in  his 
fulness  of  grace  to  sanctify  his  peo- 
ple, Avho  are  priests  unto  God;  and 
to  render  their  sacrifices  of  prayer 
and  praise  acceptable  in  his  eight. 

LAUGH.  God  lmis;lis  at  men, 
when  he  disregards  their  trouble, 
contemns  their  opposition,  and  takes 
pleasure  in  punishing  them.  Job  ix. 
23.  Psal.  ii.  4.  and  xxxvii.  13.  Prov. 
i.  20.  Men's  laughter  imports,  (1.) 
Their  rejoicing  in  the  blessings  pro- 
mised to,  or  possessed  by  them ;  and 
in  their  divine  security  from  the  ca- 
lamities of  famine,  pestilence,  &c. 
(5en.  xvii.  17.  and  xxi.  6.  Luke  vi. 
21.  Job  v.  22.  (2.)  Their  sinful 
inirih,  doubt  of  God's  fulfilment  of 
his  promise,  or  the  derision  of  other 
men,  Luke  vi.  25.  Gen.  xviii.  12,  13. 
If  "  I  laughed  on  them,  they  believ- 
ed it  not ;  and  the  light  of  my  coun- 
tenance they  cast  not  down ;"  Avhen 
1  looked  cheerfully  on  them,  or  even 
conversed  familiarly  Avith  thejn^they 
did  not  lit>uc:ne  presumptuous,  but 


supposed  I  had  a  serious  meaning, 
and  they  Avere  afraid  of  abusing  my 
smiles.  Job  xxix.  24.  Even  in  laugh- 
ter the  heart  is  sorrmvfid :  amidst 
sinful  or  excessive  mirth,  an  evil  con^ 
science  often  stings,  and  sad  calami- 
ties happen,  Prov.  xix.  13.  Laugh- 
ter is  mad,  and  as  the  crackling  of 
thorns :  foolish  and  excessive  mirth 
shoAvs  a  person  to  be  destitute  of  rea- 
son ;  it  is  very  dangerous  to  be  med- 
dled Avith,  and,  as  it  is  senseless,  so  it 
is  short-lived,  Eccl.  ii.  2.  and  vii.  6, 
A  LAW,  properly,  is  the  declared 
Avill  of  a  superior,  obliging  his  sub- 
jects to  perform  Avhat  is  pleasing  to 
him,  and  to  avoid  Avhat  displeases 
him ;  but  the  scripture  uses  this  Avord 
to  express  any  thing  that  communi- 
cates instruction  to,  or  occasions  any 
obligation  on,  an  inferior.  It  is  the 
same  Avith  commandments,  precepts, 
statutes.  When  God  created  man  at 
first,  he  imprinted  the  knoAvledge, 
loA'e,  and  reverence,  of  his  laAV  on 
his  mind.  Sin  has  utterly  erased 
this  impression  of  the  divine  laAV, 
Rom.  ii.  14,  15.  Our  consciences 
indeed  noAV  suggest  to  us  our  obliga^ 
tion  to  believe  in,  Avorship  and  serve 
the  Supreme  Being;  to  honour  our 
parents  and  governors;  to  promote 
our  OAvn  real  Avelfare  and  happiness 
in  time  and  eternity ;  and  to  do  to 
others  as  Ave  Avould  reasonably  Avish 
they  should  do  unto  us,  &c.  but  all 
this  is  entirely  from  the  influence  ot 
the  Holy  Spirit.  In  the  innocent 
state,  God  added  the  positive  laAVS 
of  observing  a  Sabbath,  of  abstinence 
from  the  fruit  of  the  tree  of  knoAA'- 
ledge,  and  of  fruitfulness  in,  and  go- 
vernment of  the  earth,  Gen.  i.  and 
ii.  After  the  fall,  the  law  of  sa- 
cnfices  Avas  imposed,  Gen.  iii.  21. 
The  JeAVs  often  mention  the  seven 
precepts  imjjosed  on  Noah  and  his 
famil}'.  The  first  Avhereof,  they  say, 
enjoined  subjection  to  governors; 
the  second  ])rohibited  blasphemy; 
the  third  prohibited  idolatry  and  su- 
perstition ;  the  fourth  forbade  incest, 
sodomy,  beastialityj  and  the  like  ioi- 
pnrities:  the  fiftli  prohibited  mur- 
der ;  the  sixth  prohibited  all  kinds  of 


LAW 


(     89     ) 


LAW 


theft;  and  the  seventh  forbade  the 
eating  any  part  of  an  animal  while  it 
was  yet  living  :  but  we  cannot  safe- 
ly depend  on  their  accounts  of  this 
seven-fold  law,  Gen.  ix.  God  im- 
posed the  law  of  circumcision  on 
Abraham  and  his  family,  Gen.  xvii. 
To  Moses  and  fhe  Hebrews  in  the 
desert,  God  gave  a  three-fold  system 
of  huvs;  a  moral  system,  which 
hinds  all  persons  in  every  nation  and 
age  where  it  is  published;  a  ccnmo 
niaf,  which  prescribed  the  rites  of 
their  worship  and  sacred  things,  and 
thereby  pointed  out  Jesus  Christ  and 
the  blessings  of  his  new  testament 
church  and  heavenly  kingdom ;  and 
which  were  obligatory  only  till  Je- 
sus had  finished  his  redemption 
work,  and  began  to  erect  his  gos- 
pel church,  Heb.  x.  1.  and  vii.  9 — 
11.  Eph.  ii.  13,  16.  Col.  ii.  14.  Gal. 
V.  2,  3.  and  a  judicial,  or  political 
system,  which  directed  the  policy  of 
the  Jewish  nation,  as  under  the  pe- 
culiar dominion  of  God  as  their  su- 
preme Magistrate;  and  never,  ex- 
cept in  things  relative  to  moral  equi- 
ty, was  binding  on  any  but  the  He- 
brew nation,  especially  while  they 
en  jo3'ed  the  possession  of  the  pro- 
raised  land. 

The  moral  law  was  most  solemnly 
proclaimed  by  God  himself,  after  a 
terrible  thunder,  lightning,  and  earth- 
(juake,  from  the  midst  of  the  flames 
of  fire,  and  was  divided  into  ten  pre- 
cepts, and  written  by  God  himself 
once  upon  two  tables  of  stone: 
four,  respecting  our  duty  to  God, 
were  written  on  the  first,  which, 
in  sum,  required  o«r  loving  him  as 
the  Lord  our  God,  with  all  our 
heart,  soul,  mind,  and  strength ;  six 
were  written  on  the  second,  which,  in 
sum,  required  our  loving  our  neigh- 
bour as  ourselves,  Exod.  xix.  and  xx. 
and  xxxii.  and  xxxiv.  Matt.  xxii.  37. 
to  39.  More  particularly,  the  first 
commandujent  required,  that  God 
alone  should,  both  in  heart  and  life, 
be  acknowledged,  worshi[tped,  and 
glorified,  as  the  true  God,  and  our 
God ;  and  all  atheism,  profaneness, 
and   idolatry,   be   utterly  abhorred. 

Vol.  U. 


The  second  required,  that  all  fhe  or- 
dinances of  worship  instituted  Ivy 
God  in  his  word,  should  be  received, 
observed,  and  kept  pure  and  entire  : 
and  all  carnal  conceptions  of  God, 
all  idolatry  and  superstition,  l)e  de- 
tested. The  third  required,  that 
God's  names,  titles,  attributes,  ordi- 
nances, words,  and  works,  should  be, 
under  the  severest  penalties,  used 
only  in  a  holy  and  reverent  manner. 
The  fourth  requires,  that  whatever 
times  God  has  appointed  in  his  word, 
particularly  one  whole  day  in  seven, 
be  carefullj''  observed,  in  spiritual 
exercises,  as  holy  to  the  Lord.  The 
fifth  requires  the  preservation  of 
honour,  and  performance  of  relative 
duties  between  parents  and  children, 
husbands  and  wives,  masters  and 
servants,  magistrates  and  subjects, 
ministers  and  people;  and,  in  fine, 
between  superiors  and  inferiors,  in 
age,  station,  gilts,  or  grace  :  and  be- 
tween equals  one  to  another.  The 
sixth  requires  all  lawful  endeavours 
to  promote  and  preserve  the  life  of 
ourselves  and  others,  temporal,  spi- 
ritual, or  eternal;  and  prcHiibits  all 
malice,  envy,  murder,  angry  words, 
drunkenness,  and  every  thing  else 
tending  to  the  hurt  of  soul  or  body. 
The  seventh  prohibits  all  kinds  of 
whoredom,  fornication,  adultery,  in- 
cest, beastiality,  self-defilement,  and 
other  uncleanness,  and  every  thing 
in  heart,  speech,  or  behaviour,  tend- 
ing to  any  of  these.  The  eighth  re- 
quires, that  every  thing  lawful  be 
done  to  promote  our  own,  and  our 
neighbour's  outward  estate :  and  that 
all  dishonesty,  stealing,  robbery,  ex- 
tortion, oppression,  sacrilege,  &c.  be 
detested.  The  ninth  requires  the  ut- 
most care  to  maintain  and  preserve 
truth,  and  our  o^vn  and  our  neigh- 
bour's good  name;  and  prohil)its 
all  falsehood,  lying,  dissimulation, 
flattery,  railing,  or  reproachful  lan- 
guage. The  tenth  prohil)its  the 
very  root  of  wickedness  in  the  heart, 
and  first  motions  thereof,  and  aU 
discontent,  envy,  inordinate  affec- 
tion towards  our  neighboiu",  or  any 
thing  that  is  his. 

M 


LAW 


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LAW 


The   ceremonial  law  regulated  thci 
office   and  conduct  of  Priests,   Le- 

viTES,  Nethinims,  Nazarites,  and 

of     CIRCUMCISION,     FEASTS,      OFFER- 
INGS,     TABERNACLE,      TEMPLE,     and 

utensils  thereof,  voivs,  purijications, 
&c.  In  respect  of  observance,  this 
law  was  a  heavy  yoke,  and  par- 
tition-wall; but,  in  respect  of  the 
signification  of  its  ceremonies,  it 
Avas  an  obscure  gospel.  Gal.  v.  1. 
Eph.  ii.  14.  Co!,  ii.  17.  The  judi- 
cial law  regulated  the  affairs  of  their 
kings,  judges,  fields,  marriages,  pu- 
nishments, 6ic.  Some  laws  relative 
to  redeemers,  murders,  adultery,  ci- 
ties of  refuge,  malefactors,  strangers, 
&c.  seem  to  have  been  partly  ceremo- 
nial, and  partly  judicial.  Great  care 
was  taken  to  keep  up  the  knowledge 
of  the  divine  law.  Besides  the  tables 
of  the  ten  commandments  deposited 
in  the  ark,  a  copy  of  the  books  of 
Moses  was  laid  up  somewhere  in 
the  side  of  the  ark.  The  Jews  say, 
that  every  tribe  had  a  copy  of  it. 
Prom  this  t>iher  copies  were  taken. 
Every  king  was  required  to  transcribe 
one  for  himself.  The  whole  law  was 
to  be  publicly  read  over  at  the  feast 
of  tabernacles,  in  the  year  of  release, 
besides  the  reading  of  it  on  other 
public  occasions.  Nay,  they  were 
conuTianded  to  have  it  written  on  their 
hearts,  and  to  teach  it  diligently  unto 
their  children,  Deut.  xvii.  and  xxxi. 
9 — 19.  aud  vi.  and  x.  To  this  day, 
the  Jews  profess  the  utmost  regard 
for  their  law,  reading  in  the  ancient 
manner  a  certain  portion  of  it  every 
Sabbath  in  their  synagogues.  The 
book  of  it  publicly  used,  is  written 
with  the  greatest  exactness,  and  is 
carefully  preserved  from  every  thing 
tending  to  defile  it.  See  Tradi- 
tion.— With  a  great  parade  of  an- 
cient learning,  Spencer  attem[)ts  to 
prove,  that  most  of  the  Jewish  laws, 
of  the  ceremonial  kind,  are  but  an 
imitation  of  the  customs  of  Egypt: 
and  some  the  very  reverse  of  others, 
of  the  abominations  used  there,  to 
render  these  odious  to  them.  That 
some  of  the  ceremonies  Avere  intend- 
ed to  render  the  vile  customs  of  the 


Heathen  around  detested  by  the  He- 
brews, we  doubt  not;  but  that  God 
formed  the  rites  of  his  worship  after 
those  of  idolaters,  we  dare  not  sup- 
pose. His  own  infinite  wisdom,  and 
the  nature  of  the  things  to  be  repre- 
sented thereby,  were  a  standard  of 
regulation  much  more  becoming  the 
majesty  of  heaven.  Many  of  the 
Egyptian  rites  were  still  very  differ- 
ent from  the  Jewish ;  and  as  to  the 
similarity  of  some,  it  is  reasonable  to 
suppose,  that  the  Egyptians,  in  the 
time  of  Joseph,  Solomon,  Hezekiah, 
or  afterwards,  borrowed  them  from 
the  Hebrews. 

Some  think,  that  by  laws,  precepts, 
or  commandments,  in  Moses,  is  meant 
the  tnoral  law  ;  bj'  statutes,  the  ce- 
remonial ;  and  by  judgments,  the  ju- 
dicial laws  are  signified :  but  this  ob- 
servation will  not  always  hold.  It 
is  certain,  that  by  law,  command- 
ments, precept,  statute,  and  judg- 
ment, used  in  this  signification,  is 
often  meant  one  and  the  same  thing. 
The  name  law,  or  commandment, 
may  denote  a  thing  as  the  will  of 
a  superior;  a  statute  represents  it  ay 
ordained  and  established  by  high  au* 
Uiority;  judgment  represents  it  as 
full  of  wisdom,  and  as  the  standard 
by  which  God  will  judge  men.  Those 
passjtges  of  scripture,  which  require 
anj'^  good  quality  in  us,  or  good  work 
to  be  performed  by  us,  are  the  law 
in  a  strict  sense,  John  i.  17.  The 
ten  commandments  are  called  the 
law,  or  commandment :  nay,  some- 
times the  last  six  are  so  called,  Jam. 
ii.  11.  Rev.  xxii.  14.  Rom.  ii.  25. 
and  vii.  7 — 8.  anii  xiii.  8.  The  com- 
mandment of  loving  one  another  is 
old,  as  it  was  contained  in  the  moral 
law  ever  since  the  creation ;  and  it 
Is  new,  as  enjoined  afresh  by  our  Sa- 
viour, as  exemplified  in  his  life,  and 
enforced  with  the  new  motive  of  his 
dying  love,  1  John  ii.  7,  8.  and  John 
xiii.  34.  The  whole  constitution  of 
the  covenant  between  God  and  the 
Hebrews,  and  the  rites  of  worship 
thereto  belonging,  are  called  a  lam, 
or  law  of  ordinances,  and  a  carnal 
commandment;  as,  by  the  authority 


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I.  A  W 


of  Goil,  so  many  rites,  especially  re- 
lating to  carnal  sacrifices,  washings, 
and  the  like,  were  therein  required, 
Heb,  X.  1.  and  vii.  IH.  Eph.  ii.  1.^. 
The  five  books  of  iNloses  are  called 
the  law,  as  they  abound  with  the  re- 
quirements and  prohibitions  of  God, 
Mai.  iv.  4.  Matt.  v.  17.  and  for  the 
same  reason,  the  Old  Testament  is 
called  a  law,  John  x.  3-1.  and  xv. 
35.  1  Cor.  iv.  21.  The  whole  word 
of  God  is  called  a  law,  statutes,  &;c. 
as  it  is  the  sole  rule  of  our  faith  and 
practice,  Psal.  i.  2.  and  xix.  7 — 8. 
The  doctrines  of  the  gos|)el  are 
calletl  a  law,  and  the  law  of  faith  ; 
they  teach  and  instruct  men;  and, 
when  believed  by  them,  they  strongly 
influence  to  holy  obedience,  Isa.  ii. 
3.  and  xlii.  4.  Rom.  iii.  27.' and  they 
are  a  perfect  law  of  liberty,  proclaim 
a  perfect  deliverance  and  redemp- 
tion to  us  through  the  blood  of  Christ, 
and  produce  a  free  obedience  to  him, 
or,  tiiis  perfect  law  of  liberty  may  be 
taken  for  the  law  as  a  rule  in  the 
liand  of  Christ,  which  is  pleasant  to 
the  saints,  James  i.  2.').  and  ii.  12. 
The  law  may  sometimes  denote 
men's  observance  of  God's  command- 
ments, as  that  corresponds  to  the  law 
imposed  in  the  scripture,  or  impress- 
ed on  the  heart,  Rom.  iii.  21.  Gal. 
iii.  11.  Phil.  iii.  11.  The  command- 
nunts  of  men,  were  the  traditions  of 
the  Jewish  elders,  Matt.  xv.  9.  The 
comman(bmnts,  by  willingly  walking 
after  which  the  Jews  ruined  them- 
selves, and  the  statutes  not  good  giv- 
en to  them,  were  the  idolatrous  laws 
of  Jeroboam,  Omri,  and  Ahali,  re- 
quiring them  to  worship  the  golden 
calves,  Baal,  &c.  Hos.  v.  11.  Ezek. 
XX-.  25.  Mic.  vi.  16. 

The  commandments  and  word  of 
God,  are  a  law  ordained  to  life,  and 
are  statutes  of  life.  In  believing  and 
obeying  these,  we  receive  life  s|)i- 
ritual,  and  are  prepared  for  life  eter- 
nal, Rom.  vii.  10.  Ezek.  xxxiii.  15. 
One  is  without  the  law,  when  not 
bound  by  the  law,  1  Cor.  ix.  21.  or 
when  he  is  without  the  knowledge 
of  it,  and  destitute  of  the  experience 
of  its  convincing  power  on  the  con- 


science, Rom.  ii.  12.  and  vii.  8,  W. 
or  when  he  has  not  the  word  of  God 
revealed  to  him,  Ronu  ii.  14.  Those 
under  the  law,  are  cither  Jews  under 
the  ceremonial^ or  sinners  under  the 
curse  of  the  moral  law.  Ily  tlu 
law  is  the  knowledge  of  sin;  by  our 
carefully  comparing  our  ilisjiositionb 
and  conduct  with  Ihe  commands 
and  prohilutions  of  the  divine  law, 
our  sinfulness  is  perceived,  Rom.  iii. 
20.  One  through  the  law,  is  dead  to 
the  law ;  he  dies,  when  the  command- 
ment comes  home  in  its  convincing 
power  to  his  conscience.  Through 
its  convincing  force  men  are  made 
to  give  up  all  expectations  of  life  by 
their  own  works,  and  flee  to  Jesus 
for  relief,  Gal.  ii.  19.  Rom.  vii.  9. 
The  Ian}  is  the  strciigth  of  sin;  the 
law  occasionally  irritates  the  cor- 
ruption of  men's  nature,  they  being 
offended  with  the  strictness  of  its 
precepts,  and  the  terrible  nature  of 
its  curse;  and  its  curse  binds  them 
over  to  endure  the  punishment  of 
their  sin,  Rom.  vi.  21.  The  law 
woihcth  wrath;  it  occasionally  stirs 
u{)  our  corrupt  heart  to  rage  against 
God  more  and  more,  Rom.  iv.  15. 
This  lav/  has  dominion  over  a  man  as 
long  as  it  or  he  liveth.  When  we 
are  not  united  to  Jesus  as  the  end  of 
the  law  for  righteousness,  it  constant- 
ly demands  perfect  obedience,  under 
pain  of  eternal  wrath,  and  full  satis- 
faction for  the  crimes  w'e  have  al- 
ready committed,  Rom.  vii.  2.  One 
is  dead  to  the  law,  ami  redeaned  from, 
under  it,  by  the  body  or  mediation 
of  Christ,  when,  united  to  him,  jus- 
tified, and  fixed  in  a  new  covenant 
state,  Rom.  vii.  4.  and  vi.  14.  Gal. 
iv.  4,  5.  The  law  is  not  made  for  a 
righteous  mem ;  it  is  not  made  for  him 
as  a  covenant,  to  terrify  and  con- 
demn him ;  but  the  law  is  good  if  a 
man  use  it  lanfvlly ;  if  he  improve 
it,  to  drive  him  to  Jesus  Christ;  and 
as  a  rule  to  direct  him  how  to  Avalk 
in  Christ,  1  Tim.  i.  8,  9.  The  law 
entered,  that  the  ofience  might 
abound;  the  pul)li!;hing  of  the  law, 
moral  or  ceremonial,  from  Sinai,  did 
not  take  away  sin,  but  mightily  tend- 


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L  A  Z 


ed   to  discover  it,  Rom.  v.  20.     It 
was  added  bccatise  of  transgression, 
i.  e.  tlie  ceremonial  law.    Some  think, 
that  this  law  Avas  inflicted  as  a  pu- 
nishment for  the  national  sin  of  idola- 
try, Exod.  xxxii.  1 .  at  least  the  more 
grievous  parts  of  it ;  it  should  seem 
rather  the  whole  of  it  was  a  prophet- 
ic type  of  Christ.     The  moral  law 
was  added  to  the  promise,  to  disco- 
ver  and  restrain    transgressions,  to 
convince  men  of  their  guilt  and  need 
of  the  promise,  and  give  some  check 
to  sin,  Gal.  iii.  17 — 19.     The  larv  is 
a  schoolmaster  to  bring-  us  to  Christ ; 
the  ceremonial  law  pointed  him  out, 
and  led  to  him  as  the  end  and  anti- 
tyi>e  of  all  its  rites;   the  moral  law, 
applied  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  induces 
us  to  flee  to  Jesus,  to  obtain  in  him 
that  righteousness  which  it  requires, 
and  escape  tiiat  Avrath  which  it  de- 
nounceth,  Gal.  iv.  24.    God  puts  his 
law  into  mcn''s  heecrts,  and  writes  it 
in  their  inward  parts,  when,  by  the 
powerfu'  application  of  his  word,  he 
satictifies  their  nature,  Heb.  viii.  10. 
and  X.  16. — The  law  of  the  spirit  of 
life  in  Christ  Jesus,  makes  free  from 
the  law  of  sin  and  death.     The  gos- 
pel, powerfully  applied  by  the  quick- 
ening Spirit  of  Christ,  frees  us  from 
the  strength  of  sin;  and  the  energy 
of  the  Holy   Ghost   frees    us   from 
the  corruption  of  our  nature,  Rom. 
viii,   2.     Precept  upon  precept,   line 
upon    line,     &c.     imports,     instruc- 
tions given  in  small   portions,  and 
often  repeated,  as  to  children  weak 
in  capacity,  Isa.  xxviii,  10. 

Lawful,  agreeable  to  law.  All 
ihin:;s  are  lawful,  but  all  things  are 
not  expedient ;  it  is  lawful,  simply 
considered,  to  eat  any  kind  of  pro- 
vision; but  it  may  be  attended  uith 
such  circumstances  as  not  to  promote 
the  edification  of  others,  1  Cor.  vi. 
12.  In  his  trance,  Paul  Jieard  things 
which  were  not  lawful  to  he  uttered; 
so  nij'steiious  and  grand,  that  it  was 
not  projter  to  declare  them  to  men  in 
their  embodied  state,  as  they  could 
not  be  profited  thereby,  2  Cor.  xii.  4. 
Law(Uver.  God  is  a  lawgiver  < 
he  is   the  only    Lord  of   our   con- 


science ;  whose  mere  will  binds  it  to 
obedience;  he  being  absolutely  su- 
preme and  infallible.  Moses  was  a 
lawgiver;  by  him  God  gave  his  sys- 
tem of  laws  to  the  Hebrews;  the  laAV 
is  called  his,  and  he  is  said  to  give 
its  commandments,  Numb.  xxi.  18. 
Deut.  xsxiij.  31.  David  and  his  suc- 
cessors in  rule,  are  called  lawgivers ; 
they  had  power  of  enacting  laws  for 
the  civil  government  of  the  Hebrew 
nation.  Gen.  xlix.  10.  Psal.  Ix.  7. 

Lawyer,  an  explainer  of  the 
Jewish  laws.  The  lawyers  were  ge- 
nerally enemies  to  our  Saviour  in  the 
days  of  his  flesh,  they  rejected  the 
counsel  of  God  against  themselves, 
and  were  condemned  by  him  for  bind- 
ing heavier  burdens  on  others  than 
they  themselves  chose  to  bear,  Tit. 
iii.  "^13.  Matt.  xxii.  35,  Luke  vii.  30. 
and   xi.  45 — 52. 

LAZARUS,  the  help  of  God,  to- 
gether with  his  sisters,  Martha  and 
Mary,  dwelt  in  Bethany.  Jesus 
sometimes  lodged  in  their  house. 
One  time  when  he  was  there,  Mar- 
tha, the  elder  sister,  was  extremely 
careful  to  have  him  handsomely  en- 
tertained. She  complained  to  him, 
that  Mary,  who  earnestly  attended 
his  instructions;  did  not  assist  her. 
Jesus  told  her,  that  she  herself  was 
too  attentive  to  unnecessary  things, 
while  the  one  thing,  of  securing  eter- 
nal salvation,  Avas  alone  absolutely 
needful ;  and  that  Mary  had  chosen 
the  good  part,  of  an  interest  in,  and 
fellowship  with  God,  which  should 
never  be  taken  from  her,  Luke  x. 
38 — 42.  Not  many  months  before 
our  Saviour's  death,  Lazarus  fell 
dangerously  sick  :  his  sisters  sent  to 
Jesus,  who  was  then  beyond  Jordan, 
to  come  Avith  all  expedition  to  cure 
him.  Upon  hearing  of  it,  Jesus  told 
his  disciples  that  his  sickness  Avould 
not  shut  up  Lazarus  in  the  state  of 
the  dead,  but  tend  to  the  signal  il- 
lustration of  the  glory  of  God. 
That  the  intended  miracle  might  be 
the  more  noted,  Jesus  staid  two  days 
longer  Avhere  he  was.  till  Lazarus 
was  actirdly  dead.  He  then  told 
the  disciples,  that  their  friend  Laza- 


L  A  Z 


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L  A  Z 


ruB  slept,  he  meant  in  death;  and 
that  he  went  to  awaUe  him.  Tho- 
mas, imagining  that  ho  spoke  of 
common  sleep,  replied,  Ihat  if  La- 
zarus had  fallen  into  a  sound  slee|t, 
it  was  a  good  sign  that  the  principal 
danger  of  the  fever  was  over.  Jesus 
then  told  them  plainly,  that  Lazarus 
was  actually  dead.  On  the  4th  day 
after  his  death,  and  when  he  had 
been  for  some  time  interred,  Jesus 
eame  to  Bethany. 

Martha,  hearing  that  he  was  at 
hand,  metliini,  and,  convinced  of  his 
omnipotent  power,  suggested,  that 
had  he  been  present,  her  brother  had 
not  died.  Jesus  told  her,  her  brother 
should  be  raised  from  the  dead.  She 
told  him,  that  she  knew  he  would  be 
raised  at  the  last  day.  Jesus  replied, 
that  as  he  himself  was  the  resurrection 
and  the  life,  he  could  raise  him  when 
he  pleased :  and  upon  Jesus's  asking 
if  she  believed  this  ?  she  replied,  that 
she  believed  he  was  the  Christ,  the 
Son  of  the  living  God  Martha  went 
in,  and  informed  Mary,  that  Jesu 
the  Master,  was  come,  and  called  for 
her.  Mary  went  forth,  and  tlie  Jews 
imagined  she  was  going  to  her  bro- 
ther's grave  to  weep.  Marjs  full  ol 
sorrow,  met  our  Saviour,  fell  at  his 
feet,  and  said.  If  he  had  been  present, 
her  brother  had  not  died!  When 
he  saw  what  grief  she  and  the  JeAvs 
who  came  with  her  Avere  oppressed 
with,  and  what  miseries  sin  had  sub- 
jected men  to,  he  affectionately  groan- 
ed in  himself,  and  asked  where  Laza- 
rus was  buried?  The  Jcavs  present 
observing  him  weep,  said.  Behold, 
how  he  loved  him  !  and  added,  Could 
not  this  man,  who  opened  the  ejxs  of 
the  blind,  have  |)revented  his  friend's 
death?  After  coming  to  the  grave, 
he  ordered  them  to  remove  the  stone 
from  the  mouth  of  it.  This  Martha 
was  averse  to,  and  intimated  that  the 
smell  of  her  brother  would  be  very 


forth.  The  dead  body  immediately 
started  up  alive,  and  .lesus  ordered 
those  present  to  lake  oil"  his  grave- 
clolhes,  that  he  njiglit  be  able  to 
walk.  This  noted  miracle,  wrought 
almost  at  the  gates  of  Jerusalem,  so 
enraged  the  Jewish  rulers,  that  they 
resolved  to  murder  both  Jesus  and 
Lazarus,  that  the  report  of  it  might 
die  away.  Six  days  before  his  cru- 
cifixion, Jesus  lodged  again  in  the 
house  of  Lazarus.  Lazarus  sat  at  the 
table,  Martha  served,  and  Mary,  to 
the  great  vexation  of  Judas,  anointed 
our  Saviour's  head.  Jesus  vindicated 
her  conduct,  and  told  his  disciples, 
that  this  deed  of  her's  should,  to  her 
honour,  be  divulged  through  the  whole 
world,  John  xi.  and  xii.  1 — 8.  Matt. 
xxvi.  6—13.  Mark  xiv.  3—9. 

Lazarus,  the  name  of  the  poor 
man  in  Christ's  narrative.  He  is  re- 
presented as  covered  with  ulcers;  as 
laid  at  a  rich  man's  gate,  and  in  vain 
begging  for  some  oi  the  crumbs  that 
fell  from  the  rich  man's  table;  as 
having  his  sores  licked  by  the  dogs; 
and,  in  fine,  as  dying,  and  carried 
by  angels  into  the  heavenly  state. 
Soon  after,  according  to  the  account, 
the  rich  man  died,  and  Avas  buried; 
but  his  soul  being  tormented  in  hell, 
he,  seeing  Abraham  and  Lazarus 
afar  off,  in  glory,  begged  that  Abra- 
ham Avould  send  Lazarus  to  dip  the 
tip  of  his' finger  in  Avater,  and  cool 
his  tongue.  Abraham  bid  him  re- 
member, that  Lazarus  in  his  lifetime 
had  been  afHicted,  but  now  Avas  com- 
forted; and  that  himself  had  enjoy- 
ed his  prosperity,  and  Avas  noAV  tor- 
mented; and  told  him,  that  there  Avas 
no  passing  from  the  heavenly  state  to 
the  infernal  regions.  The  rich  man 
then  begged  that  Lazarus  might  be 
sent  to  his  five  brethren,  to  warn 
them  to  flee  from  the  Avrath  to  come: 
lint  this  Avas  also  refused,  as  one's  re- 
turn from  the  dead  could  be  no  more 


offensive,  as  he  had  been  dead  four 
days.  Jesus  admonished  her  to  be- 
HeA'e,  and  she  should  quickly  see  a 
display  of  the  glorious  ))OAver  of  God. 
After  thanking  his  Father  for  hear- 
ing him  always,  he  bid  Lazarus  come 


effectual  to  convince  them  than  the 
inspired  Avritings  which  they  had  in 
their  possession,  Luke  xvi.  19 — 3L 
This  parable  or  history  is  formed  on 
the  doctrine  of  a  future  state,  as  it 
prevailed  in   the  Jewish  church  at 


LEA 


(     94     ) 


LEA 


that  time.  It  informs  us  of  these 
three  things;  first,  that  from  men's 
prosperous  or  adverse  condition  in 
this  life,  there  is  no  judgment  to  be 
made  concerning  their  condition  in 
the  next;  for  the  happiness  of  men 
here,  is  often  exchanged  for  misery 
hereafter.  SolomoH  has  long  since 
observed,  that  no  man  knows  either 
the  love  or  hatred  of  God  by  all 
that  is  before  him,  Eccl.  xi.  1.  Se- 
condl}^  whatever  alteration  is  made 
in  the  condition  of  the  soul  at  its 
departure  from  the  body,  it  shall  be 
thenceforth  for  ever  unchangeable : 
and,  thirdly,  that  every  man  may  be 
sure  of  this  from  scripture  ;  and  they 
who  are  not  satisfied  with  what  the 
scripture  says  to  prove  this,  will  ne- 
ver be  satisfied,  though  one  should 
rise  from  the  dead  to  assure  them  of 
it.  The  many  who  converged  with 
Lazarus  after  he  rose  from  the  dead,  j 
and  ^vere  not  convinced,  is  a  remark- 
able proof  of  this  Ituth. 

LEAD,  a  coarse' and  heavy,  but 
useful  metal ;  from  which  an  oil  and 
spirit,  somewhat  like  vinegar,  is 
sometimes  extracted,  and  with  the 
ore  of  which  silver  is  ordinarilj'^  mix- 
ed. It  seems,  that  as  early  as  the 
age  of  Job,  it  was  used  in  engraving, 
and  that  they  poured  it  into  the  in- 
cisions of  the  characters,  for  the  last- 
ing continuance  thereof,  Job  xix.  24. 
It  is  certain,  that  the  Midianites, 
not  long  after,  had  considerable 
quantities  of  it  among  them,  Numb. 
xxxi.  22.  The  Tyrians  had  plenty 
of  it  from  Tarshish,  Ezek.  xxvii.  12. 
The  Jews  were  as  lead^  much  abound- 
ing in  guilt  and  corruption,  and  there- 
fore were  melted  and  afflicted  in  the 
fire  of  God's  wrath,  Ezek.  xxii.  18, 
20.  Great  wickedness,  or  the  judg- 
ments of  God  on  account  of  it,  on  the 
Jews  or  Chaldeans,  are  likened  to  a 
talent  of  lead  on  the  mouth  of  an 
ephah,  Zech.  v.  7,  8. 

To  Lead,  (1.)  To  direct,  Psal. 
xxxi.  3.  (2.)  To  govern,  conduct, 
Psal.  Ixxxi.  1 .  (3.)  To  seduce,  draw 
into  error  and  wickedness,  2  Tim. 
iii.  6.  God  led  the  Hebrews  in  the 
wilderness  by  the  symbol  of  his  pre- 


sence, in  the  pillar  of  cloud,  that  di- 
rected their  motions,  Psal.  cxxxvi. 
16.  Isa.  Ixiii.  12.  and  leads  his  peo- 
ple, in  every  age,  by  the  direction 
and  drawing  influence  of  his  word. 
Spirit,  and  providence,  Psal.  xliii.  3. 
His  goodness  leads  men  to  repent- 
ance; it  points  out  the  duty  and 
advantage  thereof;  and  is  calculated 
to  stir  up  men  to  bewail  their  offence 
against  God,  so  gracious  and  kind, 
Rom.  ii.  4.  Jesus  is  a  leader^  who, 
by  his  authoritative  word,  holy  Spi- 
rit, and  exemplary  pattern,  teacheth 
them  how  to  walk  and  act,  Isa.  Iv.  4. 
The  Holy  Ghost  leads  men ;  by  ap- 
plying the  word  of  God  to  their  heart, 
and  by  his  directive  and  drawing  in- 
fluence, he  enables  them  to  walk 
aright  in  the  path  of  holiness,  Rom. 
viii.  14.  Gal.  v.  18.  Ministers  are 
leaders^  by  their  directive  and  excit- 
ing doctrines,  and  by  their  exemplary 
practice;  and  magistrates  are  such, 
by  their  laws,  ahd  the  pattern  of 
their  conduct,  Isa.  xi.  16.  The 
chiefs  of  a  class  or  army,  are  their 
leaders,  who  direct  and  govern  them, 
1  Chron.  xii.  27.  and  xiii.  1. 

LEAF  ;  there  are  leaves  of  trees, 
of  books,  or  doors,  Gen.  viii.  11. 
Jer.  xxxvi.  23.  1  Kings  vi.  34. — 
Some  think  that  Adam  and  Eve's 
first  clothing  of  Jig-leaves,  was  an 
emblem  of  our  self-righteousness, 
which  must  be  put  off,  to  put  on  the 
Lord  Jesus,  our  glorious  sacrifice, 
Gen.  iii.  7.  A  profession  of  the  true 
religion  is  called  leaves;  it  is  very 
adorning  and  beautiful,  and  is  a 
blessed  mean  of  bringing  others  to 
Christ  for  the  cure  and  health  of  their 
soul,  Psal.  i.  5.  Jer.  xvii.  9.  Ezek. 
xlvii.  12.  Matt.  xxi.  19.  Prosperity 
is  likened  to  a  leaf:  how  comely 
and  pleasant  for  a  while!  but  how 
quickly  it  withers  and  perisheth 
aAvay !  Dan.  iv.  12, 14.  To  mark  his 
trouljled,  restless,  and  comfortless 
condition.  Job  compares  himself  to 
a  tossed  leaf,  and  dry  stubble.  Job 
xiii.  25,  To  tail,  or  fade  as  a  leaf, 
is  to  be  destroyed,  or  lose  every  good 
aj)pearance,  easily  and  suddenly,  Isa. 
xxxiv.  4.  and  Ixiv.  6. 


LEA 


(     ^5     ) 


LEA 


LEAGUE,  a  covenant,  or  so- 
lemn agreeinent  for  peace,  |)rotec- 
tion,  assistance,  or  subjection,  be- 
tween nations,  or  between  princes 
and  people,  Josh.  ix.  1 1 — 1 0.  2  Sam. 
V.  3.  1  Kings  V.  12.  anil  xv.  17. 
Afti  r  the  league  made  with  Antiochus 
Epiphanes,  he  wrotis^ht  (hceitfulh/ ; 
alter  a  covenant  of  friendship  with 
Demetrius,  his  nephew,  the  true 
heir,  )i»  deceitfully  procured  the 
kingdom  of  S3ria  to  himself:  after  a 
covenant  of  friendship  with  his  other 
nephew,  Philometer,  king  of  Egypt, 
he  deceitfully  invaded  that  country, 
to  seize  it  for  himself,  Dan.  xi.  23. 
To  be  in  league  rvith  the  stones  of  the 
field,  fowls,  or  beasts,  is,  by  virtue  of 
an  interest  in  God's  covenant  of 
peace,  to  be  secured  by  him  who  is 
their  proprietor  and  manager,  from 
receiving  any  hurt  by  them,  Job  v. 
23.  Ezek.  xxxiv.  25.  Hos.  ii.  18. 

LEAH,  weary,  tired.    See  Jacob. 

LEAN.  An  animal  body  is /f an, 
when  there  is  so  little  Uesh  that  the 
bones  stick  out,  Gen.  xli.  3,  4.  A 
land  is  lean  when  it  is  a  poor  bar- 
ren soil,  and  produces  little  of  what 
is  useful,  Numb.  xiii.  20.  A  soul  is 
lean,  when  destitute  of  tiie  grace  and 
comfort  of  God's  Spirit,  and  so  ren- 
dered unamiable  in  his  presence,  and 
incapable  to  fulfil  his  service,  Psal. 
cvi.  15.  Persons  poor  and  debased 
in  this  world,  and  poor  in  their  own 
eyes,  are  called  lean  cattle,  Ezek. 
xxxiv.  20.  Jacob's  fat  flesh  became 
lean,  when  his  once  numerous  and 
wealthy  posterity  were  reduced  to  a 
small  number,  and  rendered  misera- 
ble, by  the  Assyrians  overfurning  the 
kingdom  of  the  ten  tribes,  and  al- 
most ruining  that  of  Judah,  Isa. 
xvii.  4.  My  leanness  !  my  leanness  ! 
Wo  unto  me  !  Their  \vickedness  in 
the  time  of  Hezekiah,  and  after  the 
death  of  Josiah,  and  forty  years  after 
Christ,  brought  fearful  and  wasting 
judgments  of  sword,  famine,  and 
pestilence,  on  the  HebreAvs ;  and  still 
thcj"^  are  in  a  wretched  condition,  both 
as  to  spirituals  and  temporals,  Isa. 
xxiv.  16.  God  sent /eojmf^s  on  Sen- 
nacherib's  fat  ones,  when   his  cap- 


tains and  valiant  men,  to  the  num- 
ber of  185,000,  were  destroyed  by 
an  angel  in  one  night,  and  but  a 
small  part  of  his  army  left,  Isa.  x.  16. 

To  LEAN,  to  rest  upon  a  staff,  pil- 
lar, or  supporting  assistant,  Heb.  xi. 
21.  Judg.  xvi.  26.  To  lean,  in  the 
metaphoric  language,  signifies  to 
trust  or  depend  upon  any  person  or 
thing  for  assistance  or  comfort,  2 
Kings  xviii.  21.  Saints  lean  upon 
Christ,  when,  trusting  in  his  word, 
they  depend  on  him  for  righteousness 
and  strength,  and  delight  themselves 
in  his  love,  Songviii.  5.  Hypocrites 
lean  on  the  Lord,  ^vhen  they  jjrofess 
a  strong  attachment  to  his  truths, 
ordinances,  and  ways,  and  expect 
that  he  will  show  them  singular  fa- 
vours and  deliverances,  Mic.  iii.  11. 
Men  lean  to  their  own  understanding, 
when,  without  seriously  asking  coun- 
sel of  God,  they  trust  to  their  own 
wisdom  and  prudence  to  direct  their 
conduct,  Prov.  iil.  5.  They  lean 
on  their  house,  when  they  depend  on 
the  increase  and  continuance  of  thdir 
children  and  wealth  to  be  the  por- 
tion and  comfort  of  their  soul,  Job 
viii.  15. 

LEAP,  SKIP,  to  jump  to  and  fro, 
especially  to  express  joy,  Jer.  xlviii. 
27.  Acts  iii.  8.  To  move,  or  march 
with  great  cheerfulness  and  speed :  so 
the  Danites  leapt  from  Bashan,  when 
they,  by  a  speedy  march,  seized  on 
Laish,  on  the  north  border  of  Bashan, 
Deut.  xxxiii.  22.  The  lame  man 
shall  leap  as  a  hart,  and  the  tongue 
of  the  dumb  shall  sing.  Many  lame 
and  dumb  persons  were,  to  their 
great  joy,  perfectly  healed  by  Jesus 
and  his  apostles :  and  many,  by  the 
influences  of  his  Spirit,  have  since  had 
tlie  maladies  of  their  soul  removed, 
and  been  madejoyful  in  the  Lord,  Isa. 
XXXV.  5.  By  God's  assistance,  David 
leapt  over  a  wall ;  he  surmounted 
great  difficulties,  and  took  strong 
toAvers  and  fenced  cities,  Psal.  xviii. 
20.  Those  who  leaped  on  the  thres- 
hold, were  either  such  as  irreverently 
entered  the  courts  of  the  Lord,  or 
who  entered  the  temple  of  idols,  as 
Dagon's  priests  did.  by  jumping  over 


LEA 


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LEA 


the  threshokl ;  or  who  by  violence 
or  theft,  got  into  people's  houses, 
and  returning  with  their  ill-gotten 
goods,  joyfully  jumped  in  at  their 
masters'  tloors,  Zeph.  i.  9. — The 
possessed  persons  leapt  u|)on  the  sons 
of  Sceva,  and  violently  attacked 
them,  Acts  xix.  16. 

LEARN,  (1.)  To  get  the  know- 
ledge of  things  by  hearing  or  ob- 
serving, 1  Cor.  xiv.  31.  Psal.  cxix. 
71.  \'Z.)  To  imitate,  to  follow  as  a 
pattern,  Psal.  cvi.  35.  Matt.  ix.  29. 
(3.)  To  take  heed,  1  Tim.  i.  20. 
(4.)  To  know  the  sentiments  of 
others.  Gal.  iii.  2.  (5.)  To  practise, 
Psal.  cvi.  35.  Christ  harned  obedi- 
ence by  the  things  which  he  suffered; 
by  his  suffering  he  experimentally 
felt  what  they  were ;  and  improved 
them  all  to  excite  his  holy  manhood 
to  fulfil  the  obedience  required  of 
him,  Heb.  v.  8.  None  besides  the 
witnesses  for  Christ,  could  learn  their 
new  song;  none  but  saints  can  heart- 
ily ascribe  all  salvation  and  glory  to 
God  and  the  Lamb.  None  of  the 
Papists  can  join  in  pure  gospel-wor- 
ship, where  all  the  glory  of  our  sal- 
vation is  ascribed  to  Jesus  alone;  be- 
cause they  make  angels  and  saints 
sharers  thereof,  as  if  they  were  medi- 
ators with  him,  Rev.  xiv.  3.  Some 
are  ever  learning,  and  yet  never  come 
to  the  knowledge  of  truth;  have  long 
the  means  of  instruction,  and  profess 
to  use  them,  and  yet  never  have  any 
solid  knoAvIedge  of  divine  things, 
2  Tim.  iii.  7. 

LEASING,  falsehood,  lies,  Psal. 
iv.  2.  and  v.  0. 

LEAST,  (1.)  The  smallest  quan- 
tity. Numb.  xi.  32.  (2.)  Such  as  are 
meanest,  of  lowest  rank,  value,  and 
usefulness,  Judg.  vi.  15.  Eph.  iii.  8. 
(3.)  Most  humble  and  self-debased, 
Luke  ix.  48.  The  wilful  breaker  of 
the  least  of  God's  commandments, 
shall  be  called  lea^l  in  the  kingdom 
of  heaven,  that  is,  he  shall  be  of  little 
use  or  esteem  in  the  church  belovv ; 
and,  without  repentance,  shall  never 
be  admitted  into  the  kingdom  of 
glory.  Matt.  v.  19. 

To  LEAVE,  (1.)  To  departfrom, 


Job  xvi.  18.  to  cease  dwelling  with,, 
Gen.  ii.  24.  to  cease  insisting  further 
on  a  thing,  Heb.  vi.  1.  (2.)  To  let 
remain  behind,Lev.  vii.  15.  Exod.  xvi. 
1 9.  Joel  ii.  1 4.  God  never  leaves  his 
j  people  without  his  sensible  presence 
j  and  comfort,  unless  the  Holy  Spirit 
be  grieved  by  some  evil  indulged,  or 
I  good  omitted;  nor  will  he  ever  leave 
j  or  forsake  them,  except  they  forsake 
jhim  as  their  God,  Saviour,  and  por- 
jtion,  Psal.  cxli.  8.  Heb.  xiii.  5. 
jl  Chron.  xxviii.  9.  Dying  parents 
\leave  their  fatherless  children  to  God, 
i  when  by  the  effectual  fervent  prayer 
I  of  faith,  they  commit  them  to  his 
care,  and  trust  in  his  promise,  that 
he  will  preserve,  direct,  and  provide 
I  for  them,  Jer.  xlix.  11. 
j  LEAVEN,  a  piece  of  dough,  but 
especially  what  is  salted  and  soured 
I  for  fermenting.  Such  bread  as  was 
made  of  dough  unsoined,  and  unfer- 
mented,  was  called  unleavened ;  and 
what  was  made  of  fermented  dough, 
was  called  leavened,  Exod.  xii.  15. 
Leaven,  in  a  figurative  sense,  denotes 
doctrines,  whether  true  or  false;  be- 
cause as  leaven  changes  and  trans- 
forms into  its  own  nature  what  is 
mixed  up  with  it,  so  does  true  or 
false  doctriue  affect  the  conduct. 
Thus  the  gospel  of  Christ,  which  gra- 
dually prevails  to  reform  and  convert 
the  nations  of  the  world;  and  the 
work  of  inward  grace,  which  gra- 
dually ])revails  in,  and  assimilates 
the  heart  of  men  into  its  own  like- 
ness. Matt.  xiii.  33.  (2.)  The  cor- 
rupt glosses  on  the  scripture,  or  vain 
traditions  of  the  Pharisees,  Saddu- 
cees,  and  Herodians,  and  their  cor- 
rupt examples,  whereby  many  were 
infected.  Matt.  xvi.  6,  12.  (3.) 
Scandal,  and  scandalous  sinners,  who 
infect  and  cast  a  blot  on  the  church, 
1  Cor.  V.  6.  (4.)  Malice,  hypocri- 
sy, and  the  like  corruptions  in  the 
heart,  which  exceedingly  defile  us, 
and  render  us  infectious  to  others, 
1  Cor.  V.  7. — To  commemorate  Is- 
rael's hasty  departure  from  Egy[)t, 
without  having  time  to  leaven  their 
dough,  they  were  prohibited  the 
use  of  leaven    at   the  passover-feast, 


L  E  B 


(     97     ) 


L  E  B 


or  to  offer  it  on  GocVs  altar,  in  lion,  as  an  exact  description  woulJ 
any  of  their  meat-ofterincs.  Did  reijuire.  In  Lebanon,  it  is  said,  lour 
this  signify,  that  in  onr  uliole  >vor-  mountains  do,  as  it  were,  rise  one 
ship  of  God,  we  ouglit  to  beware  of  above  another;  (he  first  has  a  fruit- 
the  infecting;  influence  of  our  sin-  ful  soil,  excellent  for  vines;  the  se- 
ful  corruption,  and  to  act  with  sin-  cond  is  barren;  the  third  enjoys  an 
cerity  and  truth?  Exod.  xii.  15 — 20. 'almost  perpetu;d  spring;  the  fourth 
Lev,  ii.  11.  Amos  iv.  5.  1  Cor.  v.  8.  is  often,  but  not  always,  covered 
A  portion  of  ^acfrtf^/  bread  was  al-' with  snow.  This  mountain  is  thought 
lowed  in  thank-offerings,  though  it! to  l)e  higher  than  the  Pyrenees  be- 
was  not  put  on  the  altar;  and  might  itween  Prance  and  Spain,  or  the  Alps 
hint,  that  our  grateful  service  of  God  l)etween  the  east  of  France  and  Ita- 
may  be  accepted,  though  mingled  ily.  The  vines  in  the  lower  parts  of 
with  imperfection,  Lev.  vii.  13. —  if,  and  the  cedars  on  the  top  of  it, 
Two  loaves  of /cflir/ja/  bread  werelwhich  were  anciently  very  numerous, 
required    in    the  festival-offering  of  but  now  reduced  to  a  few,  rendered 


pentecost,  perhaps  to  denote  tlie 
spreading  influence  of  the  gospel, 
and  theoi>erationsof  the  Holy  Ghost, 
in  the  new  testament  church.  Lev. 
xxxiii.  17. 

LEBANON,  ivhitaicss,  or  frarik- 
inccnsc,  a  famed  mountain  in  the 
south  of  Syria,  and  north  of  Canaan. 
When  taken  at  large,  it  is  about  300 
miles  in  circumference,  and  consists 
of  two  large  mountains,  Lebanon  or 
Libanus,  and  Antilibanus.  Accord- 
ing to  the  ancients,  these  mountains 
lay  east  and  west ;  but  the  moderns 
say,  tliat  they  lie  south  and  north : 
Lebanon  on  the  west  side,  and  Anti- 
libanus on  the  east,  with  Hollow  Sy- 
ria, or  the  ])leasant  valley  of  Leba- 
non, between  them.  Josh.  xi.  1 7.  Ac- 
cording to  Calmet,  mount  Lebanon 
is  shaped  like  a  horse-shoe,  Avith  its 
opening  towards  the  north.  It  be- 
gins about  ten  miles  from  the  Bledi- 
terranean  Sea,  well  northward  in  Sy- 
ria, and  runs  south  till  almost  over 
against  Zidon,  then  turns  eastward 
on  the  north  frontiers  of  Galilee,  and 
lastly,  turns  northward,  running  as 
far  as  Laodicea  Scabiosa,  in  Syria. 
But  according  to  Maundrel  and  Re- 
land,  the  valley  between  the  tvto 
mountains  is  much  more  long  and 
narrow  than  Calmet's  representation 
will  allow  of.  Probably  the  truth  is, 
travellers  are  in  so  much  danger  from 
the  wild  beasts  that  haunt  it,  and 
from  the  scarcely  tamer  Arabs  that 
rove  about  it,  that  they  dare  not 
search  it  with  such  care  and  delibf'T-a- 

Ynf,.  IT. 


it  extremely  beautiful  and  fragrant. 
But  vast  numbers  of  lions,  leopards, 
and    other    wild     beasts,    rendered 
it  dangerous  to  walk  on,  Hos.  xiv. 
5 — 7.     Song  iv.  8,  11.  and  v.  15. 
The  springs  in  it,  and  the  water  that 
descended  from  it  in  the  rivers  of 
Jordan,  and  Eleutherus,  Abana,  and 
Pharphar,  that  run  to  the  southward, 
and  in  the  rivers  of  Rossian,  Cadl- 
cha),  and  Abvali,  that  run  west  or 
north,  are  fine  water,  Jer.  xviii.   14. 
Moses  had  a  strong  desire  to  see  Le- 
banon, but  was  only  allowed  a  dis- 
tant prospect  of  it,  I)eut.  iii.  25.  and 
xxxiv.  From  Lebanon,  Solomon  had 
his  wood  for  the  building  of  the  tem- 
ple and  other  structures :  from  Leba- 
non the  Tyrians  and  Sidonians  had 
their  wood  for  shipping  and  buird- 
ing:   from  Lebanon,   the  Assyrians 
and  Chaldeans  had  a  great  part  of 
the  wood  they  used  in  their  sieges  of 
the  cities  of  Syria,  Canaan,  and  Phe- 
nicia  :  but  all  its  wood  was  not  suf- 
ficient to   burn   one    sacrifice    that 
could  truly  expiate  sin,  Isa.  xxxiii.  9. 
Hab.  ii.  17.  Isa.  xl.  16.     The  torv^ 
of  Lebatign,  looking  towards  Damas- 
cus, was  perhaps  a  castle  built  by 
David  or  Solomon,  at  the  south-east 
of  Lebanon,  to  awe  the  Syrians;  if 
it  was  not  rather  the  house  of  the 
forest  of  Lebanon,  a  stately  structure 
at  Jerusalem,  mostly  built  with  ce» 
liars  from  Lebanon,  Song  vii.  4.   1 
,  Kings  vii.  2.     At  present,  a  kind  of 
Popish    monks,    called    Maronites, 
dwefl  about  the  lower  pf^rts  of  Le  • 
N 


LEE 


(     98 


L  E  G 


banon,  in  circumstances  snfficietatfy 
wretched.  W'ild  Arabs,  of  the  Ma- 
homedan  sect  of  All,  swarm  al- 
most every-where  in  it.  Here,  a'so, 
I  think  in  the  western  parts  of  it, 
dwell  the  Druses,  who  are  said  to  be 
chiefly  the  remains  of  the  Euro- 
pean croisades,  that  went  to  these 
parts  in  the  11th,  12th,  and  13th 
centuries,  for  the  recovery  of  the  Ho- 
ly Land.  They  are  baptized,  and 
are  exceedingly  o[)posed  to  the  Jews 
and  Mahometans,  and  have  hitherto 
refused  to  submit  to  the  Turkish 
yoke;  but  the  bulk  of  them  have 
little  more  religion  than  the  wild 
beasts  among  whom  they  dwell,  al- 
lowing of  lewdness  with  nwthers, 
sisters,  daughters,  drc. 

Jesus  Christ  and  his  church  are 
likened  to  Lebanon,  for  their  spiritual 
comeliness,  and  their  fragrancy  and 
fruitfulaess,  Ps.  Ixxii.  16.  Isa.  xxxv. 
2.  and  Ix.  13.  Hos.  xiv.  5 — 7.  Jeru- 
salem, and  the  temple  in  it,  are  call- 
ed Lebanon,  because  much  of  it  was 
built  of  the  cedars  of  Lebanon;  and 
the  houses  of  Jerusalem  were  so 
many  and  high,  as  to  resemble  the 
forest  of  Lebanon,  Hab.  ii.  17.  Zeph. 
xi.  1.  Ezek.  xvii.  3.  Jer.  xxii.  23. 
Sennacherib's  army,  and  the  Assyrian 
empire,  are  called  Lebanon.  How 
great  was  once  tlieir  glory  and 
strength !  but  cut  down  at  last  by 
the  axe  of  God's  judgment!  Isa. 
X.  34.  Ezek.  xxxi.  3,  15,  16.  •'  Le- 
banon shall  be  turned  into  a  fruitful 
field,  an-d  the  fruitful  field  be  esteem- 
ed a  forest:"  the  Gentile  nations 
shall  become  a  flourishing  church, 
and  the  Jews  shall  be  cast  out, 
and  live  without  God,  without 
Christ,  and  without  hope  in  the 
world,  Isa.  xxix.  17.  and  xxx.  15. 
To  s;o  7ip  to  Lebanon  and  Balkan,  or 
mount  Gilcad,  and  cnj,  signifies,  that 
the  Jews  in  their  distress  would  have 
none  to  help  tJiem,  Jer.  xxii.  21. 

LEDGE,  a  roll  of  short  brazen 
staves,  with  a  plate  of  brass  along 
their  heads,  1  Kings  vii.  28,  35,  37.^ 

LEEK,  in  botany,  agrees  with  the 
onion  both  in  botanical  characters 
and  medicinal  virtues.  The  Hebrews 


in  the  >vilderiiess  longed  for  sucii  leeks 
and  onions  as  they  were  used  to  eat  in 
Egypt,  Numb.  xi.  5.     See  Onion. 

LEES,  the  dregs  of  wine  settled 
to  the  bottom ;  and  so,  wines  on  the 
tecs,  are  wines  strong  and  purified, 
by  the  lees  settling  to  the  bottom, 
Isa.  XXV.  6.  Men  are  settled  on  their 
lees,  when,  through  long  prosperity, 
they  have  arrived  at  such  outward 
strength,  and  are  fixed  in  their  con- 
formity to  the  world,  Isa.  xlviii.  11. 
Zeph.  i.  12. 

LEG.  Men's  legs  are  taken  for 
tlieir  strength,  Ps.  cxlvii.  10.  and  are 
called  strong  men,  who  bow  them- 
selves, becoming  feeble  in  old  age, 
Eccl.  xii.  3.  The  iron  legs  of  Ne- 
buchadnezzar's visionary  image,  and 
feet  and  toes,  partly  of  iron  and  day, 
not  rightly  coalescing  together,  re- 
presented the  strong  Roman  empire, 
with  two  consuls  at  its  head;  and, 
after  many  ages,  divided  into  the 
eastern  and  western  empires,  and 
which  at  last  was  mingled  with  Goths, 
Huns,  Vandals,  &c.  but  did  not  right- 
ly incorporate  with  them,  nor  retain 
its  strength,  after  they  had  well  be- 
gun their  invasions;  and  which  was 
divided  at  last  into  ten  kingdoms. 
See  HoKNS,  Dan.  ii.  33.  A  parable 
in  the  mouth  of  fools,  is  like  the  un- 
equal legs  of  the  lainc:  a  wise  sen- 
tence, or  scri|)ture  expression,  looks 
ill  from  the  mouth  of  foolish  and 
wicked  people,  and  io  disagreeable 
and  inconsistent,  Prov.  xxvi.  27. 

LEGION,  a  kind  of  regiment  or 
body  of  soldiers  in  the  Roman  army, 
consisting  of  different  numbers  at 
diiHerent  periotls  of  time.  In  the 
time  of  Romulus,  the  legion  consist- 
ed of  3,000  foot,  and  300  horse; 
though,  after  the  reception  of  the 
Sabines,  it  was  augmented  to  4,000. 
In  the  war  with  Hannibal,  it  was 
raised  to  5,000,  and  some  writers 
say,  that  at  one  time  it  afnounted  to 
0,200  footmen,  and  730  horsemen. 
But  after  this  it  sunk  to  4,000  or 
4,500,  which  was  the  number  in  the 
time  of  Polybius.  In  scripture,  it 
■signifies  a  great  number,  Math  xxvi. 
^3.  Luke  viii.  30. 


L  K  0 


(     99    ) 


L  E  P 


To  LEND,  hoping  for  nothing 
Oirain,  is  to  give  freely,  or  lend  with- 
out usury,  Luke  vi.  .35.  Leiuling;  to 
the  neeily  is  a  very  im|iortant  <!uty, 
Dent.  XV.  8.  and  xxiii.  in.  In  ordi- 
nary cases,  borrowers  must,  in  some 
measure,  submit  themselAes  to  the 
will  of  lenders,  Prov.  xxii.  7.  Deut. 
xxviii.  12.  !)ut  UesolHtiiig  judi^ments 
make  both  alike  iioor  and  miserable, 
Isa.  xxiv.  2. 

LENTILES,  a  kind  of  grain  like 
vetches  or  pease,  of  which  they  made 
a  coarse  kind  of  food  used  by  mourn- 
ers. Gen.  XXV.  34. 

LEOPARD,  the  lon2;-tailed  Felis. 
Its  upper  part  is  beautifully  si)otted, 
and  the  lower  is  streaked.  It  is 
smaller  than  the  tiger;  but  surpri- 
singly swift,  strong,  and  active,  and 
no  less  voracious  and  fierce.  Its  feet 
are  formed  for  climbing,  and  it  can 
draw  back  its  claws  at  jjleasure.  It 
•watches  for  its  prej'  by  waj'-sides,  or 
where  the  animals  are  wont  to  haunt. 
It  is  said  to  allure  them  with  a  sweet 
smell,  and  then  to  spring  or  leap 
from  a  tree  upon  them,  and  tear 
them.  It  is  so  inveterate  au  enemy 
to  mankind,  that,  it  is  said,  it  will 
fly  upon  their  very  picture  painted 
on  paper.  God  compares  himself  to  a 
Icopardi  with  what  patience  he  Avaits 
for  the  proper  season  of  vengeance  '. 
with  what  fierce  indignation  he 
breaks  forth  upon,  and  tears  to 
pieces  his  incorrigible  opposers, 
chiefly  wicked  professors  of  the  true 
religion!  Hos.  xiii.  7.  Wicked  men 
are  likened  to  leopards;  how  spotted 
with  corruptions  in  heart  and  life ! 
how  fierce  and  untractable  to  what  is 
good,  till  God  by  his  grace  subdue 
them!  Isa.  xi.  6.  Jer.  xiii.  23.  Ne- 
buchadnezzar and  his  army  are  li- 
kened to  leopards  ;  with  what  guile- 
ful cruelty  and  fierce  rage  they 
watched  over  and  besieged  the  ci- 
ties of  Judah,  and  nations  around,  till 
they  took  them,  and  murdered  the 
inhabitants!  Jer.  v.  6.  Hab.  i.  8. — 
The  Grecian  empire  is  likened  to  a 
leopard  with  four  wings,  and  fonr 
heads ;  from  small  beginnings,  and 
with  much  craft,  cruelty,  and  blood- 


shed. It  Avas  founded.  Alexander, 
who  formed  it,  was  spotted  with 
many  vices ;  his  army  was  adorned 
with  many  skillul  commanders,  and 
he  quickly  made  himself  master  of 
numerous  nations.  After  his  death, 
his  em[)ire  was  divided  into  four 
jiarts.  See  Grkecf;,  Horns.  Dan. 
vii.  U.  The  po[)e  and  his  agents  were 
likened  to  a  leopard,  to  mark  their 
outward  glory  and  splendour,  and 
their  crafty,  cruel,  and  bloody  per- 
secution of  the  saints.  Rev.  xii,  2. 

LEPER,  one  affected  with  the 
leprosy.  Lepers  were  excluded  from 
the  i^ociety  of  other  people,  and 
hence  sometimes  formed  one  of  their 
ou^n.  We  fiiKl  four  of  them  in  one. 
in  the  days  of  Elisha,  and  ten  of 
them  in  another,  in  the  days  of  our 
Saviour,  2  Kings  vii.  8.  liuke  xvii. 
12.  The  leprosy  is  two-fold  in  kind 
or  degree.  That  of  the  Jews  was 
probably  niuch  the  same  with  the 
elephantiasis,  or  leprosy  of  the  Arabs, 
Egyptians,  &:c.  and  which  came 
into  and  raged  in  Italy  about  sixty 
years  before  the  birth  of  our  Saviour. 
It  chiefly  appears  in  warmer  cli- 
mates. It  begins  within  the  body, 
and  throws  out  a  sanious  moisture, 
that  corrupts  the  outside  of  it,  co- 
vering it  v/ith  a  kind  of  white  scales, 
attended  with  a  most  tormenting 
ifch.  The  alBicted  person  becomes 
hoarse;  his  blood  mingled  with  whi- 
tish particles,  and  the  serum  of  it  so 
dry,  that  vinegar  poured  thereon 
boils  up,  and  salt  applied  to  it  does 
not  dissolve,  and  so  strongly  bound 
together  with  imjierceptible  threads, 
that  calcined  lead  thrown  into  it 
swims  above ;  his  hair  becomes  stiif, 
and  if  plucked,  brings  away  rotten 
flesh  with  it ;  his  eyes  become  red 
and  inflamed,  similar  to  those  of  a 
cat;  his  tongue  becomes  dry,  black, 
swollrn,  ulcerated,  and  furrowed; 
his  face  resembles  a  half-burnt  coal, 
furrowed  with  hard  knobs,  greenish 
at  bottom,  and  w^hite  at  the  top. 
The  body  becomes  so  hot,  thnt  a 
fresh  apple  held  but  an  hour  in  the 
hand,  will  be  considerably  withered 
and  wrinkled;  the  parts  infectCri  be< 


L  E  P 


100     ) 


L  E  P 


come  insensible,  and  at  the  last  the 
nose,  fingers,  privy  members,  &c. 
fall  off,  being  rotten.  In  the  lOth 
and  11th  centuries,  this  terrible  dis- 
temper was  common  in  Europe,  in- 
troduced, I  suppose,  by  the  Arabs 
and  Moors;  and  it  is  said  there  was, 
according  to  IMatthew  Paris,  9,000 
hospitals  for  lepers.  At  present,  it 
is  scarcely  known  in  Europe,  unless 
we  suppose  the  venereal  disease  to 
be  a  kind  of  it.  Some  time  ago,  a 
le^)rosy  resembling  that  of  the  Afri- 
cans, terribly  afflicted  the  people  of 
Barbadoes,  especially  the  blacks. 

The  Jews  generally  supposed  the 
leprosy  to  be  inflicted  by  God,  for 
the  punishment  of  some  horril>le 
crimes.  For  reproaching  Moses,  the 
distinguished  deputy  of  God,  was  IMi- 
riam  infected;  for  a  treacherous  and 
dishonest  mode  of  procuring  clothes 
and  money,  was  Gehazi  smitten; 
and  for  profanely  presuming  to  offer 
incense,  was  king  Uzziah  punished 
with  it,  Numb.  xii.  2  Kings  v.  2 
Chron.  xxvi.  Moses  directs  no  me- 
dicine for  the  cure  of  it ;  and  it  does 
not  appear  that  the  Jews  applied 
any  remedies,  but  waited  for  the 
healingof  it  only  from  God.  When- 
ever a  Hebrew  suspected  himself, 
or  was  suspected  by  others,  to  be 
infected  with  this  fearful  (lisease,  he 
presented  himself  for  inspection  to 
the  priest,  Avho,  in  trying  him,  was 
in  no  danger  of  catching  the  plague. 
A  freckle,  a  boil,  a  spot,  or  scab  in 
the  skin,  or  the  falling  off  of  part  of 
the  hair,  were  no  certain  tokens  of 
leprosy.  Nevertheless,  the  suspect- 
ed person  was  to  wash  himself  and 
clothes  in  water.  A  swelling  with 
a  white  spot,  bright  and  reddish, 
created  strong  suspicions;  in  which 
case,  the  leper  was  to  be  shut  up 
seven  daj'^s,  and  at  the  end  thereof 
reinsi>ected  by  the  priest.  If  the 
hair  in  the  sore  had  turned  white  or 
yellow,  if  the  plague  was  in  sight 
deeper  than  the  skin,  if  it  continued 
to  spread  in  the  flesh  after  the  first 
inspection,  if  there  was  quick  raw 
Hesh  in  the  swollen  part,  if  there 
Was  a  white  reddish  sore  in  the  bald 


head,  the  ])riest  ])ronounced  him  un- 
clean ;  and  as  the  disease  was  ex- 
tremely infectious  to  such  as  touched 
or  drank  after  those  who  had  it,  he 
was  exicluded  from  the  city  or  camp 
till  God  should  heal  him,  and  waa 
obliged  to  cover  his  upper  lip,  and 
call  out  to  every  body  that  was  com- 
ing near  to  him,  that  he  was  unclean. 
— If,  on  the  second  inspection,  the 
sore  was  not  in  ?ight  deeper  than  the 
skin,  if  it  had  spread  nothing  during 
the  seven  days,  if  the  hair  of  the  in- 
fected place  was  not  turned  white, 
or  if  the  plague,  being  thrown  out 
from  the  inside,  had  covered  the 
whole  body  with  a  universal  leprosy, 
the  |)riest  pronounced  him  clean; 
only  he  was  to  w  ash  himself  in  wa- 
ter, on  account  of  his  scabs. 

When  it  pleased  God  to  heal  one 
that  had  been  pronounced  unclean, 
the  priest  went  out  of  the  camp  or 
city,  and  inspected  him.  For  his 
ceremonial  j)urgation,  two  birds 
wer^  taken  :  the  one  was  slain  over 
a  vessel  full  of  fresh  water,  mingled 
with  cedar-wood,  scarlet  wool,  and  . 
hyssop.  The  other  bird  was  di[)ped 
into  this  mixture  of  water  and  blood, 
and  then  dismissed  to  fly  whither  it 
pleased.  The  healed  leper  was  seven 
times  sprinkled  with  the  mingled 
blood  and  water.  He  then  shaved 
off  all  the  hair  of  his  body,  washed 
his  clothes  and  flesh  in  water;  after 
which,  he  might  come  into  the  city 
or  camp,  but  not  into  his  own  house. 
On  the  7th  day,  he  again  shaved  and 
washed  himself.  On  the  8th,  he 
offered  two  he-lambs,  and  one  ewe- 
lamb,  for  a  trespass-offering,  burnt- 
offering,  and  sin-oflering,  ^vith  a 
quantity  of  oil;  or,  if  poor,  offered 
one  lamb,  and  two  young  doves. 
Part  of  the  blood  of  his  trespass- 
offering  was  b}^  the  priest  sprinkled 
on  the  tip  of  his  right  ear,  and  on 
his  right  thumb,  and  right  toe.  Af- 
ter sprinkling  some  of  the  oil  seven 
times  towards  the  taliernacle,  the 
above  parts  of  the  leper's  bodj"^  were 
anointed  with  another  part,  and  the 
rest  was  poured  on  his  head;  and 
after  the  offering  of  the  burnt-offer^ 


L  E  P 


(     101     ) 


LET 


iiig  and  sin-offeriug,  he  was  dismiss- 1  the   offering  of  birds,  removetl    the 
td,  logo  to  his  house,  or  to  the  hou-^eiforcmonial  defilement. — Did  not  this 


of  tiod,  whenever  lie  pleased. —  Did 
not  this  leprosy  re[)resent  the  cor- 
ruption of  our  nature,  in  the  reiijn- 
ing  power  of  it,  and  w  Inch  is  of  a 
most  ilreadful,  defiling,  spreading, 
and  ohstinate  nature,  separating  from 
God  ?  Inward  uprightness,  bitter 
repentance  for  and  hearty  striving 
against  sin,  and,  particularly,  an  af- 
lecling  sense  of  the  universal  vile- 
ness  of  our  heart  and  life,  are  cer- 
tain tokens  that  we  are  not  willingly 
under  the  dominion  of  sin;  yet  every 
appearance  of  evil  must  lead  us  to 
wash  ourselves  in  the  fountain  open- 
ed for  sin  and  uncleanness.  Nor 
is  there  any  deliverance  from  this 
plague,  but  by  the  grace  of  God, 
and  through  the  application  of  Je- 
sus's  blood  and  S|)irit  to  our  soul. 
— Perhaps  the  leprosy  of  a  garment 
was  produced  by  a  small  kind  of  ver- 
mi/>;  if  greenish  or  reddish  spots 
rendered  a  garment  suspicious,  tlie 
priest  was  to  inspect  it,  and  shut  it 
up  seven  days.  If,  on  his  second  ex- 
amination, he  found  the  tokens  of  le- 
prosy spread,  he  tore  out  the  infected 
threads,  and  ordered  it  to  be  washed. 
If  the  tokens  were  not  spread,  he  or- 
dered it  to  be  washed; — and  if,  on 
the  third  inspection,  he  found  the 
tokens  fleparted,  it  was  again  wash- 
ed, and  declared  to  be  clean.  If,  on 
the  third  or  fourth  examination,  the 
plague  continued  after  the  infected 


leprosy  hint,  that  oiisdnacy  in  wick- 
edness brings  ruin  and  (lestruction 
upon  families,  nations,  churches,  and 
the  world  itself?  Lev.  xiii.  and  xiv. 

LET,  is  expressive,  (1.)  Of  com- 
mand. Dent.  V.  12.  (2.)  Of  en- 
treaty, 2  Sam.  xiii.  6.  (3.)  Of  per- 
mission. Gen.  xlix.  21.  (4.)  Of  in- 
trusting, or  assigning  by  lease,  Matt, 
xxi.  33.  To  let,  also  signifies  to 
hinder,  keep  back,  Isa.  xliii.  13.  2 
Thess.  ii.  7. 

LETTER,  (1.)  A  character  in  the 
alphabet  used  in  writing.  The 
Egyptian  method  of  writing,  by  a  kind 
of  pictures  of  the  things  themselves, 
Avas  perhaps  the  most  ancient  in  the 
world.  The  Chinese  method  of  using 
a  distinct  character  for  every  word, 
somewhat  like  our  short-hand,  is  also 
very  ancient;  but  it  is  very  incom- 
modious, as  it  would  take  a  man's 
life  to  learn  the  half  of  their  80,000 
letters,  unless  these  letters,  as  some 
say,  he  formed  from  simple  ones, 
by  stated  rules.  The  invention  of 
letters,  that  may  be  combined  in  so 
many  thousand  different  forms,  is  so 
marvellous  and  useful,  that  I  am  al- 
most led  to  believe  God  himself  the 
author  of  it,  perhaps  in  the  Tables 
of  tiie  Law.  No  letters  were  known 
in  Europe,  till  Cadmus,  about  the 
time  of  David,  brought  1 6  of  the  Phe- 
nician  characters  hither.  From  these 
the  Greek,  Roman,   Coptic,  Gothic, 


threads  had  been  torn  out,  the  whole; and  Sclavonic  characters,  were  form- 
garment  was  to  be  burnt  in  the  fire. }  ed,  one  after  another.  From  the 
Prol3ably  the  leprosy  of  a  house  was  { HebrcAv  or  Assyrian  characters,  the 
produced  by  vermin  of  the  same  |Pheuician,  Syrian,  Samaritan,  Ethio- 
kind;  if  pale  reddish  spots  in  the! pic.  and  Arabic  characters,  seem  to 
wall,  lower  than  the  rest,  rendered  have  been  formed,  though  Avith  con- 
a  house  suspicious,  the  priest,  after  siderable  alterations.  (2.)  A  mes- 
insi)ecting  it,  shut  it  up  seven  days,  senger  or  epistle  sent  by  one  person 
If,  on  the  7th,  the  symptoms  were  to  anotiier,  2  Sam.  xi.  14.  (3.) 
increased,  the  infected  materials  were  Learning,  knowledge  of  the  niyste- 
carefully  removed,  i.nd  pure  ones  rious  sense  of  God's  word,  John  vii. 
put  in  their  place.  If  the  leprosy!  15.  (4.)  The  outside  of  things;  so 
again  appeared,  the  house  vras  de-  circumcision  of  the  flesh  is  called 
molished,  and  its  materials  cast  into  circumcision  of  the  Idler,  Rom.  ii. 
an  unclean  place.  If  the  house  was! 2Q.  The  outward  observance  of 
not  cleansed,  a  sprinkling  with  the  \  Moses's  ceremonies,  outward  service 
mixture  of  the  water  and  blood  of  i  of  God,  or  walking  according  to  our 


LEV 


(     102     ) 


LEV 


corrupt  lusts,  is  called  the  oldness  of 
file  letter,  Rom.  vii,  6.     See  Kibi,, 

LEVI,  joined,  associated,  or  added 
to  him,  the  third  son  ol"  Jacob  by 
Leah,  born  about  A.  M.  2254.  He 
assisted  Simeon  in  murdering  the  She- 
chemites,  and  tor  that  reason,  had  his 
father's  dying  denunciation,  that  his 
seed  should  be  scattered  among  the 
Hebrew  tribes  in  Canaan,  Gen.  xxxiv. 
25—33.  and  xlix.  5 — 7.  He  had  three 
sons,  Gershon,  Kohath,  and  Merari, 
and  a  daughter  called  Jochebed, 
Himself  died,  aged  137  years;  but 
his  three  sons  produced  three  differ- 
ent families.  At  their  return  from 
Egypt,  the  tribe  of  Levi  was  by  far 
the  least  of  all  the  Hebrew  s,  consist- 
ing of  22,273  males  above  a  month 
old.  The  Levites  faithfully  cut  off 
their  idolatrous  friends  for  their  wor- 
shipping of  the  golden  calf.  God 
rewarded  their  zeal,  by  constituting 
them  his  sacred  ministers. — Aaron 
and  his  male  descendants  were  cho- 
sen to  be  priests.  The  rest  of  the 
tribe  Avere  made  a  kind  of  inferior 
agents  in  holy  things.  As  after  five 
years  of  probation,  they  were  to  enter 
their  service  at  30  years  of  age,  and 
leave  it  at  50,  no  more  than  8,560 
were  fit  for  service.  In  their  conse- 
cration, they  were  sprinkled  with  the 
holy  water  of  separation;  they  shaved 
off  iheir  hair,  and  washed  their 
clothes:  they  brought  two  bullocks 
to  the  door  of  the  tabernacle;  the 
first-born  Israelite^,  or  some  in  their 
name,  laid  their  hands  on  them,  to 
denote  their  resigning  to  them  their 
statio*!  in  the  public  worship  of  God. 
The  Leviles  then  laid  their  hands  on 
the  two  young  bullocks,  and  the  one 
Avas  offered  for  a  burnt-offering,  and 
the  other  for  a  sin-offering.  To  sig- 
nify their  being  dedicated  to  the 
service  of  the  God  of  all  the  earth, 
they  -were  made  to  walk  to  and  fro 
before  the  tabernacle ;  and  thus  en- 
tered on  their  work,  which,  in  the 
wilderness,  was  to  bear  the  things 
pertaining  to  the  tabernacle  :  and  in 
Ihat,  and  after  ages,  to  take  care  of 
the  tabernacle,  temple,  and  furniture 
'hereof,  and  to  teach  the  people,  and 


assist  the  priests.  They  had  no  sa 
cred  apparel :  but,  though  the  tribe 
of  Levi  were  but  about  the  40th  part 
of  the  people,  thej^  had  48  cities, 
with  the  suburbs  thereof,  assigned 
for  their  dwelling,  and  had  about  tlie 
fifth  part  of  the  Hebrew  incomes, 
Exod.  v'u  and  xxxii.  16 — 25,  26 — 
29.  Numb.  iii.  and  iv.  and  viii.  and 
X.  and  xviii.  Did  these  Levites  prefi- 
gure Jesus  ?  From  the  earliest  ages  of 
time  he  was  promised;  early  was  he 
circumcised  and  initiated;  and,  at 
twelve  years  he  l>egan  his  service 
in  the  temple.  At  30  years  of  age, 
he  entered  on  his  public  service,  and 
having  wasted  his  body  till  it  seems 
he  appeared  as  one  of  fifty,  he  re- 
tired., by  death,  resurrection,  and 
ascension,  to  his  eternal  state.  He 
bears  all  his  people's  cares,  and 
supports  the  whole  frame  and  go- 
vernment of  the  church ;  and  is  him- 
self crowned  with  glory  and  honour. — 
When  Joshua  divided  Canaan  to  the 
Hebrew  tribes,  he  gave  the  Levites 
no  inheritance,  as  they  were  to  live 
on  sacred  oblations;  but  they  had 
48  cities  scattered  among  the  other 
tribes,  with  a  field  of  3,000  cubits 
around  for  pasture  and  gardens.  Six 
of  these  cities  were  cities  of  refuge, 
and  other  of  them  were  retained  by 
tlie  Canaanites.  Their  tithes  too, 
and  others  dues,  were  but  ill  paid,  as 
often  as  religion  was  in  a  languish- 
ing condition,  Josh.  xx.  and  xxi. 
with  Judg.  i.  Neh.  xiii.  Soon  af- 
ter, a  vagrant  Levite  helped  Mi- 
cah,  and  the  Danites  of  Laish,  to 
introduce  idolatrj' ;  and  his  descend- 
ants were,  for  many  ages,  priests 
to  that  idol.  Another,  by  the  af- 
fair of  his  Avicked  Avife  abused  at 
Gibeah,  occasioned  the  death  of 
40,000  Israelites,  and  of  the  Avhole 
tribe  of  Benjamin  except  600,  and 
all  the  inhabitants  of  Jabesh-gilead 
except  400  virgins,  Judg.  xvii.  to 
xxi.  Eli  and  Samuel,  both  Levites, 
were  judges  of  Israel,  1  Sam.  i. — 
viii.  8,300  Levites  attended  at  Da- 
vid's coronation;  and,  in  his  days, 
they  began  to  enter  on  their  service 
at  25  years  of  age,  and  there  Avere 


LEV 


(      103     ) 


LEV 


ot  them   fit  tor  service;  38,000;  ofi 
whom  24,000  were  appointed  to  of- 1 
ficiate  in  the  service  of  the  tabernH-! 
cle  or  temple;  (3,000  of  them  were 
juils^es ;    4,000    were    porters;     and 
4,000    were    sacred     musicians.     It 
seems,   that  the  otTiciating  Levites, 
as  well  as  the  priests  and  singers,  it" 
not  also  the  porters,   were    divided 
into  24  classes,  and  had  their  turns 
of   service  assigned  them  by  lot,  1 
Chron.  xii.  and  xxiii. — xxvi. 

When  Jeroboam,  the  son  of  Nebat, 
established  his  idolatrous  worship  of 
the  golden  calves,  many  of  the  Le- 
vites left  his  kingdom,  and  retired 
to  the  kingdom  of  Judah.  .Tehosha- 
pluit  dispersed  them  through  his  do- 
minions, along  Avith  some  of  his 
princes,  to  teach  the  peo])le.  Those 
of  Libnah  revolted  from  king  Jeho- 
ram.  Under  the  direction  of  Je- 
hoiada,  the  licvites,  being  furnished 
with  arms,  mightily  assisted  to  es- 
tablish Joash  on  the  throne.  In  He- 
zektalf  s  time  they  were  more  hearty 
in  promoting  reibrmation  than  the 
priests;  and  as  few  of  the  jn-iests 
sanctified  themselves,  the  Levites  as- 
sisted in  killing  the  burnt-olferings. 
Under  Josiah,  they  directed  the  re- 
pairs of  the  temple,  and  zealously 
assisted  at  the  solemn  passover,  2 
Chron.  xi.  12,  13.  and  xix.  and  xxi. 
10.  and  xxiii.  and  xxix. — xxxi.  and 
xxxiv.  and  xxxv.  A  considerable 
number  of  them  returned  from  Babj^- 
lon,  some  with  Zerubbabel,  others 
with  Ezra;  and  1,760  priests  and 
212  Levites  dwelt  at  Jerusalem, 
Ezra  ii.  40—42.  and  viii.  18,  19. 
1  Chron.  ix.  13.  Ten  of  them,  by 
Ezra''s  direction,  put  away  their 
strange  wives,  Ezra  x.  23,  24.  Un- 
der Nehemiah,  they  assisted  at  his 
solemn  fast  in  reading  the  law,  Neh. 
viii.  7.  and  ix.  4,  5.  and  1 7  of  them 
subscribed  his  covenant  for  reforma- 
tion, chap.  X.  About  this  time,  or 
DOt  long  after  it,  Nehemiah  ordered 
their  tithes  to  be  punctually  given 
them,  as  the  withholding  thereof  had 
obliged  them  to  desert  the  service  of 
the  temple,  and  betake  themselves 
to  civil  employments,  Neh.  sin.  10. 


— 13.  After  our  Saviour's  death,  wc 
find  the  tribe  of  Levi  in  the  utmost 
disortler;  the  high  priesthood  was 
disposed  of  to  the  highest  bidder; 
the  Levites  were  allowed  by  Agrippa 
to  wear  the  sacerdotal  robes  of  the 
common  priests,  and  the  porters  to 
become  singers. 

LEVIATHAN,  a  monstroirs  ani- 
mal ;  but  whetlier  it  be  the  crocodile, 
the  teethed  whale,  or  the  liuge  land 
dragon  is  not  agreed;  and  indeed 
all  the  three  might  be  known  to  Job. 
The  crocodile  is  of  the  lizard  kind, 
with  a  two-edged  tail,  and  triangular 
feet;  on  each  of  the  two  fore-feet  are 
four  toes,  and  on  the  hinder  ones  five. 
Crocodiles  grow  to  about  25  or  30 
feet  or  more  in  length,  and  it  is  said, 
some  grow  to  a  hundred,  and  they 
are  about  the  thickness  of  a  human 
body.  About  the  23d  degree  of 
north  latitude,  they  abound  in  Ame- 
rica, and  in  the  north  parts  of  Africa, 
and  no-where  more  than  in  the  river 
Nile,  in  the  land  of  Egypt.  They 
deposit  their  eggs,  which  are  not 
bigger  than  those  of  a  turkey,  in  the 
sand  on  the  shores,  that  they  may  be 
hatched  by  the  solar  heat :  and  un- 
less the  ichneumon  sought  out  and 
destroyed  their  eggs,  they  would 
quickly  plague  the  adjacent  coun- 
tries with  their  prodigious  increase. 
It  is  said,  the  Tentyrita?,  a  tribe  of 
the  ancient  Egyptians,  caught  them 
Avith  nets,  or  bridled  them ;  but  none 
else  were  so  daring;  they  are  so 
frightful,  that  it  is  said,  some  have 
been  terrified  out  of  their  wits  at  the 
sight  of  them.  It  is  extremely  dan- 
gerous to  awaken  one  that  is  asleep. 
They  are  covered  with  scales,  like  to 
a  coat  of  mail,  almost  impenetrable, 
and  which  cannot  be  separated ;  only 
their  belly  is  soft,  and  easily  pierced. 
They  have  scarcely  any  tongue;  but 
their  teeth,  to  the  number  of  3fc),  if 
not  GO,  are  very  sharp  and  terrible, 
and  are  closely  joined  together.  Their 
mouth  can  take  in  a  whole  man,  or 
even  a  cow.  Their  eyes  are  spark- 
ling, especiall}'  when  they  sun  them- 
selves, and  sneeze.  Their  breath  is 
excessive  warm,  ami  is  emitted  like 


LEV 


(     104     ) 


LEV 


sinoke ;  and  with  their  motion  they 
occasion  a  troth  in  the  water.  They 
generally  live  on  fish ;  but  ordinarily 
lie  among  rushes  and  reeds,  and 
thence  dart  on  men,  or  land  ani- 
mals, and  drag  them  into  the  wa- 
ter, that,  being  drowned,  they  may 
be  the  more  easily  mastered.  Un- 
terrified,  they  will  attack  any  crea- 
ture, and  with  a  sweep  of  their  tail 
break  their  legs,  and  so  bring  them 
down ;  but  their  back-bone  being 
stitr,  they  can  only  run  straight  for- 
ward. In  cold  climates,  the  croco- 
diles are  less,  and  are  called  alliga- 
tors, and  their  flesh  is  said  not  to  be 
unsavoury  meat. 

Whales  are  much  larger  than  cro- 
codiles. Pliny  speaks  of  one  in  the 
Red  Sea,  or  Arabian  river,  600  feet 
long,  and  360  broad:  and  Pontop- 
pidan  says,  there  are  of  them  in  the 
north  seas  of  100  fathoms  long,  and 
mentions  a  monster,  called  th&  Kra- 
ken,  still  far  larger.  But  ordinary 
whales  are  from  50  to  100  feet  in 
length.  They  breathe  by  lungs,  bring 
forth  their  young  alive,  and  suckle 
them,  and  carry  them  along  with 
them.  Their  body  is  thick,  their 
head  very  large,  the  lower  jaw 
larger  than  the  other ;  their  eyes  are 
small,  like  those  of  a  bullock,  and 


shores,   and  can  plunge  into  rivers 
and  seas.    They  are  exceedingly  big 
and   terrible    in   their    appearance. 
Their  jaws  are  wide,  their  tongue 
three-forked :   they  have  three  rows 
of  sharp  teeth,  and  are  all  over  co- 
vered with  hard  scales,  impenetrable 
to   arrows  or  darts.      Their  breath 
is  fiery,  and  eyes  flaming.    They  are 
terrible  to,  and  fearless  of  every  other 
animal ;    will  attack  and  conquer  an 
elephant.  That  one  which  at  Bagrada 
was  like  to  have  destroyed  the  Roman 
army,  is  said  to  have  been  120   feet 
long,  and  was  destroyed  by  engines 
that  threAv  great  stones  at  it.     The 
kings  of  Egypt,  if  not  also  of  As- 
sj'ria,  are  likened   to  this  monster, 
which  is  also  called  a  dragon,  and 
serpcnU  to  denote  their  terrible  and 
destructive   influence,    Psal.    Ixxiv. 
13,  14.  Ezek.  xxix,  3.  Isa.  xxvii.  1. 
LEVITICUS,  the  third  book  of 
Moses,  so  called,  because  it  chiefly 
consists  of  laws  relative  to  the  Le- 
vitical  priesthood.     In  the  first  seven 
chapters,  are  prescribed  the  laws  of 
the  various  oflieriags.     In  the    next 
three   we  have  an  account  of  the 
consecration  of  Aaron  and  his  sons, 
the  death  of  Nadab  and  Abihu,  and 
some  rules  relative  to  priests'  mourn- 
ing,   and    their   drinking   no  wine. 


placed  at  a  great  distance  from  one  during  their  attendance  on  their  sa- 


another;  their  tail  is  a  little  forked 
From  their  fat  is  made  oil  and  sper 
maceti.  Some  whales  have  jaws  12 
or  14  feet  long,  and  teeth  of  6,  8,  or 
12  feet  in  length,  which  closely  join 
into  one  another.  Of  the  many  kinds 
of  whales,  the  teethed  ones  are  re- 
presented as  the  most  fierce,  and 
seldom  taken.  They  have  eyes  of 
about  a  foot  long,  and  some  say  ten 
or  twelve  times  longer,  of  a  reddish 
colour,  like  that  of  the  morning  sky. 
They  often  lie  among  hard  rocks  and 
ice,  and  are  extremely  bold  and 
daring.  They  throw  great  quantities 
of  water  out  of  their  mouth,  and 
sometimes  a  glistering  and  oily  mu- 
cus,  called  spermaceti. 

Land-dragons  were  known  among 
the  Troglodytes  on  the  banks  of  the 
Red  Sea.  They  haunt  lukes  and  sea- 


cred  work.  From  chap.  xi.  to  xv. 
are  inserted  the  laws  relative  to  ce- 
remonial purification  from  unclean- 
ness,  of  eating,  or  touching  un- 
clean beasts,  and  of  child-birth,  le- 
|)rosies,  running  issues.  In  chap, 
xvi.  are  the  laws  relative  to  the  fast 
of  expiation.  In  the  six  following 
chapters  are  the  laws  prohibiting 
the  eating  of  blood,  the  sacrificing 
to  devils,  and  all  alliances  with  the 
Canaanites,  and  all  heathenish  super- 
stition, divination,  idolatry',  theft, 
perjury,  incest,  sodomy,  and  beasti- 
ality ;  and  those  requiring  four  years 
abstinence  from  the  fruit  of  trees, 
or  leaving  of  gleanings  to  strangers, 
and  the  poor;  and  those  regulating 
the  blemishes  which  rendered  priests 
unfit  for  sacrificing,  or  eating  the 
more   sacred   food,  and  which  ren- 


I.  I  B 


(    105    ) 


L  I  B 


tiered  animals  unfit  to  be  sacrificeil. 
In  cha[).  xxiii.  are  (lie  laws  lor  the 
sacred  leasts,  the  pas^sover,  pentecost, 
feast  ot  trumpets,  least  of  expiation, 
and  feast  of  tabernacles.  Inch.  xxiv. 
we  have  an  instance  of  blasphemy, 
and  the  laws  aftjiointing  death  for  that 
crime.  In  chap.  xxv.  the  rules  of 
the  years  of  release  and  jubilee  are 
prescribed.  In  chap.  xxvi.  are  |)ro 
niises  of  mere}'  to  the  obedient  and 
penitent,  and  fearful  threatenings  of 
vengeance  against  the  disobedient 
and  obstinate.  The  last  regulates  the 
<le voting  of  things  to  the  Lord,  and 
of  redeeming  what  had  been  devoted. 
All  these  laws  were  given  at  the  foot 
of  Sinai,  j)erhaps  in  a  few  days  after 
the  erection  of  the  tabernacle.  To 
a  carnal  reader,  nothing  ap|)ears 
more  trilling  than  some  parts  of  this 
book,  but  to  one  truly  spiritual,  the 
book  is  a  rich  mine  of  the  gospel  of 
Christ. 

LEVY,  to  raise  by  taking  a  part 
from  among  the  rest,  as  tribute  is 
raised  from  the  rest  of  the  incomes 
of  the  nation;  or  an  anin^  or  num- 
ber of  workmen,  raised  in  a  nation, 
1  Kings  ix.  21.  and  v.  13,  14. 

LEWD,  openly  wicked,  given  to 
the  most  shameless  course  of  un- 
cleanness,  Acts  xvii.  5.  Ezek.  xxiii. 
41.  In  thy  filthiness  is  lewdness ; 
thou  art  become  shameless  and  ob- 
stinate in  thy  wickedness,  idolatry, 
ttc.  Ezek.  xxiv.  13.  Lewdness  is 
discovered  and  home,  when  sinners 
are  openly  and  heavily  punished  for 
it,  Ezek.  xxiii.  35. 

LIBERAL,  ready  to  give  to  the 
poor  and  needy.  Men  stand  by  li- 
beral things,  as  showing  kindness  to 
the  poor  is  an  especial  mean  of  jn-o- 
curing  and  establishing  one's  Avealth, 
Isa.  xxxii.  8.  Prov.  xi.  25.  God 
giveth  liberally/,  with  a  willing  and 
bountiful  heart,  and  in  large  abun- 
dance, James  i.  5.  Solomon  asked 
wisdom,  and  God  gave  him  wisdom, 
riches,  and  honour.  Jacob  asked 
but  food  and  raiment  for  his  jour- 
ney, and  God  increased  him  into  tAVO 
bands.  Abraham  asked  but  one  son, 
and   lo,  his  iscue  was  a?  the  star?  of 

Vol.  II. 


I  heaven  for  multitudjc.  The  prodigal 
'  thought  it  much  to  be  received  as  a 
,  hired  servant :  and  liehold,  a  robe,  a 
ring,  and  joy  on  liis  return,  as  a  son 
j  that  was  lost,  but  is  found;  was  dead, 
i)ut  is  alive  again.  The  debtor  only 
sought  forbearance,  and  the  creditor 
freely  forgives  him  all  his  debt,  1 
Kings  iii.  13.  Gen.  xxviii.  20.  xxxii. 
10.  and  XV.  and  xxii.  Luke  xv. 
Matt,  xviii.  2G. 

LIBERALITY,  is  either  what  is 
given  to  the  poor,  or  the  bountiful 
disposition  wherewith  one  gives  it, 
1  Corinthians  xvi.  3.  and  2  Cor. 
viii.  2. 

LIBERTY,  (1.)  Freedom  to  do 
or  forbear  any  particular  action,  aa 
one  pleaseth,  1  Cor,  vii.  39.  and  viii. 
9.  and  x.  29.  (2.)  Freedom  from 
human  slaverj'-  or  imprisonment. 
Lev.  xxv.  10.  Heb.  xiii.  23.  (3.), 
Freedom  from  the  ceremonial  law. 
Gal.  v.  1.  (4.)  The  happy  state  oC 
eternal  glory,  where  saints  are  deli- 
vered from  ail  sorrow  and  sighing, 
Rom.  viii.  21.  JVlierc  the  Spirit  of 
the  Lord  is,  there  is  liberty,  i.  e.  free- 
dom from  the  slavery  of  sin,  Satan  3 
and  condemnation;  and  great  bold- 
ness in  approaching  to  God,  2  Cor. 
iii.  1 7.  It  is  heinously  wicked,  to 
use  Christian  liberty  to  the  hurt  of 
our  weak  brethren,  or  to  cover  a 
loose  practice,  Rom.  xiv.  1  Cor.  viii- 
1  Peter  ii.  16. — Liberty  of  con- 
science, is  a  freedom  from  restraint 
in  our  choice  of,  and  judgment  about 
matters  of  religion  :  the  contrary  to 
which  is  spiritual  tyranny,  inconsis- 
tent witli  the  nature  of  religion, 
which  should  be  free  and  voluntary, 
or  a  rational  service. 

LIBERTINES,  such  Jews  aa 
were  free  citizens  or  burgesses  of 
Rome :  they  had  a  separate  syna- 
gogue at  Jerusalem,  and  sundry  of 
them  concurred  in  the  persecution  of 
Stephen,  Acts  vi.  9. 

LIBNAH,  white,  ov  whiteness,  (1.) 
A  place  in  the  Arabian  desert,  where 
the  wandering  Hebrews  encamped, 
Numb,  xxxiii.  20.  (2.)  A  city  of 
Judah,  given  to  the  priests,  and 
v.'hich.  I  suppose,  stood  about  12  ^r 
O 


L  1  C 


106     ) 


L  I  F 


t6  miles   south-west  of   Jerusalem,  l  residence   U  about  tlie  pubes.     Au- 


Joshua  xxi.  13.  The  inhabitants 
of  it,  being  otTended  with  Jehoram 
for  his  idolatry  and  murder,  revolted 
from  his  government,  2  Kings  viii. 
22.  This  cily  sustained  a  terrible 
siege  from  Sennacherib,  Isaiah 
xxxiii.  8.  A'jout  300  years  alter 
Christ,  it  still  continued  as  a  village, 
and  was  called  Labiua,  if  not  also 
Lobna. 

LIBYA,  the  heart  of  the  sea,  gross, 
tvfal,  a  large  country  westward  of 
Egyi)t.     A  number  of  the  inhabitants 
lived  anciently  in  a  vagabond  manner, 
roving  from  place  to   [)lace.     They 
were,  we  suppose,  the  descendants  of 
Lehabim  the  son  of  Mizrairn,  and  are 
called  Lubirn.  The  eastern  part  of  Li- 
bya was  generally  subject  to  Egypt. 
The    Lubims   assisted    Shishak  and 
Zerah  in  their  warlike   exiieditions 
2  Chron.  xii.  3.  and  xvi.  S.     They 
assisted  Pharaoh-necho  and  Pharaoh- 
hoi>hrah,    against  the   Assyrians  or 
Chaldeans,    and  suft'ered    terrible  ra- 
vage and  ruin  by  the  latter,  Neh.  iii. 
9.  Jer.  xlvi.  9.  Ezek.  xxx.  5.     The 
western  Lib3''ans  had  dreadful  wars 
with  the  Carthagenians,  and  in  the  end 
ivere  miserably  ruined.     Some  Jews, 
who  for  ordinary  resided  in  Lybia, 
were  converted  by  Peter's  sermon  at 
Pentecost,    and    it    seem       carried 
Christianity  to  those  quarters,  where, 
for  some  ages  after,  we  find  a  Christian 
church:  but  which,  for  about  1200 
years  past,  has  scarcely  made  any  ap- 
pearance.     For  about    2000    years 
past,  the  country  has  been  enslaved 
by  the  Greeks,  Romans,  Saracens, 
and  Ottoman  Turks  in   their  turn. 
LICE,  in  zoology,  a  genus  of  in- 
sects, the  botly  of  which  is  lobated  at 
the  sides;  the  legs  are  six,  serving 
only  for  Avalliing ;  and  the  eyes  are 
two,  and  are  simple.     Most  animals 
are   infected   with  lice,    or  insects 
which  feed  upon  them  :  thus  sheep 
have  a  specie?,  oxen   another,  &c. 
and  mankind  are  not  free  from  them ; 
for,  besides  tlie  common  kind,  whose 
natural  habitation  is  in  the  heads  of 
children,     there    is    another    kind, 
iMle^  the  crab-louse,  whose  natural 


thors  also  reckon    the  death-watch 
among  the  number  of  lice. 

Swarms  of  lice  were  the  third  plague 
wherewith  God  punished  the  Egyp- 
tians, Exod.  viii.  10.  The  Hebrew 
word  UTD,  Chinnim,  which  the  Sep- 
tuagint  renders  Xy-viipei,  some  translate 
flicf},  and  think  them  the  same  with 
what  we  call  gnats.  Origen  says 
that  the  scni[)he  is  so  small  a  fly,  that 
it  is  hardly  perceptible  to  the  eye : 
but  Avhere  it  fixes,  it  causes  a  sharp 
stinging  pain.  It  is  the  conjecture 
of  Pererius,  and  apjiroved  by  Rivet, 
that  it  was  some  new  kind  ot  crea- 
ture called  by  an  old  name,  analo- 
gically :  however,  the  original,  ac- 
cording to  the  Syriac  and  several 
good  interpreters,  signifies  lice. 

LIE,  or  Lye,  (1.)  A  criminal 
falsehood,  uttered  with  a  design  to 
deceive,  Jndg.  xvi.  10.  (2.)  False 
doctrine,  John  ii.  21.  Rom.  iii.  7. 
All  lying,  falsehood,  and  equivo- 
cation are  condemned  in  scripture, 
under  pain  of  eternal  damnation, 
Exod.  23.  1,  7.  Rev.  xxi.  8.  An 
idolatrous  picture  or  image  of 
God,  is  called  a  lie,  as  it  gives  a  false 
:-tnd  deceiving  representation  of  him, 
Rom.  i.  25.  Great  men,  and  the 
houses  of  Aczib,  are  or  were  a  liCy 
vevy  unsubstantial,  and  ready  to  dis- 
appoint such  as  trusted  in  them, 
Psal.  Isii.  9.  Mic.  i.  12. 

LIEUTENANTS,  the  deputy-go- 
vernors of  the  Persian  king,  Ezra 
viii.  36.  Esth.  iii.  12. 

LIFE,  union  and  co-operation  of 
soul  with  body,  opposed  to  an  inan- 
imate state,  Eccl.  ii.  17.  this  is  natu- 
ral life,  and  which  employed  to  virtu- 
ous or  vicious  pu'"poscs  constitutes 
moral  or  immoral  life,  Rom.  viii.  (i. 
the  one  terminating  in  happiness, 
the  other  in  misery.     See  Live. 

LIFT,  (1.)  To  raise  higher.  Gen. 
vii.  17.  (2.)  To  render  more  ho- 
nourable and  conspicuous,  1  Chron. 
xiv.  2.  1  Sam.  ii.  7.  God  lifts  up 
himself,  or  lifts  up  his  feet,  when  he 
hastens  to  deliver  his  people,  Psal. 
Ixxiv.  3.  and  when  he  displays  his 
power  and  greatness,  and  overthrows 


L  1  a 


\ 


10/ 


; 


L  I  G 


his  and  Iiis  people's   enemies,  Psa.  i 
xciv.  2.    Isa.  xxxiii.  3,  10.     Christ; 
was  lifted  up,  wlien  lie  l»uii<r  on  the^ 
cross,  when  exaKed   to  heaven,  nnd' 
when  publicly  offered  in  the  sosjiel, 
John  viii.  28.   and  xii.   32,34.     He! 
and  his  people  lifl  up  the  head,  when ' 
they  are  fdled  with  joy,  glory,  and; 
honour.  Luke  xxi.  28.    Psa.   ex,  7.j 
Rlen  lifl  up  the  ci/cs,  when  they  view 
;in  oliject   caretitlly,    Hen.  xiii.  20. j 
Isa.  xl.  20.   or  when  they  pray  with' 
expectation  of  a  uracious  answer,  Ps. 
<;xxi.  I .    The  lifting  up  of  the  hands,  j 
imports  swearing.  Dent,   xxxii,  40. 
threatening,   Ezek.   xx.   15.    threat- 
ening and  oppression.  Job  xxxi.  21. 
invitation,  Isa.  xlix.  22.  blessing  of 
others.  Lev.  ix.  22.   prayer  to  God, 
Psa.  XX viii.   2.    applying  earnestlj' 
to  work,    Psa.   cxix.    48.  rebelling 
against  a  sovereign,   2  Sam.  xviii. 
28.    or    helping,     encouraging,    and 
comforting,  a  distressed  and  afflict- 
ed   brother,     IJeb.    xii.    12.       The 
liftuis;  up  of  the  heart  or  soul  to  God, 
imports  solemn  dedication  to  God, 
.joy  in  his  service,  and  earnest  praj'- 
cr  to  him,  2  Chron.  xviL  6.  Lam.  iii. 
41.   Psa.  XXV.  1. 

LIGHT.  (1.)  Of  small  weight; 
not  heavy.  Numb.  xxi.  5.  (2.)  Of 
small  moment,  value,  or  use,  1  Sam. 
xviii.  23.  1  Kings  xvi.  31.  Persons 
are  lis;ht,  when  they  are  inconsistent, 
vain,  frothy,  and  unchaste,  Judg.  ix. 
4.  Zeph.  iii.  4.  And  so  lischtness,  is 
either  frothiness  and  lewdness,  Jer. 
iii.  9.  and  xxiii.  32.  or  a  vain  and 
thoughtless  inconstancy  of  mind,  2 
Cor.  i.  1 7.  The  saints' afflictions  are 
hght ;  far  easier  to  be  borne  than 
Avluit  they  deserve,  and  than  what 
Christ  bore  for  them;  and  made 
easy  by  his  assistijig  and  suj)porting 
Ihem  ;  and  small,  in  comparison  of 
the  glorious  reward.  See  Bi  udi:n. 
To  act  light  by,  or  make  light  of  is 
to  mock  and  contemn,  Deut.  xxvii. 
10.    Matt.  xxii.  5. 

Light,  a  material  medium  of  sight, 
which  is  peculiarly  delightftil.  Its 
motion  is  extremely  quick,  and  is  said 
to  move  about  10  millions  of  miles  in 
a  raiante.     It  renders  other  bodies 


visible  and  agreeable,  Eccl.  xi.  V, 
After  G(id  had  formed  the  heavens, 
and  the  substance  of  the  earth,  he 
formed  light ;  and  by  including  it  in 
a  kind  of  luminous  cloud,  mo\ing 
roimd  the  earth,  or  having  the  earth 
moving  round  it.  he  divided  it  from 
the  darkness.  On  the  4th  day,  he 
made  the  sun,  moon,  and  stars,  to 
be  means  of  communicating  this  light 
to  our  loAver  world  ;  and  they,  and 
all  other  things  tending  to  give, 
transoiit,  or  receive  light,  as  win- 
dows, eyes,  sight,  candles,  and  re- 
turn of  the  day,  &c.  are  called  lights. 
Gen.  i.  3,  16.  1  Kings  vii.  5.  Psa. 
xxxviii.  10.  Job  xxiv.  14.  God  is 
light;  his  nature  is  infinitely  pure 
and  glorious;  he  has  all  wisdom, 
excellencj-,  and  fulness;  and  is  the 
author  of  all  knowledge  and  com- 
fort to  his  creatures,  1  John  i.  5. 
Isa.  X.  17.  Psa.  xxvii.  1.  He  is  w^ 
the  light,  possesses  his  own  excel- 
lencies; is  in  Christ;  aad  is  clearly 
manifested  in  his  word  and  works, 
1  John  i.  7.  Christ  is  the  light ;  he 
is  the  fountain  of  all  light  and  know- 
ledge, natural,  spiritual,  and  eternal, 
and  in  him  we  discern  every  thing 
important,  Luke  ii.  32.  The  eight 
of  God\s  countenance,  or  light  of  the 
Lorrf,  is  the  instruction  given  by  him, 
the  discoveries  of  his  glory  and  love, 
the  comforts  of  his  Spirit,  and  joy  o!' 
his  salvation,  Psa.  iv.  G.  Isa.  ii,  5. 
God's  judgments  are  as  the  light  that 
gocth  forth :  his  laws  are  clear  and 
plain,  and  his  sentence  and  punish- 
ments are  righteous,  pure,  speedy, 
and  irresistible,  Hos.  vi.  5.  John 
Baptist,  and  other  ministers,  are  call- 
e<l  light,  or  lights ;  1  hey  are  endow- 
ed with  the  knowledge  of  divine 
things,  and  are  means  of  instructing, 
directing,  and  comforting,  otliers, 
Johnv.  35.  Matt.  v.  II.  Haintsare 
com[)ared  to  light ;  they  have  the 
saving  knowledge  of  divine  things, 
and,  by  their  instruction  and  holy 
conversation,  are  excellent  means 
of  conveying  knowledge  and  com- 
fort to  others,  Eph.  v.  8.  I^uke  xvi. 
8.  Good  kings  are  called  light,  to 
denote    their    agreeable    splendour, 


L  I  a 


(     ^08     ) 


L  I  K 


a,nd  the  counsel  and  comfort  which 
their  subjects  receive  from  them, 
2  Sam.  xxi.  7.  A  son,  or  successor, 
is  called  light,  as  he  honours  and 
keeps  his  ancestors  in  view,  1  Kings 
xi.  36.  The  word  of  God,  particu 
larly  the  gospel,  is  a  light  or  a  lamp; 
it  discovers  to  us  divine  and  eternal 
things,  and  guides  us  to  glory  and 
happiness,  Psa.  cxix.  105.  Matt.  iv. 
16.  The  saving  knowledge  pro- 
duced by  God's  word  in  our  heart,  is 
light ;  we  thereby  discern  the  most 
glorious  and  eternal  objects,  and  are 
piade  wise  unto  salvation.  Prospe- 
rity, joy,  or  comfort,  is  called  light, 
and  light  of  life,  to  represent  the  ex- 
cellency, purity,  knowledge,  and 
comfort  thereof,  Col.  i.  12.  The 
«aints'  Avhole  new  covenant  state  is 
called  marvellous  light;  what  know- 
ledge, comfort,  and  happiness,  are 
therein  bestowed  1 1  Pet.  ij.  9.  The 
light  of  the  saints  shines  more  and 
more  tinto  the  perfect  dat/,  when  their 
inward  gifts  and  graces  increase,  and 
are  more  and  more  manifested  in 
their  holy  conversation,  Matt.  v.  16. 
Prov.  iv.  18.  Their  light  rejoiceth, 
•when  their  sound  knowledge,  grace, 
and  good  works,  delight  themselves 
and  others,  and  gradually  increase  in 
brightness,  Prov.  xiii.  9.  and  xv.  30. 
The  light  of  the  moon  shall  be  as  the 
light  of  the  sun,  and  the  light  cf  the 
sun  shall  be  as  the  light  of  seven 
days ;  great  shall  be  the  comfort  of 
the  Jews,  when  delivered  from  the 
Assyrians,  or  from  their  Chaldean 
captivity,  &c.  and  much  superior  to 
Hint  under  the  Old  Testament,  v.'ere 
the  spirirual  knowledge  antl  comfort 
of  the  New  Testament  church  in  the 
apostolic  age,  and  shall  be  in  the 
jnillennium,  Isa.  xxx.  96. 

LIGHTNING,  the  flash  of  fire 
that  attends  thunder.  The  motion 
thereofis  quick  and  majestic;  and  it 
is  called  God''s  light,  that  is  as  it  were 
spread  along  the  sky,  as  he  forms  it, 
and  it  is  grand  and  glorious,  Job 
xxviii.  26.  and  xxxvi.  30.  Christ's 
lace  is  as  lightning,  shining  agreea- 
bly to  his  people ;  but  is  awful  and 
terrible  to  his  euemies,  Dan.  s.  6. 


His  coming  to  destroy  the  Jews,  and 
judge  the  world,  will  be  as  lightning, 
very  sudden,  alarming,  and  have  a 
wide-spread  influence;  and  as  light- 
ning si>rings  from  the  east  even  unto 
the  west,  so  the  Roman  armies,  be- 
ginning on  the  north-east  of  the  Jew- 
ish country,  spread  ravage  and  ruin 
through  the  Avhole  of  it.  Matt.  xxiv.. 
27.  Luke  rvii.  24.  Divine  judg- 
ments are  likened  to  lightning :  how 
terrible  and  spreading !  and  how  of- 
ten in  the  execution  of  them,  cities 
are  set  on  flames,  and  burnt !  Rev. 
viii.  5.  and  xvi.  18.  and  xi.  19.  Sa- 
tan lalls  as  lightning  from  heaven, 
when  his  power  and  interest  are  sud- 
denly ruined,  Luke  xi.  18. 

To  Lighten,  (1.)  To  make  light 
by  unloading.  Acts  xxvii.  18.  (2.) 
To  make  to  see  or  shine;  or  to  fill 
with  comfort,  Psa.  Ixxvii.  18.  and 
xxxiv.  5.     See  Eklighten. 

LIGURE,  a  precious  stone,  which 
Theophrastes  and  Pliny  describe  un- 
der the  name  of  Ligurius;  and  say 
that  it  is  like  a  carbuncle,  of  a  bright- 
ness sparkling  like  fire.  St.  Epi- 
phanius  and  St.  Jerome  took  it  for 
a  kind  of  Hyacinth.  Some  have  as- 
serted that  it  is  the  same  as  Lyncu- 
rius,  or  the  Lynx-stone,  formed,  it  is 
said,  of  the  lynx's  urine,  which  is 
congealed  into  a  shining  stone,  as 
soon  as  it  comes  out  of  the  creature's 
body:  but  this  Pliny  himself,  who 
relates  it,  observes,  is  fabulous.  The 
Hebrew  word  for  this  stone  is  Les- 
chem;  nor  can  Ave  refer  it  to  any  class 
of  particular  gems,  as  we  find  no 
mention  of  it  under  this  name  in  any 
modern  fossil  history.  The  ligure 
was  the  first  stone  in  the  third  row 
upon  the  high  priest's  breastplate; 
and  upon  it  the  name  of  Gad  was 
inscribed,  Exod.  xxviii.  19. 

LIKEN.     See  Compare. 

LIKENESS,  similitude,  (1.)  The 
outward  form  of  any  thing,  Ezek.  i. 
5.  (2.)  An  image,  representing  a 
person  or  thing,  Deut.  iv.  12,  \5. 
(3.)  A  resemblance  betAve^n  one  per- 
son or  thing  and  another.  Acts  xiv. 
II.  Adam  Avas  made  after  the  like- 
ness of  God,  Avhich  consisted,  (1.)  lu 


L  1  K 


(     109     ) 


L  1  M 


his  Htilurc,  not  that  of  liis  body,  for 
tiiod  lias  no  liody;  but  tbat  of  his 
soul,  wliicli  was  an  active,  iiitclli- 
genl,  immortal  spirit;  anil  lienin 
resembling  iJod,  (he  Father  of  s;)i- 
rits.  (2.)  In  his /;/rta  and  rtJ///jflW///; 
let  Uri  make  man  in  our  image,  and 
let  him  have  dominion.  As  he  had 
the  government  ol  the  creatures,  he 
wan  as  it  were  God's  representative 
on  earth.  Yet  his  government  of 
liimself  by  the  freedom  of  la's  wilt, 
liad  in  it  more  of  God's  image,  than 
liis  government  of  the  creatures.  (3.) 
In  iiis  purilif  and  rectitude,  he  was 
vpriii^ht,  Eccles.  vii.  29.  He  had  an 
habitual  conformity  of  all  his  natural 
powers  to  the  whole  will  of  God. 
His  understanding  saw  divine  thiugs 
clearly,  and  there  were  no  errors  in 
his  knowledge;  his  will  complied 
readily  and  universally  with  the  will 
of  God,  without  reluctaney :  his  af- 
fections were  all  regular,  without  any 
inordinate  appetites  or  passions;  his 
thoughts  were  easily  fixed  to  the  best 
subjects,  and  there  was  no  vanity  or 
nngovcrnaiileness  in  them.  And  all 
the  inferior  ])ow  ers  w  ere  subject  to 
the  dictates  of  the  superior.  TJius 
holy,  thus  happy,  were  our  first  pa- 
rents in  having  the  image  of  God 
upon  them.  But  how  is  the  image  of 
God  upon  man  defaced !  how  great 
are  the  ruins  of  it ! 

But,  however  deeply  man  is  fallen, 
this  likeness  or  image  of  God  may  be 
recovered  through  Christ;  for  as  it 
consists  in  the  knowledge  of  God,  in 
rightcou.sness  and  true  holiness,  Eph. 
iv.  22-— 24.  Col.  iii.  10.  every  Chris- 
tian believer  is  called  to  exj)erience 
these,  and  all  the  blessed  fruits  of 
them.  The  Lord  renew  this  like- 
ness upon  our  souls  by  his  sanctify- 
ing grace ! 

Adam,  after  his  fall,  begat  Seth  in 
his  own  likeness,  corrupt  in  disposi- 
tions, as  well  as  liimsclf.  Gen.  i.  26. 
and  v.  3.  Jesus  was  sent  in  the 
likeness  of  sinful  flesh :  appeared  in 
outward  form  as  another  man,  Rom. 
viii.  3.  Moses  saw  ihe  similitude  of 
the  Lord;  had  a  singular  display  of 
♦lis  glory ;  or  poiliaps  saw  the  Se- 


cond Person  of  the  Godhead  in  tlic 

form  of  a  man,  but  siiw  not  the  lace, 
or  essential  glory,  of  God,  Numb, 
xii.  S.  'Vhe  b\i't:rr\\<  saw  no  simili- 
tude, that  is,  no  bodily  sluiDe  or  form 
of  God,  at  Sinai,  lieut.  iv.  12,  15. 
Those  who  have  not  sinned  after  the 
simiHtudc  of  Adanis  transgression, 
are  infants  who  b.ave  not  sinned 
actually  as  he  did,  Rom.  v.  1 4.  God 
used  similitudes  by  the  ministry  of 
(he  prophets:  he,  by  parables,  and 
comparison  of  things  spiritual  and 
future,  to  what  was  eartldy  and  pre- 
sent, instructed  the  Jews,  Hos.  X.  12. 

LILY,  one  of  the  principal  of 
flowers.  This  flower  consists  of  six 
leaves  formed  into  the  shape  of  a 
bell ;  the  pistil  is  in  the  centre  of  the 
flower,  and  becomes  an  oblong  and 
three-cornered  fruit,  containing  two 
rows  of  seed.  The  root  is  of  the  bul- 
bous kind.  Lilies  have  very  high 
flowers,  Jiud  many  spring  from  one 
root;  they  are  peculiarly  fragrant, 
coniely,  and  medicinal,  e3|)ecially 
the  roots  of  white  lilies  are  excel- 
leiat  for  softening  and  ripening 
swellings.  Tournefort  mentions  46 
kinds  of  lilies ;  and,  besides,  there  is 
the  lilij  of  the  valley,  which  has  but 
one  leaf,  formed  in  the  manner  of  a 
bell ;  and  of  which  there  are  seven 
kinds.  Lilies  were  so  plentiful  in 
Canaan,  that  it  seems  they  heated 
their  ovens  w^ith  Avithered  ones,  Mat. 
vi.  28,  30.  In  some  countiies,  lilies 
grow  to  the  height  of  four  feet ;  but 
their  neck  is  so  weak,  that  it  can 
scarcely  support  the  head. 

LIME,  a  kind  of  substance  formed 
from  chalk,  burnt  stones,  shells,  or 
bones,  &zc.  It  is  of  great  use  for 
building,  and  for  manuring  fields. 
One  of  the  kings  of  Moab,  having 
taken  a  king  of  Edom,  perhaps  that 
one  who  assisted  Jehoram,  either 
dead  or  alive,  burnt  his  bones  into 
lime,  Amos  ii.  1.  The  Assyrian 
army  was  like  the  burnings  of  lime. 
w  hen,  by  a  kind  of  pestilence,  they 
were  mostly  cut  ofl'  in  the  fire  of 
God's  vengeance,  Isa.  xxsiii.  12. 

A  LIMIT,  is  (he  utmost  boundary 
of  u  place.    The  limit  of  God's  house 


L  I  N 


(     110     ) 


L  I  0 


roond  about,  being  most  lioly^  im- 
ports, that  even  the  most  circum- 
stantial things  belonging;  to  the 
church  are  holy  in  themselves,  and 
tend  to  promote  holiness,  Ezek.  xliii. 
J2.  To  LIMIT,  is  to  point  out,  and 
fix,  Heb.  iv.  7.  To  limit  the  Holy 
One  of  Israel,  is  to  doubt  of,  or  defy 
lite  power  of  God,  as  to  its  going  be- 
yond certain  bounds,  which  we,  in 
onr  imagination,  fix  for  it,  Psa. 
Ixxviii.   41. 

LINlJ,  (1.)  A  cord  or  instrument 
to  measure  and  adjust  things  by, 
1  Kings  vii.  15.  Isa.  xxxiv.  17.  2 
Sam.  viii.  2.  (2.)  A  province,  or 
course  of  motion,  Psa.  xix.  4.  Thus 
the  apostles'  voice  went  to  the  ends 
of  the  earth ;  the  spread  of  the  gos- 
pel was  so  rapid,  that  the  words  of 
the  Psalmist  were  in  a  sense  appli- 
cable to  it  Rom.  X.  18.  To  boast 
ia  another  man's  line,  is  to  go  where 
&e  had  laboured,  and  pretend  he  had 
Bot  done  it,  2  Cor.  x.  16.  (3.)  A 
portion  which  is  as  it  were  mea- 
sared  out  by  lines,  Psa.  xvi.  6.  (4.) 
A  short  instruction,  that  might  be  as 
it  were  written  in  one  line,  Isa. 
sxviii.  10.  The  word  of  God  is  a 
measuring  line:  as  our  whole  con- 
duct, and  all  the  forms  and  ordinan- 
ces of  the  church,  must  be  adjuf-ted 
thereby,  Ezek.  xl.  3.  In  a  promise, 
the  stretching  oxd  of  the  line  iipon  a 
place,  imports  the  measuring  of  the 
gjotind  to  build  houses  on  it,  Jer. 
lixxt.  39.  Zech.  i.  16.  and  ii.  1. 
But  to  stretch  the  line  of  confusion 
end  stones  of  emptiness  on  a  place,  is 
to  render  it  altogether  a  Avaste,  Isa 
xxxiv.  11,  17.  Judgments  laid  on 
according  to  men's  deserts,  and  which 
lay  cities  razed  to  the  ground,  are 
called  a  line.  Lam.  ii.  8.  and  the  line 
cf  Samaria,  and  plummet  of  the  house 
of  Ahab,  is  such  ruin  as  Samaria  and 
the  family  of  Ahab  met  with,  2  Kings 
xxi.  13.  aud  to  lay  judgment  to  the 
line,  and  righteousness  to  the  plum- 
met, is  to  punish  people  according 
to  the  due  desert  ol'  their  deeds,  Isa. 
xsviii.  17. 

LINEX.      The     three     Hebrew 
words  for  it,  are  bad,  shesh,    and 


BUTZ.  Calmet  thinks,  the  first 
ought  to  be  rendered  linai,  and  of 
this  the  priests'  garments  co  'sisted; 
the  second  cotton,  of  whicii  the  cur- 
tains of  the  tabernacle  consisted;  and 
the  third,  the  silk  growing  on  the 
shell-fish  called  pinna ;  but  it  is  cer- 
tain that  the  priests'  coats  and  mitre 
are  sometimes  said  to  be  of  bad,  and 
sometimes  of  shesit,  which  infers 
that  both  words  signify  the  same 
thing,  Exod.  xxviii.  39.  Avith  Lev. 
xvi.  4.  Solomon  too  uses  butz,  to 
express  the  stuQ'  of  the  sacred  vails, 
for  which  shesh  is  put  at  other 
times,  2  Chron.  iii.  14.  Nor  can  I 
believe,  a  manufacture  of  fish  silk 
existed  so  early  at  Beersheba,  which 
lay  at  a  considerable  distance  from 
the  sea,  1  Chron.  iv.  21.  The  best 
linen  was  anciently  made  in  Egypt, 
as  that  country  afforded  the  finest 
flax ;  and  Solomon,  it  seems,  bought 
linen-yarn  in  Egypt,  and  established 
a  factory  for  weaving  it  in  Judea, 
Prov.  vii.  16.  1  Kings  x.28.  Christ, 
and  the  angels  who  destroy  anti- 
christ, are  represented  as  clothed  in 
pure  and  ivhite  linen,  to  show  the 
equity  and  holiness  of  their  conduct, 
Ezek.  ix.  2.  Rev.  xv.  6.  The  right- 
eousness of  the  saints,  their  holiness 
of  nature  and  life,  is  called^HC  linen, 
clean  and  white;  how  glorious  and 
ornamenting!  Rev.  xix.  8, 14. 

A  LION  is  the  strongest  and 
fiercest  of  beasts.  In  size,  he  is 
larger  than  a  mastiff;  his  head  is 
big,  his  breast  broad,  his  legs  thick 
and  strong,  his  claws  long  and  firm, 
he  is  of  a  yellowish  tawny  colour, 
and  has  a  large  mane  on  his  neck, 
the  want  of  which  makes  the  lioness 
appear  as  if  of  another  species.  Li- 
ons sleep  little,  and  with  their  eyes 
not  wholly  covered:  they  are  ex- 
ceedingly fierce,  and  their  roaring 
is  terrible.  When  provoked,  scarce- 
ly any  thing  can  withstand  Ihem: 
when  they  see  their  prej^,  they  ter- 
rify it  with  roaring,  that  it  cannot 
flee  away.  They  are  extremely  kind 
to  their  young  ones,  Avhich,  it  is  said, 
sleep  some  days  after  their  birth,  till 
the  roaring  of  the  lion  awakens  them. 


L  I  0 


(    ni    ) 


L  I  S 


Thoy  readily  spare  such  as  submit 
to  their  rncrcy,  and  tlirow  themselves 
at  their  feet,  but  cannot  endure  to 
be  looked    upon    asquint :    tiiey  are 
exceedingly  niindlul  of  favours  done 
them,    and   grattliil   to    their    bene- 
factors.    Lions     abound     not    only 
in  Lel)anou,  hut  also  in  the  thickets 
of   Jordan,  and  in    other  (ilaces 
Canaan,   where    there    were  woods. 
Samson  tore   a   lion  to  pieces  with 
his  hands,  Judg.  xiv.     David  killed 
both  a  lion  and  a  bear,  1  Sam.  xvii. 
21.     Benaiah  slew  a  lion  in  a  pit,  2 
Sam.  xxiii.   20.     A  lion  killed  the 
man  of  God  from  Judah,  who  pro- 
phesied   the    ruin  of  the  idolatrous 
altar  at  Bethel;  and,  contrary  to  na- 
ture,    spared   his  ass,  1  Kings  3riii. 
24 — 26.     Daniel   was  cast   into    a 
den   full   of    hungry   lions,    but  re- 
ceived no  hurt,  Dan.  vi.  27.    The 
Heathen   jjersecutors  often  exposed 
the  Christians  to  be  torn  by  lions, 
and  other  wild  beasts.     God  is  com 
pared   to  a  lion :    how    strong   and 
terrible!  how  he  tears  his  enemies 
and   protects  his  friends !  how  tear- 
ful the  voice  of  his  threateuings  and 
judgments !    how   great  the  terror  of 
his  chastisements!  Hos.  v.  14.  Amos 
i.  2.  and  iii.  8.     Christ  is  the  lion  cf 
the  tribe  of  Judah,  <lescending  from 
Judah  in  respect  to  his  manhood ;  he 
13  the  almighty  awakener  and  con- 
queror of  souls;  he  destroys  his  and 
his  people's  enemies,  Rev.  v.  5.  The 
church  is  likened  to  a  lio7i ;  strength- 
ened by  Gx)d,  she  overcomes,    and 
is  terrible  to  all  that  opjiose  her,  Mic. 
V.  8.  her  ministers,  especially  in  the 
primitive  ages,  were  like  lions,  bold, 
courageous,  and  active  in  their  work, 
and  conquered  multitudes  to  Christ 
Rev.  iv.  7.     The  saints  are  repre- 
sented  as  LIONS,  because  of  their 
boldness  and  activity  in  the  cause  of 
God,  Prov.  xxviii.  1.     The   tribes 
of  Judah  and  Dan  are   likened  to 
lions,   to  denote  their  courage,   acti- 
vity,   bravery,    and  conquests:    the 
tribe  of  Judah  had  kings  courageous 
and  terrible,  who  attacked  and  sub- 
dued their  enemies.     In  Samson  the 
Dauites,  as  /wws,  wiigbtily  subdued 


their  enemies  the  Philistine?,  G'eu. 
xiix.  9.  Deut.  xxxiii.  23.     'J'hc  de- 
vil   is   a  roarini^  lioni  ho  furiously 
goes   about  to    terrify    and   destroy 
mankind,   especially    the    saints  of 
Christ,   1   Pet.  v.  8.     Tyrajits,   oj)- 
pressors,  such  as  the  Assyrian,  Chail- 
dean,  and  Persian  conquerors,    and 
of i  the    four  last  kings   of  Judah,  arc 
called  lions:  how  cruelly  the  former 
prevailed,    and    ruined    the  nation* 
around!  and  how  did  the  lask  murdcr 
theirown  subjects!  Amos  iii.  8.  Nah. 
ii.  12.  Jer.  iv.  7.  and  v.  G.  Isa.  xxi- 
8.  Ezek.  xix.      Men  outrageous  in 
wickedness,  persecution,  and  oppres- 
sion, are   likened  to  lions^  as  they 
terrify,     tear,     and     murder     other 
persons,  Isa.  xi.  7.    Ezek.  xxii.  25. 
The  Chaldean  monarchy  was  as  a, 
lion:  what  a  proud,  f>owerfuI,   cou- 
rageous,  and   cruel    terror  to,    and 
destroj'er  of  nations!   Dan.  vii.    4- 
Pretended  difficulties  are  likened  to 
a  lion  in  the  way  and  streets :  they 
as  effectually  deter  the  slothful  front 
his   proper   work,    as  if  they  were 
real  lions,  ready  to  tear  him  to  pieces 
if  he  proceeded  in  his  course,  Prov. 
ii.  13.  and  xxvi.  13.     Job  and  his 
sons,  represented  as  tyrannic  oppres- 
sors, seem  to  be  the  lion  and  whelps 
pointed  at  as  ruined,  Job  iv.  10,  II. 
Will  a  lion  roar  when  he  hath   no 
prey  ? — Can  a  bird  fall  in  a  snare, 
where  no  gin  is  for  him? — Shedl  one 
take  up  a  snare,  and  have  taken  no- 
thing? God  and  his  prophets  do  not 
threaten  men  but  when  destruction 
is  coming,  and  sin  has  made  them  a  fi£ 
pre}'  for  his  wrath.     Judgments  do 
not  hapjien  without  God's  providen- 
tial direction,  nor  are  they  removed 
till  they  answer  this  end,  Amos  iii.  4, 
5.  The  threatening  words  and  provi- 
dences of  God,  the  wrath  of  a  king, 
and  llie  furious  noise  of  the  Assj^riaa 
and   other  invaders  of  Judah,   are 
very  terrilde  as  the  roaring  of  lionSf 
and  are  an  awful  presage  of  ruin  to 
such  as  they  roar  against,  Jer.  xxv- 
30.  Amos  i.  2.  and  iii.  8.  Prov.  xix^ 
12.  Isa.  V.  29. 

LIP.     See  Mouth. 

LIST,  to  think  fit,  Maft-xrij.  Vl^ 


L  I  V 


(    n2   ) 


L  I  V 


LISTEN,  to  hear  attentively,  Isa. 
slix.  1. 

LITTERS,  a  kind  of  close  wag- 
gons. Their  Hebrew  name  almost 
persuades  us  to  think  their  Ibrui  had 
beea  coj)ied  from  the  tortoise-shell, 
Isa.  Ixvi.  20. 

LITTLE,  SMALL,  (1.)  Small  in 
quantity,  Exod.  xvi.  18.  (2.)  Few 
in  number,  Exod.  xii.  4.  (3.)  Short 
in  measure  or  time,  2  Sam.  xvi.  1. 
Job  X.  20.  (4.)  Low  in  stature, 
Luke  xix.  3.  (5.)  Young  in  age, 
Esth.  iii.  13.  (6.)  Weak  in'streugth, 
Luke  xii.  28.  (7.)  Small  in  value 
or  importance.  Josh,  x  xii.  17.  (8.) 
Poor,  contemptible,  and  afflicted,  1 
Sara.  XV.  17.  Rev.  xx.  12.  Psal. 
cxix.  41.  Zech.  iv.  10. 

LIVE,  (1.)  To  be  in  a  state  of 
animation,  Gen.  xlv.  3.  (2.)  To 
recover  from  a  dangerous  sickness, 
John  iv.  50,  51.  (3.)  To  have  food 
and  other  things  proper  for  the  main 
tenance  of  life,  1  Cor.  ix.  13.  (4.) 
To  be  inwardlj'  quickened,  nourish 
ed,  and  actuated  by  the  influence  of 
Christ,  Gal.  ii.  20.  (5.)  To  be  greatly 
refreshed  and  comforted,  Psal.  xxii. 
16.  1  Thess.  iii.  8.  (6.)  To  have 
the  continued  possession  of  grace 
here,  and  glory  hereafter,  John  xiv. 
19.  God  lives  in  and  of  himself;  he 
has  incomprehensible  and  everlast- 
ing activity  and  hai)piness.  Numb. 
xiv.  21.  Christ  now  /irc5,  possessed 
of  all  happiness  for  himself.  Rev.  i. 
18.  He  lives  for  his  people,  perpe- 
tually interceding  for  them,  and 
conveying  to  them  his  purchased 
blessings,  Heb.  vii.  25.  and  he  lives 
in  them  as  a  quickening  Spirit;  he 
dwells  in  their  heart  by  faith,  and  is 
the  life-giving  principle  from  which 
alone  their  spiritual  activity  and  com- 
fort proceed;  and  they  live  on  him 
by  in'ith,  drawing  virtue  from  his 
Avord,  and  fulness,  for  their  quick- 
ening, activity,  and  comfort.  Gal.  ii. 
30.  Blen  live  not  hij  bread  alone, 
hut  by  cvcri{  word  that  procecddh  out 
of  the  jnouih  of  God.  Even  when 
there  are  no  apparent  means  of  sub- 
sistence, we  are  to  (rust  to  the  power 
and  promise  of  God  for  our  support 


in  life.  Matt.  iv.  4.  Men  live  not  to 
themselves,  but  unto  God,  when  they 
make  not  their  carnal  ease,  profit,  or 
honour,  their  great  end,  but  his  glo- 
ry, their  own  salvation,  and  the  edi- 
fication of  his  church,  Rom.  xiv.  7, 
8.  2  Cor.  V.  1 4, 1 5.  To  live  in  God's 
sis;ht,  is  to  be  preserved  by  his  favour, 
live  under  his  special  care,  and  in  the 
exercise  of  fearing  and  honouring 
him,  Hos.  vi.  2.  Gen.  xvii.  18.  Men 
live  by  the  sword,  when  they  support 
themselves  and  families  by  plunder 
or  war,  Gen.  xxvii.  40.  Peter  liv- 
ed after  the  manner  of  the  Gentiles, 
when  he  used  clean  provision,  with- 
out regard  to  the  ceremonial  law. 
Gal.  ii.  14.  Living,  is  either  (1.) 
that  which  has  life;  and  even  water 
that  runs  is  called  living,  1  Kings 
iii.  22.  Numb.  xix.  f  1 7.  Or,  (2.) 
A  man's  substance,  whereby  his  life 
is  maintained,  Luke  xv.  12.  Mark 
xii.  44.  Christ  is  a  living  stone,  and 
living  rvay :  he  has  life  in  himself, 
and  quickens,  and  brings  to  life  eter- 
nal, such  as  come  to,  unite  with,  and 
walk  in  him,  1  Pet.  ii.  4.  Heb.  x. 
20.  The  influences  of  his  Spirit  are 
called  living  water,  as  they  constantly 
issue  forth  fresh  virtue,  to  beget,  pre- 
serve, restore,  and  perfect  our  spiri- 
tual life,  John  iv.  10.  Rev.  xxii.  17. 
The  living,  are  either  such  as  live  in 
this  world,  Ezek.  xxvi.  20.  or  such 
as  live  in  the  eternal  state,  Matt, 
xxii.  32.  The  saints'  religious  ser- 
vice is  called  a  living  and  reasonable 
sacrifice,  to  distinguish  it  from  the 
ancient  sacrifices  of  beasts;  and  be- 
cause proceeding  from  a  soul  spi- 
tualiy  quickened,  it  is  performed  in 
a  lively  and  active  manner,  Rom. 
xii.  1. 

LIVELY,  full  of  life,  strong  and 
active,  Exod.  i.  19.  Psal.  xxxviii.  19. 
God's  oracles  are  lively;  proceed 
from  and  resemble  tlie  living  God, 
and  quicken  and  comfort  our  souls, 
Acts  vii.  38.  Saints  are  lively  stones^ 
quickened  by  the  Spirit,  and  active 
in  holiness,  1  Pet.  ii.  7.  and  their 
hoi)e  is  lively,  as  it  proceeds  from 
spiritual  life,  and  powerfully  excites 
to  holiness,  1  Pet.  i.  3. 


L  I  F 


^     113     ) 


I.  I  F 


LIFE,  (1.)  A  natural  power  of 
acting,  Job  iii.  20.  Eccles.  ii.  1  7.  (2.) 
Spiritual  Hie,  couaisting  in  our  beine; 
instated  in  tlie  favour  of  God,  quick- 
ened by  the  S|)irit,  and  conformed  to 
his  image  ;  in  consequence  u'liercof, 
we,  by  supernatural  influence,  live 
on  God's  fulness  of  grace,  enjoy  fel- 
lowship with  him,  and  act  to  his 
glory,  Rom.  viii.  6.  Col.  iii.  3  .  (3.) 
That  eternal  holiness  and  happiness 
which  the  saints  possess  in  heaven, 
Rom.  V.  17.  Jesus  Christ  is  i/jc  Zj/c, 
and  our  life  ;  he  is  the  source  and 
maintainer  of  life  to  all  creatures ;  he 
purchased  eternal  life  for  all  man- 
kind, and  bestows  it  on  all  those  who 
believe  and  obey  him,  John  xi.  25. 
and  xiv.  6.  1  John  i.  2.  Col.  iii.  4. 
By  his  life,  that  is,  by  his  resurrection 
and  intercession,  we  are  saved,  in 
consequence  of  our  reconcilement 
unto  God  by  his  death,  Rom.  v.  10. 
His  life  is  manifested,  in  his  people's 
cheerful  enduring  suflerings  for  his 
sake;  thereby  are  clearly  evidenced 
his  eternal  life  in  heaven,  his  inter- 
cession for  them,  and  his  living  in 
them,  as  their  quickening  and  com- 
forting head,  2  Cor.  iv.  10.  his 
words  are  life,  as  they,  through  the 
Spirit,  quicken  dead  souls,  and  pre- 
serve and  restore  spiritual  life  in  the 
saints,  John  vi.  63.  The  life  of  God, 
from  which  the  wicked  are  alienated, 
is  that  life  of  grace  and  holiness, 
Avhereby  he,  as  it  were,  lives  in  his 
people,  and  of  which  he  is  the  au- 
thor, director,  supjiorter,  and  end, 
Eph.  iv.  18.  The  religion  of  Christ 
is  frequently  in  scripture  called  life, 
everlasting  life,  John  iii.  15,  16,  36. 
and  the  apostles  were  commanded 
to  preach  the  words  of  this  life,  Acts 
V.  20.  As  the  natural  life  consists 
in  a  union  of  the  body  with  the 
soul,  so  this  life  consists  in  a  union 
of  the  soul  with  Christ.  As  the 
former  begins  when  we  are  born  in- 
to the  world,  so  the  latter  begins 
when  we  are  born  of  the  Spirit  from 
above.  The  one  requires  the  milk 
of  the  breast  to  nourish  it ;  the  other 
the  sincere  milk  of  the  word.  The 
life  of  nature  is  liable  to  be  injured 

Vol.  II. 


or  destroyed  by  an  unwholesome  aii 
im|>roper  food,  <S:c.  nor  is  the  life  of 
grace  less  in  danger  from  improper 
company,  doctrines,  tV:c.  And  there- 
fore, as  the  one  needs  the  constant 
attention  of  the  mother,  so  the  other 
the  unremitting  care  of  the  minister 
of  Christ.  The  knowledge  of  God, 
is  life,  or  eternal  life.  To  have  true 
knowledge  and  wisdom,  is  to  have 
the  matter  and  means  of  spiritual  life 
and  the  means  and  pledge  of  eternal 
life  :  and  to  possess  Jesus,  the  Wis- 
dom of  God,  is  to  have  him  who  is 
the  true  fountain  of  life  in  us,  Prov. 
iv.  13.  John  xvii.  3.  A  sound  heart 
is  the  life  of  the  flesh ;  inward  holi- 
ness and  candour  promote  the  com- 
forts of  natural  life,  and  issue  in  eter- 
nal life,  Prov.  xiv.  30.  To  be  spiri- 
tually minded,  is  life  and  peace  j  it 
implies  an  interest  in  the  life-givins; 
covenant  of  peace,  and  union  and 
communion  with  Jesus,  the  life  and 
the  peace ;  it  begets  a  lively  and 
peaceful  frame  in  our  soul,  and  j)re- 
pares  for  eternal  life  and  peace  in  hea- 
ven, Rom.  viii.  6.  To  lose  life,  is  to 
hazard  it,  or  have  it  taken  away, 
Judg.  xviii.  25.  He  that  Jindcth  his 
life,  shall  lose  it ;  and  he  that  loses  it 
for  Christ  shall  find  it.  He  that 
preserves  his  life  and  outward  com- 
forts at  the  expense  of  denying 
Christ  and  his  truth,  shall  but  hurt 
himself,  and  forfeit  eternal  life  :  and 
he  that  endangers  his  life  for  Christ, 
shall  be  rewarded  with  eternal  hap- 
piness, Matt.  X.  39.  and  xviii.  25. 
Life  is  in  the  light  of  the  king''s  coztn- 
tenance  ;  the  king's  favour  may  give 
the  outward  comforts  of  life  to  men, 
Prov.  xvi.  15.  JAfc  and  death  are 
in  the  power  of  the  tongue ;  by  our 
words  we  may  do  much  to  promote, 
or  to  hurt  and  ruin,  our  own  life,  and 
the  life  of  others,  Prov.  xviii.  21. 
Blood  is  callwl  the  life  of  an  animal, 
as  its  motion  is  the  immediate  mean 
of  it;  and  the  stomach  is  called  the 
life,  as  it  receives  what  supports  it; 
and  food  that  enters  into  the  stomach 
is  called  life,  because  the  mean  of 
it,  Gen.  ix.  4.  Job  xxxiii.  20.  Deut. 
XX.  19.     The  time  in  which  we  live 


L  O  A 


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L  O  C 


is  called  life,  as  it  is  the  measure  of 
its  duration,  Prov.  iii.  2.  Comforts 
and  blessings  are  called  life,  as  they 
render  it  truly  happy  and  useful, 
1  Tim.  iv.  1 0.  Our  acts  and  em- 
ploymenls  are  called  life,  as  they 
manifest  its  existence,  and  are  the  im- 
provement that  renders  it  useful,  or 
wicked  and  hurtful,  Acts  xxvi.  4. 

LIVER,  an  inward  part  of  an 
animal,  and  which  was  one  of  the 
entrails  of  beasts  inspected  by  the 
Chaldeans,  and  other  Heathens,  in 
their  divination,  Ezek.  xxi.  21. 
To  have  the  liver  poured  md,  is  ex- 
pressive of  great  grief  and  inward 
vexation.  Lam.  ii.  11.  To  be  sb  nek 
through  the  liver,  imports  painful 
wasting  of  the  iuAvards,  and  com- 
plete ruin  by  means  of  it,  Prov. 
vii.  23. 

LIZARDS,  are  animals  that  live 
partly  in  water,  and  partly  on  land  : 
their  body  is  oblong  and  roundish  ; 
they  have  four  legs,  and  hinder  parts 
terminated  by  a  tapering  tail,  as  may 
be  seen  in  the  common  Esk.  Li- 
zards are  of  many  different  kinds,  as 
newts,  crocodiles,  guanas,  &c.  In 
Arabia  there  are  newts  of  about  a 
yard  long;  and  in  India,  it  is  said, 
some  of  them  are  eight  yards  in 
length.  One  of  the  American  gua- 
nas is  said  to  be  a  sufficient  meal 
for  four  men.  About  Cairo  in  Egypt, 
many  poor  peojjle  feed  on  lizards, 
or  perhaps  camelions,  a  particular 
kind  of  them.  Lizards  were  un- 
clean under  the  law,  and  might  re- 
present men  whose  minds  are  earth- 
ly and  covetous,  and  their  appear- 
ance in  their  conversation  unholy  and 
disagreeable.  Lev.  xi.  30. 

LO !  behold  !  matter  of  attention 
and  consideration,  Isa.  xxv.  9.  Luke 
xiii.  16.  readiness,  Psal.  xv.  7.  cer- 
tainty and  affu'Hiation,  Ezek.  xxx.  9. 
demonstration  of  a  thing  present, 
Gen.  xxix.  7. 

LOAD,  to  put  as  much  upon  a 
person  or  l)east  as  they  can  bear. 
God  loads  men  with  benefits,  when 
he  gives  them  in  great  number  and 
abundance,  Psal.  Ixviii.  19. 

LOAVES  of  bread  were  ancient- 


ly sent  in  presents,  even  to  persons 
of  considerable  note,  1  Sam.  xvii. 
17.  and  xxv.  18.  1  Kings  xiv.  3.  2 
Kings  iv.  41. 

LOCK,  (1.)  An  instrument  for 
fastening  a  door.  Unbelief  is  the 
principal  lock  of  the  heart,  that  shuts 
out  Jesus  and  his  Spirit ;  and  luke- 
warmness  and  sloth  are  the  handles 
of  it.  Song  V,  3.  (2.)  A  bunch  of 
hair  on  the  side  of  a  person's  head. 
Samson,  it  seems,  tied  up  his  hair 
into  seven  bunches  or  lockSj  Judg. 
xvi.  13.  The  uncovering  of  locks,  is 
expressive  of  great  shame,  disgrace, 
and  grief,  Isa.  xlvii.  2. 

LO-AMMI,  that  is,  7iot  my  peo- 
ple.   See  HosEA. 

LOCUSTS,  flying  insects,  most 
destructive  to  the  fruits  of  the  ground. 
They  are  of  divers  kinds ;  are  very 
fruitful,  and  go  forth  by  bauds.  The 
great  green  locusts,  with  a  sword- 
formed  tail,  are  nearly  two  inches 
long,  and  about  the  thickness  of  a 
man's  finger.  \n  A.  D.  1556,  there 
appeared  locusts  at  Milan  in  Italy,  of 
a  span  long;  and  Pliny  speaks  of 
locusts  in  India  about  a  yard  long. 
Locusts  continue  about  five  months 
in  the  summer  season,  and  are  very 
numerous  in  Asia  and  Africa;  but 
in  cold  countries,  their  eggs  are  of- 
ten ruined  in  the  winter.  Sometimes 
they  fall  like  a  cloud  on  a  country, 
and  in  their  flight  so  intercept  the 
rays  of  the  sun  as  to  darken  the  daj', 
and  fill  the  people  with  terror,  lest 
they  should  light  on  their  fields ;  and 
if  trenches  be  dug,  or  fires  kindled, 
to  slop  their  progress,  the}^  press  on, 
regardless  of  danger,  till  they  fill 
the  trenches,  and  quench  the  fires. 
Where  they  alight,  they  readih'  eat 
up  every  green  thing  they  meet  with. 
Their  A-^ery  touch  and  moisture  are 
infectious.  When  they  die  in  great 
number,  they  frequentlj'  infect  the 
air,  and  produce  a  pestilence;  but 
Providence  often  carries  them  into 
some  sea  at  last.  Locusts  were  one 
of  the  plagues  of  Egypt.  These 
were,  by  a  strong  wind,  carried  into 
the  Red  Sea,  Exod.  x.  14—19.  It 
seems,   a  wind  drove  into  the    sea 


L  O  F 


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L  O  N 


those  terrible  swarms  (hat  Avasted  Ca- 
iiaan,  ami  uccasiutied  a  (amine  in  the  I 
(lays  of  Joel;  atul  (he  sea  driving! 
them  ashore  in  hea|)s,  (he  Hebrews! 
buried  llieiii,  Joel  ii.  Isa.  xxxiii.  4,| 
5.  The  lociisls  were  ceremonially! 
clean;  .loiui  Ra|)(is(,  and  many| 
others,  par  (if  id  a  rly  in  Abyssinia,  atej 
them;  and  being  salted  and  Cried, 
they  taste  like  river  cray-fish,  Lev.j 
xi.  22.  The  Assyrians  were  likcj 
locusts  for  (heir  number,  and  their; 
destructive  influence  on  the  king-; 
doms  of  Israel  and  Judah,  Isa.  xxxiii.  j 
4,  5.  Nah.  iii.  15,  17.  and  they  ruin-j 
ed  them  after  they  had  been  terribly' 
mowed  by  the  Syrians,  Amos  vii.  1 .  i 
The  Persians  were  like  dreadful  lo-\ 
ciists  issuing  out  of  the  smoke  of  the' 
bottomless  pit,  and  for  five  months | 
ravaging  all  around.  Animated  with  i 
the  stupid  and  infernal  delusion  of. 
Mahomet,  the  Saracens,  for  about 
150  years,  made  terrible  progress  ini 
waiting  the  countries,  from  the  west 
of  Africa,  in  Spain,  to  almost  the, 
western  borders  of  China.  From  the  I 
smoke  of  ignorance  and  superstition,! 
sprung  the  Romish  bands  of  cardi-! 
nals,  bishops,  monks,  6cc.  with  the: 
Pope  at  their  head,  and,  for  the  space! 
of  twelve  hundred  and  sixty  years,! 
have  spiritually  Avasted  the  nations,! 
Rev.  ix.  1—11.  ! 

To  LODGE,  (1.)  To  continue i 
for  a  night  or  more.  Gen.  xxviii.  11.' 
Psal.  x!ix.  1 12.  (2.)  To  make  nests, 
for  lodging  in,  Mark  iv.  32.  Righ-j 
teousness  lodged  in  Jerusalem,  when  I 
it  was  much  practised  and  esteemed! 
by  the  inhabitants,  Isa.  i.  21.  Prc-\ 
pare  mc  a  lodgina^,  that  is,  every  thing  i 
proper  to  accommodate  a  stranger, 
Philemon  22. 

LOFT,  a  story  of  a  house,  Acts 
XX.  9.  Lofty,  verj-^  hig'i-  God  is! 
the  Lofty  One,  his  excellency  and  au-, 
thority  are  infinitely  sui)crior  to  (ha( 
of  any  other,  Isa.  Ivii.  15.  Lofty, 
applied  to  men,  denotes  their  pride 
and  arrogance  manifested  in  their 
haughty  looks,  speeches,  or  beha- 
viour, Prov.  XXX.  A  loftij  city,  is 
one  wealth)''  and  honourable,  Isa. 
xxvi.  5. 


LOG,  a  measure  for  things  liijuid, 
containing  about  24^  solid  incises, 
which  is  near  a  wine  pint  English, 
Lev.  xiv,  10. 

LOINS,  the  lower  parts  of  the 
back,  near  where  (he  seminal  vessels 
are  lodged,  Exod.  xxviii.  42.  1  Kings 
viii.  19.  and  sometimes  they  are  put 
for  the  who'le  man,  Psal.  Ixvi.  11. 
Gird  up  (he  loins  of  your  mind,  1 
Pet.  i.  13.  Let  your  minds  be  intent 
upon,  ready,  and  prepared  for,  your 
special  work,  restrained  from  all 
those  thoughts,  cares,  affections,  and 
lusts,  which  would  entangle,  detain, 
and  hinder  them,  or  make  them  unfit. 
It  is  in  allusion  to  the  custom  of  the 
Oriental  nations,  who,  ^vearing  long, 
loose  garments,  were  wont  to  gird 
them  about  their  loins,  that  they 
might  not  hinder  them  in  their  tra- 
velling or  working,  1  Kings  xviii. 
46.  2  Kings  iv.  29.  It  may  also 
have  a  special  respect  to  a  similar 
rite  used  at  the  passover,  when  the 
Israelites  were  just  ready  to  march 
out  of  Egy[)t,  Exod.  xii.  11. 

LONG,  of  great  extent  or  dura- 
lion,  Psal.  cxsix.  3.  and  cii.  6.  To 
LONG,  is  to  desire  very  earnestly,  as 
a  lover  doth  for  his  beloved,  or  one 
hungry  or  thirsty  desijes  refreshment 
Gen.  xxxiv.  8.  2  Sam.  xxiii.  15. 
so  persons  grievously  afflicted  long 
for  death.  Job  iii.  21.  David's  soul 
longed  for  his  banished  son  Absalom, 
2  Sam.  xiii.  39.  Exiles  long  to  see 
their  native  country,  Gen.  xxxi.  30. 
Faithful  ministers,  sick,  or  imprison- 
ed, long  to  vi^it  their  people,  Phil.  ii. 
26.  Saints  long  for  (he  experience 
of  God's  presence  and  power  in  his 
ordinances,  and  for  his  salvation  from 
the  pollution  of  sin,  (o  perfect  holi- 
ness and  happiness,  Psal.  Ixxxiv.  2. 
and  cxix.  40,  174.  God's  long- 
si  kkkrino,  is  his  patient  bearing 
with  manifold  affronts,  while  he  for- 
bears to  execute  deserved  wrath  up- 
on men,  and  waits  to  be  gracious  to 
them,  Rom.  ii.  4.  The  saints'  long- 
snffcrmg,  is  (heir  unwearied  firmness 
of  mind  under  manifold  troubles,  their 
constant  hope  of  the  performance  of 
God's  promises,    and   their  patient 


LOO 


(     116     ) 


LOR 


bcariug  with  others  to  promote  their 
reformation,  Col.  iii.  12. 

LOOK,  (1.)  To  direct  the  eye. 
Gen.  xiii.  14.  and  sv.  5.  (2.)  To 
desire  ardently,  Heb.  ix.  28.  and  xi. 
10.  (3.)  To  gaze  with  delay.  Gen. 
xlii.  1 .  (4.)  To  take  a  careful  view 
of,  Exod.  X.  10.  (5.)  To  examine, 
Levit.  xiii.  39.  (6.)  To  confide  in 
and  depend  on,  Psalm  v.  3.  and 
cxxiii.  2.  (7.)  To  respect,  to  regard 
wuth  affection,  Isa.  Ixvi.  2.  (8.) 
To  expect,  Matt.  ii.  3.  Luke  xxi. 
28.  Phil.  iii.  20.  (9.)  To  notice 
and  judge,  1  Chron.  xii.  17.  (10.) 
To  choose.  Acts  vi.  3.  (11.)  To  un- 
derstand and  reveal.  Rev.  v.  5.  (12.) 
To  take  care  of  a  person,  Jer.  xl.  4. 
God's  looking  on  men,  imports  his 
perfect  knowledge  of  their  conduct ; 
his  care  of,  and  kindness  to  them, 
Psal.  liii.  2.  Lam.  iii.  50.  or  his  ap- 
parent unconcern  about  them,  as  if 
he  was  a  mere  by-stander,  Hab.  i.  13. 
Psal.  XXXV.  17.  or  his  terrifying  and 
jnmishing  them,  Exod.  xiv.  24. — 
Men's  looking  to  Christ,  imports  their 
viewing  him  by  faith  in  his  excellen- 
cies and  covenant  relations,  desiring 
directions,  support,  and  every  bless- 
ing of  salvation  from  him,  and  their 
eyeing  him  as  their  pattern,  Psal. 
xxxiv.  5.  Isa.  xlv.  22.  and  xvii.  7. 
Heb.  xii.  2.  The  sinful  looking  of 
the  Edomites  on  the  Jews,  was  their 
taking  pleasure  to  see  them  murder- 
ed, and  their  cities  burnt  with  fire, 
and  their  instigating  the  Chaldeans 
to  cruelty,  Obad.  12. 

LOOSE,  (1.)  To  unbind,  John 
xi.  44.  (2.)  To  open.  Rev.  v.  2. 
(3.)  To  put  off  shoes.  Josh.  v.  15. 
(4.)  To  free  from  church  censure. 
Matt.  xvi.  16.  (5.)  To  set  at  liber- 
ty, Psal.  cii.  20.  and  cv.  20.  (6.) 
To  set  sail,  Acts  xiii.  13.  and  xxvii. 
21.  God  looses  the  loins  of  men, 
when  he  weakens  them,  and  takes 
away  their  courage,  power,  and  au- 
thority, Isa.  xlv.  1.  Job  xii.  18,  f  21. 
His  loosing  of  four  angels,  imports 
his  permitting  and  enabling  the  Sara- 
cens to  execute  his  judgment  on  the 
nations  westward  of  the  Euphrates, 
Rev.  ix.  15.  God  looses  Satan,  when 


he  i)ermits  him  to  exercise  his  pow- 
er, Rev.  XX.  7.  He  looseth  the  pri- 
smiers,  when,  in  his  providence,  he 
brings  men  out  of  common  gaols; 
but  chieily  when  he  powerfully  brings 
the  bond-slaves  of  Satan  out  of  their 
sinful  and  miserable  state,  or  brings 
his  saints  out  of  great  trouble,  spiri- 
tual or  temporal,  and  fills  their  hearts 
with  gladness,  Psal.  cxlvi.  7.  and 
cxvi.  16.  Jesus's  loosing  the  seven 
seals  of  his  Father's  book,  and  read- 
ing and  looking  thereon,  imports  his 
perfect  knowledge  and  actual  disco- 
very of  his  most  hidden  purposes,  as 
far  as  is  expedient  in  the  due  order 
thereof,  Rev.  v.  and  vi. 

LOP,  to  cut  oft"  the  top  or  the 
BRANCHES  of  a  tree.     See  Bough. 

LORD,  one  that  has  rule  and  au- 
thority, such  as  a  husband.  Gen. 
xviii.  12.  a  master,  John  xv.  15. 
a  prophet,  1  Kings  xviii.  7.  a  prince 
or  noted  person.  Gen.  xxiv.  18. 
And  the  wives  or  daughters  of  such 
great  men  are  called  ladies,  Judg. 
V.  29.  When,  in  the  Old  Testa- 
ment, Lord  is  printed  in  capitals, 
it  is  ordinarily  the  translation  of  Je- 
hovah. In  lesser  characters,  it  is  the 
translation  of  Ado)i,  which  signifies 
a  connecting  and  sujiporting  ruler. 
God,  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost, 
is  often  called  Lord,  to  denote  his 
self-existence,  his  giving  being  to, 
and  his  supporting  and  ruling,  every 
creature,  Psal.  ex.  1.  2  Thess.  iii.  5. 
He  is  called  Lord  of  Hosts,  or  Lord 
of  Sabaoth;  as  he  made,  owns,  sup- 
ports, and  rules  all  the  armies  of 
angels,  men,  and  other  creatures, 
Psal.  xxiv.  10.  James  v.  4.  When 
Lord,  in  the  New  Testament,  is  the 
translation  of  htrios,  it  very  often  sig- 
nifies Christ,  Rev.  xiv.  13.  but  Lord, 
the  translation  of  despotes,  or  master, 
is  likewise  ascribed  to  Christ  as  well 
as  to  the  Father,  see  2  Tim.  ii.  21. 
Acts  iv.  24.  Luke  ii.  29.  Jude  4.  Rev. 
vi.  10.  2  Pet.  ii.  1.  Jesus  Christ  is 
called  Lord  of  lords,  and  Lord  of  all; 
he  supports  and  governs  all  kings, 
masters,  and  other  rulers;  nay,  all 
persons  and  things  in  heaven  and 
earth,  Rev.  xix.  16.  Acts  x.  36.    He 


« 


*^; 


i0 


Paul  Sf  Thomas,  Print. 


LOT  RETIRING  FROM  SODOM. 


L  O  T 


(    n?    ) 


LOT 


is  the  Lord  of  <rlory;  he  jtossesseth 
infinite  glory  in  himself,  and  bestows 
everlasting  glory  u|)on  his  lailhlul 
people,  1  Cor.  ii.  8.    ' 

To  say  unto  .lesus.  Lord,  Lord,  is 
to  make  a  public  profession  of  subjec- 
tion to  him,  Matt.  vii.  21.  To  call 
Jesus  Lord,  in  a  pro[ier  manner,  is 
heartily  to  believe  in,  submit  to,  ami 
witness  for  him,  as  the  Son  of  God, 
anil  true  Messiah,  1  Cor.  xii.  3. 
Men  think  themselves  lords,  when 
filled  with  self-conceit  of  their 
wealth,  honour,  and  wisdom,  Jer. 
ii.  31.  Babylon  was  a  lady  of  Icing- 
■doms ;  an  honoured  ruler  of  nations, 
Isa.  xlvii.  5,  7. 

LO-RUHAMAH,  nol  having  ob- 
tained mercy,  as  Kuhamah  signifies, 
having  obtained  mercy.     See  Hosea. 

LOSE,  to  sufler,  to  perish,  Jeiin 
vi.  30.  Christ  loses  none  of  his  faith- 
ful people;  suffers  none  of  thein  to 
be  eternally  ruined ;  but  if  they  for- 
sake him  like  Judas  or  Demas,  he 
will  reject  them  for  ever,  John  xvii. 
12.  Cattle  or  money  is  lost,  when 
the  owner  knows  not  what  is  become 
thereof,  Exod.  xxix.  9.  Men  are 
lost,  when  in  a  state  of  sin  and  mi- 
sery, wherein  they  have  no  happi- 
ness, and  are  of  no  spiritual  good 
use ;  or  when  they  go  on  in  a  course 
of  open  wickedness,  or  of  noted 
wandering  from  God,  Luke  xix.  10. 
and  XV.  B,  9,  32.  Psal.  cxix.  176. 
Matt,  xviii.  11. 

LOT,  wrapt  up,  joined,  hidden, 
the  son  of  Haran,  and  nephew  of 
Abraham,  and,  as  we  suppose,  bro- 
ther of  Sarah.  After  the  death  of  his 
father,  he  lived  and  travelled  with 
Aliiaham.  After  their  return  from 
Egyi)t,  the  number  of  their  flocks,  and 
strife  of  their  herdmen,  obliged  them 
to  separate.  On  Abraham's  humble 
and  peaceful  offer,  Lot  too  proudly 
took  his  choice,  preferring  himself 
to  his  uncle.  Charmed  with  the  fer- 
tile appearances  of  the  country 
about  Sodoni,  he,  probably,  without 
consulting  his  Maker,  chose  that  for 
his  place  of  sojourning.  His  pride 
and  earthly-mindedness  were  se- 
verely punished.     The  wicked  be- 


haviour of  the  Sodomites  made  his 
life  a  continual  burden  to  him.  Nor 
had  he  been  long  there,  when  he,  if 
not  also  the  most  of  what  he  had, 
was  carried  captive  by  Chedorlaomer. 
He  was  recovered  by  Abraham ;  and 
about  sixteen  years  after,  in  an- 
swer to  the  fervent  prayer  of 
Abraham,  he  esca|)ed  death  in  the 
overthrow  of  Sodom.  On  the  even- 
ing before  that  fatal  event,  two  of 
the  angels  which  had  just  feasted 
with  Abraham,  appeared  to  Lot  at 
the  gate  of  Sodom,  as  travellers.  Lot 
humblj'^  begged  they  would  lodge  in 
his  house.  At  first  they,  to  try  his 
hospitality,  spake  as  if  they  inclin- 
ed to  lodge  ail  night  in  the  street: 
but,  on  his  farther  entreaty,  they 
entered  his  house,  and  supped  with 
him,  in  a  manner  we  do  not  under- 
stand. Supper  was  scarcely  finish- 
ed, when  a  multitude  of  the  men  of 
the  city  came  and  demanded  from 
Lot  the  two  strangers,  that  they 
might  abuse  them  in  a  manner  shock- 
ing to  chastity.  Lot,  in  his  confu- 
sion, unadvisedly,  and  unjustifiably, 
begged  they  Avould  rather  take  his 
two  virgin  daughters,  than  so  hor- 
ridly abuse  (he  strangers  who  had 
committed  themselves  to  his  pro- 
tection. They  upbraided  him  as  a 
saucy  impertinent  fellow^  who,  though 
but  lately  come  to  sojourn  among 
them,  would  act  the  part  of  a  judge^ 
and  dictate  to  them,  who  v/ere  na- 
tives of  the  place ;  and  they  threat- 
ened to  use  him  worse  than  they  had 
intended  to  do  with  the  strangers. 
Hereon,  the}-  furiously  rushed  for- 
ward to  break  open  the  door,  which 
Lot  had  shut  behind  him.  The  an- 
gels pulled  Lot  in,  shut  to  the  door, 
and  smote  the  Sodomites  about  it 
wuth  such  blindness  and  stupidity, 
that  they  could  not  perceive  where 
it  was;  and  being  weary  with  grop- 
ing, they  at  last  went  home.  Mean- 
while, the  angels  informed  Lot  of  their 
intentions  to  destroy  Sodom,  and  the 
cities  adjacent,  for  the  wickedness 
thereof,  and  warned  him  and  all  his 
rela'tions  to  leave  the  place  imme- 
diately.    He  sent  and   warned   hie 


LOT 


(     118 


) 


h  0  T 


sons-in-law,  and  begged  them  to  flee ; 
but  they  contemned  his  message. 
About  break  of  day,  Lot,  his  wife, 
and  two  unmarried  daughters,  un- 
willing to  leave  their  substance,  or 
waiting  for  the  other  daughters,  con- 
tinued to  put  off  the  time.  The  an- 
gels took  them  by  the  hand,  and 
hasted  them  out  of  their  house,  and 
from  the  city;  and  leaving  them, 
warned  them  to  run  with  all  their 
might  to  a  neighbouring  mountain; 
and  {liat  they  should  be  condemned, 
if  they  so  much  as  looked  back.  At 
Lot's  intercession,  who  was  afraid  of 
the  wild  beasts  of  the  mountain,  the 
angels,  directed  by  God,  promised  to 
spare  Zoar,  the  least  of  the  five  ci- 
ties marked  for  ruin,  as  a  place  of 
refuge  to  him  and  his  family.  Through 
carnal  affection  to  her  country  and 
wealth,  or  a  vain  curiosity  to  see  the 
vengeance  of  God,  Lot's  wife  look- 
ed behind  her.  The  divine  ven- 
geance seized  her  immediately,  and 
transformed  iier  into  a  statue  of  pe- 
trified salt ;  thus  making  her  a  stand- 
ing monument  of  the  danger  of  in- 
credulity, imprudence,  love  to  the 
world,  apostacy  from,  and  disobedi- 
ence, to  God.  How  long  this  pillar 
continued,  we  know  not.  Josephus 
says,  it  remained  in  his  time,  which 
was  near  20 00  years  after  it  was 
formed.  Ireneus  and  Tertul'.ian  say, 
it  was  standing  about  A.  D.  200. 
Benjamin  of  Tudela,  the  Jewish  tra- 
veller, avers,  that  it  was  standing 
near  1000  years  after;  which  would 
make  its  duration  of  about  3000 
years.  Some  modern  travellers  pre- 
tend to  have  seen  it;  but  their  rela- 
tions smell  so  strong  of  the  fable, 
and  differ  so  widely  that  we  cannot 
credit  them.  It  is  certain,  that 
Maundrel,  Shaw,  and  Thomson,  and 
other  travellers  of  known  veracity, 
do  not  pretend  that  there  are  now 
the  least  remains  of  this  noted  statue. 
— Shocked  with  the  death  of  his  wife, 
and  the  ruin  of  his  country.  Lot  was 
afraid  to  dwell  in  Zoar;  but  he  and 
his  daughters  retired  to  the  adjacent 
mountains.  Lot's  daughters,  whom 
he  had  but  lately  offered  as  prosti- 


tutes to  the  Sodomites,  decoyed  him- 
self into  drunkenness  and  incest. 
Anxious  of  posterity,  and  perhaps 
desirous  to  be  mother  of  the  Messiah, 
and  fearing  there  was  never  a  man 
left  on  the  earth  besides  their  fa- 
ther, or  at  least  none  to  whom  they 
could  have  access,  they  resolved  to 
have  children  by  him.  On  two  dif- 
ferent nights  they  intoxicated  him 
with  wine,  and  lay  wilh  him,  the 
one  after  the  other.  They  both  fell 
with  child  by  him.  The  eldest  daugh- 
ter impudently  called  her  son  Moab, 
to  signify  that  he  uas  begotten  by  her 
father.  The  younger  called  her  son 
Bcn-ammi,  the  son  of  my  people. 
From  these  two  sprung  the  Moabites 
and  Ammonites,  on  whom  the  curse 
of  heaven  remarkably  lay.  Gen.  xi. 
31 .  and  xiii.  and  xiv.  and  xix.  2  Pet. 
ii.  6 — 8.  Luke  xvii.  32.  Some  think 
Baal-peor,  the  immodest  deity  wor- 
shipped by  the  Ammonites  and  Mo- 
abites, was  a  representation  of  Lot, 
in  his  shameful  drunkenness  and  hor- 
rid incest. 

Lot,  any  thing  cast,  or  draAvu, 
in  order  to  determine  a  point  in  de- 
bate. It  is  a  solemn  appeal  to  God 
for  an  immediate  inteVposal  of  his 
directive  power,  for  determining  the 
affair;  and,  on  that  account,  ought 
to  be  used  in  nothing  but  what  is 
important,  and  cannot  otherwise  be 
peacefully  determined  on;  and  it  is 
to  be  used  with  reverence  and  \n?cy- 
er,  Prov.  xvi.  33.  and  xviii.  18.  Acts 
i.  24,  25,  26.  1  Sam.  xiv.  41.  By 
lot.,  it  was  determined  which  of  the 
expiatory  goats  should  be  offered, 
and  which  dismissed,  Lev.  xvi.  8 — 
10.  By  lot,  the  land  of  Canaan  was 
divided  to  the  Hebrew  tribes,  and 
the  Levites  had  their  cities  assigned, 
and  their  order  of  sacred  service  de- 
termined, Numb.  xxvi.  55,  56.  and 
xxxiii.  54.  and  xxxiv.  Josh.  xiv. — 
xxi.  1  Chron.  vi.  54,  61.  and  xxiv. 
and  XXV.  By  lot,  the  Hebrews  dis- 
covered who  had  taken  the  accursed 
spoil  of  Jericho,  Judg.  xx.  9.  Josh, 
vii.  1 4 — 1 8.  By  lot,  Saul  was  mark- 
ed out  for  the  Hebrew  kingdom,  and 
bis  son  Jonaflma  discovered  to  have 


L  0  V 


(     119     ) 


L  O  V 


lasted  the  honey,  1  Sam.  x.  19 — 21. 
and  xiv.  41,  42.  By  lot,  was  Jonah 
discovered  to  be  the  cause  of  the 
storm,  and  Matthias  marked  lor  the 
apostleshi;),  .Ion.  i.  7.  Acts  i.  24  — 
26.  By  lot,  the  Heathens  divided 
their  shares  of  tlie  spoil,  and  the  pro- 
fane soldiers  dotimiined  who  sliould 
have  Christ's  vestare,  Obad.  i.  11. 
Nah.  iii.  10.  Psa.  xxii.  10.  To 
[iretend  that  chance,  which  is  but  the 
want  of  desi!:cu,  determines  in  any 
lot,  id  too  absurd  for  rational  beings 
to  receive.  God,  or  the  devil,  must 
therefore  be  the  arbitrator,  to  whose 
determination  the  matter  is  by  lot 
referred.  God  challenges  it  as  his 
proi)erty,  to  direct  lots,  Prov.  xvi. 
33.  Nor,  I  suppose,  will  great 
numbers  be  found,  even  of  players 
at  cards  and  dice,  that  w  ill  allow  Sa- 
tan to  be  their  referee.  How  base 
then,  and  how^  sinful,  to  use  lots  in 
triUes,  or  in  sports  or  games,  or  to 
direct  persons  in  sinful  attempts! 
Ezek.  xxi.  18,  19.  Esth.  iii.— What- 
ever falls  to  one's  share  by  casting  of 
the  lot,  or  the  providence  of  God,  is 
called  his.  lot,  Josh.  xv.  1.  Psa. 
cxxv.  3.  and  xvi,  5.  xvii.  14.  Acts 
viii.  21.  Luke  i.  9. 

LOATHE,  to  dislike,  abhor,  as 
the  stomach  does  lukewarm  water. 
God  loathes  men,  when,  on  account 
of  sin,  he  is  angry  with  them,  hides 
himself  from  them,  and  refuses  to 
regard  or  helj)  theni,  Jer.  xiv.  10. 
Zech.  xi.  8,  Men  loathe  and  abhor 
themselves,  when  they  are  deeply 
ashamed  of,  and  grieved  for,  their 
sinfulness  in  heart  and  life,  Ezek.  vi. 
9.  and  xx.  43.  and  xxxvi.  41.  i\Ien 
are  loathsome,  when  filled  with 
sin,  that  abominable  thing  wliich 
God  hates,  Prov.  xiii.  5. 

LOUD,  that  can  be  heard  far  oil', 
A  loud  cry,  noise,  or  voice,  is  expres- 
sive of  great  danger,  earnest  desire, 
or  great  joy.  A  lewd  woman  is 
toud  and  stuhborn;  she  is  given  to 
scold  and  trouble  her  husband;  and 
is  talkative,  and  obstinate  in  sedu- 
cing men,  Prov.  vii.  11. 

LOUR,  to  look  sad,  Matt.  xvi.  3. 

LOVE,   (\.)    That    affection    of 


rational  creatures,  which  arises  ia 
their  mind  on  observing  any  thiug 
in  others  which  |)lease?  them;  or  de- 
sire fellowship  with,  or  close  posses- 
sion of,  some  person  or  thing  ou  ac- 
count of  some  excellency  apprehend- 
ed therein.  This  is  good,  according 
to  its  object,  manner,  or  degree.  To 
love  relations  and  neighbours,  and 
one's;  self,  in  subordination  to  God, 
is  good,  Psa.  xxxiv.  12.  Eph.  v.  25. 
Love  to  idols,  sina,  or  to  wicked  per- 
sons, as  such,  or  in  order  to  carnal 
lust,  is  unlawful,  Jer.  ii.  25.  John 
xii.  25.  2  Tim.  iii.  2.  2  Sam.  xiii.  4. 
Prov.  vii.  18,  (2.)  A  gracious  habit, 
principle,  or  disposition,  wrought  ia 
our  soul  by  the  Spirit  of  God, 
whereby  we  esteem,  desire,  and  de- 
light in  God  through  Christ,  as  our 
chief  good  and  sum  of  all  perfection 
and  excellency,  and  the  fountain  of 
all  blessings,  and  take  pleasure  in 
obeying  his  laws ;  and  w  hereby  we  are 
inclined  and  enabled  to  esteem,  de- 
sire, and  delight  in,  spiritual  fellow- 
ship with  such  as  bear  his  image,  and 
to  do  good  to  all  men,  even  our  ene- 
mies, 1  John  iv.  19,  21.  This  love, 
or  CHARITY,  is  of  great  importance; 
without  it,  no  gifts  can  be  truly  va- 
luable ;  where  it  is  not,  there  can  be 
no  true  faith.  Love  renders  us  pa- 
tient under  trouble,  slow  to  anger, 
ready  to  forgive  injuries,  and  makes 
us  straiten  ourselves  to  help  our 
neighbour ;  makes  us  mourn  for  his 
faults  and  afflictions,  and  kindly  bear 
with  his  infirmities,  and  is  the  bond 
of  perfection;  in  fine,  if  pure  and 
fervent,  it  tends  to  render  our  life  a 
very  heaven  upon  earth,  Gal.  vi.  5. 
1  Cor.  xiii.  (3.)  Divine  love,  which 
is  either  God's  natural  delight  in  thai 
w  hich  is  good,  Isa.  Ixi.  8.  or  that 
L^racious  affection  which  he  manifest? 
to  men,  in  giving  his  Son  for  them  as 
their  surety  and  ransom,  and  in  giv 
ing  him  and  all  his  fulness  of  bless- 
ing to  them  as  their  portion,  Rom. 
V.' 8.  1  John  iv.  19.  The  love  of 
God,  is  either  the  love  he  bears  to 
us,  or  our  love,  of  which  he  is  the 
object,  Rom.  v.  5.  Jude20.  John  xv. 
9.  Jesus's  love  hath  a  breadth,  laigth. 


LOW 


(     120     ) 


L  U  D 


ikpth.,  aad  height ;  it  is  like  a  migh- 
ty ocean,  it  reaches  over  all  the 
world,  extends  to  every  person,  and 
comprehends  every  blessing ;  it 
reaches  from  eternity  to  eternity  ;  it 
condescends  to  the  lowest  sinner  and 
case ;  brought  Jesus  to  the  lowest 
plunge  of  suffering,  and  saves  from 
the  lowest  hell,  to  the  most  incon- 
ceivable height  of  holiness  and  ha|)- 
piness,  Eph.  iii.  18,  19.  To  be  di- 
rected into  the  love  of  God,  is  to  be 
instructed,  excited,  and  enabled,  to 
believe  his  redeeming  love  to  us,  and 
to  live  in  the  exercise  of  fervent  love 
towards  him,  2  Thess.  iii,  5.  Not 
to  love  our  lives  unto  the  death,  is  to 
prefer  the  honour  of  Christ,  and  the 
interests  of  his  truth,  to  our  outward 
enjoyments,  and  even  to  natural  life 
itself,  Rev.  xii.  11.  Christ  is  alto- 
gether lovely,  is  in  every  respect  and 
degree  precious,  useful,  agreeable, 
and  attracting,  in  his  person,  office, 
relation,  and  work,  Song  v.  16.  and 
his  ordinances  are  lovely  or  amiable, 
as  he  is  their  author,  substance,  and 
end,  Psal.  Ixxxiv.  1. 

LOW.  Men  are  low,  or  sit  in  a 
low  place,  when  they  are  poor,  de- 
based, and  overlooked,  Deut.  xxviii. 
43.  Eccl.  X.  6.  During  the  hail- 
storm, the  city  is  low  in  a  low  place ; 
an  awful  prediction  of  the  fate  of  Je- 
rusalem, that  it  should  be  humbled 
and  brought  low,  Isa.  xxxii.  19.  Let 
the  rich  Christian  rejoice  in  that  he 
is  made  low ;  humble  in  the  temper 
of  his  mind ;  or  even  that  he  hath 
his  outward  wealth  and  honour  taken 
from  him,  as  that  tends  to  his  real 
good,  Jam.  i.  10.  Christ  was  made 
for  a  liltle  while,  or  in  a  little  de- 
gree, lower  than  the  angels,  in  his 
state  of  humiliation.  Psalm  viii.  5. 
Heb.  ii.  7,9.  The  lower  parts  oi  the 
earth,  are,  (1.)  The  earth  itself, 
which  is  the  lower  region  of  this 
world,  Eph.  iv.  9.  (2.)  The  vallies 
and  their  inhabitants,  or  ratlier,  the 
Gentile  world,  Isa.  xliv.  23.  (3.) 
The  womb  ol"  a  mother,  where  one 
is  hid  as  in  a  deep  pit,  Psal.  cxxxix. 
15.  (4.)  The  grave,  or  state  of  the 
dead,  Psal.  Ixiii.  9.     To  be /ow/?/,  is 


,  to  be  meek  and  humble,  Psa.  cxxxviii^ 

16.  Zech.  ix.  9. 

I     LUBIM.     See  Libya. 

I     LUCIFER.     See  Star. 

j      LUCRE,  gain.     See  Filth. 

!     LUD,   nativity,  or  generation,  the 

-■  son  of  Shem.  If  he  was  the  father 
of  the  Lydians  in  Lesser  Asia,  which 
some  very  learned  men  think  he  was 
not,  it  is  probable  his  posterity  took 
up  their  first  residence  near  the  Eu- 
phrates, and  then  moved  westward, 
and  settled  among  the  children  of 
Japheth.     It  is    more  certain   that 

'  Lydia  was  situated  on  the  east  of 
Ionia,  south  of  Mysia,  west  of  greater 

:  Phrygia,  and  north  of  Caria,  and  lay 
between  the  37th  and  39th  degree 
of  north  latitude;  but  in   the   more 

I  flourishing  times  of  their  last  kings, 
Alyattes  and  Croesus,  the  Lydian 
territories  were  far  more  extensive. 
The  principal  cities  of  Lydia  were 
Sardis,  Philadelphia,  Thyatira,  Mag- 
nesia, &c.  The  Lydians  had  kings 
of  three  different  races,  who,  we 
suppose,  governed  them  about  600 
or  700  years.  After  the  country  had 
been  overrun  by  the  Gomerians, 
or  Cimmerians,  about  A.  M.  3368, 
and  had,  not  long  after,  warred  furi- 
ously with  the  Medes,  Milesians,  and 
others,  and  just  after  Croesus  had  ex- 
tended his  empire  from  the  iEgean 
sea  to  the  river  Halys,  he  having 
entered  into  an  alliance  with  the 
Chaldeans  against  the  Medes  and 
Persians,  Cyrus  conquered  the  king- 
dom of  Lydia :  since  which  it  has 
by  turns  been  subject  to  the  Per- 
sians, Greeks,  Romans,  Saracens, 
or  Turks.  The  Lydians  were  ex- 
tremely wicked  ;  the  Avomeu  had  to 
earn  their  portion  for  marriage  by 
whoredom :  and,  after  the  tail  of 
their  monarchy,  they  generally  be- 
came a  most  idle  and  effeminate  race. 
The  gospel,  however,  was  early 
planted  here;  andaChrisUi-.n  church 
hath  never  since  been  wholly  extir- 
pated, Gen.  X.  22.  Isa.lxvi.  19.  (2.) 
LuD,  the  son  of  Mizraim,  and  father 
of  the  Ludim  in  Africa.  These  Ave 
suppose  to  be  the  same  as  the  Nubi- 
ans, or  some  Ethiopians  on  the  south 


L  U  K 


(     121     ) 


L  U  S 


or  west  of  Egypt.  They  were  Tamed 
archers,  and  assisted  Pharaoh-necho 
against  the  Chaldeans;  but  soon  af- 
ter, by  the  ravage  of  their  country, 
paid  dear  for  their  pains,  Jer.  xlvi. 
9.  Ezek.  XXX.  5.  The  gospel  was 
here  preached  very  early  by  some 
of  the  Jews,  Isa.  Ixvi.  19.  but  in 
Nubia,  we  scarcely  know  of  the 
smallest  vestiges  of  Christianity  at 
present. 

LUHITH,  a  hoarded  Jloor,  a  town 
in  the  land  of  Moab,  probably  built 
on  a  hill,  and  between  Ar  and  Zoar, 
and  certainly  ravaged  by  the  Assyri- 
ans and  Chaldeans,  Isa.  xv.  5.  Jer. 
xlviii.  5, 

LUKE,  or  LUCAS,  rising  tohhn, 
or  luminous,  the  evangelist;  a  native 
of  Antioch  in  Syria,  and  by  profes- 
sion a  physician.  Whether  he  was  a 
Jew  or  Gentile,  or  whether  he  was  the 
same  as  Lucius  the  kinsman  of  Paul, 
Rom.  xvi.  21 .  or  whether  he  was  con- 
verted by  Paul  at  Antioch,  or  did  at 
lirst  meet  with  him  at  Troas,  we  know 
not.  His  mention  of  himself  as  Paul's 
companion,  begins  at  Troas;  and 
after  that,  he  often  mentions  himself 
as  travelling  with  him,  Acts  xvi.  &c. 
compare  Col.  iv.  14.  Philem.  23.  2 
Tim.  iv.  11.  Luke  wrote  the  his- 
tory of  Christ's  life,  and  the  his- 
tory of  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles, 
and  directed  them  both  to  one  Theo- 
philus,  who  it  seems  was  one  of 
his  Christian  friends.  In  his  hi  story  of 
Christ,  he  relates  a  great  many  cir- 
cumstances of  his,  and  his  harbinger 
John  Baptist's  birth  and  private  life, 
Avhich  are  not  mentioned  by  Mat- 
thew and  Mark,  who  ajre  generally, 
though  uncertainly,  thought  to  have 
written  their  gospel  before  him.  He 
also  records  a  variety  of  incidents  and 
parables  of  Jesys's  public  life  omitted 
by  them.  Nor  is  his  order  always 
the  same  with  theirs  :  the  reason  of 
which  is,  either  that  Jesus  repeated 
or  reacted  similar  things,  on  differ- 
ent occasions;  or  that  the  Holy 
Ghost,  in  these  histories,  doth  not 
ahvays  intend  to  inform  us  of  the 
order,  but  of  the  facts  that  were 
really  done.     In  hia   Acts   of    the 

Vol.  n 


Apostles,  Luke  principally  gives  us 
the  history  of  Paul,  whom  he  so 
much  attended.  Nothing  in  the 
New  Testament  is  purer  Greek  than 
the  language  of  Luke,  and  it  is  ad- 
mirably adapted  to  history. 

LUKEWARM,  neither  cold  nor 
hot:  the  professed  Christians  of  Lao- 
dicea  were  so  termed,  because  they 
neither  wholly  disregarded  Christ 
and  his  cause,  nor  were  they  zealous, 
in  loving  him  and  promoting  his  ho- 
nour; and  therefore  were  loathsome 
to  him.  Rev.  iii.  16.  To  be  lukewarm 
in  the  service  of  God,  is  to  be  un^ 
grateful  for  the  greatest  benefits;  to 
be  indifferent  in  the  best  of  causes ;  to 
be  insensible  to  the  greatest  of  privi- 
leges, and  to  be  in  a  fair  way  to 
apostacy,  final  impenitency,  and  eter- 
nal ruin.  From  this  evil,  "  Good 
Lord,  deliver  us." 

LUMP,  a  piece  of  clay,  doughy 
or  a  bunch  of  figs,  2  Kings  xx.  1.— 
To  it  are  likened,  (1.)  All  mankind, 
who  have  ail  the  same  earthly  and 
sinful  nature,  Rom.  ix.  21.  (2.)  The 
Jews  descending  from  holy  parents, 
Rom.  ix.  16.  (3.)  A  particular  con- 
gregation or  church,  1  Cor.  v.  6. 

LUNATIC,  a  person  affected  with 
some  distemper  influenced  by  the 
moon,  such  as  the  epilepsy,  deep 
melancholy,  madness,  &c.  or  it  de^ 
notes  a  perscw  possessed  by  the  de- 
vil. They  are  often  worst  at  the  new 
and  full  of  the  moon.  Perhaps  Satan 
rendered  the  persons  he  possessed 
worse  at  these  times,  that  the  mooo 
might  be  reckoned  the  cause  of  the 
malady. — Our  Saviour  healed  divers 
lunatics,  Matt.  iv.  24.  and  xvii.  5. 

LURK,  to  hide  one's  self.  Wick- 
ed men  hirk  to  do  mischief,  when 
they  use  secret  and  crafty  methods 
to  oppress  and  ruin  the  righteous, 
the  poor,  or  the  innocent,  Prov.  i. 
11.  Psal.  X.  8. 

To  LUST,  is  earnestly  to  desire, 
Deut.  xii.  1.5.  The  Spirit  lusteth 
against  the  flesh,  and  thcjlesh  against 
the  Spirit.  The  Holy  Ghost  in  the 
saints,  earnestly  opposes  and  aims  at 
the  ruin  of  indwelling  corruption, 
and  sin  earnestly  opposes  ererv  in- 

Q 


L  U  Z 


(     122     ) 


L  Y  D 


clinalioii  proceeding  from  God.  Cor- 
ruption of  natuie  is  called  lust,  as  It 
strongly  inclines  us  to  evil,  James  i 
14,  13.*  2  Pet.  i.  4.  Rom.  vii.  7.— 
This  general  lust  is  distinguished  into 
the  tusts  of  ikcjlesh,  such  as  unclean 
desire  of  carnal  pleasure,  intemperate 
desire  of  liquor,  or  fooil,  Gal.  v.  1  7. 
1  Pet.ii.  11.  2Pet.ii.lO.  Psa.lxxviii. 
18.  and  the  lust  of  the  mind,  such 
as  pride,  covetousness,  unbelief,  and 
attachment  to   all   pharisaic  works, 
&c.  Eph.  ii.  3.   1  Pet.  iv.  2,     These 
lusts  are  ungodly,  unlike  God,  and 
mightily  tend  to  dishonour  him,  Jude 
18.  are  devilish,  of  Satan's  implanta- 
tion, instigated  by  him,  and  render 
men  like  him,   John  viii.   44.  they 
war  against  the  grace  of  God,  and 
even   among  themselves,  James  iv. 
1.  1   Pet.  ii.  11.    are  deceitful   lusts, 
imposing  on  ourselves,  and  making 
lis  to  deceive  others,    Eph.  iv.  22 
are  insatiable,  as  the  more  one  fulfils 
(hem,  they   require  the  more,    Isa. 
Ivii.  10.    Eccl.  i.  8.    are  TVorUlt/,  as 
they  reign  in  worldly  men,  and  relate 
to  the  things  of  the  world,  Tit.  ii.  12. 
zxe  former  lusts  to  the  saints,  as  they 
have  mortified  them,   1  Pet.  i.  14. 
Gal.  V.  24.  are  of  the  ficsh,  whether 
of  the  taste,  smell,  or  touch;  of  the 
eye,  in   whatever  is  grand,  new,  or 
beautiful;  the  pride  if  life,  all  that 
pomp  in  clothes,   houses,  furniture, 
equipage,     and    manner   of    living, 
which  generally  [u-ocure  honour  from 
the  bulk  of  mankind.     These  are  not 
of  God,  but  are  directly  opi)Osed  to 
him,  1  John  ii.  16.     They  are  hurt- 
ful, as  they  pierce  men  through  with 
many  sorrows,  outrageously  hum  in 
tliem,  waste  their  constitution,  and 
drown  them  in  jierdition,  1  Tim.  vi. 
9,  10.  Rom.  i.  27. 

LUZ,  an  almond,  a  departure,  se- 
paration, or  a  bending.  The  most 
ancient  Luz  was  called  Bethel  ;  but 
a  Canaanitish  inhabitant  of  it  being 
saved  alive  for  discovering  to  the 
Hebrews  a  secret  entrance  into  the  ci- 
ty, he  and  his  family  retired  into  the 
land  of  the  Hittites,  and  built  an- 
other city  called  Luz.  But  whether 
this  was  the  Luza  near  Shechena,  or 


the  Loussa  or  Lysa  in  Arabia,  which 
was  perhaps  the  Lasha,  where  the  Ca- 
naanites  had  their  south-east  border, 
and  seems  to  have  stood  near  the  south 
point  of  the  Dead  Sea,  we  know  not. 
Judges  i.  25,  26.  Gen.  x.  19. 

LYBIA.     See  Libya. 

LYCAONIA,  a  she  wolf,  a  pro 
vince  of  Lesser  Asia,  having  Cappa- 
docia  on  the  east,  Galicia  on  the  north, 
Phrygia  on  the  west,  and  Pisidia  on 
the  south.  Lystra,  Derbe,  and  Ico- 
nium,  were  cities  of  this  province. 
They  seem  to  have  had  a  corrupt 
Greek  for  their  language.  Christian 
churches  were  here  planted  by  PxVUL 
and  Barnabas,  which  continued  of 
some  note  till  the  country  was  over- 
run by  the  Saracens,    Acts  xiv.  6, 

11,  18. 

LYCL\,  a  province  of  Lesser  Asia, 
having  Caria  on  the  west,  the  Me- 
diterranean Sea  northward  of  Syria 
on  the  south,  and  Pamohylia  on  the 
north-east.  It  anciently  contained 
about  23  cities,  and  sundry  other 
large  towns ;  the  chief  were  Tel- 
messus,  Patara,  Myra,  Olympus,  and 
Phaselis.  The  Lycians  were  a  colo- 
nj^  of  the  Cretans,  and  were  famed 
for  equity  in  more  ancient  times ;  but 
about  60  years  before  our  Saviour's 
birth,  many  of  them  on  the  sea-coast 
exercised  piracy.  Acts  xxvii.  5. 

LYDDA,  a  pool  of  sianding  wa- 
ter, or  LoD,  was  built  by  Shamed 
the  son  of  Elpaal,  and  stood  about  14 
miles  north-east  from  Joppa,  and  32 
westward  from  Jerusalem.  It  be 
longed  to  the  Ephraimites,  but  af- 
ter the  Chaldean  captivity,  the  Ben- 
jamites  inhabited  it,   1   Chron.  viii. 

12.  Neh.  xi.  35.  In  the  time  of 
the  Maccabees,  the  country  of  Lyd- 
da  was  taken  from  Samaria,  and 
added  to  Judea.  At  Lydda,  Peter 
miraculously  healed  Eneas  of  a  palsy 
that  had  for  eight  years  confined  him 
to  his  bed;  which  was  a  blessed 
mean  of  turning  many  to  the  Chris- 
tian faith ;  and  here  a  church  con- 
tinued till  the  Saracens  ruined  if 
There  was  a  college  of  the  Jews  at 
Lydda,  which  producetl  many  cele^ 
brated  doctors. 


JM  A  A 


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I\I  A  A 


LYDIA,  a  pool  of  f^lanilhi!^  water, 
(I.)  A  woman  who  had  bi'vn  born  in 
Thyalira,  l)iit  was  a  seller  of  piirple- 
tlye,  or  |)iiri»le  silk?,  in  Philippi. 
Wheflier  she  was  a  Jewess  or  Gen- 
tile, we  know  not ;  hut  she  and  her 
family  heiiic;  converted  to,  and  baj)- 
tized  in  the  Christian  I'aith,  PanI, 
upon  her  entreaty,  lodii,ed  in  her 
house.  Acts  xvi.  IJ,  15,  40.  (2.) 
A  country  in  Asia,  and  another  in 
Africa.     See  Lid. 

LYING.  To  tell  a  lie,  is  to  speak 
an  untruth,  known  to  be  such,  with 
an  intent  to  deceive.  And  there- 
fore in  a  lie  there  must  be  these  three 
ingredients:  (L)  There  must  be  the 
speaking  of  an  untruth;  (2.)  It  must 
be  known  to  be  an  untruth;  (3.)  It  must 
be  spoken  with  an  inloit  to  drccivc. 
Hence  it  appears,  th.it  every  untruth 
is  not  a  lie,  because  the  person  who 
speaks  it  may  not  know  at  the  time 
but  what  it  is  true. 

Nor  is  it  a  proof  that  a  man  is  guil- 
ty of  lying,  if  he  act  contrary  to  his 
former  declaration,  if  circumstance? 
require  it.  Gen.  xix.  2.  John  xiii.  8. 
Lies  are  of  three  kinds  :  (L)  There 
is  a  Jocular  lie;  a  lie  framed  to  excite 


mirth  and  laughter,  and  deceive  Ih^ 
hearer,  only  to  |)lea9e  and  divert 
him.  This  God  reckons  among  the 
sins  of  the  children  of  Israel,  Hos. 
viii.  3.  (2.)  There  is  an  officious 
lie,  which  is  told  for  another's  ad- 
vantage. But  Ave  are  not  to  do 
evil  that  good  may  come,  Rom.  iii. 
S.  (3.)  There  is  a  pernicious  lie;  a 
lie  devised  on  purpose  for  the  hurt  of 
another,  which  is  the  most  heinous  of 
;dl.  It  sliows  a,  heart  full  of  malice, 
when  this  passion  works  out  at  the 
mouth  in  slanderous  reports,  end 
false  accusations.  Liars  are  said  to 
be  of  their  father  the  devil,  John  viii. 
and  all  those  who  live  in  the  habit 
of  lying,  will  have  their  part  in  the 
lake  that  burneth  Avith  fire  and  brim- 
stone, Rev.  xxi.  8. 

LYSTRA,  dissolving,  or  dispers- 
ing, was  a  city  of  Lycaonia ;  but 
some  think  it  rather  pertained  to 
Isauria.  Here  Timoth)^  was  born ; 
here  Paul  and  Barnabas  healed  a  man 
who  had  been  lame  from  his  birth, 
and  were  taken  for  Mercury  and  Ju- 
piter; here  Paul  some  years  after  con- 
firmed the  Christians,  Acts  xiv.  6, 
18.  and  xvi.  1. 


IM 


M  A  A 


M  A  A 


MA  AC  HAH,  pressed  down,  worn, 
or  fastened,  the  f>on  ofNahor,by 
his  concubine  Reumah,  Gen.xxii.  24. 
Some  will  have  him  to  be  the  father  of 
the  Makaeti  in  Arabia  the  Happy,  and 
imagine  the  city  Maca,  near  the 
straits  of  Ormus  on  the  east,  or  Mo- 
cha on  the  south  coast,  may  have 
been  called  by  his  name.  I  rather 
think  he  was  the  father  of  the  Maa- 
chathites,  who  inhabited  a  small 
tract  on  the  east  of  the  springs  of 
Jordan,  called  Maachah,  Machathi, 
or  Bethmaachah,  as  this  country  was 
not  far  distant  from  Nahor's  country 
of  Padan-aram,  and  hereabout  tiie 
rest  of  Nahor's  posterity  dwelt.  It 
was,  perhaps,  a  regard  to  kindred  that 
made  the  Hebrews  spare  the  Maa- 
ehathites  and  Geshurites,  Deut.  iii. 


1 14.  Josh.  xii.  5.  As  the  Maachath- 
lites  assisted  the  Ammonites  against 
David,  he  no  doubt  subdued  their 
[country,  2  Sam.  x.  8,  9.  (2.)  Maa- 
chah, or  Michaiah:  she  is  called  the 
daughter  of  Abishalom,  and  of  Uriel, 
which  pessibly  were  but  different 
names  for  the  same  person:  or  she 
might  be  the  daughter  of  Uriel,  who 
married  Tamar  the  daughter  of  Ab- 
salom. She  was  the  wife  of  Re- 
hoboam,  and  grandmother  of  king 
Asa.  As  she  was  a  noted  idolater, 
and  j)erhaps  debased  herself  to  be 
the  priestess  of  the  obscene  idol 
Priapus,  Asa  stripped  her  of  what  au- 
thority she  had,  broke  to  pieces  her 
idol,  stamped  it  underfoot,  and  burnt 
it  at  the  brook  Kidron,  1  Kings  xv. 
2.  2  Chron.  xiii.  2.  and  xv.  16 


M  A  C 


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MAD 


MAALEH  ACRABBIM,  the  as- 
cent of  Acrabbim,  so  called  as  some 
think,  for  the  muUitiule  of  serpents, 
and  scorpions,  that  frequented  that 
place.  Acrabbim  is  probably  the 
same  as  Acrabatane  in  the  land  of 
Edom,  which  I  suppose  was  a  part  of 
mount  Hor,  and  is  now  called  Ac- 
caba,  hangs  over  Elath,  and  was  the 
black  mountain  of  Ptolemy.  Over 
this  mountain  there  is  a  steej*  rug- 
ged path,  Numb,  xxxiv.  4.  Josh. 
XV.  8. 

MACEDONIA,  lofty,  excelling, 
burning,  adoration,  a  large  coimtry 
on  the  nortli-east  of  Greece,  ancient- 
ly called  ^mathia,  from  one  of  its 
kings.  It  had  the  mountains  Scodrus 
and  Haemus^  on  the  north  and  north- 
east ;  the  ^gean  Sea,  or  Archipela- 
go, with  part  of  Thrace,  on  the  east ; 
Thessaly  on  the  south;  Epirus  on 
the  soutli-west,  and  Albania  on  the 
west.  It  was  peopled  by  a  vast  num- 
ber of  tribes,  which,  we  think,  were 
mostly  descended  from  Chittim,  the 
son  of  Javan.  The  monarchy  of  the 
Macedonians  had  stood  about  400 
years  when  king  Philip  added  Thes- 
saly, with  part  of  Epirus  and  Alba- 
nia, to  his  territories.  His  son 
Alexander,  it  is  said,  subdued  150 
nations.  It  is  certain  he  made  him- 
self master  of  Greece,  and  of  the 
Persian  empire,  and  of  part  of  India. 
Yet  his  empire  was  quickly  broken 
to  pieces;  and  Macedonia,  after 
having  continued  a  kingdom  about 
646  years,  fell  into  the  hands  of 
the  Romans,  A.  M.  3836.  When 
the  Roman  empire  was  divided, 
Macedonia  fell  to  the  share  of  the 
emperor  of  the  east.  After  it 
had  continued  subject  to  the  Ro- 
mans almost  1600  years,  it  fell 
under  the  power  of  the  Ottoman 
Turks,  who  are  the  present  masters 
of  it.  Some  of  its  principal  cities 
were  Thessalonica,  Anjphipolis,  Phi- 
lippi,  Berea,  Pella,  &c.  A  vision 
directed  Paul  to  preach  the  gospel 
in  this  country  ;  this  he  did  with  great 
success;  many  believed,  and  turned 
to  the  Lord.  The  Macedonian  Chris- 
tians were  very  forward  in  charity 


to  the  poor  saints  at  Jeru&alemj 
in  a  liberal  supply  of  the  apostle 
Paul,  and  in  a  zealous  dedication  of 
themselves  to  the  service  of  Christ 
Acts  xvi.  9 — 40.  and  xvii.  1 — 14. 
2  Cor.  viii.  1—5.  and  xi.  8,  9.  Not- 
withstanding the  ravages  of  the  Goths, 
Eulgars,  and  others,  and  the  terrible 
oppression  of  the  Ottoman  Turks, 
Christianity,  though  in  a  poor  con- 
dition, remains  here  till  this  da3^ 

MACHIR,  scZ/mo-,  or  knowing,  the 
son  of  Manasseh,  grandson  of  Joseph, 
and  chief  of  the  family  of  the  Machi  - 
rites.  His  sons  were  Gilead,  Peresh, 
and  Sheresh :  he  had  also  a  daughter 
married  to  one  Hezron,  of  the  tribe 
of  Judah,  who  bare  Segub,  the  father 
of  Jair,  who  had  23  cities  in  the  land 
of  Gilead,  and  took  Geshuri,  Aram, 
<fcc.  from  the  ancient  inhabitants, 
Numb.  xxvi.  29.  1  Chron.  vii.  16. 
and  ii.  21,22.  Not  to  Machir  him- 
self, but  to  his  seed,  did  Moses  give 
the  land  of  Gilead,  Numb,  xxxii.  40. 
Some  of  them  apfiear  to  have  com- 
manded in  the  Hebrew  army  under 
Deborah  and  Barak,  Judg.  v.  14. 

MACHPELAH,  double,  where 
Abraham  and  sundry  of  his  family, 
were  buried  in  a  cave :  it  was  near 
Hebron,  Gen.  xxiii.  and  xxv.  9. 
and  xlix.  31.  and  1.  13. 

MAD,  (1.)  Destitute  of  reason. 
Such  a  one  David  feigned  himself 
to  be  at  the  court  of  Achish,  1  Sam. 
xxi.  13,  14.  1  Cor.  xiv.  23.  (2.) 
Furious  and  outrageous  in  perse- 
cuting men  ;  so  Paul  was  exceedingly 
mad  against  the  Christians,  Acts 
xxvi.  11.  (3.)  Exceedingly  dis- 
tressed and  perplexed,  that  one 
knows  not  what  he  doth,  or  what  to 
do ;  so  the  terrors  or  judgments  of 
God,  render  men  mad  or  distracted, 
Deut.  xxviii.  34.  Isa.  xliv.  25.  Psal. 
Ixxxviii.  15.  (4.)  Outrageously  vio- 
lent in  desire  or  action,  notwithstand- 
ing strong  reasons  to  the  contrary; 
so  the  Chaldeans  Avere  mad  on  their 
idols  and  vanities,  Jer,  1.  18.  False 
teachers  are  mad;  thej^  foolishly  ut- 
ter falsehoods  of  their  own  invention, 
instead  of  the  truths  of  God,  and 
at  last  God's  judgments  demonstrate 


MAD 


(     125     ) 


ftl  A  D 


ihe  folly  and  falseliood  of  what  Ihoy 
say;  and  men  reckon  thcni  to  havei 
been  out  of  their  wits,  Hos.  ix.  7.1 
Paul  and    the  otlier   apostles    were 
thought  to  be  beside  themselves,  be- 
cause of  their  zeal  for  God,   and  fer-  j 
vent   love  to  precious    souls,   Acts 
xxvi.  24.  2  Cor.  v.   13,  14.       And 
generally    when    persons     begin    in 
good  earnest  to  seek  salvation,  they  \ 
are   thought  by  wicked  men  to  bej 
going  mad.     He  that  deceiveth  his' 
neighbour  in  sport,  is  like  a  madman,  > 
casting  firebrands,  arrows,  and  death. 
Contrary  to  reason,  he  spreads  hurt, 
and  even  everlasting  destruction,  all 
around  him,  Prov.  xxvi.  18. 

MADAI,  a  meamre,  judging,  or! 
a  garment,  the  third  son  of  Japheth,  | 
Gen.  X.  2.  Some  will  have  him  to  be  ' 
the  father  of  the  Macedonians,  and  i 
observe,  that  iEmathia,  the  ancient'; 
name  oC  Macedonia,  is  the  same  as  j 
Ai  or  Ala  Madai,  the  isle,  country,  or 
land,  of  Madai.  In  Macedonia  there  j 
was  an  ancient  king  called  Medus,  or 
Madai ;  and  near  to  it  were  a  tribe 
called  Maedi,  or  Madi.  The  name  of 
Bledia  they  derive  from  Medea,  a 
famed  sorceress  who  lived  in  Colchis, 
near  the  north-west  corner  of  it,  about 
the  time  of  Asa.  But  as  Macedonia 
is  too  remote  for  a  son  of  Japheth  to 
come  to,  and  as  Media  both  in 
name  and  situation  answers  so  well 
to  Madai,  we  cannot  but  reckon 
him  the  father  of  the  Medes.  Media, 
now  called  Aiderbezan,  is  a  pretty 
mountainous  country  on  the  south- 
Avest  of  the  Caspian  Sea,  east  of  Ar- 
menia, north  of  Persia,  and  west  of 
Parthia  and  Hyrcania.  Its  princi- 
pal cities,  in  ancient  times,  were 
Ecbatan,  Rages,  &c.  The  Medes 
were  subdued  by  Pul,  or  Tiglath- 
pileser,  king  of  Assyria;  and  into 
Media,  Shalmaneser  carried  his  Jew- 
ish and  Syrian  captives.  As  the 
Medes  were  excellent  warriors,  part 
of  them,  of  the  city  or  country  of 
Kir,  assisted  Sennacherib  in  his  in- 
vasion of  Judea,  Isa.  xxii.  6.  After 
Sennacherib's  army  was  destroyed 
at  Jerusalem,  the  Medes  shook  off 
the  Assyrian  yoke.     Arbaces  seems 


to  have  begun  the  work.  About 
the  20th  year  Hezekiab,  and  A.  M. 
3308,  or  perhaps  three  years  soon- 
er, Dejoces,  or  Arphaxad,  by  fair 
means,  got  himself  settled  on  the 
tlirone.  After  building  Ecbatan, 
he  invaded  Assyria  :  but  Esarhaddon 
gave  him  a  terrible  defeat  in  the 
plain  of  Ragar.  His  son  Phraoutea, 
whom  some  think  was  Ar[)haxad, 
succeeded  him  A.  M.  3348.  He 
subdued  the  neighbouring  nations  of 
Upper  Asia,  and  invaded  Assyria; 
but  was  slain  at  the  siege  of  Nine- 
veh. C3'^axare6  his  son  succeeded 
him  A.  M.  3370.  He  conquered 
Persia;  and  to  avenge  his  father's 
death,  and  the  ruin  of  Ecbatan  the 
capital  of  Media,  he  invaded  Assy- 
ria, and  laid  siege  to  Nineveh.  An 
invasion  of  the  Tartars  under  Ma- 
dyes,  or  Oguz-kan,  diverted  him; 
the}^  remained  28  years  in  Media. 
After  the  Medes  had  massacred  the 
Tartars,  and  a  peace  had  Ijeen  made 
with  the  Lydians,  who,  in  a.  war 
of  five  years,  attempting  to  revenge 
the  murders  of  the  Tartars,  Cyraxares 
and  Nebuchadnezzar  joined  their 
forces,  and  besieged  Nineveh;  took 
and  razed  it,  about  A.  M.  4403; 
and  then  Nebuchadnezzar  marched 
against,  and  reduced  Hollow-Syria, 
Judea,  and  most  of  Phenicia  :  Cj'ax- 
ares  reduced  Armenia,  Pontus,  and 
Cappadocia;  and  he  and  Nebuchad- 
nezzar conquered  Persia.  About 
A.  M.  3409,  Astyages,  or  Ahasu- 
erus  his  son,  succeeded  him :  his  sis- 
ter Amyite  was  the  wife  of  Nebu- 
chadnezzar; his  daughter  Nitocris 
was  married  to  Evil-merodach  the  son 
of  Nebuchadnezzar,  and  Mandane 
to  Cambyses  the  father  of  Cyrus. 
His  son  Cyaxares,  or  Darius,  suc- 
ceeded him  A.  M.  3444.  After  a 
war  of  20  years,  and  terrible  mur- 
der of  the  people,  he,  assisted  by 
Cyrus  his  son-in-law  and  nephew^, 
made  himself  master  of  Babylon, 
and  the  whole  empire  of  Chaldea, 
Isa.  xxi.  2.  and  xiv.  17,  18.  Jer.  li. 
11,  27,  28.  Dan.  v.  31.  and  vi.  and 
ix.  1.  Cyrus,  by  his  wife,  fell  heir 
to  the  Median  kingdom,  and  united 


MAG 


(    liiG    ) 


M  A  K 


it  with  that  of  Persia,  A.  M.  3470, 
or  3468. 

M  ADM  ANN  AH,  a  measure  of  a 
gift,  the  preparation  of  a  garment,  a 
city  of  Judah  near  their  west  border, 
and  not  far  from  Ziklag,  and  inhabit- 
ed by  the  posterity  of  Shaaph  :  it  was 
deserted  for  fear  of  the  ravaging  As- 
syrian?, John  XV.  31.  1  Chron.  ii. 
49.  Isa.  X.  3]. 

MAGDALA.  See  Dalmanutha. 

MAGICIANS.  See  Divination. 

MAGISTRATES,  civil  rulers, 
especially  such  as  rule  over  particu- 
lar cities,  Judg.  xviii.  7.  Ezra  vii. 
25.  As  they  were  appointed  to  exe- 
cute the  laws  of  the  land,  and  are 
designed  by  Providence  to  l»e  a  ter- 
ror to  evil-doers,  and  a  praise  to 
them  that  do  Avell,  they  ought  to  be 
reverenced  and  obeyed;  and  fervent 
prayer  should  be  offered  to  God  in 
their  behalf,  Rom.  xiii.  1 — 5.  1  Tim. 
ii.  1.  1  Pet.  ii.  17.  Tit.  iii.  1. 

MAGNIFY,  to  make  great,  or 
declare  to  be  great.  God  magnifes 
his  own  mercy,  or  name,  when,  by 
the  fulfilment,  or  powerful  applica- 
tion of  his  word,  he  discovers  the 
unbounded  nature  of  his  mercy,  and 
other  perfections.  Gen.  xix.  19.  Acts 
xix.  7.  He  magnifies  his  word  above 
all  his  name,  when  he  clearly  dis- 
covers his  mercy  and  faithfulness 
therein  contained  and  pledged,  Psal. 
cxxxviii.  4.  Jesus  magnified  the  law, 
and  made  it  honourable;  his  sub- 
jection to  it,  who  was  the  great  Law- 
giver, highly  demonstrated  the  ho- 
nour and  infallible  obligation  of  it; 
and  he  rendered  to  it  an  infinitely 
more  valuable  obedience  than  ever 
it  could  have  received  of  men,  Isa. 
xlii.  21.  God  magnifies  men  when 
he  renders  them  honourable,  wealthy, 
or  powerful,  Josli.  iii.  7.  and  iv.  4. 
1  Chron.  xxix.  15.  2  Chron.  xxxii. 
23.  or  even  when,  by  his  afflicting 
them,  he  shows  that  he  takes  much 
notice  of  them,  Job  vii.  17.  Men 
viagnifij  God,  or  his  work,  when 
they  publish  and  declare  his  great- 
ness and  glory,  Psal.  xxxiv.  2.  Job 
xxxvi.  24.  Men  magnify  themselves, 
when  they  boast  of  thedr  power  and 


wealth,   and  behave   arrogantly    to 
others,  Lam.  i.  9. 

MAGOG,  covering,  a  roof  dis- 
solving, or  melting.     See  Gog. 

M  AH  AN  AIM,  tents,  carpets,  two 
armies,  a  city  on  the  east  of  Jordan, 
given  by  the  tribe  of  Gad  to  the  Le- 
vites  of  Merari's  family.  Josh.  xxi. 
38.  It  received  its  name  from  Ja- 
cob's seeing  near  this  spot  two  camps 
of  angels.  Gen.  xxxii.  1,  2.  Here 
Ishbosheth  fixed  his  residence,  dur- 
ing his  short  reign,  2  Sam.  ii.  9. 
Hither  David  retired  from  the  fury  of 
Absalom ;  and  near  to  it  his  army 
defeated  the  troops  of  that  usurper, 
2  Sam.  xvii.  and  xviii. 

MAHANEH-DAN,  the  camp  of 
Dan,  a  place  near  Kirjath-jearim, 
where  the  600  Danites  encamped  in 
their  Avay  to  Laish,  Judg.  xviii.  12. 

MAID,  (1.)  A  young  woman,  par- 
ticularly one  in  service,  2  Kings  v.  4. 
Gen.  xvi.  2.  (2.)  A  virgin,  as  young 
women  generally  are,  or  ought  to 
be,  Deut.  xxii.  14.  Judg.  xix.  24. 

MAJESTY,  properly  denotes  the 
supreme  power  in  any  state,  whether 
vested  in  one  or  more  persons.— 
Majesty,  with  respect  to  God,  is  his 
power  conjoined  with  his  wisdom  : 
which  is  so  great,  that  a  greater,  or 
even  equal,  cannot  be  conceived : 
God  is  supremely  wise,  and  infinite- 
ly powerful:  consequently  the  Di- 
vine Majesty  is  the  greatest  of  all 
others,  and  proper  only  to  an  infi- 
nite Being,  Job  xxxvii.  22.  Psal. 
civ.  1.  Others,  by  majesty,  under- 
stand the  whole  constellation  of  di- 
vine perfections  taken  collectively, 
Jude  25.  Esth.  i-  4. 

MAIMED,  properly  signifies  one 
whose  hand  or  arm  has  been  cut  off'. 
It  is  reasonable  to  suppose,  that 
among  the  many  maimed  who  were 
brought  to  Christ,  there  were  some 
whose  limbs  had  been  cut  off;  and  it 
can  hardly  be  imagined  that  any  of 
(he  miracles  of  our  Lord  were  more 
illustrious  and  amazing  than  the  reco- 
verv  of  such,  Matt,  xviii.  8.  and  xv.  31 . 

MAINTAIN.     See  Uphold. 

MAKE,  (1.)  To  cause  a  thing  to 
be,  tliat  did  not  before  exist :  so  God 


ill  A  I. 


(      127     ) 


M  A  L 


iit  first  made  all  things,  Gen.  i.  31., 
(2.)  To  put  persons  or  things  intoj 
such  a  form,  oftice,  or  condition,  asi 
they  were  not  before,  lea.  xlv.  0.  j 
God  is  our  Maker  ;  he  {^ives  us  our  j 
condition  as  he  sees  meet,  Isa.  liv.  j 
5.  God  makes  persons  to  he  of  such 
an  office,  wlien  he  calls  them  to,  and 
qualifies  them  for  it.  Matt.  iv.  19. 
Acts  xxvi.  16.  Amidst  sickness, 
God  makes  the  bed  of  him  who  wisely 
considereth  the  case  of  the  poor;  by 
mitigating  and  delivering  from  trou- 
ble, he,  as  it  were,  refreshes,  and 
makes  his  bed  easy  to  him,  Psa.  xli. 
3.  The  Word  was  ?nade  flesh,  not 
by  any  change  of  the  divine  nature 
of  the  Sou  of  God  into  flesh  or  man- 
hood, but  by  his  assuming  a  man- 
hood into  personal  union  with  his 
divine  nature,  John  i.  14.  but  water 
was  7nadc  wiiu,  by  turning  the  sub- 
stance of  the  one  into  the  other, 
John  ii.  9. 

MARKED  AH,  adoration,  pros- 
tration, a  city  of  the  tribe  of  Judah, 
about  two  miles  east  from  Libnah, 
and  10  or  14  west  of  Jerusalem. — 
Near  this  place  Joshua  defeated  and 
hanged  Adonizedek,  and  his  four  al- 
lied kings;  he  then  destroyed  the 
place,  and  marched  westward  to  Lib- 
uah.  Josh.  X.  10 — 28. 

MAKTESH,  a  street  in  Jerusa- 
lem :  but  whether  that  of  the  valley 
of  Shiloah,  which  almost  surrounded 
the  temple,  and  was  shaped  some- 
what like  a  mortar;  or  that  of  the 
cheese-mongers  between  the  hills  of 
Acra  and  Zion ;  or  any  other  street 
of  the  city  where  they  used  mortars 
for  bruising  the  spices  which  they 
sold;  I  cannot  determine.  The  mer- 
chants that  dwelt  in  it  had  reason  to 
howl,  when,  by  the  Chaldean  inva- 
sion, their  trade  was  stopped,  and 
their  shops  rifled,  Zeph.  i.  11. 

MALACHI,  mij  messenger,  or 
angel,  the  12th  of  the  lesser  prophets. 
In  vain  it  has  been  pretended,  that  he 
was  Zerubbabel,  Ezra,  Mordecai,  or 
Nehemiah;  none  of  these  is  ever 
called  a  prophet ;  nor  had  they  any 
cause  to  change  their  name :  nor  is 
}i  a  whit  more  cerMin,  that  he  was 


of  the  tribe  of  Zebulun,  and  a  native 
of  the  city  of  Sephoris,  and  died 
young.  It  is  plain  that  he  prophe- 
sied after  the  building  of  the  second 
temple;  and  we  suppose  al)out  A.  M. 
3607,  about  sixteen  years  after  the 
death  of  Nehemiah.  After  mention- 
ing the  distinguished  favours  of  God 
to  Jacob  and  his  seed,  above  what 
had  been  shown  to  Esau,  whose  pos- 
terity was  by  this  time  consigned  to 
barrenness  and  drought,  he  reproves 
the  Jews  for  their  ungrateful  and 
unbecoming  deportment  towards 
their  God;  he  hints,  that  the  Gen- 
tiles should  be  called  to  the  church 
in  their  room ;  he  charges  the  Jews 
with  profanation  and  weariness  of 
the  worship  of  God,  and  with  oSer- 
ing  him  sacrifices  blemished  and  cor- 
rupt, chap.  i.  He  reprehends  the 
priests'  neglect  of  instructing  the 
people ;  reproves  the  marriage  of 
strange  wives,  and  their  frequent 
and  groundless  divorce,  chap.  ii. 
After  informing  them  of  the  Mes- 
siah's near  approach,  to  try  and  re- 
fine them  to  purpose,  he  rebukes 
the  Jews  for  their  sacrilege  and  bias* 
phemy,  and  declares  the  Lord's  dis- 
tinguished regard  for  such  as  feared 
him,  and,  in  a  time  of  general  cor- 
ruption, walked  in  his  way,  chap, 
iii.  He  concludes  with  a  prediction 
of  terrible  judgments  on  such  Jews, 
and  others,  who  should  reject  the 
incarnate  Messiah,  and  of  signal 
mercy  to  such  as  should  believe  on 
him ;  and  adds  a  hint  of  John  Bap 
tist's  mission,  to  {)repare  the  Jew- 
ish nation  to  receive  the  Messiah. 
chap.  iv. 

MALES.  The  male  or  he  ani- 
mals offered  ia  sacrifice,  some  think, 
figured  out  the  superior  dignity, 
strength,  and  usefulness,  of  the  Re- 
deemer. Thrice  in  the  year,  at  the 
passover,  pentecost,  and  feast  of  ta 
bernacles,  all  the  Hebrew  males  able 
to  travel,  were  to  attend  at  the  taber- 
nacle or  temple,  each  with  his  gifts. 
Did  this  figure  the  gathering  of  sin- 
ners to  Christ,  in  the  apostolic  and 
millennial  periods,  and  of  all  thesaints 
to  him  at  llie  last  day  ?  Exod.  xxiii.  1 7. 


MAM 


C     128     ) 


MAN 


Nona  but  the  males  of  Aaron's  fami- 
ly were  allowed  to  eat  of  sin-offerings 
or  trespass-offerings,  Lev.  vi.  18,  29. 

MALICE,  is  a  deliberate  deter- 
mination to  revenge  or  do  hurt  to 
another.  It  is  a  most  hateful  temper 
in  the  sight  of  God,  strictly  forbid- 
den in  his  holy  word.  Col.  iii.  8 — 12. 
disgraceful  to  rational  creatures,  and 
every  way  inimical  to  the  spirit  of 
Christianity^  Matt.  v.  44.  1  Pet,  ii.  1. 
and  Cor.  v.  8.  Wicked  men  are  under 
its  influence,  Rom.  i.  29.  Tit.  iii.  3.  In 
malice  wc  should  be  children,  quite  un- 
acquainted with  it,  but  in  understand- 
ing we  should  be  men,  1  Cor.  xiv.  20. 

MALIGNITY,  a  perverse  temper 
of  mind,  disposing  one  to  delight  in, 
and  endeavour  by  all  means  to  effect, 
the  destruction  of  others;  doing  mis- 
chief for  mischief's  sake,  Rom.  i.  29. 

MALLOWS,  a  kind  of  plant, 
whose  flower  consists  of  one  leaf,  and 
is  very  open  at  the  top,  and  divided 
into  several  segments.  From  the 
bottom  of  the  flower  there  arises  a 
tube  shaped  like  a  pyramid  :  and 
from  the  cup  arises  a  pistil,  Vvhich  is 
tixetl  like  a  nail  to  the  lower  part  of 
the  flower :  this  ripens  into  a  flat 
roundish  fruit,  which  contains  the 
seed,  which  is  usually  formed  as  a 
kidne}-.  There  are  about  50  or  60 
kinds  of  ma!iov/s.  Mallows  are  very 
useful  in  medicine.  The  leaves  are 
useful  in  softening  fomentations,  and 
cataplasms.  A  decoction  of  the  roots 
is  a  good  drink  in  pleurisies,  perip- 
neumonies,  gravel,  inflammation  of 
the  kidneys,  and  in  stranguries  and 
all  kinds  of  suppression  of  the  urine. 
Plutarch  aad  Horace  represent  mal- 
lows as  eaten  for  food  by  the  poor; 
but  perhaps  the  malluckim  are  some 
kind  of  bramble,  whose  tops  and 
leaves  are  eaten  by  poor  people,  and 
are  still  called  mallochia  by  the 
Moors,  Job  xxs.  4. 

l^IAMMON,  a  Syriac  AVord  for 
riches,  which  our  Lord  beautifully 
represents  as  a  person  whom  the  folly 
of  men  had  deified.  No  man  can  serve 
God  and  mammon ;  none  can  at  the 
same  time  love  and  serve  God  with 
{fis  heart,  while  his  great  aim  and 


desire  is  to  heap  up,  enjoy,  and 
retain,  worldly  wealth.  Matt.  vi. 
24.  "  Make  to  yourselves  friends 
of  the  mammon  of  unrighteous- 
ness, that  when  these  riches  fail, 
they  may  receive  you  into  ever- 
lasting habitations :"  spend  worldly 
riches,  which  so  many  get  unjustly, 
and  use  as  instruments  of  dishonesty 
and  wickedness,  in  a  pious  and  cha- 
ritable manner,  and  the  poor  saints, 
benefited  thereby,  may  be  stirred  up 
to  pray  for  you;  and  that  when  j-'our 
riches  are  no  more  retained  by  you, 
ye  may  obtain  the  gracious  reward  of 
your  charity  in  heaven;  and  these  poor 
saints,  whom  you  have  supported, 
may  with  pleasure  Avelcor.e  you  into 
the  celestial  abodes,   Luke  xvi.  13. 

MAMRE,  rebellious,  or  bitter,  or 
that  changes,  the  brother  of  Aner  and 
Eshcol :  these  Amorites  assisted 
Abraham  against  Chedorlaomer, 
Gen.  xiv.  Mamre  communicated 
his  name  to  a  plain  near  Hebron 
where  he  lived.  Some  think,  that  in- 
stead of  ihe  plain  of  Mamre,  we  should 
read  the  oak  of  Mamre.  Sozomenus, 
the  ecclesiastic  historian,  says,  that 
this  oak  was  standing  about  300  years 
after  our  Saviour's  death,  about  six 
miles  from  Hebron,  and  was  mightily 
honoured  by  pilgrimages  to  it,  and 
annual  feasts  at  it;  and  adds,  that 
near  it  was  Abraham's  well,  much 
resorted  to  by  Heathens  and  Chris- 
tians, for  the  sake  of  devotion  or 
trade,  Gen.  xii.  18.  and  xxiii.  17. 

MAN,  an  animal  body  endowed 
with  a  rational  and  immortal  sou  1. 
At  first,  man  was  created  male  and 
female,  after  the  image  of  God,  in 
knowledge,  i-ighteousness,  and  holi- 
ness, with  dominion  over  the  crea- 
tures; and,  quickly  after,  they  were 
admitted  into  a  federal  relation  with 
God.  Adam,  the  common  father  of 
mankind,  was  constituted  their  cove- 
nant-head. Though  he  had  sufficient 
strength  to  have  fulfilled  the  con- 
dition of  perfect  obedience,  he  was 
so  far  from  doing  it,  that,  on  the  first 
temptation,  he  broke  the  covenant, 
violating  the  express  law  of  it  rela- 
tive to  the  forbiddra  fruit.     His  dis- 


MAN 


(     129     ) 


MAN 


dhedionce  involved  liimsolf,  and  all 
his  ollsprinc;,  in  a  sinl'ul  and  misera- 
ble slate.  Hence  every  niaji  i*  sha- 
ken in  iniquity,  antl  conceived  in 
sin,  Gen.  i.  and  ii.  and  iii.  Rom.  v. 
12—19.  Eph.  ii.  1—3.  J()l>  xiv.  4. 
John  iii.  0.  Psal.li.  5.  In  this  fallen 
state,  every  imairination  of  man's 
heart  is  only  evil  from  his  youth, 
and  lluit  continually.  They  are 
fran?g;rcssors  tVo/n  the  womb,  and  go 
astray,  speaking  lies:  their  heart  is 
deceitful  above  all  things,  and  despe- 
rately wicked,  and  their  carnal  mind 
is  enmity  against  God  :  out  of  their 
corrui)t  heart  proceed  evil  thoughts, 
murders,  adulteries,  fornications, 
tliefts,  fal^e  ivitness,  blas|)hemies ; 
they  are  filled  wilh  all  nm-ighteous- 
ness,  fornication,  wickedness,  covet- 
ousness,  maliciousness,  envy,  nuir- 
der,  debate,  deceit,  malignity  ;  they 
are  whisperers,  backhitpr.-,  haters  of 
God,  despiteful,  i)roud,  inventors  of 
evil  things,  disobedient  to  parents, 
without  understanding,  covenant- 
lireakers,  Avithout  natural  affection, 
implacable,  unmerciful ;  they  are 
lovers  of  themselves,  boasters,  blas- 
phemers, unthankful,  unholy,  false 
accusers,  incontinent,  fierce,  despi- 
sers  of  every  "thing  good,  traitors, 
heady,  high-minded,  lovers  of  plea- 
sure more  than  lovers  of  God  ;  fool- 
ish, disobedient,  deceived,  serving 
divers  lust?,  living  in  malice  and  en- 
vy, hateful,  and  hating  one  another. 
There  is  none  in  their  natural  state 
righteous,  no  not  one ;  there  is  none 
that  understandeth  and  seeketh  after 
God;  they  are  altogether  corrupt 
and  abominable,  drinking  up  iniquity 
as  the  ox  drinketh  up  the  water; 
with  their  tongues  tliey  use  deceit; 
their  mouth  is  full  of  cursing  and 
bitterness ;  their  feet  are  swift  to 
:-hed  blood  ;  destruction  and  misery 
are  in  all  their  ways,  and  the  way  of 
peace  have  they  not  known :  there 
is  no  fear  of  God  before  their  eyes. 
Hen.  vi.  5.  and  viii.  21.  Jer.  xvii.  9. 
Jlom.  viii.  7.  Matt.  xv.  9.  Rom.  i. 
20—31.  2  Tim.  iii.  2—4.  Tit.  iii,  3. 
P?al.  xiv.  Rom.  iii.  9 — 18.  By  rea- 
son of  sin,  men  are  rendered  miser- 
Voi..  IT. 


able ;  the  frame  of  this  lower  world 
is  much  altered ;  fields  are  blasted 
with  the  curse ;  the  air  is  infected 
with  pestilential  vapours:  winds  and 
^eas  are  calculated  to  swallow  up  the 
guilty.  Every  man  is  by  jialure  des- 
titute of  an  interest  in,  or  fellowship 
with  God.  All  men  are  children  of 
wrath,  and  ex[)Osed  to  famine,  war, 
pestilence,  poverty,  reproach,  sick- 
ness, disappointment,  toil,  &c.  Gen. 
iii.  18, 19.  Eph.  ii.  12.  Psal.  v.  4,  b. 
and  vii.  10 — 10.  Deut.  xxviii.  16 — 
68.  2  Cor.  iv.  4.  2  Thess.  ii.  11,12. 
Rom.  i.  26,  23.  Prov,  xiv.  32.  Rev. 
xiv.  10,  11.   2  Thess.  i.  8,  9. 

Man  being  utterly  unconcerned, 
and  incapable  to  recover  himself  front 
this  sinful  and  miserable  state,  God 
graciously  provided  for  oiu-  relief. 
The  Father,  the  Son,  and  the  Spirit, 
devised  the  means  of  our  redemp- 
tion. Union  with  Jesus  Christ  as 
our  righteousness  and  strength ;  jus- 
tification through  his  obedience  and 
suffering;  ado[)tion  into  his  family; 
sauctification,  whereby  wc  are  re- 
newed after  his  image  in  heart  and 
life ;  comfort  in  his  friendship  and 
fulness ;  and  endless  felicity  in  his 
immediate  presence;  are  the  sum- 
mary blessings  procured  for  men. 
Bj'^  faith  in  Christ,  as  offered  in  the 
gosjiel,  we  must  receive  them;  by- 
new  obedience  to  all  the  precepts  of 
his  law,  and  by  walking  wilh  him  in 
all  the  ordinances  of  his  grace,  must 
we  evidence  our  gratitude  to  God 
for  his  kindness,  Hos.  xiii.  9.  Rom. 
iii.  and  v.  Eph.  i.  and  ii.  and  iii. 
Gal.  iii.  and  iv.  Tit.  iii.  3—6.  Rom. 
vi.  andxii. — xv.  Eph.  iv. — vi.  Matt. 
V.  48.  and  xxviii.  20. 

Notwithstanding  this  prepared  and 
publislied  redemption,  the  wicked- 
ness oi  man  has  still  been  great  in 
the  earth.  As  men  multiplied,  their 
immoralities  increased :  Cain  and  his 
seed  introduced  a  deluge  of  prolane- 
ness,  and  by  intermarriages  with 
them,  were  the  posterity  of  Seth 
corrupted.  God,  who  has  ordinarily 
all  along  severely  jiunished  the  first 
introducers  of  wickedness,  was  pro- 
voked to  drown  them  all.  but  Noah 
R 


Ill  A  iV 


(     13a    ) 


M  A  N 


ami  otliCT  seven  persons.  Not  long 
after  the  flood,  when  those  preserv- 
ed from  it  had  begun  to  repeople  the 
earth,  wickedness  revived  in  all  the 
horrors  thereof;  proudly  they  con- 
spired against  the  Lord,  to  establish 
their  own  fame,  and  prevent  their 
dispersion.  Scattered  by  the  just 
vengeance  of  heaven,  they  generally 
oast  off  all  pro;;er  fear  and  reverence 
of  God.  Fornearly  2000  years,  the 
true  worship  of  God  was  almost 
wholly  confined  to  the  slock  of 
Abraham;  and  for  about  1520  years, 
to  the  Hebrew  part  of  it.  Whilst 
the  rest  of  the  world  were  plunged 
in  the  grossest  ignorance,  the  most  ab- 
surd superstition,  and  vilest  idolatry, 
and  lived  in  the  most  unnatural  lust, 
oppression,  and  murder,  how  often  did 
the  Hebrews  madly  apostatize  from 
their  Maker,  and  live  as  the  Heathens ! 
■ — The  resurrection  of  our  Saviour 
issued  in  the  spread  of  the  gospel : 
multitudes,  both  of  Jews  and  Gen- 
tiles, especially  of  the  latter,  were 
turned  to  the  Lord.  These  sancti- 
fied ones,  their  malicious  fellow-crea- 
tures, for  almost  300  years,  bar- 
barously persecuted  and  nuirdered. 
Delivered  from  Heathen  persecution, 
the  professed  Christians  indulged 
themselves  in  ignorance,  pride,  su- 
perstition, contention,  idolatry ;  and 
many  of  them  embracing  the  Arian, 
or  other  heresies,  furiously  persecut- 
ed and  murdered  the  adherents  to 
truth.  During  the  years  of  Anti- 
christ's reign,  most  of  the  nominal 
Christians  have  scarcely  differed 
from  Heathens  in  ignorance,  super- 
stition, idolatry,  and  profaneness. 
At  present,  of  30  {)art8  of  mankind, 
about  19  are  mere  Heathens,  with- 
out Christ,  strangers  to  the  covenants 
of  promise,  without  God,  and  with- 
out hope  in  the  world.  About  five 
parts  are  adherents  to  the  abomina- 
ble delusions  of  Mahomet;  and  onlj' 
six  are  left  to  comprehend  all  that 
bear  the  Christian  name.  Of  this 
fifth  part  of  mankind,  comprehend- 
ing the  Eastern  Christians  of  various 
denominations,  and  the  Papists  and 
Protestants  in  Europe  and  America, 


too  few  indeed  give  any  proper  evi- 
dence of  their  having  the  true  know- 
ledge and  fear  of  God  as  in  Christ 
reconciling  the  world  to  himself. 

No  govprnment,  laws,  covenants, 
ties  of  nature,  or  gratitude,  have  been 
able  to  destroy  the  wickedness  of 
men.  Governments,  and  punish- 
ments of  different  forms,  have  been 
tried  for  the  preventing  particular 
kinds  of  wickedness;  but  all  have 
been  comparatively  in  vain,  while 
the  hearts  of  men  continued  unre- 
newed. Nor  have  the  instructions  of 
men  sufficiently  repressed  the  torrent 
of  crimes,  though  they  have  often 
occasioned  a  change  in  their  form. 
By  horrible  murder,  most  of  the 
extensive  kingdoms,  the  Egyptian, 
Assyrian,  Lydian,  Chaldean,  Per- 
sian, Grecian,  Roman,  Saracen, 
Turkish,  Tartar,  German,  Spanish, 
French,  and  other  kingdoms  or  em- 
pires, have  been  erected,  and  most  of 
them  have  already  shared  of  murder 
and  slavery  in  their  turn.  And, 
shocking  to  think  !  the  most  noted 
murderers  and  robbers  of  mankind, 
as  Sesostris,  Sennacherib,  Nebuchad- 
nezzar, Alexander,  Cesar,  Pompey, 
Lewis  XIV.  of  France,  and  multi- 
tudes of  such  like,  have  been  extol- 
led as  persons  of  distinguished  me- 
rit. Passing  the  various  distinctions 
of  men  founded  in  their  different  de- 
grees of  wealth  or  authority,  their 
different  endowments  of  mind  or 
behaviour  in  life,  their  different  oc- 
cupations, &c.  it  is  proper  to  ob- 
serve, that  before  God  they  stand 
distinguished  into  the  righteous  and 
the  wicked,  saints  and  sinners.  The 
wicked  are  such  as  are  still  in  their 
natural  state,  under  the  dominion  of 
sin,  and  are  heirs  of  wrath;  the 
righteous  are  such  as  are  instated  in 
the  favour  of  God,  delivered  from  the 
reign  of  sin,  are  heirs  of  salvation,  and 
are  by  sanctification  made  meet  to 
be  partakers  of  the  inheritance  of  the 
saints  in  light. 

Itmay  be  proper  further  to  observe, 
that  of  the  five  words  used  by  the  He- 
brews to  signify  man,  adam  denotes 
him  earthly ;  Isn,  denotes  him  strong 


n  A  N 


(   i'^>   ) 


MAN 


and    couras;eous ;     Gki'.kr    denotes 
Mrcnglh    and  {jrcvai/ins^    cxcctlcnci/  ; 
ExosH  rrprt'senls  Iiim  /hnV,   ilistus- 
rd,  aud  wrclchcd ;  and  31i;tii  denotes 
Ms  mortalitji,    ur  ratlicr  saciatilt/. — 
When  Adam  and  Ish  are   found  in 
contrast,  Jdam  dcnoU's  a  mean  man, 
and   7.v/j  a  ricli  or  honourable   one, 
Psal.  xlix.  2.  Isa.  ii.  9.     And  titat 
man  is  orteii  put  for  the  males  of  the 
human  kind,  as  for  a  son,  ftcn.  iv. 
1.  Jer.  xxxvii.  17,  18.  aud  husband, 
1  Cor.  xi.  3.  a  magistrate;  by  man 
Bhall  his  blood  be  ?hed,  Gen.  ix.  t). 
And   mankind  signifies  males.  Lev. 
xviii.  22.  and  xx.  13.  1  Cor.  vi.  9. 
1  Tim.  i.  10.     Almost  every  thing 
about  men,  members,    adjuncts,  re- 
lations, acts,  A:c.  are  constituted  em- 
blems of  God's  properties,  relations, 
and  works.     He  is  a  man  of  war  ;  he 
is  inlinite  in  strength  and  courage, 
and  he  manages  all  the  wars  in  the 
world,  and  in  the  hearts  of  his  peo- 
ple, to  the  honour  of  himself,  Exod. 
XV.  3.     Christ  is  called  a  man  ;  he 
often  appeared  to  the  Old  Testament 
saints  in  the  form  of  a  man;  in  the 
fulness  of  time  he  assumed,  and  for 
ever  retains,    our   nature;   and  the 
various  members,  adjuncts,  relations, 
and  acts  of  men,  are  used  in  scripture 
to  represent  his  excellencies,  office, 
and  conduct,  Gen.  xxxii.  24.     Josh. 
V.  13.     He  is  tlie  man  of  God's  rii^hl 
hand;    the  person  whom    God  has 
installed  in  his  mediatory  office  with 
his  solemn  oath,  and  whom  he  pecu- 
liarly upholds  and  assists,  aud  whom 
he  hath  raised  to  (he  most  dignilied 
station,  Psal.  Ixxx.  17.  He  is  thought 
to  be    the    man  amons;   the  myrtlc- 
trccs,   as  he  walks  and  acts  among 
his  people,  Zech.  i.  10.     Angels  are 
called  men,  because  they   often  ap- 
peared   in  the  form  of  men.    Gen. 
xix.     Men  of   God  are  prophets  or 
ministers,  and   also   saints,  holy  as 
God  is  holy,  and  devoted  to  the  ser- 
vice of  God,  Dent,  xxxiii.  1.  1  Tim. 
vii.  11.  2Tim.  iii.  17.     Antichrist  is 
called  a  man  of  sin.  Most  of  the  Popes, 
it  is  said,  have  been  very  monsters  of 
whoredom,  deceit,  profaneness,  and 
»he  like.     The  Papal  system  con- 


sists of  sinful  and  erroneous  tenets, 
sinfid  and  tiithy  practices  of  sui)er- 
stition  and  idiilatry,  sinful  offices, 
and  wicked  officers;  and,  in  fine  itH 
whole  tendency  is  to  promote  wick- 
cilness,  2  Thesg.  ii.  3.  A  man  oflhc 
earth,  is  either  one  who  cultivates 
the  earth,  a  husljandman.  Gen.  ix.  i 
20.  or  men  who  have  carnal  juinci- 
ples  reigning  in  them,  and  choose 
earlidy  things  for  their  chief  por- 
tion, Psal.  x.  18.  A  man  or  son  of 
Belial,  is  ouc  extremely  worthless, 
who  will  not  be  in  jtrojier  subjection, 
1  Kings  xxi.  12.  A  natural  77m/i,  is 
one  who,  in  whatever  way  his  facul- 
ties or  life  jnay  be  improved,  j'et  is 
unrenewed  by  grace; — and  a  sjnritual 
man,  is  one  renewed  by  the  Holy 
Ghost  dwelling  in  him,  and  who  is  dis- 
posed to  perceive  and  relish  spiritual 
things,  1  Cor.  ii.  14,15.  The  prin- 
ciple of  grace  in  our  soul,  is  a  hcw, 
an  inwar  I,  and  hidden  jnan,  consist- 
ing of  various  particular  graces,  an- 
sv/ering  to  the  various  members  of 
the  human  body;  it  rules  and  acts  in 
our  soul,  and  conforms  it  to  its  own 
likeness,  E[)h.  iv.  24.  Rom.  vii.  22, 
Inner  or  hidden  man,  may  also  denote 
the  soul.  Though  our  outward  man 
perish,  our  inward  man  is  reneueil 
day  by  day.  Though  our  body 
waste,  and  its  health  and  strength 
decay,  our  souls  and  inward  piin- 
ciplc  of  grace  are  daily  quickened 
and  strengthened,  2  Cor.  iv.  10.  To 
come  to  a  perfect  man,  to  the  stature 
of  the-  fulness  of  Christ,  is  to  arrive 
at  the  full  perfection  of  spiritual 
knowledge,  holiness,  and  righteous- 
ness, Eph.  iv.  13.  The  inward 
principle  of  corru[)tion  is  called  the 
old  man  ;  it  consists  of  various  lusts, 
which  answers  to  the  members  of 
the  human  body ;  it  craftily  rules 
and  reigns  in  unconverted  men,  and 
conforms  them  to  itself;  and  as  it  is 
ve!'y  early,  and  always  before  grace 
in  men,  so  in  Aveak  saints  it  is  in 
a  decaying  and  dying  condition, 
Col.  iii.  10.  Men  know  themselves 
to  be  hut  men,  when  they  are  made 
to  feel  and  understand  their  own 
weakness.  Psal.  ix.  20.     To  quit  our-' 


MAN 


(     132     ) 


MAN 


selves  likemen.,  is  to  act  with  courage 
and  firmness  in  natural  or  spiritual 
things,  1  Sam.  iv.  9.  1  Cor.  xvi. 
13.  To  speak  as  a  man.,  or  aflcr 
the  manner  of  mcit,  is  to  draw  a 
comparison  or  argument  I'poni  the 
customs  of  men  in  their  civil  affiurs, 
Gal.  iii.  15.  The  gospel  is  7iot  of  or 
after  vian  ;  it  is  not  of'  human  inven- 
tion, nor  does  it  depend  on  human 
authority,  Gal.  i.  11.  Christ  makes 
of  twain  one  new  man,  when  he  joins 
Jews  and  Gentiles,  formerly  at  vari- 
ance, into  one  new  gospel-church, 
and  in  one  new  way  of  spiritual  wor- 
ship, Eph.  ii.  15.  Men  of  one'' s  se- 
cret tabernacle,  or  peace,  are  familiar 
intimate  members  of  our  family,  or  in 
apparent  agreement  or  covenant  with 
us,  Job  xix.  19.  and  xxxi.  31.  Jer. 
XX.  10.  The  desire  of  a  man  is  his 
kindness ;  he,  if  wise,  desires  the 
jnercy  and  kindness  of  God  ;  seeks 
ability  and  opportunities  for  sho^ving 
kindness  to  others,  and  this  disposi- 
tion renders  him  agreeable  and  be- 
loved, Prov.  xix.  22. 

Woman  was,  last  of  all  creatures, 
formed  to  be  an  assistant  to  man. 
Women's  comeliness,  fond  affection, 
weakness,  and  infirmities,  ordinarily 
exceed  those  of  men.  Before  the 
fall,  the  woman  seems  to  have  been 
on  a  level  of  authority  with  the  man ; 
liut  to  punish  the  introduction  of  sin 
by  a  woman,  the  sex  was  subjected  to 
inequality  v/ith  their  husbands,  and 
to  manifold  pains  in  the  conception 
and  birth  of  their  children.  Till  the 
Messiah  came,  to  establish  a  new  dis 
pensation,  the  ordinances  of  heaven 
marked  a  standing  frown  upon  them 
To  one  of  the  seals  of  the  covenant, 
they  had  no  access.  Nor  had  they 
any  divine  call  to  attend  the  three 
solemn  feasts.  Their  natural  infir- 
mities brought  on  them  a  number  of 
burdensome  purifications,  Lev.  xii. 
and  XV.  With  the  Jews,  they  were 
subjected  to  divorce ;  or  to  trial  by 
the  waters  of  jealousjs  and  to  ston- 
ing, if  they  violated  the  marriage-vow 
after  betrothing,  or  if  their  tokens  of 
virginity  were  not  found.  Numb.  v. 
Oeut.  xxii.   and  xxiv.      A  priest's 


daughter  was  to  be  burnt  if  she  was 
guilty  of  fornication,  and  a  slave 
was  scourged  if  she  was  guilty  of  it 
with  her  master.  Lev.  xxi.  9.  and 
xix.  20—22.  lu  the  Christian 
church,  women  have  equal  acces? 
with  men  to  all  the  privileges  of 
private  members,  but  are  not  allowed 
to  officiate  as  rulers.  Col.  iii.  11.  Gal. 
iii.  2o.  1  Cor.  xiv.  34.  they  are  re- 
quired to  have  their  heads  covered  in 
public  worshipping  assemblies,  1  Cor. 
xi.  to  study  the  utmost  modesty,  and 
to  shun  all  vain  apparel,  by  the  sin- 
ful use  of  which  they  have  some- 
times brought  God's  judgments  on 
nations,  1  Pet.  iii.  1 — 3.  Isa.  iii.  10 
— 26.  But  perhaps  in  a  way  of  tri- 
umph over  Satan,  the  female  con- 
verts to  Christ  are  more  numerous, 
and  many  of  them  more  lively  in 
their  religion,  than  men. — In  most 
nations,  women  are  used  as  slaves, 
or  almost  beasts,  rather  than  as  meet 
helps.— To  preserve  the  chastity  of 
their  young  women  till  they  were 
lawfully  admitted  to  their  husbands, 
the  Jev^s,  and  other  eastern  nations, 
kept  them  in  a  manner  shut  up,  if 
their  circumstances  allowed  it ;  and 
the  very  name  of  virgin  among  the 
Hebrews,  signifies  sliut  vp,  and  hid- 
den ;  this  made  it  so  difficult  for 
Amnon  to  defile  his  sister  Tamar,  2 
Sam.  xiii.  2.  Perhaps  young  wo- 
men are  called  virgins  in  some  texts^ 
though  they  were  not  properly  so, 
Joel  i.  8.  To  keep  one^s  virgin,  is  to 
retain  a  daughter,  or  allow  a  belov- 
ed 3'oung  woman  to  continue  unmar- 
ried, and  in  a  state  of  virginity,  1 
Cor.  vii.  37.  The  true  church,  and 
her  members,  are  likened  to  virgins, 
to  mark  their  integrity  and  i)urity  of 
profession,  heart,  and  life,  chaste  af- 
fection to  Christ,  particularly  their 
freedom  from  the  abominations  of 
Antichrist,  Psal.  xlv.  14.  2  Cor.  xi. 
2.  Rev.  xiv.  4.  and  to  show  Jesus's 
relation  to  them  in  this  character, 
the  Jewish  high  priest  v/as  only  to 
marry  a  pure  virgin.  Lev.  xxi.  13. 
Professors  of  Christianity  in  genera! 
are  called  virgins,  five  wise,  and  live 
foolish,  because,  while  they  pj-ofess  3 


]M  A  N 


(     133     ) 


ai  A  N 


j)ur^  religion,  ami   lead  a   practice 
*ome^vh;^t    l)iaineless,    some    wistly 
receive  Christ  into  their  heart,  and 
others  foolishly  reject    hini,  and  are 
content    with    a    mere    itrolessiou, 
3Iatt.    XXV.     1  —  10.       The     Jews, 
Clialdeans,  and  other   nations,  to;j;e- 
tlier  with  (lie  Papists,  are  called  ;t'o- 
7nen,  to  show  their  readiness  to  en- 
tice or  to  be  enticed  into  alliances; 
their  numerous  progeny,   and    their 
weakness  when  I'lOd  punishes  them, 
E'/ek.  xxiii.     Zech.  v.  7.    Isa.  xlvii. 
Rev.  xvii.     Nations  or  cities,  espe- 
cially if  never  subdued  by  the  ene- 
my, are  called  virgins,  2  Kings  xix. 
21.  Isa.  xxiii.  12.  and  xlvii.  1.  .ler. 
xlvi.  11.     Lam.  i.  15.     Amos  v.  2. 
Persons  Aveak,  and  unfit  to  govern, 
are  represented  as  ivovicn,  Isa.  iii 
12.       Harlots    are    called     strange 
women,    ami   women    w}wsc  heart  is 
snares,  and  their  hands  as  bands  to 
entice  men  to  uucleanness,  and  lead 
them  to  ruin,  Prov.  ii.  IG.  Eccl.  vii. 
26. — It   may  not  be   amiss  in  this 
place  to  introduce  a  lew  observations 
on  the  variety  ol'  species  among  (he 
Imman  race :  of  these  there  are  six, 
enumerated  by  Linnajus  and  Buflbn. 
The  first  is  found  under  the  polar  re- 
gions, and  comprehends  the  Lapland- 
ers, the  Esquimaux  Indians,  the  Sa- 
nioied   Tartars,    the   inhabitants  ol 
Nova      Zembla,     Borandians,     the 
Greenlanders,    and    the   people    of 
Kamtschatka.     The  visage  of  men  in 
these  countries  is  large  and  broad ;  the 
nose  flat  and  short ;  the  eyes  of  a  yel- 
lowish brown,  inclining  to  blackness ; 
the  cheek  bones  extremelj^  high ;  the 
mouth  large;  the  lips  thick,  and  turn- 
ing  outward;    the   voice    thin   and 
s(jiieaking  ;   and  the  skin  a  dark  grey 
colour.       The   people  are  short  in 
stature;  the  generalitj'^  being  about 
four   feet   high,   and  (he  tallest  not 
jnore  than  five.   Ignorance,  stu|)idi(3', 
and  superstition,  are  the  mental  cha- 
racteristics of  the  inhabitants  of  these 
rigorous  climates. 

The  Tartar  race,  comprehending 
the  Chinese  and  the  Ja|)anese,  forms 
the  second  variety  in  the  human  spe- 
cies.    Their  countenances^re  broad 


and  wiihkled,  even  in  youth  :  (heir 
noses  short  and  Hat;  their  eyes  little, 
sunk  in  the  sockets,  and  several 
inches  asunder;  (heir  cheek  bones 
are  high;  (heir  (ee(h  of  a  large  size, 
and  scpara(e  from  each  other;  their 
complexions  are  olive,  anil  llieir  hair 
black. 

The  (bird  variety  of  mankind,  i.«( 
that  of  the  southern  Asiatics,  or  the. 
inhabitants  of  India.  These  are  of 
a  slender  shape,  have  long  straigh! 
black  hair,  and  generally  Roman 
noses.  These  jieople  are  slollnul, 
submissive, cow  ardly,  and  effeminate. 

The  Negroes  of  Africa  constitute 
the  fourth  striking  variety  in  the  hu- 
man species;  but  they  dilfer  widely 
from  each  other.  Those  of  Guinea, 
for  instance,  are  ugly  in  the  extreme, 
and  have  a  very  offensive  scent;  w  hile 
those  of  Mosambique  are  reckoned 
beautiful,  and  are  untainted  with 
any  disagreeable  smell.  The  Ne- 
groes are  in  general  of  a  black  co- 
lour, and  the  downy  softness  of  hair 
which  grows  ui)on  the  skin,  gives  a 
smoothness  to  it  resembling  tluit  of 
velvet.  The  hair  of  their  head  is 
woolly,  short,  and  black;  but  their 
beards  often  turn  grey,  and  some- 
times w  hite ;  their  noses  are  flat  and 
short,  their  lips  thick  and  tiunid, 
and  their  teeth  of  an  ivory  w  hiteness- 
Tliese  wretched  people  have  been 
subject  to  the  most  barbarous  despo- 
tism :  the  savage  tyrants  who  ruled 
over  them,  made  war  u\Hitt  each 
other  for  human  plunder;  and  the 
deluded  and  w  retched  victims  were 
bartered  for  spirituous  liquors;  Avere 
torn  from  their  families,  their  friends, 
and  their  native  land,  and  consigned 
for  life  to  misery,  toil,  and  bondage, 
in  climes  more  inhospitable  than 
those  whence  they  were  taken.  But, 
alas!  how  must  Ave  be  shocked  to 
record,  that  this  infernal  commerce 
was  carried  on  by  the  humane,  the 
polished,  the  Christian  inhabitants  of 
Europe!  and,  above  all,  b}' — Eng- 
lishmen! whose  ancestors  lia<l  bled 
ill  the  cause  of  liberty.  Blessed  be. 
I  God,  this  horrid  traffic  ia  human 
I  blood  Ijas  been  abolished  bj'  au  act 


MAN 


C     134     ) 


MAN 


of  Parliament  in  the  United  kingdom.  Pedahzur;  but  in  the  wilderness  they 
Would  to  God  this  horrid  practice  increased  to  32,700,  1  Chron.  vii.  14. 
were  totally  abolished  in  all  parts  of  Numb.  i.  30,  31,  35.  and  28 — 34. 
the  world,  as  it  has  been  by  some  of  They  pitched  in  thecampofEphraim, 
the  more  enlightened  and  polished  and  marched  next  after  that  tribe, 
nations.  Numb.  ii.  and  x.    Their  spy  to  search 

The  native  inhabitants  of  America  the  promised  land,  was  Gaddi,  the  son 
are  the  fifth  race  of  men:  they  are  of  of  Susi ;  and  their  prince  to  divide 
a  copper  colour,  with  black,  thick,  it,  was  Hanniel  the  son  of  Ephod, 
straight  hair,  flat  noses,  high  cheek  Numb.  xiii.  11.  and  xxxiv.  23.  The 
bones,  and  small  eyes.  They  eradi-  one  half  of  this  tribe  received  their 
cate  the  hair  of  their  beards,  and  inheritance  on  the  east  and  north- 
other  parts,  except  the  head,  as  a  least  of  the  sea  of  Tiberias;  the  other 
deformity;  their  limbs  are  not  sohalf  received  their  inheritance  on  the 
large  and  robust  as  those  of  the  Eu-jwest  of  Jordan,  on  the  north  of  the 
ropeans;  they  endure  hunger,  thirst, :  tribe  of  E{»hraim,  Numb,  xxxii.  33 
and  pain,  with  astonishing  firmness! — 42.  Josh,  xiv.  29 — 31.  and  xvi. 
and  patience;  and,  though  cruel  to, and  xvii.  Though  Joshua  advised 
their  enemies,  are  kind  and  just  to  the   western  Manassites  to  enlarge 


one  another. 

The  Europeans  may  be  consider- 
ed as  the  sixth  and  last  variety  of  the 


their  territory,  by  expelling  the  Ca- 
naanites,  yet  they  su(fere(l  them  to 
remain  in  Bethshan,  Taanach,  Dor, 


human  kind:  they  enjoy  singular ilbleam,  and  Megiddo,  Judg.  i.  27. 
advantages  from  the  firmness  of  their 'Four  of  the  Hebrew  judges,  Gideon, 
complexions.  The  face  of  the  Afri-  Abimelech,  Jair,  and  Jephthah, 
can  black,  or  of  the  olive-coloured  together  with  Barzillai,  and  Elijah 
Asiatic,  is  a  very  imperfect  index  of  the  prophet,  were  of  this  tribe, 
the  mind,  and  preserves  the  same  set-  Adnah,  Jozabad,  Jediael,  Michael, 
tied  shades  in  joy  and  sorrow,  confi-  Jozabad,  Elihu,  and  Zilthai,  valiant 


dence  and  shame,  anger  and  despair, 
sickness  and  health.  The  English 
are  of  the  fairest  of  the  Europeans ; 
and  we  may  therefore  presume,  that 
their  countenances  best  express  the 
variations  of  the  passions,  and  vicis- 
situdes of  disease.  But  the  intellec- 
tual and  moral  characteristics  of  the 
different  nations  which  compose  this 
r|uarter  of  the  globe,  are  of  more  im- 
portance to  be  known.  These, 
however,  become  more  discernible, 
as  fashion,  learning,  and  commerce, 
prevail  more  universally. 

MANASSEH, /or^o««?,  or/or- 
^'etjulncss,  the  eldest  son  of  Joseph  ; 
but,  according  as  Jacob  his  grand- 


captains  of  this  tribe,  joined  with 
David,  as  he  retired  from  the  host 
of  the  Philistines  near  Gilboah,  and 
helped  him  against  the  Amalekites, 
who  had  smitten  Ziklag,  About  18 
thousand  of  the  Western  Manassites, 
and  many  of  the  eastern,  attended  at 
his  coronation  to  be  king  over  Israel, 
1  Chron.  xii.  19—21,  31,  37.  The 
whole  tribe  revolted  from  the  family 
of  David  along  with  the  other  nine : 
but  many  of  them  in  the  reign  of 
Asa  left  tlieir  country,  and  dwelt 
in  the  kingdom  of  Judah,  that  they 
might  enjoy  the  pure  worship  of 
Go^d,  2  Chron.  xv.  9.  After  the 
death  of  Pekah,  there  seems  to  have 


father  had  predicted,  his  tribe  was  less  I  been  a  civil  war  between  this  tribe 
numerous  and  honoured  than  that  of  and  that  of  Epbraim,  Isa.  ix.  21. — 
Ephraim,his  younger  brother,  Gen.  A  part  of  the  Manassites  that  rc- 
xli.  50,  51.  and  xlviii.  Manasseh  mained  in  the  land,  joined  in  king 
seems  to  have  had  but  two  sons,  Ash- 1  Hezekiah's  solemn  passover,  and 
riel  and  !ftlachir.  When  the  Manas- 1  their  country  was  purged  of  idols  by 
sites  Came  out  of  Egypt,  their  fighting  I  him  and  Josiah,  2  Chron.  xxx.  and 
men  amounted  to  but  32,200,  underjxxxi.  and  xxxiv.  Part  of  this  tribe 
ihe  command  of  Gemaliel.  the  son  of)  retuniedtto  Cauaan,  and  dwelt  in  Je- 


.M  A  N 


<     13^    ) 


MAN 


•usalem,  after  the  captivity,  1  Chron. 
ix.  3. 

2.  Manasseh,  the  ?on  of   Heze- 
l<iah,  by  his  wife  Hephzibah.       At 
the  aqe  of  1 2  year?,  he  succeeded  his 
father  in  the  kiugdoin  of  Juduh,  and 
peijiiicd  55  year  .     He  was  impious 
to  an  uncommon  degree.       He   re- 
built the  hij^h  places  which  his  fa- 
ther had  destroyed :  he  re-establish- 
ed the  worship  of  Baal,  and  plantetl 
groves  in   honour  of    his    idols :  he 
worshi|»ped  the  sun,  moon,  and  stars, 
and  reared   to    them   altars    in   the 
court  of  the  temple;  one  of  his  i(k>ls 
he  set  up  in  the  temple  itself :  he 
burnt  one  of  his  sons  in  a  sacrifice 
to  Moloch.     He  had  familiar  inter- 
course with  devils,  and  practised  sor- 
cery and  witchcraft.     By  causinjj;  his 
subjects    to    follow    these    impious 
cburses,    he    rendered    them    more 
wicked  than  ever  the  Canaanites  had 
been.     By  murdering  such  as  refu- 
sed  compliance,  or   warned  him  of 
liis   danger,  he  made  the  streets  of 
Jerusalem    to    run    with    innocent 
blood :  and,  it  is  said,  he  sawed  the 
proi)het  Isaiah  asunder  with  a  wood- 
en saw.     About  the  22d  year  of  his 
reign,  Esarhaddon,  king  of  Assyria 
and  Babylon,  invaded  his  kingdom, 
routed  his  troops,  and  caught  Manas- 
seh  hid  among  thorns,  and  carried 
him  prisoner  to  Babylon.     In  his  af- 
fliction, he  repented  of  his  wicked- 
ness.    He  was  restored  to  his  throne, 
perhaps  by  Saosduchin,  the  successor 
of  Esarhaddon.     After  his  return  to 
Judea,  he  abolished  many  of  the  ves- 
tiges of  his  former  idolatry;  but  the 
high  places  were  permitted  to  con- 
tinue.    He  fortified  Jerusalem,  and 
added  a  kind  of  new  city  on  the  west 
side.     He  put  garrisons  into  all  the 
fenced  cities  of  Judah.       He  died 
A.  M.  3361,  and  was  buried  in  his 
own  garden,  and  left  his  son  Araon 
for  his  successor.     A  larger  history 
of  his  life  was  written  by  Hosai,  or 
the  seers,  but  it  is  now  lost,  2  Kings 
xxi.  2  Chron.  xxxiii.     God  forgave 
him  his  sin  with  respect  to  the  eter- 
nal punishment  thereof;  but  the  tem- 
poral punishment  of  the  Jcwijh  na- 


tion, for  their  compliance  therewith, 

was  never  forgiven,  Jer.  xv.  4 

MAN  DRAKES,  are  a  kind  of  the 
pentandria  monogynia  class  of  i)lanta, 
the  corolla  of  which  consists  of  a  sin- 
gle erect  hollow  [)PtaI,  growing  gra- 
dually wider  from  the  base.     A  lit- 
tle bej'ond  the  middle,  it  is  divided 
into  five  parts,  somewhat  formed  ia 
the  manner  of  speara.     The  fruit  is 
a  big  roundish  berry,  containing  two 
cells,  and  a  great  number  of  seeds. 
The   male   mandrake   has  a   large, 
long,  and  thick  root,  which  gradually 
diminishes  as  it  goes  downward,  and 
is  frequently  divided  into  two,  three, 
or  more  parts.    From  this  root  sjjring 
a  number  of  leaves,  narrow  at  the 
l>ase,  and  obtuse  at  the  end.     These 
are  about  a  foot  in  length,  and  five 
inches  in  breadth,  and  are  of  a  dusky 
disagreeable    green    colour,    and   a 
stinking  smell.      The  female  nwin- 
drake  has  longer  and  narrower  leaves, 
and  is  of  a  darker  colour.     It  has 
bc-en    groundlessly    imagined,    that 
mandrakes   conciliate   affection,   or 
cure  barrenness :  but  they  are  a  so- 
porific of  considerable  virtue ;  small 
doses  of  its  bark  have  done  good  in 
hysteric  disorders;    but   if  used    in 
larger  quantities,   it  brings  on  con- 
vulsions,   and  other   painful   symp- 
toms.      According   to  our  English 
translations,    Reuben   having  found 
mandrakes  in  the  field,  Rachel  co- 
veted   them,   and   Leah,    Reuben's 
mother,  allowed  her  to  have  them  ort 
condition  of   Jacob'*  sleeping  with 
herself  on  the  night  which  belonged 
to  Rachel.     But  what  were  the  wi- 
daim,  which  Reuben  found,  whether 
mandrakes,  jessamljie,  violets,  lilies, 
pleasant  flowers,  mushrooms,  or  cit- 
ron apples,  we  cannot  determine.  Di- 
oscoride,  Lemnius,  and  Augustine,, 
affirm,  that  mandrakes  have  a  sweet 
smell;    but  then  these    must   have 
been  difTcrent  from  ours.     Some  tell 
us,  that  tiiough  the  leaves  of  the  fc» 
male  mandrakes  have  a   very  disrr- 
greeable  scent,  yet  those  of  the  male 
have  a  pleasant  one.     It  is  said,  thaf 
in  the  provinces  of  Pekin  in  China, 
there  i^  a  kind  of  mandrake  =o  yr\V>t 


M  A  N 


(     136     ) 


MAN 


able,  that  a  pound  of  its  root  is  worth 
three  jioiinds  weight  of  silver.  It  so 
powerfully  restores  sinking  spirits,  as 
to  give  vivacity  and  health  to  those 
whose  condition  was  otherwise  reck- 
oned desperate. 

MAN  EH,  the  50th  part  of  a  ta- 
lent. To  constitute  a  maneh,  it  took 
a  piece  of  15  shekels,  another  of  20, 
and  a  third  of  25,  which  are  in  all 
UO;  hut  though  it  rctpiired  60  shekels 
to  constitute  a  maneh  in  weight,  it 
is  said  that  it  required  hut  50  to  con- 
stitute one  in  reckoning  of  money, 
Ezek.  xlv.  12.  The  mina  of  the 
New  Testament,  consisted  hut  of 
100  drams,  or  two  pounds  seventeen 
shillings  sterling,  and  there  Avas  a 
lesser  mina  of  75  drams,  which  was 
about  19  shekels. 

MANIFEST,  to  show  a  thing 
clearly,  and  render  it  visihle,  Ecci. 
iii.18.  2Tim.iii.  16.  The  Son  of  God 
was  manifested,  when  he  appeared 
visibly  in  our  nature,  1  John  iii.  5. 
The  apostles  were  manifested,  when  it 
fully  appeared,  by  their  behaviour, 
doctrine,  and  success,  that  they  were 
sent  of  God,  2  Cor-  xi.  6.  The  saints 
and  the  wicked  are  made  manifest, 
when  the  difference  hotAveen  their 
character  and  state  is  clearly  discover- 
ed, 1  John  iii.  10.  The  7nanifestaiion 
of  the  Spirit,  is  either  that  which  the 
Holy  Ghost  shows  to  men,  the  doc- 
trines of  the  gospel,  the  love  of  God, 
and  our  interest  in  it,  and  the  things 
of  another  world;  or,  his  gifts  and 
graces,  whereby  his  power  and  re- 
sidence in  us  are  plainly  evinced, 
1  Cor,  xii.  7.  The  manifestation  of 
the  sons  of  God,  is  the  public  display 
of  their  station  and  happiness,  in 
their  being  openly  acknowledged 
and  honoured  by  Christ  at  the  last 
day,  Rom.  viii.  19.  Christ  mani- 
fests himself  to  his  true  disciples,  as 
he  doth  not  unto  the  world;  in  an- 
swering their  prayers,  in  bearing 
their  soitows,  in  withstanding  the 
designs  of  their  enemies,  in  protect- 
ing their  persons  and  property,  and 
in  his  coming  with  tlie  Father  to 
abide  with  them;  John  xiv.  22,  23. 
Isa.  Ixiii.  9.  Heb,  iv.  15. 


MANIFOLD.  God's  wisdom;' 
mercy,  and  grace,  are  meinifold ; 
unbounded  in  their  nature,  showed 
forth  in  a  variety  of  ways,  and  nu- 
merous in  their  fruit,  Eph.  iii.  10. 
Neh.  ix.  19.  1  Pet.iv.  10.  Tempta- 
tions and  trials  are  manifold,  Avhen 
very  numerous,  and  in  manj^  differ- 
ent forms,  and  from  A^arious  sources, 
1  Pet.  i.  6.  Transgressions  are  ma- 
nifold, \vhen  many  in  number,  ol 
many  different  kinds,  and  in  many 
various  degrees  of  aggravation, 
Amos  V.  12. 

MANNA.  To  this  day,  there  i? 
a  kind  of  manna  produced  in  Poland, 
Calabria,  Dauphine,  Lebanon,  and 
Arabia.  That  of  Calabria  in  Italy 
is  a  Juice  proceeding  from  ash-trees 
about  the  dog-days  :  but  that  in  Ara- 
bia is  found  on  leaves  of  trees,  or 
herbs,  or  even  on  the  sand ;  but  its 
quality  is  rather  purgative  than  nou- 
rishing, and  for  that  end,  is  noAV 
used  in  medicine.  Besides  the  nou- 
rishing virtue  of  the  manna  that  sus- 
tained the  HebreAVs  in  the  desert, 
it  Avas  altogether  miraculous  on  other 
accounts.  It  fell  on  six  days  of 
every  Aveek,  not  on  the  7th.  It  fell 
in  such  prodigious  quantities  arouniJ 
the  HebrcAV  camp,  as  to  sustain  al- 
most three  million  of  men,  Avomen, 
and  children.  According  to  Sheuch- 
zer,  they  consumed  94,466  bushel? 
in  a  day,  and  1,379,203,600  in  40 
years.  It  (ell  in  double  quantities 
on  the  6th  day,  that  there  might  br 
enough  for  the  7th.  It  fell  round 
about  their  tents.  It  remained  fresh 
all  the  7th  day,  but  at  any  other 
time  bred  Avorms,  and  stunk  if  kept 
over  night.  It  constantly  continued 
for  near  40  years,  and  ceased  as  soon 
as  the  Hebrews  could  obtain  sufficient 
of  the  corn  of  Canaan.  Since  these 
circumstances  must  be  allowed  to 
be  miraculous,  how  foolish  must 
it  be  to  dispute  the  supernatural 
origin  of  the  Avhole !  When  the 
small  quantity  of  provision  Avhich 
the  Hebrews  had  brought  out-  of 
Egypt  Avas  spent,  they  tumultuously 
exclaimed  against  Closes  and  Aaron 
for  bringing  them  into  the   desert. 


MAN 


(     137     ) 


:m  A  N 


Goil,  who  had  been  their  miraculous 
gukle,  was  highly  jlispleased;  but 
for  his  name's  sake,  he  promised  anil 
gave  them  this  wonderful  provision, 
and  taught  them  how  to  gather  and 
prejjare  it.  It  consisted  of  small 
grains,  white  as  the  hoar-frost,  and 
ttbont  the  bigness  of  coriander-seed. 
In  the  morning  it  fell  with  the  dew ; 
and  when  that  was  exhaled,  the  man- 
na was  ready  for  gathering.  Every 
person  capable  was  to  gather  it  ear- 
ly, before  the  sun  had  waxed  hot  to 
melt  it.  When  they  had  gathered 
it  into  one  common  heap,  an  omer 
was  measured  out  for  each  person,  as 
his  daily  provision.  This  was  bruis- 
ed in  a  mortar,  or  ground  in  a  mill, 
and  then  baked  into  bread,  which 
was  exceedingly  wholesome,  and 
suited  to  every  ap[)etite.  To  de- 
note its  divine  original,  possibly  by 
the  ministry  of  angels,  and  its  ex- 
cellency, it  is  called  corn  of  heaven, 
am\  angel's  food,  Psal.  Ixxviii.  25, 26. 
When  the  Hebrews  first  saw  it  lie 
around  their  tents,  they  cried  out, 
Manhu,\.  e.  Whal  is  this '/\'or  they  wist 
not  what  it  was;  and  from  this  ex- 
clamation, as  well  as  to  denote  it  was 
bread  prepared  of  God  for  them,  it 
was  called  manna.  Contrary  to  the 
divine  prohibition,  some  Hebrews  re- 
served part  of  their  share  of  it  over 
iiight ;  it  bred  worms,  and  stank. 
Others  went  out  to  gather  it  on  the 
Sabbath,  but  found  none.  Oftener 
than  once,  they  despised  and  loathed 
the  miraculous  provision,  and  were 
punished  with  destruction,  by  the 
flesh  which  they  desired,  and  by  the 
bites  of  fiery  serpents. 

By  the  manna, Ood  intendednot  on- 
]y  to  6U[)ply  their  present  necessity, 
but  also  to  prefigure  that  spiritual 
meat  which  is  now  presented  in  the 
gospel.  In  this  interpretation  we 
cannot  possibly  be  wrong,  when  we 
have  no  less  an  authority  for  it  than 
Jesus  Christ  himself,  who,  speaking  to 
his  hearers  on  this  very  sultject,  says, 
•*  Moses  gave  you  not  that  bread  from 
heaven,  but  my  Father  iciveth  you  the 
true  bread  from  heaven.  For  the  bread 
of  God  is  he    that  came  doun  from 

Vol.  JI.. 


heaven,  and  giveth  life  unto  the 
world.  I  am  the  bread  of  life,"  .lolm 
vi.  32,  33.  Having  therefore  such  in- 
fallible testimony  lo  the  general  mean- 
ing of  this  heavenly  food,  let  us  try 
to  find  out  the  principal  traces  of 
resemblance  betwixt  it  and  Jesus 
Christ.  In  order  to  this,  we  siiall 
briefly  attend  to  the  following  things : 
Its  falling:  "The  manna  fell  from 
heaven;"  Christ  is  he  that  comes 
down  from  above.  It  fell  "  round 
about  the  camp;"  Christ  is  certain- 
ly to  be  found  in  his  church  : — "  with 
the  dew  when  they  slept;"  Jesus 
Christ  is  purely  the  gift  of  God,  who 
descends  like  dew  upon  the  grass, 
for  whom  we  toil  not,  sow  not,  reap 
not  : — "  when  they  were  in  the  most 
absolute  need,  and  ready  to  perish;*' 
when  we  were  without  strength,  in 
due  time  Christ  dictl  for  the  ungod- 
ly : — "  when  they  were  not  at  all  de- 
serving it,  but  grievously  sinning, 
by  preferring  the  flesh-pots  of 
Egypt  to  the  prospects  of  Canaan ;'' 
and  Christ  laid  down  his  life  when 
sinners  were  preferring  the  plea- 
sures of  sin,  and  vanities  of  the  world, 
to  all  the  things  above.  In  a  word, 
it  fell  in  such  large  quantities  as  to 
suffice  that  numerous  host ;  in  Je- 
sus Christ  there  is  enough  to  supply 
every  want. 

Its  parting  among  the  Israelites 
seems  not  to  have  been  without  its 
meaning.  Some  gathered  less,  some 
more,  in  pro))ortion  to  their  ability  and 
diligence,  but  all  received  an  omer  (a 
large  allowance)  from  the  common 
heap.  By  which  means,  as  Moses  re- 
lates, "  he  that  gathered  much  had 
nothing  over,  because  he  gave  to  him 
that  gathered  less ;  and  lie  that  gather- 
ed little  had  no  lack,"  because  be 
received  from  him  that  gathered 
more.  Was  tUe  manna  parted  liber- 
ally unto  all?  None  are  straitened 
in  Jesus  Christ :  "  They  shall  be 
abundantly  satisfied  with  the  fatness 
of  God's  house;  and  thou  shalt 
make  them  drink  of  the  river  of  thy 
pleasures,"  Psalm  xxxvi.  8.  Was 
the  manna  equally  dislribntcd  among 
the  l?raprite«?  So  all  brlifvers,  of 
S 


M  A  N 


(     138 


) 


M  A  N 


evei'y  sex,  oF  eA-eiy  age,  of  every  na- 
tion, stroag  or  weak,  eminent  or  ob- 
scure, have  an  equal  right  to  [rar- 
take  of  the  common  salvation  ;  for  al! 
are  one  in  Christ  Jesus. 

Its  being  despised  by  tlie multitude 
as  light  food,  by  which  their  soul 
was  dried  away,  in  comparison  with 
their  rank  Egyptian  fare,  renders  it 
a  proper  enibietn  of  Jesus  Christ,  the 
true  bread,  who  is  despised  and  re- 
jected of  men.  Though  the  pure 
doctrine  of  Ciirist  is  like  the  manna, 
angels'  food,  (for  into  these  tilings 
tJiey  desire  to  jny ;)  yet  are  there 
found  to  whom  the  word  of  the  Lord 
is  a  reproach,  and  they  have  no  de- 
light in  it.  A  romance,  a  philoso- 
phical disquisition,  a  moral  declama- 
tion, a  |)o!itical  harangue,  is  far  more 
grateful  than  the  doctrine  of  (he  cru- 
cified Redeemer.  What  is  this  but 
to  prefer  the  fish,  tlie  melons,  tlie  cu- 
cumbers, the  onions,  of  Egy|)t,  to  the 
corn  of  heaven  ?  For  their  contempt 
of  this  celestial  food,  the  Lord  sent 
fiery  serpents  to  plague  the  murmur- 
ers  i'.nd  ccm[)lainers.  jNor  do  the 
despisers  of  Jesus  Christ  expose 
fliemselves  to  less  dreadful  strokes, 
though  they  should  not  be  of  a  cor- 
poral kinsl  :  for"  all  these  things  hap- 
pened unto  tiieni  forensamples;  and 
fliey  are  written  for  our  admonition, 
upon  whom  the  ends  of  the  world 
are  come,''  1  Cor.  x.  11. 

The  preserving  it  in  a  golden  pot, 
where,  for  a  number  of  ages,  it  was 
deposited  in  the  most  holy  place, 
and  remained  without  corru|)tion; 
wasit  not  a  representation  of  Christ's 
ascension  into  heaven,  where  he  ap- 
pears in  the  presence  of  God,  death 
having  no  more  dominion  over  him, 
and  where  he  will  continue  till 
the  time  of  the  restitution  of  all 
things  ?  Why  else  sh,>uld  communion 
with  Christ  in  glory  be  spoken  of  in 
terms  alluding  to  this  very  thing? 
For  thus  it  is  promised,"  To  him  that 
overcome! h,  will  I  give  to  eat  of 
the  hidden  manna,"  Rev.  ii.  17.  in 
the  words  that  the  Spirit  saith  unto 
the  churches. 

The  continuance  of  this  heavenly 


bread  for  the  space  of  forty  year^, 
(for  so  long  they  were  in  the  wilder- 
ness, does  it  not  clearly  intimate, 
that  Jesus  Christ  will  never  forsake 
his  faithful  people  while  they  are 
here  below  ?  still  shall  the  bread  of 
God  descend  in  the  dispensation  of 
the  everlasting  gospel,  while  the  ne- 
cessities of  his  people  call  for  it :  for 
so  he  promised  when  about  to  depart 
from  the  earth:  "Go,"  says  he  t® 
his  apostles,  "  teach  and  baptize  all 
nations  :  and  lo !  I  am  Avith  you  al- 
ways, even  to  the  end  of  the  world," 
Matt,  xxviii.  19. 

The  ceasing  ofthemannaupon  their 
tasting  the  corn  of  Canaan,  may  it 
not  be  viewed  as  a  figure  of  their 
ordinances  ceasing  when  the  wan- 
dering tribes  shall  gain  their  pro- 
mised rest?  Or,  shall  we  say,  that 
as  their  heavenly  provision  failed 
when  they  tasted  the  bread  that 
comes  out  of  the  earth;  so,  when 
the  children  of  God  themselves  be- 
gin to  relish  over-much  the  things  of 
the  earth,  the}-^  may  expect  that 
heavenly  consolations  will  be  sus- 
pended in  pro[)ortion  ?  When  they 
are  on  worse  terms  with  the  world, 
or  when  it  is  unto  them  as  a  wilder- 
ness, and  a  land  not  sown,  then  truly 
God  is  good  to  Israel.  Know  your 
mere}',  ye  distinguished  favourites  of 
heaven!  nor  envy  their  happiness 
who  eat  the  calves  out  of  the  stall, 
and  the  lambs  out  of  the  fold,  but 
are  not  fed  with  the  heritage'of  Ja- 
cob. Let  the  sensual  voluptuary  glut 
himself  with  the  impure  pleasures  of 
sin,  which,  like  the  little  book  that 
John  did  eat,  are  sweet  in  the  mouth, 
but  bitter  in  the  bdly,  and  to  whom 
we  may  adapt  the  significant  words 
in  Job,  "  His  meat  in  his  bowels  is 
turned ;  it  is  the  gall  of  asps  within 
him,"  Job  XX.  14.  Let  the  ra[)aci- 
ous  worldling,  who  is  smitten  with  the 
dull  charms  of  gold  and  silver;  who 
is  all  hurry,  hurry,  about  the  busi- 
ness of  this  transitory  life:  let  him 
fill  his  belly  with  the  hid  treasure  of 
God,  nhich  never  yet  did  satisfy  a 
so(d  immortal.  Let  the  self-justici- 
ary, who  is  perhaps  called    by  the 


MAN 


(     130     ) 


W  A  O 


name  ol"  Clirist,  but  cats  his  own 
bread,  and  wears  liis  own  apparel. 
and  trusts  to  his  own  rij^litcou^ness, 
as  the  si'oundol' his  acceplance  willi 
God;  let  hitn  also  spend  his  rnone}' 
for  hat  wliieli  is  not  l)read,  and  his 
Libour  for  that  which  salislielh  not. 
But  let  the  I'krislian,  who  knows  the 
gilt  of  God,  and  the  excellency  of  (he 
heavenly  provision,  let  him  labour 
not  for  the  meat  that  perisheth,  but 
for  the  meat  that  endures  unto  ever- 
lasting; life.  Hungry  and  starving 
soul,  you  ask  lor  bread,  the  world 
gives  you  a  stojie;  what  else  are 
worldly  riches?  You  ask  a  fish,  the 
world  presents  you  with  a  serpent; 
what  else  arc  sinful  pleasures?  But 
hearken  diligently  unto  him  who  is 
himself  the  living  bread,  "Eat  that 
which  is  good,  and  let  your  soul 
delight  itself  in  fatness.  Incline 
your  ear,  and  come  unto  him ;  hear, 
and  your  soul  shall  live,"  Isa.  Iv.  2, 
3.  What  is  a  happy  old  age  to  a 
happy  eternilj' ?  This,  O  Jesus,  is 
thy  unspeakable  gift!  He  that  comes 
to  thee  shall  never  hunger;  and, 
what  is  more,  shall  never  die.  O 
Lord,  denj'  us  what  thou  wilt,  but 
give  us  this  bread  for  evermore  I 

MANNER,  (1.)  Custom,  fashion, 
practice,  behaviour,  Ezek.  xi.  12. 
2  Cor.  XV.  33.  (2.)  Way,  method, 
1  Kings  xxii.  20.  (3.)  Sort,  kind, 
Gen.  XXV.  23.  Matt.  v.  11.  and  viii. 
27.  God  spake  unto  the  fathers 
under  the  Old  Testament  in  divers 
manners;  not  fully,  and  all  at  once, 
but  by  little  and  little,  sometimes 
more,  and  sometimes  less  clearly, 
and  by  the  different  means  of  an- 
gels, prophets,  visions,  dreams,  voices 
from  heaven,  Urim  and  Thum- 
mim,  <S:c.  Heb.  i.  1.  God  suffered 
the  ma?incrs  of  the  Hebrews  in  the 
desert;  he  patiently  bore  with  (heir 
continued  course  of  wickedness,  their 
rebellion,  murmuring,  and  unbelief; 
and  did  not  destroy  them,  Ac(s  xiii. 
lo.  The  Samaritans  <Hd  not  kno7u 
iJic  manner  of  the  God  of  Israel,  i.  e. 
the  true  method  of  serving  and  wor- 
shipping him,  2  Kings  xvii.  2U,  27. 
Samuel  showed  the  Hebrews  the  man- 


ner of  a  kins;;  not  what  he  oughi 
(o  i»e,  but  what  the  Healhen  kings 
arouLwl  were,  and  what  they  might 
fear  (heirs  would  bt;,  1  Siirn.  viii.  9 
To  say,  the  manner  of  Bcershtbakv- 
elh,  was  to  swear  by  the  idol  there 
worship|>ed,  A/nos  viii.  14. 

MANOAH.     Sec  Samson. 

ftl  AN  SIGNS,  fixed  dwelling-pla- 
ces: (hese  are  in  heaven,  as  there 
the  saints  for  ever  reside  in  the  moiit 
delightful  and  orderly  manner,  John 
xiv.  2. 

MANSLAYER.      See  Murder. 

MANTLE,  a  kind  of  cloak  that 
hangs  loose  about  one,  Judg.  iv.  18. 

M.\NY,  (1.)  A  great  number, 
Judg.  ix.  40.  (2.)  All  men  :  thus 
mani/  were  made  sinners  by  Adam's 
disobedience,  Rom.  v.  19.  and  thus 
mamj  are  made  righteous  by  Clirist's 
obedience,  who  are  all  saved  from 
the  guilt  of  Adam's  first  transgres- 
sion, Rom.  v.  19.  (3.)  All  the 
wicked,  JMatt.  vii.  13.  Thou  shall 
abide  for  mc  many  days,  i.  e.  till 
death. — Israel  shall  abide  many  days 
wilhmd  a  king,  prince,  sacrifice, 
ephod,  teraphim.  For  about  2600,  or 
2700  years,  the  ten  tribes  of  Israel 
have  been,  or  shall  be,  without  the 
true  religion,  and  without  civil  go- 
vernment of  their  own;  and  for 
nearly  1800  years,  the  Jews  have 
been  scattered  and  enslaved  among 
the  nations,  neitiier  practising  their 
ancient  religion,  nor  (he  Christian, 
nor  the  Heathen,  Hos.  iii.  3,  4. 

MAON,  house,  a  place  of  sin  or 
offence,  a  city  on  the  south-east,  or 
south  frontiers  of  Judah,  where  Na- 
bal  dwelt,  and  near  to  which  was  a 
wilderness  where  David  lurked.  Per- 
haps one  Maon,  the  father  of  the  in- 
habitants of  Betbzur.gave  it  this  name. 
Josh.  XV.  55.  1  Sam.  xxiii.  24,  25.  and 
XXV.  2.  1  Chron.  ii.  45.  The  Ma- 
on itks  were  a  tribe  of  Arabians, 
which  probably  had  anciently  dwelt 
about  .Maon ;  they  oppressed  the 
Hebrews  in  the  time  of  the  Judges, 
Judg.  X.  12.  We  suppose  them  the 
same  with  the  Mcamonim,  which  our 
tran:rlation  renders  others  besides  tlie 
Ammonites.,  w  ho  came  against  Jeh3< 


MAR 


(     140     ) 


MAR 


shaphat,  2  Chron.  xx.  1.  and  with 
the  Mehunim,  whom  king  Uzziah 
Subdued,  2  Chron.  xxvi.  7. 

MAR,  (1.)  To  cut  oif,  render  un- 
comely, disfigure,  Lev.  xix.  27.  (2.) 
To  s.ioil,  render  disae;reeable  or  use- 
less, 2  Kinijs  iii.  19.  Mark  ii.  2. 
God  marred  the  pride  of  Jerusalem, 
%Vhen  he  ruined  their  temple  and 
kinc;dom,  and  wJiat  else  they  were 
proud  oIT,  and  brought  them  to  ruin 
by  sAVord,  famine,  pestilence,  and 
captivity  Jer.  xiii.  9.  .lob's  friends 
and  neigliiiours  marred  his  path. 
when  the}'  hindered  him  Irani  attend- 
inc;  the  worship  of  God,  and  duties 
of  holiness;  or  when  they  reproached 
his  religion  as  hypocrisy,  and  poured 
contempt  on  godliness,  because  of 
his  trouble,  Job  xxx.  13. 

MAR  AH,  Mltcr,  or  hUterncss,  a 
place  on  the  east  side  of  the  western 
gulf  of  the  Red  Sea,  where  the  He- 
brews, after  three  days  thirst,  found 
the  water  so  bitter  that  they  could  not 
drink  it ;  but  by  casting  a  tree  into  it, 
which  was  divinely  pointed  out,  Mo- 
ses rendered  it  sweet.  Did  this 
figure  out,  that  by  Jesus,  the  tree  of 
life,  and  bj^  faith  in  his  sufferings, 
afflictions  are  relished  by  us,  and 
work  for  us  an  exceeding  and  eter- 
nal weight  of  glory  ?  Exod.  xv.  23, 
25. — Diodorus,  Sluiw,  and  others, 
mention  springs  of  bitter  water 
about  this  |)lace. 

MARANATHA,  i.  e.  the  Lord 
comcth.     See  Accursed. 

MARBLE,  a  hard  stone,  and 
which  takes  a  fine  polish.  It  is 
dug  out  of  quarries  in  large  masses, 
and  is  much  use<l  in  fine  buildings, 
ornamental  pillars,  &;c.  It  is  of  dif- 
ferent colours,  black,  white,  Arc.  or 
streaked  with  dilferent  colours;  but 
scarcely  an}^  of  it  becomes  Iransjia- 
reUt  in  thin  polished  slices,  but  the 
Avhiie.  Tables  of  marble  were  an- 
ciently used  for  writing  on.  Perhaps 
God  MTote  the  ten  commandments 
on  tables  of  marble.  On  the  tables 
of  marble  procured  from  the  east  by 
the  Earl  of  Arundel,  and  now  be- 
longing to  the  University  of  Oxford, 
there  is    a   chronology   of  Greece. 


from  the  earliest  times  of  that  nation 
to  A.  M.  3741.  We  suppose  the 
stones  of  Solomon's  temple  were  all 
fine  marble,  1  Chron.  xxix.  2.  Aha- 
suerus,  king  of  Persia,  had  the  court 
of  his  garden  snrrounded  with  pil- 
lars of  marble,  to  hang  the  curtains 
on  by  silver  rings,  and  the  pavement 
was  of  red,  blue,  white,  and  black 
marble,  Esth.  i.  C.  Marble  is  an 
emblem  of  comeliness,  firmness,  and 
duration.  Song  v.  ]5. 

MARCH,  to  go  as  soldiers  or  ar- 
mies do  to  fields  of  battle,  Jer.  xlvi. 
-2.  GoiVs  marching;  denotes  the  mo- 
tions of  the  i)illar  of  cloud  before  the 
Hebrews  in  the  desert,  who,  consi- 
dering their  orderly  arrangement, 
might,  in  an  open  country,  march  12 
or  more  miles  a  day,  Psal.  Ixviii.  7, 
Judg.  V.  4.  or  his  display  of  his 
power,  in  graduallj^  cutting  off  the 
Canaanites  by  the  hand  of  Joshua, 
Hab.  iii.  12. 

To  MARK,  is  to  notice  with  great 
care,  set  a  mark  upon.  God  marks 
iniquity,  Avhen  he  brings  men  into 
judgment,  and  punishes  them  for 
their  sin,  Psal.  cxxx.  3.  Job  x.  14. 
Men  7nark  our  steps,  when  they  ob- 
serve our  conduct,  in  order  to  find 
whereof  to  accuse  us,  and  thereby 
rain  us,  Psal.  Ivi.  6.  A  mark,  sign, 
or  token,  is,  (1.)  That  vrhereb}'"  a 
thing  is  pointed  out,  either  as  past, 
present,  or  future;  and  so  is  of  use  to 
commemorate  things  past,  demon- 
strate things  present,  confirm  things 
dubious,  and  assure  us  of  things  to 
come;  or,  (2.)  That  which  distin- 
guishes one  thing  i'vom  another;  as 
land-marks  distinguish  between  the 
fields  of  one  and  of  another.  The 
mark  of  the  beast  in  the  forehead  or 
hand,  reguired  by  Antichrist,  is  an 
open  profession,  solemn  adherence  to, 
or  practice  of.  Popish  abominations  : 
such  as  subjection  to  the  Pope,  be- 
lief of  transubstantiation,  Avorship  of 
images,  angels,  saints,  relics ;  and 
Avithout  Avhich,  people  are  often  de- 
nied their  civil  privileges.  Rev,  xiita 
16,  17. 

AVhether  God  sot  a  7nmk  on  CainV 
person     to    distrnguish     him     Umn 


MAR 


(     1^1     ) 


M  A  R 


iiliers,  or  ouly  gave  him  some  token, 
as  he  (lid  Gideon,  that  he  wouhl 
make  him  conquer  the  ^liilianites, 
anil  that  he  \voul(t  preserve  Iiim,  is  a 
point  that  has  been  miicii  dis])uteil; 
Init  the  hitter  is  by  far  tlie  most  pro- 
bable, Gen.  iv.  Mj.  Sufferinslor  the 
sake  of  Christ,  is  his  mark ;  is  »  liice- 
ness  to  him  in  his  siiiferin;.;,  anil  points 
out  one  to  be  his  follower,  Gal.  v.  17. 
Paul's  subscription  was  the  mark 
or  tolini  that  an  epistle  was  his,  2 
Thess.  iii.  17.  What  one  directs  a 
shot  or  stroke  at,  is  called  his  mark, 
1  Sam.  XX.  20.  and  so  God  sets  up 
one  as  a  mark,  when  he  directs 
the  peculiar  stroke?  of  his  judgments 
against  him,   Job  vii.  20.    Lam.  iii. 

12.  The  stake  to  which  one  must 
point,  and  run  in  a  race,  is  called  a 
mark ;  and  in  allusion  thereto,  Chris- 
tians' perfection  in  holiness  is  the 
mark  they  aim  at,  and  run  towards, 
in  their  race  of  duty,  Phil.  iii.  14. — 
.lesus  Clirist  and  his  peo|)le  are  sis^ns 
and  wonders;  how  much  are  they 
gazed  at,  spoken  against,  and  expos- 
ed to  injuries!  Luke  ii.  34.  Isa.  viii. 

13.  And  how  is  Jesus  set  up  in  the 
gospel,  that  men  may  come  to  him ! 
isa.  Ixvi.  IP.  and  xi.  10.  and  lix.  in. 
Prophets  were  signs,  when  their 
condition  and  behaviour  pointed  out 
what  was  coming  on  nations,  Isa. 
XX.  3.  Ezek.  iv.  3.  Wicked  men 
are  a  sign,  when  the  justice  and  fiiith- 
fulness  of  God  are  marked  in  their 
noted  ruin,  and  others  are  warned  to 
beware  of  the  like  sins,  Ezek.  xiv. 
8.  The  sun,  moon,  and  stars,  are 
for  signs  and  seasons ;  their  position 
and  appearance  are  general  marks 
to  point  out  what  season  and  wea- 
ther shall  he;  and  their  uncommon 
appearances  have  often  been  omens 
of  approaching  calamities,  Gen.  i.  14. 
The  ttvcloc  signs  of  heaven,  are  1 2 
clusters  of  stars  in  that  part  of  the 
visible  heaven  through  which  the 
?un,  moon,  and  other  planets,  have 
their  motions.  Those  through  which 
the  sun  moves  in  the  sjiring  quarter, 
are  Aries,  Taurus,  Gemini;  those 
through  which  he  moves  in  om 
summer,   are    Cancer.    Leo.    Virgo; 


those  of  the  harvest  season,  are  Li- 
l)ra,  Scorpio,  Satrittarius :  those  of 
the  winter  are  Capricorn,  Aquarius, 
and  Pisces  It  seems  these  signs 
were  known  in  the  days  of  Job,  ch. 
xxxviii.  32.  and  wor-;iii|)ped  hy  the 
Jews  under  IManasseh  ami  Anion, 
2  Kings  xxiii.  3.  JJul  the  signs  of 
heaven,  and  tokens  of  soothsaying 
liars,  are  the  natural  appearances  of 
the  sky;  as  a  red  and  louring  sun 
intimates  the  a|)proach  of  foul  wea- 
ther; and  the  tokens  which  diviners 
give  as  presages  of  that  happening 
which  they  foretold,  Jer.  x.  2. 
Isa.  xliv.  25.  The  signs  of  Christ's 
coming  against  the  Jews,  were  the 
spread  of  the  gospel,  the  persecution 
of  Christians,  the  rise  of  false  pro- 
phets, uncommon  appearances  ia 
the  sky,  and  about  the  temple,  «tc. 
these  showed,  that  the  ruin  of  their 
nation  fast  apj)roached.  Matt.  xxiv. 
3—29.  But  the  sign  of  the  Son  of 
man,  afterward  appearing  in  heaven, 
was  the  plain  evidence  or  mark  of 
his  Messiahship,  in  the  punishment 
of  the  Jewish  nation,  who  rejected 
him ;  or  the  awful  appearances 
that  shall  precede  his  last  manifes- 
tation in  the  clouds.  Matt.  xxiv.  30. 
The  sun's  going  back,  was  a  sign 
or  mark,  that  Hezekiah  should  go 
up  to  the  temple,  2  Kings  xx.  8. 
IMie  rainl)ow  was  a  sign,  or  token, 
that  God  had  established  his  cove- 
nant with  Noah  and  his  seed,  and 
a  sure  evidence  that  he  would  no 
more  destroy  the  earth  with  a  flood, 
Gen.  ix.  12,  13.  Circumcision,  the 
Sabbath  in  its  ceremonial  observa- 
tion, and  other  rites,  were  sis:ns, 
sure  tokens  that  God  had  establish- 
ed his  peculiar  covenant  with  the 
Hebrews,  and  would  give,  or  had 
given  them,  the  land  of  Canaan  for 
their  |)ossession.  Gen.  xvii.  1 1.  Rom. 
iv.  11.  Exod.  xxxi.  13.  God's  law 
was  to  be  a  sitrn,  token,  memo- 
rial, on  the  hnnds  of  the  Hebrews; 
they  were  to  have  it  continually  be- 
fore their  ej-e?,  and  to  be  always 
obeying  it,  Exod.  xiii.  9,  16.  The 
blood  of  the  paschal  lamb,  sprinkled 
on  the  doors  of  the  Hebrews'  houses, 


M  A  11 


(     142     ) 


MAR 


was  a  token  or  mark  to  the  de- 
stroying angel,  that  God  Avilled 
the  preservation  of  all  within 
them,  Exod.  xii.  13.  In  allusion 
\o  which,  Christ  is  said  to  set  a 
mark  upon  j)ious  mourners  for  the 
sins  of  their  countrj^  when  he 
singularly  preserves  them  amidst 
common  ruin,  from  a  furious  ene- 
my ;  or  rather  in  allusion  to  an 
ancient  custom  of  masters  setting 
a  mark  on  their  servants,  Ezek. 
ix.  4,  6.  God  sliows  men  a  to- 
ken for  good,  when  he  either  gives 
them  some  noted  discovery  of  his 
love,  destroj-^s  their  enemies,  or  im- 
parts to  them  some  certain  evidence 
that  he  will  do  so,  Psal.  Ixxxvi.  17. 
The  saints'  courage  and  patience  un- 
der tribulation  and  persecution,  are 
an  evident  token  of  aj)proaching  per- 
dition to  their  enemies,  and  of  re- 
markable relief  and  eternal  salvation 
to  themselves,  Phil.  i.  28.  2  Thess.  i. 
5.  The  altar  and  pillar,  the  gospel- 
ordinances  of  a  crucified  Redeemer, 
and  the  church-state  of  the  peoj)le  in 
the  land  of  Egypt,  shall  be  a  .sign 
and  witness  to  the  Lord :  an  evident 
mark  and  proof  that  God  had  shown 
singular  mercy  to  them,  and  that 
they  shall  have  chosen  him  to  be 
their  God,  Isa.  xix.  19,  20.  The 
tokens  of  such  as  went  hy  the  way, 
were  either  the  instances  which  com- 
mon travellers  could  give  of  the  hos- 
pitality and  piety  which  prevailed  in 
Job's  family,  or  the  instances  which 
the}',  or  any  one  in  the  course  of 
life,  could  give  of  the  prosperity  oi' 
the  wicked,  and  the  affliction  of  the 
godly,  in  this  world.  Job  xxi.  29. 
Miracles,  or  wonderful  works,  are 
called  sig7is  or  tokens;  they  show 
God's  power,  and  prove  the  mission 
of  his  servants,  Exod.  iv.  17.  Keb. 
ii.  4.  Psal.  cxxxv.  9. 

1\I  A  RE  S  H  A  H  ,frotn  the  beginning, 
an  inheritance,  a  city  of  Judah, 
about  18  miles  west  from  Jerusalem. 
Near  to  this  place  Asa  routed  the 
Ethiopians,  2  Chr.  xiv.  9.  Moresheth, 
where  Micah  the  prophet  was  born, 
seems  not  to  have  been  this  place, 
but  one  near  Gath,  Mic.  i.  1,  14. 


John  MARK,  or  Marcus,  polish- 
ed, shining,  the  son  of  one  Mary,  in 
whose  house  Peter  found  some  Chris- 
tians assembled  together,  praying  for 
his  deliverance  from  prison.  Acts  xii. 
12.  and  the  cousin  of  Barnabas. — 
Mark  attended  Paul  and  Barnabas  as 
far  as  Perga  in  Lesser  Asia ;  but  find- 
ing they  intended  to  carry  the  gospel 
intoPamphylia,  and  places  adjacent, 
he  deserted  them,  and  returned  to  .Je- 
rusalem. After  the  synod  was  held 
at  Jerusalem,  Paul  and  Barnabas, 
liaAang  preached  for  some  time  in 
Antioch  of  Syria,  resolved  to  visit 
the  places  northward,  where  they 
had  formerly  preached.  Barnabas 
intended  to  take  his  cousin  with 
them;  but  as  Paul  was  against 
taking  one  with  them  who  had  for- 
merlj'  deserted  the  work  in  these 
quarters,  Barnabas  and  Mark  went 
to  Cyprus  by  themselves.  Mark  was 
afterwards  reconciled  to  Paul,  and 
was  very  useful  to  him  at  Rome,  and 
with  him  salutes  the  Colossians  and 
Philemon,  Acts  xv.  36 — 40.  Col. 
iv.  10.    Philem.  24. 

It  seems  Paul  afterwards  sent 
him  into  Asia,  for  he  desires 
Timoth}'  to  bring  him  back  to  Rome* 
when  himself  should  come,  as  a 
useful  minister,  2  Tim.  iv.  11.  When 
Peter  wrote  his  first  epistle,  Mark 
was  with  him  in  Chaldea.  It  is 
said  that  he  afterwards  preaclied 
in  Egypt  and  Cyrene;  and  that  the 
Alexandrians,  seizing  him  in  the 
pulpit,  bound  and  dragged  him 
through  the  streets  that  daj',  and  the 
day  after,  till  he  died.  Calmet  and 
some  others,  will  have  John  Mark 
a  different  person  from  the  Evange- 
list; but  I  can  apprehend  no  force 
in  their  reasons.  In  his  gospel, 
Mark  begins  with  the  preaching  of 
John  Baptist.  He  often  appears  to 
abridge  Mattheu';  but  adds  several 
particulars  that  further  illustrate  the 
subject.  He  relates  several  miracles 
omitted  !)y  Matthew,  as,  the  cure  of 
the  demoniac,  chapter  i.  of  a  deaf 
man  of  Decapolis,  and  a  blind  one 
of  Bethsaida,  chap.  vii.  and  viii.  In 
what   Matthew  has  from  chap.  iv. 


MAR 


(     1-13     ) 


M  A  R 


12.  to  xiv.  13.  IMark  does  not  ge- 
nerally MIow  his  oilier,  but  that  of 
Luke  and  John. 

MARRIAGE,  a  solemn  contract, 
whereby  a  man  and  woman,  for  their 
mutual  benefit  and  the  production 
of  children,  engage  to  live  together 
iu  a  kind  and  affectionate  manner. 
This  contract  seems  to  partake  also 
of  the  nature  of  a  vou',  and  cannot, 
like  civil  contracts,  be  dissolved  by 
tlie  mutual  consent  of  parties,  in 
no  case  can  marriage  between  pa- 
rents and  children  be  allowed.  This 
is  so  contrary  to  natural  decency,  as 
to  sink  those  who  practise  it  below 
some  of  the  more  modest  beasts.  In 
case  of  absolute  necessity,  as  in 
Adam's  family,  marriage  between  bro- 
thers and  sisters  was  not  unlawful ; 
but,  as  the  one  end  of  marriage  is  to 
promote  love,  and  spread  friendship, 
and  to  prevent  all  indecency  be- 
tween the  sexes,  when  mankind  in- 
creased, such  marriages  became  im- 
proper. To  «s  it  appears,  that 
Abraham  married  his  niece,  and  Am- 
ram  married  Jochebed  his  aunt.  Per- 
haj)s  this  might  be  owing  to  the 
darkness  of  the  times.  It  is  certain 
the  law  of  iMoses  prohibits  marriage 
between  all  that  are  more  nearly 
related  than  cousins.  Lev.  xviii.  and 
XX.  Only,  by  a  particular  law, 
which,  it  seems,  had  been  more 
anciently  revealed,  the  unmarried 
younger  brother  of  one  who  died 
childless,  was  to  espouse  his  bro- 
ther's widow  and  raise  U|)  seed  to 
him  :  and  if  he  refused,  the  widow 
cited  him  before  the  judges,  spit  iu 
his  face,  and  loosed  his  shoe,  as  a 
mark  of  contempt,  to  continue  on 
him  and  his  family.  The  design  of 
this  law  was  to  keep  families  dis- 
tinct, and,  perhaps,  to  point  out  the 
duty  of  Chrisfs  apostles,  ministers, 
and  people,  to  raise  up  the  seed  of 
new  converts  to  the  honour  of  Christ 
their  elder  brother,  and  the  dishon- 
our that  awaits  such  as  do  not, 
Gen.  xxxviii.  Deut  xxv.  To  keep 
the  tribes  distinct,  no  Hebrew  heir- 
ess was  allowed  to  marry  out  of  her 
own  tribe:   only  they  might   mafry 


Levites,  or  priests,  as  these  had  no  in- 
heritance to  give  them,  and  no  inhe- 
ritance could  come  into  their  tribe; 
and  it  wa.^  perha|)s  in  consequence 
of  such  marrtage  with  an  heiress  of 
the  tribe  of  .ludah,  that  the  Macca- 
bean  priests,  who  ruled  the  Jews  for 
about  130  years  before  our  Saviour's 
birth,  may  be  reckoned  to  the  tribe 
of  Judah,  Numb,  xxxvi.  Gen.  xlix. 
10.  Priests  were  only  to  marry  vir- 
gins, or  priests'  widows  of  good  re- 
port; and  the  high  priest  was  only 
to  marry  a  virgin,  Lev.  xxi.  7 — 14. 
Ezek.  xliv.  xxii.  In  times  of  per- 
secution, marriage  is  not  convenient, 
as  it  is  hard  to  carry  about  and  shel- 
ter families,  or  to  provide  for  them ; 
but  it  is  always  better  to  marry  thail 
to  burn  in  lustful  desires.  Rlarriage 
is  honourable  in  all  persons  capable 
of  it,  and  the  bed  undefiled.  It  is 
the  Popish  doctrine  of  devils,  to  for- 
bid even  the  clergy  to  marr}-,  or  to  re- 
proach the  regular  desire  of  women. 
But  marriage  is  to  be  made  only  in 
the  Lord,  in  a  way  agreeable  to  his 
law,  and  tending  to  his  honour;  and 
not  by  being  unequally  yoked  toge- 
ther, religious  with  irreligious  per- 
sons, or  such  as  have  opposite  sta- 
tions, inconsistent  tempers,  or  pro- 
fessors of  a  true  and  a  false  religion, 
1  Cor.  vii.  Heb.  xiii.  4.  1  Tim.  iv. 
3.  Dan.  xi.  37.  2  Cor.  vi.  14.  As 
unequal  marriages  tend  so  effectual- 
ly to  lead  professors  of  the  true  reli- 
gion into  apoetacy  therefrom,  Abra- 
ham and  Isaac  were  careful  to  pre- 
vent their  children  marrying  with 
Canaanites,  Gen.  xxiv.  27.  and 
xxviii.  God  prohibited  the  Kebrews 
to  marry  wilh  any  Heathens,  and 
especially  with  the  Canaanites,  Exod. 
xxiii.  32.  and  xxxiv.  12 — ItJ.  Deut. 
vii.  2 — 5.  With  the  Hebrews,  mar- 
riages with  Heathen  women  were  rec- 
koned null  in  themselves ;  and  there- 
fore Ezra  and  Nehemiah  caused  the 
Jews  to  put  away  their  Heathenish 
wives,  Ezra  ix.  and  x.  Neh.  xiii.  Un- 
equal marriages  between  the  sons  of 
Seth,  who  professed  the  true  religion, 
and  the  beautiful,  but  wicked  women 
of  Cain's  progeny,  rypTP  th^  ori^insl 


BI  A  R 


144     ) 


jM  A  R 


causes  of  the  aucieut  flood,  Gen.  vi. 
The  Hebrews  iatennarryitig  with  the 
Cuaaauites,  brought  fearful  and  re- 
peated ruin  on  their  nation,  Judg. 
ii.  So!o!non"'s  marriage  of  Heathen- 
ish women,  rent  the  kingdom  of 
Israel  into  twain,  and  occasioned 
many  civil  wars,  and  an  establish- 
ment of  idolatry  in  the  one,  for 
many  generations,  Ahab's  mar- 
riage with   Jezebel,  and   Jehoram's 


sanctioned  by  the  Lord.  The  exam*- 
pie  of  some  godly  men  can  no  more 
warrant  either,  than  it  can  warrant  us 
to  commit  drunkenness,  incest,  lying, 
idolatry,  or  murder.  God's  prohibi- 
tion to  make  the  son  of  a  beloved  wife 
an  heir,  instead  of  the  elder  son  of  one 
who  was  hated,  no  way  approves  of 
polygamy;  but  at  most,  was  a  pro- 
vision against  one  of  the  bad  conse- 
quences of  it :   nay,  it  does  not  so 


marriage  with  Ahab's  daughter,  much  as  hint  that  this  hated  and  be- 
brought  not  only  their  families,  but! lovedwifewerealivektthesame time, 
the   whole   Hebrew  nation,   to   theJDeut.  xxi.  15 — 17.  Anciently,  wives 


were  in  a  manner  purchased ;  and  in 
some  places  it  is  so  still,  which  is 
perhaps  one  reason  why  their  wives 
are  so  unnaturally  used.  When  Rebe- 
kah  consented  to  be  Isaac's  wife,  Eli- 
ezev  gave  many  valuable  presents  to 
the  family.  Jacob  served  14  years 
for  his  two  wives.  Shechem  offered 
Jacob  what  dowry,  or  marriage-price, 
he  pleased  to  ask  for  Dinah,  Gen. 
xxiv.  59.  and  xxix.  and  xxxv.  11. 
12.  David  confessing  that  he  could 
not  pay  a  dowry  answerable  to  the 
species,  in  I  station  of  Saul's  daughter,  Saul  ac- 
it  be  con-  quitted  him  for  200  foreskins  of  the 
sidered,  that  the  small  balance  that  j  Philistines,    1    Sam.    xviii.     Hosea 


brink  of  rtiin,  1   Kini^ 
L'  Kings  i. — xi. 

Polygamy,  that  is,  a  plurality  of 
wives  at  the  same  time,  is  evi- 
dently contrary  to  the  law  of  God. 
At  tirst,  when  there  was  the  great- 
est need  for  a  s;»eedy  increase  of 
children  to  replenish  the  world,  God 
provided  but  one  wife  for  Adam, 
Gen.  ii.  He  expressly  forbids  to 
take  one  wife  to  another,  to  vex 
her,  in  her  life-time.  Lev.  xviii.  18. 
The  almost  equality  of  males  and 
females  of  the  human 
every  age,    especially  i 


is,  is  on  tlie  side  of  the  males,  strong 
!y  remonstrates  against  polygamy, 
as  unnatural  and  adulterous.  It  tends 
to  counteract  the  general  law  of  the 
married  state,  to  increase  and  mul- 
ti|(ly,  and  replenish  the  earth,  as  it 
hinders  the  procreation  of  children. 
How  often  hath  a  man  by  one  wife 
had  more  children  than  Jacob  by  two 
wives  and  as  many  concubines  ?  nay, 
as  many  as  David  had  by  a  great 
many  wives  and  ten  concubines  ?  if 
not  as  many  as  Solomon  had  by  his 
1000  wives  and  concubines!  vvhere- 
as,  had  these  1000  been  married  to 
as  many  husbands,  they  might  have 
produced  10,000  or  12,000  children. 
Polygamy  was  introduced  by  La- 
mech,  an  abandoned  descendant  of 
Cain.  What  disorder  and  trouble  it 
breeds  in  families,  the  cases  of  Abra- 
hanj,  Jacob,  Elkanah,  and  others, 
can  attest.  The  having  concubines, 
qr    secondary     wives,     was     near 


bought  his  second  wife  for  15  she- 
kels of  silver,  and  an  omer  and  a 
half  of  barley,  Hos.  iii.  2.  If  an}-" 
young  man  defiled  a  woman,  he  was 
required  to  marry  her:  ant^  if  her 
father  refused  her,  the  young  man 
was  to  give  her  a  dowry,  because  he 
had  robbed  her  of  her  honour  and 
chastity,  Exod.  xxii.  16,  17. 

As  celibacy  and  barrenness  Avere 
reckoned  reproachful  in  Israel,  the 
Hebrews  often  married  very  young, 
the  males  about  thirteen,  and  the  fe- 
males at  twelve  years  of  age;  which 
was  an  additional  reason  for  the  pa- 
rents having  almost  the  whole  dis- 
posal of  marriages  in  their  hand. 
Betrothing,  or  what  we  call  contract- 
ing, preceded  the  marriage,  and 
often  took  place  ere  the  parties  were 
capable  of  the  marriage  state.  Bc- 
trolhin^,  was  sometimes  performed 
by  the  writing  of  a  contract  legally 
ittested  by  witnesses,   wherein  the 


akin   to  polygamy,     and    a?    little! intended   husband  engaged  to  pay 


M  A  ft 


(     145     ) 


MAR 


his  bride  a  certain  dowry  on  the 
marriage  day,  lor  the  portion  of  lier 
virginity,  and  pledged  all  he  had  for 
securing  the  payment:  and  the  bride 
ileclared  her  acceptance  of  him  on 
such  conditions.  Sometim«Hhe  be- 
trothing was  transacted  hy  the  hriiie- 
groom's  giving  the  bride  a  piece  of 
silver  before  witnesses,  and  saying, 
Receive  this  as  a  pledge  you  shall 
be  my  future  spouse.  After  be- 
trothing, the  bridegroom  and  bride 
had  access  to  each  other;  but  if 
the  bri<le  admitted  another  to  her 
embraces,  she  and  her  paramour 
were  held  to  be  adulterers,  and  ston- 
ed to  death,  Deut.  xxiiii.  24.  On  the 
marriage-day,  another  contract  was 
draw'n,  wherein  the  bridegroom  i)ro- 
tcsted,  that  he  gave  his  bride  200 
zuzims,  or  50  shekels  of  silver,  as 
the  price  of  her  virginity;  and  en- 
gaged to  maintain,  and  every  way 
deal  witli  her  as  a  wife;  and  to  take 
care  of  what  she  brought  with  her, 
and  what  he  had  given,  or  should 
give  her;  and  gave  bond  on  all  he 
had,  for  securing  the  same  {o  her  in 
his  life,  or  at  his  death. 

Anciently  the  Hebrews  wore  crowns 
on  their  marriage-day ;  and  it  seems 
the  bridegroom's  was  put  on  him  by 
his  mother.  Song  iii.  1 1 .  The  ceremo- 
nies of  marriage  continued  three 
days  for  a  widow,  and  seven  for  a 
virgin.  Gen.  xxix.  27.  Judg.  xiv. 
17,18.  During  this  time,  the  young 
men  and  young  w^omen  attended  the 
bridegroom  and  bride  in  different 
apartments,  and  the  former  puzzled 
one  another  with  riddles,  Psal.  xlv. 
9,  14,  15.  Judg.  xiv.  A  friend  of 
the  bridegroom  governed  the  feast, 
that  no  drunkenness  or  disorder 
might  be  committed,  John  ii.  9.  and 
iii.  29.  At  the  end  of  the  feast,  the 
parties  were,  with  lighted  lamps, 
conducted  to  the  bridegroom's  house. 
The  bridegroom  leaving  his  a|)art- 
ment,  called  forth  the  bride  and  her 
attendants,  who,  it  seems,  were  ge- 
nerally about  ten.  Matt.  xxv.  1 — 1 0. 
The  modem  Jews  retain  the  most 
of  these  ceremonies;  only  since  the 
ruin  of  their  city  and   temple,  the 

VOT..    II. 


bridegrooms  wear  no  crowns  on  the 
marriage-day.  They  generallj'  mar- 
ry widows  on  a  Thursday,  and  vir- 
gins on  a  Friday.  On  the  evening  be- 
fore, the  bride  is  le<l  to  the  bath  by 
her  companions,  making  a  sound 
with  kitchen-instruments,  as  they  go 
along.  Being  washed,  she  returns, 
and  her  friends  sing  the  marriage- 
song  at  the  door  of  her  father's  house. 
On  the  marriage-day,  the  bride- 
groom, and  especially  the  bride, 
dresses  herself  as  fine  as  possible. 
A  number  of  young  men  attend  the 
bridegroom,  and  young  women  the 
bride.  The}-  are  ordinarily  married 
in  the  open  air,  on  the  bank  of  a  ri- 
ver, or  in  a  court,  garden,  Szc.  The 
parties,  each  covered  with  a  black 
vail,  and  Avith  another  square  vail, 
with  four  hanging  tufts,  on  their 
head,  are  placed  under  a  canojiy. 
The  rabbin  of  the  place,  the  chanter 
of  the  synagogue,  or  the  nearest 
Iriend  of  the  bridegroom,  taking  a 
cu|)  full  of  wine,  and  having  blessed 
it,  and  thanked  God  for  the  creation 
and  marriage  of  the  sexes,  causes 
the  parties  to  taste  the  wine.  Next, 
the  bridegroom,  by  putting  a  golden 
ring  on  the  hand  of  the  bride,  weds 
her  to  beliis  wife.  The  contract  of 
marriage  is  then  read,  and  the  bride- 
groom delivers  it  into  the  hands  of 
the  bride's  relations.  Wine  is  brought 
in  a  brittle  vessel,  and  being  six 
times  blessed,  the  married  couple 
drink  thereof,  and  the  rest  of  it,  in 
token  of  Joy,  is  cast  on  the  ground; 
and  the  bridegroom,  in  memory  of 
the  ruin  of  their  city  and  temple, 
with  force  dashes  the  vessel  to  the 
ground.  When,  at  the  end  of  the 
marriage  feast,  they  come  into  the 
bridegroom's  house,  and  after  a  long 
blessing  sung  over  in  Hebrew,  they 
take  supper,  after  which,  the  men 
and  women,  at  least  sometimes,  dance 
a  little,  not  in  our  lascivious  and 
mixed  manner,  but  the  men  and  the 
women  in  ditferent  apartments.  Af- 
ter rehearsal  of  another  long  bless- 
ing or  prayer,  the  bride  is  led  to  her 
hetl-chamber,  and  the  bridegroom 
soon  follows.  Two  persons,  the  one 
T 


MAR 


(     146     ) 


MAR 


a  iiiend  of  the  bridegroom,  and 
another  a  friend  of  the  bride,  tarry 
all  night  in  the  next  room.  These 
next  morning  take  and  deliver  the 
linen  whereon  the  new-married  par- 
ties had  slept,  to  be  retained  by  the 
bride's  mother.  If  afterward  the 
man  pretended  his  wife  had  not  been 
a  maid  at  her  marriage,  her  parents, 
if  they  could,  produce  the  proper 
tokens  of  her  virginity;  and  if  they 
did,  the  husband  paid  100  shekels  of 
silver  to  her  parents,  as  a  fine  for 
slandering  their  daughter,  and  was 
obliged  to  retain  her  as  his  Avife 
while  she  lived;  but  if  these  were 
not  found,  the  woman  was  stoned  to 
death  as  an  adulteress,  Deut.  xxii. 
13 — 21.  As  the  Jews  were  a  cruel 
kind  of  people,  Moses,  to  prevent 
their  direct  or  indirect  murder  of 
their  wives,  permitted  them,  in  a 
solemn  and  deliberate  manner,  to 
put  them  away,  by  giving  them  a 
bill  of  divorce,  if  they  found  some 
disagreeable  disease  On  their  body, 
or  their  temper  was  such  as  (hat  they 
could  not  live  together;  but  they 
were  never  after  allowed  to  return 
to  one  another.  Under  the  gospel, 
ho  cause  of  divorce  is  allow  ed  to  be 
just,  Ctscept  adultery  and  wilful  de- 
sertion. On  account  of  the  first,  the 
innocent  party  may  dismiss  the 
guilty:  by  the  secojid,  the  guilty 
dismisses  himself  or  herself,  Matt, 
xix.  3—9.  1  Cor.  vii.  11,  15.— If  a 
master  betrothed  his  bondmaid,  that 
had  been  sold  to  him,  and  did  not 
marry  her,  he  was  to  allow  her  to  be 
redeemed.  If  he  betrothed  a  bond 
maid  to  his  son,  she  was  to  be  used  as 
an  ordinary  wife;  and  if  she  was  not 
jised  well,  she  might  go  off  as  a  free 
woman,  Exod.  xxi.  7 — 11.  If  a 
Hebrew  intended  to  marry  a  captive, 
she  was  first  to  tarry  at  his  house  a 
whole  month,  that  he  might  have 
time  to  deliberate ;  and  was  to  shave 
her  head  and  pare  her  nails,  change 
her  clothes,  and  for  a  month  bewail 
her  loss  of  her  parents,  and  then  he 
might  marry  her ;  but  if  he  did  not 
retain  her,  she  was  to  go  out  free, 
and  not  to  be  sold,  Deut.  xxi.  10 — 


14.  By  the  laws  of  our  country,  it 
is  required  that  persons  intending  to 
marry,  have  their  intentions  pro- 
claimed on  three  several  sabbaths, 
that  all  concerned  may  seasonably 
offer  their  objections ;  and  it  is  en- 
acted, that  all  such  as  marry  in  a 
clandestine  manner,  or  are  witnesses 
thereof,  be  severely  fined,  or  other- 
wise punished;  and  that  whosoever 
marries  any  i)erson  clandestinely,  be 
imprisoned  and  banished  by  the  ma- 
gistrates, never  to  return  under  pain 
of  death.  Is  it  not  then  surprising 
that  any  persons  should  so  much  over- 
look this  pernicious  course  ?  How 
can  the  giving  of  an  oath  to  a  worth- 
less fellow  having  no  authority,  per- 
haps a  vagabond,  fail  to  he  a  hor- 
rid profanation  of  God's  nanie  ?  Is  it 
not  sinful  to  trample  on  good  order, 
established  by  both  church  and  state  ? 
How  wicked  to  rush  into  marriage 
without  a  deliberate  thought!  How^ 
base  to  enter  that  state,  in  a  method 
calculated  to  rob  parents  of  their 
power  over  children,  to  cover  lewd- 
ness, and  to  promote  treacherous, 
adulterous,  and  even  incestuous,  con- 
nections ! 

The  scripture  all  along  represents 
it  as  the  right  of  parents  to  give  their 
sons  and  daughters  in  marriage,  Gen. 
xxi.  21.  and  xxi  v.  3.  and  xxviii.  1, 
6.  and  xxxiv.  4,  6.  and  xxviii.  18, 
19.  Josh.  XV.  16,  17.  Judg.  xiv.  2, 
3.  Exod.  xxii.  IC,  17.  Judg.  xxxiv. 
16.  Deut.  vii.  3.  Jer.  xxix.  6.  1  Cor. 
vii.  36,  38.  Nowhere  is  the  least 
shadow  of  power  given  to  children 
to  marry  without  their  parents'  con- 
sent. Nor  do  I  know  of  a  single 
instance  of  marriage  in  scripture 
contracted  without  regard  to  the  con- 
sent of  parents,  which  was  not  fol- 
lowed with  some  visible  judgment, 
temporal  or  spiritual,  sooner  or  later, 
Gen.  vi.  2.  and  xxvi.  34.  and  xxviii. 
9.  and  xxxviii.  2,  &c.  Protestant 
Divines  generally  hold  marriage  null 
and  void,  if  the  consent  of  parents  be 
disregarded.  The  infamous  Popish 
Council  of  Trent,  denounced  a  curse 
upon  them  on  this  account.  Papists 
generally  hold  the  marriage  of  cMI- 


MAR 


(     147     ) 


MAR 


Viven  valid  without  the  consent  of 
pai'onts ;  but  Bellarniiiie  and  others 
grant,  that  it  is  not  ecjually  honour- 
able. The  too  easy  reconciliation 
of  parents  to  their  children's  con- 
tempt of  that  authority  which  God 
hath  given  them  over  them  in  thi? 
point,  tend^  not  a  little  to  the  mul- 
tiplication of  such  marriages  in  our 
times,  to  the  manifest  ruin  of  their 
seed  in  spiritual^  and  often  also  in 
temporal  thing?. 

The  duty  of  married  persons  is  ten- 
derly to  love  one  another,  be  faithful 
to  one  another,  bear  with  one  ano- 
ther's infirmities;  and  in  their  differ- 
ent stations,  study  to  ])lease,  profit, 
and  provide  for  one  another,  the  hus- 
band as  the  head,  and  the  wife  as 
subject  to  him,  Eph.  v.  Col.  iii.  1 
Pet.  iii.  The  relation  between  God 
and  the  church,  whether  Jewish  or 
Gentile,  is  represented  as  amarriaffe 
wherein  God  is  the  Husband,  who 
chooses,  rules,  and  provides  for  them; 
and  they  are  the  spouse,  who  consent 
to  be  his,  accept  of  his  ordinances 
and  laws,  and  love  and  obey  him, 
because  he  first  loved  them.  AVith 
deliberation  this  relation  is  consti- 
tuted; and  how  solemn  his  promises 
to  bless  them,  and  their  engagements  j 
to  obe}'  him '.  how  fearfully  the  Jews' 
and  many  Christian  churches,  have' 
been  punished  for  their  adulterous 
apostacy  from  him!  Jer.  iii.  Ezek.j 
Kvi.  Hos.  ii.  j 

MARROW,  a  soft  fat,  and  very 
nourishing  substance,  contained  in 
the  hollow  of  some  animal  bones, 
which  strengthens  them,  and  greatly  ■ 
promotes  the  healing  of  them  when 
broken.  To  marrotv  are  likened,' 
(1.)  The  most  secret  dispositions,] 
thoughts,  designs,  and  desires,  ofj 
our  soul,  Heb.  iv.  12.  (2.)  Christ 
and  his  fulness  of  grace  and  glo- 
ry, and  all  the  fulness  of  God  in] 
him,  which  are  the  delightful  nou- 
rishment and  strength  of  churches, 
saints,  and  their  holy  dispositions, 
Psal.  Ixiii.  5.  Isa.  xxv.  6.  (.3.)  The 
f«ar  of  the  Lord,  and  departing  from 
evil,  Avhich  constantly  promote  the 
health  and  true  welfare  of  both  soul 


and  body,  Prov.  iii.  8. 

MARISHES.     SeoMfRE. 

MARS-HILL.  See  Aukopagvs. 

MART,  a  place  of  great  trade 
to  the  nations  around,  Isaiiih  xxiii. 
3. 

MARTYR,  properly  denotes  a 
witness:  in  ecclesiastical  history,  one 
who  lays  down  his  life,  or  suffers 
death,  for  the  sake  of  his  religion, 
and  is  thus  distinguished  from  confes- 
sors, properly  so  called,  who  under- 
went great  afflictions  for  their  con- 
fession of  the  truth,  yet  without  suf- 
fering death ;  which  confession  every 
Christian  is  bound  to  make,  out  of 
regard  to  the  truth,  Matt.  x.  32,  33. 
The  term  martyr  occurs  only  thrice 
in  the  New  Testament,  Acts  xxii. 
20.  Rev.  ii.  13.  and  xvii.  6.  See 
Witness. 

MARVEL.     See  Wondkr. 

MARY,  exalted,  bitterness  of  the 
sea,  mother  of  our  Saviour  Jesus 
Christ,  and  a  virgin  at  the  time  she 
conceived  him;  daughter  of  Joachin 
and  of  Anna,  of  the  tribe  of  Judah, 
and  espoused  to  Joseph,  of  the  same 
tribe :  of  the  royal  house  of  David,  as 
was  also  her  husband.  Mary  was 
akin  to  the  race  of  Aaron,  since  Eli- 
sabeth the  wile  of  Zacharias  was  her 
cousin,  Luke  i.  36. 

The  Virgin  Mary  being  then  be- 
trothed to  Joseph,  the  angel  Gabriel 
appeared  to  her,  to  inform  her  that 
she  should  become  the  mother  of 
the  Messiah,  Luke  i.  26,  27,  &c. 
Mary  asked  him  how  tliis  could  he, 
since  she  knew  no  man  ?  To 
which  the  angel  replied,  that  the 
Holy  Ghost  should  come  upon  her, 
and  the  power  of  the  Highest  should 
overshadow  her,  so  that  she  should 
conceive  without  the  concurrence  of 
any  man.  And  to  confirm  what  he 
!  had  said  to  her,  and  to  show  that  no- 
I  thing  is  impossible  to  God,  he  added, 
j  that  her  cousin  Elisabeth,  who  was  old 
land  had  been  barren,  v;  as  then  in  the 
[  sixth  month  of  her  pregnancy.  Mary 
;  answered  him,*'  Behold  the  handmaid 
;  of  the  Lord,  be  it  unto  me  accord- 
ing to  thy  word."  And  presently 
she   conceived;    by    the  niiraculouis 


M  A  R 


148     ) 


M  A  R 


operation  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  the  Son 
or  God,  the  true  Emmanuel,  that  is  to 
say,  God  with  lis.  A  little  Avhile  af- 
ter, she  set  out  for  Hebron,  a  city  in 
tile  mountains  of  Judah,  to  visit  her 
cousin  Elisabeth.  As  soon  as  Elisa- 
beth had  heard  the  voice  of  Mary 
saluting  her,  her  child,  young  John 
the  Baptist,  leaped  in  her  womb. 
Mary  continued  with  Elisabeth  about 
three  mouths,  and  then  returned  to 
her  own  house.  When  she  was  rea- 
dy to  lie  in,  an  edict  was  published 
[)y  Cesar  Augustus,  which  decreed, 
that  all  the  subjects  of  the  empire 
should  go  to  their  own  cities,  there 
to  have  their  names  registered  ac- 
cording to  their  families.  Thus  Jo- 
seph and  Mary,  who  were  both  of 
the  lineage  of  David,  betook  them- 
selves to  the  city  of  Bethlehem, 
whence  was  the  original  of  their  fa- 
mily. But  while  they  were  in  this 
place,  the  time  being  fulfilled  in 
which  Mary  was  to  be  delivered, 
she  brought  forth  her  first-born  son. 
She  wrapped  him  in  swaddling 
clothes,  and  laid  him  in  the  manger 
of  the  stable  whither  they  had  retir- 
ed ;  for  they  could  find  no  place  in 
the  public  inn,  because  of  the  great 
concourse  of  people  that  were  then 
at  Bethlehem  on  the  same  occasion. 
At  the  same  time,  the  angels  made 
it  known  to  the  shepherds,  who  were 
in  the  fields  near  Bethlehem,  and 
who  came  in  the  night  to  see  Mary 
and  Jose|)h,  and  the  child  lying  in 
the  manger,  and  to  pay  him  their 
tribute  of  adoration.  Mary  took  no- 
tice of  all  these  things,  and  laid  them 
up  in  her  heart,  Luke  ii.  19.  Matt.  ii. 
8 — 11,  &c.  A  few  days  after,  the 
Magi,  or  wise  men,  came  from  the 
east,  and  brought  to  Jesus  large  and 
princely  presents  of  gold,  frankin- 
cense, and  myrrh;  after  which,  being 
warned  by  an  angel  that  appeared  to 
them  in  a  dream,  they  returned  into 
their  own  country  by  a  way  difterent 
from  that  by  which  they  came.  But 
Jhe  time  of  Mary's  purification  being 
come,  that  is,  forty  daj's  after  the 
ivirth  of  .iesus  Christ,  Mary  went  to 
jrleriisalem,  Lijke  ii.  21.  there  to  pre- 


sent her  son  in  the  temple,  and  to 
offer  the  sacrifice  appointed  bj'^  the 
law  for  the  purification  of  women  af- 
ter childbirth.  There  was  then  at 
Jerusalem  an  old  man  named  Simeon, 
who  was  full  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and 
who  had  received  a  secret  assurance 
that  he  should  not  die  before  he  had 
seen  Christ  the  Lord.  He  came  then 
into  the  temple  by  the  influence  of 
the  Spirit  of  God,  and  taking  the 
child  Jesus  into  his  arms,  he  bless- 
ed the  Lord  ;  and  afterwards  address- 
ing himself  to  Mary,  he  told  her, 
that  this  child  should  be  for  the  ris- 
ing and  falling  of  many  in  Israel,  and 
for  a  sign  which  should  be  s[)oken 
against ;  even  so  far  as  that  her  own 
soul  should  be  pierced  as  with  a 
sword,  that  the  secret  thoughts  in 
the  hearts  of  many  might  be  disco- 
vered. 

At  the  time  of  our  Lord's  cruci- 
fixion, Joseph,  it  seems,  being  dead, 
our  Saviour  affectionately  observing 
her  from  his  cross,  recommended 
her  to  the  care  of  the  apostle  John, 
who  provided  for  her  till  her  death, 
John  xix.  2.^ — 27.  After  our  Sa- 
viour's resurrection,  she  no  doubt 
saw  him.  After  his  ascension,  she 
attended  the  religious  meetings  of 
the  disciples,  Acts  i.  14.  The  dis- 
pute among  the  Papists,  whether 
she  was  tainted  with  original  sin, 
hath  occasioned  plenty  of  pretended 
miracles,  and  a  prodigious  number 
of  useless  volumes. 

2.  Mary,  the  wife  of  Cleophas, 
and  mother  of  James,  Jude,  Joses, 
Simeon,  and  Salome  their  sister,  is 
supposed  to  have  beevi  the  sister  of 
the  Virgin,  and  hence  herchildren  are 
represented  as  the  brothers  of  our 
Lord,  John  xix.  25.  Matt,  xxvii.  5(3. 
Mark  xv.  41.  Luke  xxiv.  10.  Mark 
vi.  5.  Matt.  xili.  55.  She  early  be- 
lieved on  our  Saviour,  attended  his 
preaching,  and  ministered  to  him  for 
his  support.  At  a  distance,  slic  with 
grief  witnessed  his  crucifixion,  Mark 
XV.  40,  41.  She  was  present  at  his 
burial,  and  prepared  si)ices  for  em- 
balming his  dead  body,  J-uke  xxiii, 
50, 


VrJii 


}'aid  S,-  Thumas,  Frlnt. 


MARY  MAGDALENE. 


MAR 


(      ^49     ) 


DI  A  S 


W 


m 


MARY     MAGDALENE.     She 

seems  to  have  been  an  iuliabitant  of 
Magdala ;  and  it  is  hinted  by  some, 
that  siie  was  a  plaiter  ot  hair  to  the 
harlotsi  and  vain  women  of  her  cit}- ; , 
but  it  is  more  certain  she  was  possess- , 
ed  of  seven  devils,  whom  Jesus  cast, 
out.  1  suppose  she  was  the  scandalous ; 
sinner,  who,  in  the  house  of  Simon  the 
Pharisee,  washed  our  Saviour's  feet 
with  her  tears,  and  wiped  them  with 
her  liair,  and  kissed  and  anointed 
tlieni  witli  precious  ointment.  Si- 
mon thought  Jesus's  admission  of  her 
to  such  familiarity,  similar  to  that  of 
affectionate  daughters  towards  their 
father,  was  an  evidence  that  he  knew 
not  her  character,  or  was  not  suffi- 
ciently strict  in  his  practice.  Jesus 
knowing  his  thought,  uttered  a  para- 
ble of  two  debtors,  to  whom  their  cre- 
ditor had  forgiven  very  different  ac- 
counts, and  asked  Simon,  which  of  the 
tw^o  would  love  him  most?  Simon 
re[)lied,  that  he  thought  it  would  be 
the  debtor  to  whom  the  greatest  sum 
had  been  forgiven :  Jesus  approved 
of  his  judgment,  and,  after  observing 
how  far  superior  this  woman's  kind- 
ness was  to  that  of  Simon,  who  had 
neither  saluted  liim  with  a  kiss,  nor 
given  him  Avater  for  his  feet,  nor  oil 
for  liis  head,  hinted,  that  her  great 
love  was  an  evidence  that  her  mul- 
tiplied transgressions  were  forgiven ; 
and  just  then  declared  to  the  woman 
that  they  were  so.  As  some  mur- 
mured within  themselves,  that  Jesus 
took  upon  him  to  forgive  sins,  he 
said  to  her.  Thy  faith  hath  saved 
thee.  Soon  after,  she  is  mentioned 
as  one  of  his  ministering  attendants, 
Luke  vii.  36—50.  and  vii.  1,  2,  3. 
She  attended  him  in  his  last  journey 
from  Galilee  to  Jerusalem,  and  sor- 
rowfully witnessed  his  crucifixion, 
and  assisted  in  preparing  spices  for 
his  being  embalmed,  John  xix.  25. 
Luke  xxiii.  55,  56.  Early  on  the  3d 
day,  she,  and  Mary  the  wife  of  Cleo- 
phas,  went  to  his  sepulchre;  but  miss- 
ing his  body,  an  angel  informed  them, 
he  was  risen.  As  they  w  ere  going 
to  tell  the  disci[)les,  Mary  Mag(i;!- 
lene  returned,    and  stood    Aveeping 


at  the  grave.  There  Jesus  met  her; 
she  supposed  ht-  was  the  gardener, 
and  asked  bim  if  he  knew  what  was 
become  of  tlu>  dead  Iwdy,  that  she 
might  Udie  care  of  it?  With  iiis 
known  air  of  speech,  Jesus  called  her 
by  her  name.  Knowing  him  imme- 
diately by  this,  she  cried  out  in  a  rap- 
ture of  jojs  Rabhoni!  \\  liich  signifies, 
rm/  great  Master,  and  fell  at  his  feet  to 
embrace  them;  then  he  bade  her  for- 
bear, and  go  inform  his  disciples  that 
he  was  risen.  As  she  went  and  over- 
took the  other  Mary,  and  other  wo- 
men, Jesus  appeared  to  them  ;  they 
held  him  by  the  feet,  and  w^orship- 
ped  him,  but  were  directed  to  go  and 
tell  his  apostles  and  followers,  and 
particularly  Peter,  that  he  was  risen. 
They  did  as  he  directed  them,  but 
their  information  was  not  duly  cre- 
dited, Matt,  xxviii.  9,  10.  John  xx. 
1—18. 

MARY.     See  Lazarus. 

MASH,  or  Meshech,  the  fourth 
son  of  Aram,  and  grandson  of  Shem. 
He  was  probably  the  father  of  the 
Moscheni,  or  Masians,  who  resided 
about  the  south  parts  of  Armenia, 
and  from  him  the  mount  IMasius,  and 
the  river  Mazeclia,  or  Mozecha,  in 
these  quarters,  seem  to  have  had  their 
name.  Gen.  x.  23.   1  Chroii.  i.  17. 

MASONS.  From  the  history  of 
the  temple,  and  the  ruins  of  Baal- 
beck,  Tadmor,  Persepolis,  and  other 
places,  it  appears  that  their  art  was  in 
as  great  perfection  long  ago  as  at 
present.  Those  of  Tyre  were  among 
the  first  for  fame;  and  David  hired 
them  to  build  his  palace,  2  Sam.  v.  1 1 . 

MASTS  for  ships.  The  Tyrians 
made  theirs  of  cedar,  Ezek.  xxvii.  5. 
As  it  is  dangerous  to  lie  down  in  the 
sea,  or  on  the  top  of  a  mast  of  a  ship 
as  she  sails;  so  he  who  indulges 
himself  in  drunkenness,  is  in  danger 
of  death  and  damnation,  Prov.  xxiii. 
34.     See  Suip.s. 

]\I ASTER,  one  who  rules,  or 
teacheth.  It  is  a  title  ap|)lie(l,  (1.) 
To  Jesus  Christ,  who  is  our  great 
lawgiver  and  teacher,  and  who  alone 
can  inwardly  and  i)owerfully  instruct 
our  :-onl^;  and  in  matters  of  faith  and 


M  A  ^ 


(     150     ) 


MAT 


worship,  he  only  is  to  be  followed, 
Matt,  xxiii.  8,  10.  (2.)  To  preach- 
ers and  ministers,  who  to  assembled 
congregations  declare  and  explain 
the  oracles  of  God,  Eccl.  xii.  11. 
(3.)  To  such  as  more  privately  teach 
scholars  or  discii)les,  Luke  vi.  40. 
(4.)  To  such  as  have,  and  rule  over 
servants,  Eph.  vi.  5.  (5.)  To  such 
as  proudly  affect  vain  applause,  and 
a  superiority  above  others,  Matt, 
xxiii.  10.  (6.)  To  such  as  judge, 
condemn,  censure,  and  reprove 
others,  or  do  it  beyond  the  merits  ol 
the  cause,  uncharitably  wresting 
things  to  the  worst  meaning,  or  by 
aggravating  real  faults;  or  who  do 
it  from  a  spirit  of  pride  and  contra- 
diction; or  who  affect  to  be  many 
teachers,  instead  of  the  one  teacher, 
Christ,  James  iii.  1. 

MATTHEW,  given,  or  a  reward, 
or  Levi,  the  son  of  Alpheus,  Ave  sup- 
pose one  different  from  Cleophas,  was 
a  Galilean  by  birth,  a  Jew  by  religion, 
and  a  publican  by  office.  His  ordinarj' 
residence  was  at  Capernaum,  and  he 
had  his  house  for  gathering  his  toll 
or  tax  on  the  side  of  the  sea  of  Tibe- 
rias. Jesus  called  him  to  be  one  of 
his  apostles.  He  directly  obeyed, 
Avithout  taking  time  to  settle  his  af- 
fairs. At  his  request,  Jesus,  probably 
some  time  after,  took  an  entertain- 
ment at  his  house,  in  co.mpany  with 
some  other  publicans.  As  the  Phari- 
sees censured  him  for  eating  with  pub- 
licans and  other  notorious  sin- 
ners, he  told  them  that  it  >vas  sin- 
sick  souls  that  needed  the  Divine 
Physician,  and  that  God  loved  mercy 
more  than  sacrifice  and  pretensions 
to  strictness.  He  assured  them  he 
was  come  into  the  Avorld,  not  to  cail 
the  righteous,  but  sinners,  to  repent- 
ance,^ Matt,  ix.  9—13.  Mark  ii.  14 
— 17.  Grotius  thinks,  Matthew  and 
Levi  were  two  different  persons; 
the  former  the  clerk  or  servant,  and 
the  latter  the  master.  Whether  Mat- 
thew suffered  martj^rdom  in  Persia, 
or  died  in  Abyssinia,  after  he  had 
preached  there,  we  know  not. 

It  is  said  he  began  to  write  his  gos- 
pel  about  A.   D.   41.   but   in  what 


language,  is  controverted.  There 
was  very  early  a  copy  of  it  in  He- 
brew or  Syriac,  to  which  the  Judaiz- 
iug  [)retenders  to  Christianity  added 
so  many  interpolations  of  their  own, 
that  it  was  generally  condemned. 
As  early  as  Origen's  time,  it  was 
despised;  and  Epiphanius  reckons 
it  spurious.  The  Hebrew  copies 
published  by  Munster  and  Tillet,  are 
but  modern  translations  from  the 
Latin  or  Greek.  It  is  certain,  a 
Greek  copy  of  this  gospel  existed  in 
the  apostolic  age;  and  not  long  af- 
ter, it  was  translated  into  Latin. 
We  cannot  therefore  accede  to  the 
sentiment  of  the  Christian  fathers, 
who  will  have  its  original  to  have 
been  the  Hebrew :  for,  why  might 
it  not  be  as  easily  translated  from 
Greek  into  Hebrew,  as  from  Hebrew 
into  Greek?  About  A.  M.  184,  a 
Greek  copy  of  it  was  found  in  the 
East  Indies,  Avhich,  it  is  supposed, 
was  carried  thither  by  Bartholomew. 
In  488,  a  Greek  copy  was  found  at 
Cyprus,  which  was  inscribed  on  hard 
wood,  and  supposed  to  have  been 
most  ancient.  Moreover,  if  Matthew  . 
had  Avrote  in  Hebrew,  with  what 
sense  could  he  have  given  us  a  literal 
interpretation  of  Hebrew  names, 
Emmanuel,  Sec.  ? 

In  his  gospel,  Matthew  had  this 
chiefly  in  view,  to  show  us  the  royal 
descent  and  genealogy  of  Jesus 
Christ,  and  to  represent  to  us  his 
life  and  conversation  among  men. 
No  one  of  the  evaagelists  enters  so 
far  into  the  [)articulars  of  the  account 
of  Jesus  Christ,  or  has  given  so  many 
rules  for  the  conduct  of  life,  and  so 
many  lessons  of  morality.  If  we  com- 
;•  ire  him  with  the  other  three  evan- 
geiisti-.  we  may  observe  a  remarkable 
difference  in  the  order  and  situation 
of  our  Saviour's  actions,  from  chap, 
iv.  22.  to  chap.  xiv.  13.  Some  have 
imputed  to  mere  accident  this  varia- 
tion in  Matthew ;  and  others  to 
choice  and  design.  However  this 
may  be,  it  can  be  no  ijrejudice  to  the 
truths  of  the  fads  which  are  the  es- 
sential part  of  the  gospel;  and  as  to 
the  order  of  time,  the  Sacred  authors 


M  A  T 


C     151     ) 


]\t  E  A 


are  not  always  solicitous  to  follow  it 
exactly.  Matthew  has  all  the  cha- 
racters of  a  good  historian;  truth  aiul 
iin|)artiality,  clearness  of  narration, 
propriety  and  gravity  of  languai;e. 
He  is  grave  without  formality  or 
stiffness,  plain  with  dignity,  and 
agreeably  copious  and  full  in  his 
relation  of  our  Lord's  most  divine 
discourses,  and  healing  works  of 
wonder. 

MATTHIAS,  the  Lord's  gift, 
a  disciple  of  Jesus  Christ,  perhaps 
one  of  the  seventy.  After  our  Sa- 
viour's ascension,  Peter  proposed, 
that  one  who  had  been  a  constant 
witness  of  his  marvellous  sufferings 
and  conduct,  should  be  chosen  to 
fill  the  room  of  Judas,  who,  after  be- 
traying his  Lord,  had  hanged  him- 
self. The  disciples  chose  Barsabas 
and  Matthias  for  the  candidates.  As 
the  office  w^as  extraordinary,  the  final 
determination,  which  of  the  two 
should  be  the  apostle,  was  left  to 
the  decision  of  God  by  the  lot.  Af- 
ter prayer,  the  lots  were  cast,  and  it 
fell  upon  Matthias:  he  was  there- 
fore numbered  with  the  eleven  apos- 
tles. Acts  i.  15 — 26.  It  is  proba- 
ble he  preached  the  gospel  some- 
where in  the  east :  but  whether  he 


dit^d  a  violent  or  natural  death,  we 
know  not. 

MATTOCK,  an  iron  inptrument 
fur  digging  stones,  roots,  and  sand ; 
or  for  breaking  down  walls,  1  Sam. 
xiii.  20,  21.  isa.  vii.  25.  2  Chron. 
xxxiv.  +  6. 

MAUL,  a  hammer,  such  as  cop- 
persmiths use,  A  false  witness  is  like 
a  mmd,  a  sword,  or  an  arrow,  he 
wounds  the  reputation,  he  ruins  the 
health,  and  takes  away  the  life,  of 
his  neighbour,  Prov.  xxv.  18. 

MAZZAROTH,  the  Chaldean 
name  for  the  12  signs  of  the  Zodiac. 
Whether  they  be  the  twelve  signs,  or 
that  called  the  chambers  of  the  south, 
or  the  Mazzcri?n, stars  scattered  about 
the  north  |)ole,  we  know  not.  Job 
xxxviii.  32.  and  ix.  9.  and  xxxvii.  9. 

MEADOW,  fat  and  well  watered 
ground  for  feeding  cattle  or  producing 
hay,  Gen.  xli.  2. 

MEAL,  (1.)  That  substance 
whereof  bread,  or  similar  eatables, 
are  formed,  Isa.  xlvii.  2.  (2.)  A  par- 
ticular diet ;  a  dinner,  supper,  or  the 
like,  Ruth  ii.  14. 

MEASURE,  (1.)  That  whereby 
the  quantity,  length,  or  breadth,  of 
any  thing  is  adjusted.  Tables  of 
Measure  follow : 


Scripture-measures  of  Length,  reduced  to  English  Measure. 


Digit 

Palm 

-            ■     - 

EDg.  feet. 
0 

0 

0 

1 

7 

10 

14 

line  145 

inch.  dec. 
0,912 

3,648 

12 

3 

Span 

- 

10,944 

24 

G 

3 

Hubit 

9,888 

96 

24 

6 

2 

Fathom 

lel's  reed 

3,552 

144 

36 

12 

6 

UEzek 

11,328 

1   192 

48 

16 

8 

21     H 

Arabian  pole 

10  Schojnus's  meaaur 

7,104 

,1920 

480 

160 

86i     2o!   13i 

11,04 

M  E  A  (     152    )  M  E  A 

The  longer  Scripture-measures, 


Cubit 


400 


2000 


4200 


12000 


96000 


Stadium,  or  furlong 

Sab.  (lay 's  journey 
Eastern  mile 


10 


30 


240 


6 


48 


3  Parasang 


24  i       8 1 A  days  journey 


English  miles,  paces,  feet.  dec. 

0         0  1,824 

0  145  4,6 

0  729  3,0 

1  403  1,0 
4  153  3,0 

33  172  4,0 


Scripture-measures  of  Capacity  for   Liquids,  reduced  to  English   Wine- 
measure. 


Caph 

I 

H 

Log 

- 

H 

4 

Cab 

- 

16 

12 

3 

Hin 

32 

24 

6 

2 

Seah 

96 

72 

12 

6 

3 

960 

720 

180 

60 

20 

Bath,  or  Epha 
lOJCoron,  Chomer 


Gal. 
0 

pints 

Of 

sol.  inch. 
1,177 

0 

Of 

0,21] 

0 

^ 

0,844 

1 

2 

2,53[i 

2 

4 

5,067 

7 

4 

15,2 

5 

5 

7,625 

Scripture-measures  of  Capacity  for  things  dry,  redttced  to  English  Corn-^ 

tneasure. 


Pecks,  gal.  pints,  sol.  inch,  dec 
0     0     OyV^     0,031 


Gachal 

- 

- 

20 

Cab 

. 

36 

^ 

Gomer,  or  omer 

120 

6 

3| 

Seah 

- 

360 

18 

10 

3 

Epha 

1800 

90 

50 

15 

5 

Letec 

3600 

180 

100 

30 

10 

2 

0 

0 

2f 

0,073 

0 

0 

5tV 

1,211 

1 

0 

1 

4,036 

3 

0 

3 

12,107 

16 

0 

0 

26,  500 

32 

0 

1 

18.969 

N.  B.  A  Scotch  pint  contains  three  English  of  corn-measure,  and  almost, 
four  of  wine-measure. 


M  E  A 


(     153     ) 


M  E  A 


A  measure,  in  2  Kiiisjs  vii.  1.  sisini- 
fiea  a  .scah,  or  satum ;  l)iit  in  Re\'. 
vi.  6.  it  signifies  but  a  i-liniix,  ^vliicli 
contained  about  a  pint  anil  a  half, 
and  this  being  sold  tor  a  penny,  or 
7£-  pence  sterling;,  imports,  that  the 
famine  W(»uld  be  so  severe  that  a 
man  would  scarcely  be  able  to  earn 
enough  by  his  labour  to  keep  him  in 
life.  (2.)  'J'he  length,  breadth,  or 
quantity,  to  be  measured,  Ezek.  xl, 

10.  (3.)  Measure  signifies  the  deter- 
mined length,  boundary,  or  degree,  of 
any  thing;  as  of  life,  Psal.  xxxix.  4. 
of  sin,  Jer.  li.  13,  or  of  grace,  E[)h. 
iv.  11.  The  measure  of  the  apostles, 
was  the  extent  of  tlieir  power  and  of- 
fice, 2  Cor.  X.  13—15.  The  Jews  fill- 
ed up  the  measure  of  their  fathers,  by 
adding  to  their  sin,  and  so  hastening 
on  the  Judgments  of  God,  Matt. 
xxiii.  32.  In  measure,  is  moderate- 
ly, sparingly,  Isa.  xxvii.  8.  Jer.  xxx. 

11.  Ezek.  iv.  11,  15.  JVilhoui  mea- 
sure, is  very  largely,  Isa.  v.  14. 
•John  iii.  34.  As  the  measure  of  a 
man  is  six  feet,  so  the  New  Jerusa- 
lem being  measured  with  the  measure 
of  a  man,  that  is,  of  the  angel,  may 
import,  how  exact  and  heavenly 
saints  shall  be  during  the  millennium. 

To    MEASURE,    or    METE,    (1).     To 

Lake  the  dimensions  or  quantity  of 
things,  Numb.  xxxv.  5.  Ruth  iii. 
1 5.  (2.)  To  take  possession  of,  es- 
pecially in  onler  to  build,  Zech.  ii. 
2.  (3.)- To  repay,  reward,  Isa.  Ixv. 
7.  God's  measuring  the  dust  or  wa- 
ters in  the  hollow  of  his  hand,  im- 
ports his  full  knowledge  of,  his  abso- 
lute power  over,  and  easy  manage- 
ment thereof.  Job  xxviii.  25.  Isa. 
xl.  12.  The  angel's  visionary  mea- 
suring of  the  temple  and  city  in  Eze- 
kiel  and  John's  vision,  imports,  that 
every  thing  in  the  gospel-church 
ought  to  correspond  with  the  line 
and  reed  of  God's  word,  Ezek.  xl. 
and  xli.  and  xlii.  and  xlvii.  Rev. 
xxi.  INIen's  measuring  themselves  hy 
themselves,  and  comparing  themselves 
among  themselves,  is  foolishly  to  ima- 
gine themselves  standards  of  true 
(excellency ;  and  reckoning  every 
thing  good  that  is  their  own,  while 
Vol.   II. 


they  overlook  the  superior  excellen- 
cies of  others,  2  Cor.  x.  2. 

IMEA'I".  The  food  of  the  He- 
brews was  regulated  by  the  ap|)oint- 
ment  of  God.  What  animals  they 
might  eat,  and  what  they  ought  not, 
were  particularly  sjiecified.  Lev.  xi. 
Deut.  xiv.  No  blood,  nor  Qesh 
with  the  blood,  nor  the  fat  of  ani- 
mals offered  in  sacrifice,  was  to  be 
eaten.  What  the  Hebrews  reck- 
oned high  living,  may  appear  from 
what  Solomon  luid  at  his  table ;  hi; 
daily  provision  was  30  cors  or  mea- 
sures of  fine  Hour,  with  00  cors  of 
coarser  meal ;  in  all  about  58,320 
pounds  weight  of  meal,  with  10  fed 
oxen,  20  pasture  oxen,  100  sheep, 
beside  venison,  deer,  roebuck,  does, 
wild  fowl,  (fcc.  The  Jews  say  that 
00,000  were  maintained  in  his  court : 
but  it  is  rather  probable  they  were 
not  above  the  half  of  that  number, 
1  Kings  iv.  22,  23.  It  does  not  ap- 
pear they  were  very  nice  iu  the  sea- 
soning or  dressing  of  their  food.  Salt 
was  the  only  seasoning  of  what  was 
prepared  in  the  temple,  if  Ave  do  not 
add  the  oil  wherewith  meat-offer- 
ings were  baked.  The  paschal  Iamb 
was  eaten  with  bitter  herbs,  salt, 
honey,  butter,  oil  i  and  perhaps 
sometimes  aromatic  herbs  were  used 
in  their  common  ragouts. .  Ancient- 
ly, it  seems,  every  one  of  the  guests 
used  to  have  a  table  by  himself: 
the  Chinese  and  other  eastern  nations, 
we  are  told,  still  use  this  fashion;  and 
the  greatest  honour  done  to  a  guest 
was  to  give  him  a  large  share,  1  Sam. 
i.  4,  5.  Gen.  xviii.  & — 8.  and  xliii. 
43.  Nations  w  ere  sometimes  shy  of 
eating  with  one  another.  The  Egyp- 
tians hated  to  cat  with  shephertls. 
Gen.  xliii.  31.  The  Jews  shunned 
eating  with  Heathens,  i)articularly 
the  Samaritans,  John  iv.  9.  They 
reproached  our  Saviour  for  eating 
v.ith  publicans,  j\latt.  ix.  11.  Luke 
XV.  2.  The  Jews  washed  their  hands 
before  they  took  their  meals,  Mark 
vii.  Anciently  they  sat  at  tables, 
Prov.  xxiii.  1.  but  in  alter  ages, 
they  copied  after  the  Persian,  Chal- 
dean, and  Roman  manner,  of  leaning 
U 


M  E  A 


(     154     ) 


MED 


at  it  OH  beds;  and  hence  John  leaned 
on  Jesiis's  Ijosoni  at  his  last  supper, 
John  xiii.  The  different  sexes  feasted 
in  difterent  a])artments,  as  was  the 
common  manner  in  some  places  ol 
the  east,  and  still  prevails  in  Italy 
and  Sj)ain.  Perfumes  on  their  hair, 
or  on  their  beds,  together  with  mu- 
sic and  dancing,  wete  common  at 
their  feasts,  Luke  vij.  37.  and  xv. 
John  xii.  Among  the  modern  Jews, 
the  master  of  the  hoase,  or  the  chie: 
person  present,  blesses  the  bread, 
and  afterwards  blesses  the  wine.  Jusl 
before  they  take  their  last  glass,  he 
recites  a  pretty  long  prayer  and 
thanksgiA'ing,  and  the  company  re- 
cite the  9th  and  lOth  verses  of  the 
xxxivth  Psalm.  They  are  so  super- 
stitiously  nice,  that  they  will  have 
no  meat  dressed  by  Christians  or 
Heathens.  They  never  mix  any 
milkineat  with  flesh;  nor  will  they 
take  milk,  butler,  or  cheese,  imme- 
dintely  after  flesh;  they  will  not 
even  use  the  same  instruments  or 
vessels  in  dressing  or  holding  milk 
meat,  which  they  use  for  flesh-meal. 
The  abolishment  of  the  ceremonial 
law,  by  the  <lea(h  of  Jesus  Christ, 
took  awfiy  the  legal  distinction  of 
meats ;  init  the  synod  of  Jerusalem 
required  their  Christian  brethren  to 
abstain  from  meats  offered  to  idols, 
and  IVom  things  strangled,  and  from 
fornication,  and  from  blood.  This 
matter,  especially  that  of  eating 
things  offered  to  idols,  and  which 
were  somelitnes,  after  the  oblation, 
so!d  in  the  public  markets,  occasion- 
ed no  small  disturbance.  Paul  de- 
ternnnes,  that  all  food  was  clean  and 
indifferent  in  itself;  and  that  what- 
ever was  bought  in  the  jiublic  mar- 
ket, might  be  eaten  without  any 
scruple  of  conscience;  but  warmly 
inculcates  the  forbearance  of  flesh  of- 
fered lo  idols,  or  of  any  thing  indif- 
ferent, if  it  tended  to  lay  a  stumbling- 
block  before  any  person,  or  grieved 
any  tender  conscience;  and  charges 
such  as  did  otherwise  with  being 
murderers  of  their  Christian  brethren, 
for  whom  Christ  died.  Tit.  i.  15. 
Rom.  xlv.   1    Cor.  vi.   11 — ^1.3.    and 


viii.  and  x.  Jesus's  mediatorial  Avork 
is  represented  as  his  meat;  it  was 
more  delightful  to  him  than  his  ne- 
cessary food,  John  iv.  32,  34.  He, 
in  his  lubuss  of  grace  and  truth,  is 
represented  as  tneat,  as  true  and  satis- 
fying food,  the  receiving  and  en- 
joyment of  which  delightfully  nou- 
rishes men's  souls  to  eternal  life, 
John  vi.  55.  Gal.  ii.  20.  Psal.  xxxiv. 

8.  The  truths  of  God  in  the  scrip- 
ture, are  meat;  they  refresh  and 
nourish  souls :  and  the  more  deep 
things  of  God  are  strons;  meat,  that 
can  only  edify  and  help  strong  Chris- 
tians, Jer.  XV.  16.  Heb.  v.  12,  14. 
Ceremonial  ordinances  are  called 
7neats  ami  drhiks  ;  much  of  them  re- 
lated to  eatables,  Heb.  xiii.  9.  Col.  ii. 
16.  The  kingdom  of  God  consists 
not  in  7)icat  and  drink,  'out  in  righ- 
teousness, peace,  and  joy  in  the  Holy 
Ghost:  the  gospel-dispensation  does 
not  relate  to  meals  and  drinks ;  nor 
does  true  inward  religion  consist  in 
observances  about  these,  but  in  fel- 
lowship with  and  conformity  to  God, 
Rom.  xiv.  1 7.  The  fruit  of  the  saints 
is  for  7neat  and  medicine :  their  goddy 
instructions,  and  holy  examples,  are 
most  edifying,  Ezek.  xlvii.  11.  Men 
are  meat  to  others,  when  they  are 
given  up  to  be  destroyed  by  them, 
Psal.  xliv.  11.  and  liii.  4.  Numb.  xiv. 

9.  and  xxiv.  8.  Sin  is  meat  to  men; 
jhey  delight  in  it,  and  promise  them- 
selves nourishment  from  it ;  but  it 
becomes  the  gall  of  asps  within  them. 
Job  XX.  14.  Sorronfal  meat,  is 
coarse  provision,  which  mourners 
did  eat.  Job  vi.  7.  Tears  are  meat, 
when  sorrow  takes  away  from  a  per- 
son his  appetite  for  meat,  Psal.  xiii. 
3.  The  year  of  release  was  meat  for 
the  Hebrews;  they  did  eat  what  grew 
of  its  own  accord  on  it,  Luke  xxxv. 
6.  Israel's  ordinarij food,  which  God 
diminished,  was  their  wonted  i»ros- 
perily,   Ezek.    xvi.    27.     See    Eat, 

BllKAD. 

MEDDLE,  (1.)  To  provoke  to 
anger,  2  Kings  xiv.  10.  (2.)  To 
attack  in  war,  Deut.  xxv.  19.  (3.) 
To  be  familiar  with,  Prov.  xx.  19. 
and  xxiv.  21.     (4.)  To  interfere  ;  to 


MED 


(     1"    ) 


MEG 


seek  to  have  todo  with,  Prov.xxvi.  1 7. 

MEJJKfiA,  the  waters  of  icriif, 
or  jvntcrs  sfjrin^iivs  up,  a  city  a  con- 
siiieralile  way  eastwanl  of  Jordan, 
am!  tiot  far  from  HeshUon.  11  seems 
Sihoii  took  it  from  (lie  Moaliites  or 
Ammonites,  Niiml).  xxi.  30.  It  fell 
to  the  share  of  the  Keuhenites,  and 
was  one  of  those  on  their  south-east 
border.  Near  to  it  there  was  a  de- 
lidiitlul  |)lain,  I  suppose  along  the 
river  Arnon,  Josh.  xiii.  16.  In 
David's  time,  it  was  in  the  liaud  of; 
the  Ammonites;  and  here  their  army 
encamped  under  the  walls,  and  after- 
wards fled  into  the  city,  2  Sam.  x.  It 
afterwards  pertained  to  the  Moabites, 
and  was  ravaged  by  the  Assyrians 
and  Chaldeans,  Isa.  xv.  ii.  and  Jer. 
xlviii.  It  was,  however,  rebuilt  and 
inhabited  by  the  Arabs,  with  whom 
the  poor  remains  of  the  Moabites 
were  blended.  It  continued  some 
ages  after  ('hrist,  and  is  called  Mc- 
dava  by  Ptolemy. 

MEDIA.     See  Madai. 

MEDIATOR,  one  who  trans- 
acts between  parties  at  variance,  in 
order  to  bring  them  to  an  agree- 
ment, Gal.  iii.  20.  Jesus  Christ  is 
the  one  Mediator.  He  alone,  by  sa- 
crifice to  God,  and  interce::sion 
with  him,  and  by  jtowerful  and  gra- 
cious instruction  and  influence  on 
sinful  men,  brings  both  together  in- 
to a  new  covenant  state  of  agree- 
ment, 2  Tim.  ii.  5.  He  is  ike  Me- 
diator of  the  better,  or  new  covenant ; 
according  to  the  tenor  of  the  new 
covenant  of  grace,  he  satisfies  and 
intercedes  for  us,  and  bestows  upon 
us  all  necessary  grace,  Heb.  viii.  6. 
and  ix.  15.  and  xii.  24.  Bloses  w^as 
a  typical  mediator,  interjjosing  be- 
tween God  and  the  Hebrew  nation; 
he  received  the  law  for  them,  and 
declared  it  lo  them,  and  interceded 
with  God  in  their  I)elialf,  Gal.  iii.  19. 
Deuf.  V.  5. 

MEDICINE,  whatever  tends  to 
prevent  or  heal  diseases  of  soul  and 
body  :  so  the  fear  of  God  promotes 
the  real  health  of  both  soul  and 
body;  and  a  merry  heart,  or  good 
conscience,  doUi  good  like  a  medicine. 


As  natural  olieerfulness  promotes  the 
health  of  the  body,  so  a  conscience 
sprinkled  with  Jesus's blood,  tlireeted 
by  his  word,  and  rided  by  bis  S|iirit, 
greatly  promotes  the  strength  and 
comfort  of  the  soul,  Prov.  iii.  !-!.  and 
xvii.  22.  S|)iritual  medicines  are 
such  as  tend  to  remove  ignorance, 
profaneness,  and  introduce  true  life, 
strength,  and  comfort,  into  the  hearts 
of  men,  Ezek.  xlvii.  12.  Medicines 
for  nations  are  either  the  truth  of 
Christ  |>reached  among  them  for  the 
redemption  of  their  soul,  Kev.  xxii. 
2.  or  means  of  sure  and  certain  re-- 
lief,  Jer.  xxx.  13.  and  xlvi.  11. 

MEDITATION,  (1.)  Deep 
thought,  close  attention,  contempla- 
tion, Psal.  civ.  34.  (2.)  Prayer  is 
called  meditation;  because  what  is 
prayed  for,  ought  first  to  be  delibe- 
rately thought  of,  Psal.  v.  1. 

IMEEKNESS,  (1.)  A  readiness  of 
mind  to  bear  injuries  for  the  sake  of 
Christ,  and  when  smitten  on  the  right 
cheek  to  turn  the  other  also,  Matt.  v. 
39.  to  forbear  seeking  revenge,  Rom. 
xii.  17.  and  to  forgive  oflenders,  even 
if  they  should  OiTend  seventy  times 
seven.  Matt,  xviii.  22.  Rom.  xii.  21. 
Col.  iii.  12.  (2.)  A  disposition  oC 
mind  to  receive  instruction,  and  im- 
mediateh'  follow  the  light  which  i? 
imparted,  Psal.  xxv.  9.  Jam.  i.  21. 
Moses  was  remarkalde  for  his  meek- 
ness. Num.  xii.  3.  but  Jesus  Chri^^t 
i«  infiniteh'  more  so,  and  is  both  our 
teacher  and  pattern.  Matt.  xi.  29. 

MEET.  Persons  or  things  meet  to- 
gether, either  by  accident  or  design; 
and  either  in  a  way  of  wrath,  to 
fight  against  and  destroy,  Kos.  xiii. 
8  Luke  xiv.  21.  or  in  a  way  of 
friendship,  Gen.  xiv.  17.  or  in  as- 
sem!)liiig  to  worship  God,  Isa.  i.  13. 

Mi:lt.  See  Fit,  Anhwerabli;, 
Ri:adv,  Col.  i.  12.  2  Tim.  ii.  21. 

MEG  ID  DO,  a  declaring  of  a 
messa:;c  precious,  or  chosen  fruit,  or 
Mkoiddon,  a  city  of  the  western 
Manassites,  said  to  have  been  44 
miles  north  of  Jcrusalerti ;  but  I  sup- 
pose it  was  more.  The  Canaanites 
retained  it;  and  near  to  it,  Jabin's 
army   was  routed  by  Deborah  and 


IM  E  L 


156     ) 


IM  E  L 


Barak,  Judg.  i.  27.  and  v.  19.  So- 
lomon reiniilt  if,  1  Kings  ix.  15. 
Ahaziah  fled  to  it  when  pursued  by 
Jehu's  orders,  and  died  there,  2  Kings 
(X.  27.  2  Chron.  xxxv.  22.  It  was  a 
iMceot'grcatnioiirning  to  the  Canaan- 
iles  when  Jabin's  ami}'  was  destroy- 
ed, and  to  the  Jews  when,  near  it, 
•Josiah  was  slain,  Zech.  xii.  H. 

MELCHIZEDEK,  Jcins;  of  right- 
fousncss^  king  of  Salem  and  |;riest 
of  the  Most^High  God.  Who  he 
was,  hath  aftbrded  much  dispute : 
some  will  have  him  to  be  Christ,  or 
the  Holy  Ghost;  but  Paul  distin- 
guishes between  him  and  our  Savi- 
our, and  says,  he  was  but  made  like 
unto  the  Son  of  God.  Jioth  Moses 
and  Paul  represent  him  as  a  mere 
man,  who  reigned  at  Salem  in  Ca- 
naan. But  what  man  he  was,  is  as 
little  agreed.  The  Jews  and  Sama- 
ritans will  have  him  to  be  Shem, 
their  ancestor.  The  Arabians  Avill 
have  him  the  grandson  of  Shem  b}' 
the  father's  side,  and  the  great  grand- 
sop  of  Japheth  by  his  mother's; 
and  pretend  to  give  us  the  names  of 
his  ancestors.  Juriu  will  have  him 
to  be  Ham.  Dr.  Owen  would  have 
him  to  be  a  descendant  of  Japheth, 
and  a  pleige  of  the  offspring  of  Ja- 
pheth's  becoming  t.he  principal  church 
of  God.  But  how  a  descendant  of  Ja- 
pheth came  to  be  king  of  the  Canaan- 
ites,  we  know  not.  Why  may  we 
not  rather,  with  Suidas,  suppose  him 
a  descendant  of  Ham,  sprung  of  a 
wicked  family,  and  ruling  over  sub- 
jects cursed  in  their  progenitor  ? 
Would  he  be  thereby  one  Avhit  more 
dissimilar  to  Jesus  Christ  ?  But  why 
all  this  inquiry  after  a  genealogy 
which  God  hath  concealed;  and  to 
render  him  a  distinguished  type  of 
our  Saviour,  hath  brought  him  be- 
fore us  as  if  dropt  from  heaven,  and, 
after  his  work,  returning  thither  ? 
His  blessing  Abraham,  the  great 
heir  of  promise,  and  receiving  tithes 
from  him,  shows  him  to  be  superior 
to  Levi  and  Aaron,  who  were  then 
in  his  loins. 

When  Abraham  returned  from  the 
rout  of  ChedoTlaopier  and  his  allies, 


Melchizedek  met  him  in  the  valley 
of  Shaveh,  afterward  called  the  king's 
dale,  and  tendered  to  him  a  present 
of  bread  and  wine,  to  refresh  him- 
self and  his  wearied  troops.  He 
also  blessed  Abraham,  and  thank- 
ed God  for  giving  him  the  victory. 
Abraham  acknowledged  him  priest 
of  the  Most  High  God,  and  gave 
Itim  a  tenth  part  of  (he  spoil,  Gen. 
xiv.  17 — 20.  Heb.  vil.  1 — 11.  Jesus 
is  a  priest  after  the  order  of  Mel- 
chizedek :  as  God,  he  was  without 
beginning,  without  mother:  as  man, 
his  origin  was  miraculous,  without 
father;  he  was  installed  in  his  of- 
fice only  by  God,  and  is  therein  su- 
perior to  all  the  Aaronic  and  ran- 
somed priests.  He  communicates  all 
blessings  to  them,  and  ought  to  re- 
ceive from,  them  proper  glory  and 
honour.  He  refreshes  his  people, 
when  like  to  faint  in  their  spiritual 
Avarfare ;  he  has  no  successor,  but  is 
possessed  of  an  unchangeable  priest- 
hood, Psal.  ex.  4.  Heb.  vii.  1 — 11. 
and  vi.  20.  and  v.  10. 

MELITA,  flowing  with  honaj, 
or  Malta,  is  a  small  island  of  the  Me- 
diterranean Sea,  about  54  miles  south 
of  Sicily,  and  150  north  of  Africa. 
It  is  about  20  miles  long,  and  12 
broad,  and  a  little  more  than  CO  in 
circumference.  It  seems  to  have  had 
its  name  from  its  being  Melet,  or 
a  place  of  refuge  to  the  ancient  Ty- 
rians  in  their  voyage  to  Carthage 
and  Spain.  The  Carthagenians  took 
this  isle  from  Battus,  a  prince  of 
Cyrene.  The  Romans  took  it  from 
them.  About  A.  D.  63,  Paul  and  his 
companions  were  shipwrecked  near 
this  island,  and  kindly  entertained 
by  the  natives  of  it,  who,  it  is  pro- 
bable, were  mostly  descended  Ironi 
theTyrians.  Theyimagined  Paul  was 
a  god,  because  he  shook  a  viper  oft' 
his  hand  without  receiving  any  hurt 
from  it.  Fublius,  the  governor's  fa- 
ther, was  cured  of  his  bloody  flux; 
and  others,  informed  hereof,  brought 
their  sick  to  Paul,  and  (hey  were 
healed.  When  Paul  and  his  compa- 
nions departed  from  Italy,  the  Mal- 
tese cheerfully  furnished  thcni  with 


MEL 


(      1S7     ) 


IM  E  M 


inHJessnry  jjrovisions.  Acts  xxviii.  1 
— 11.  It  is  said  that  no  venomous 
heasts  could  since  live  in  that  coun- 
try ;  and  that  earth  is  carried  Ironi 
it  to  expel  venomous  aninials,  and 
to  cure  the  bites  of  serpents.  It  is 
more  certain,  that  ever  since,  there 
have  been  some  remains  of  Christi- 
anity in  this  place;  though,  for  many 
ages  past,  little  more  than  the  name. 
About  A.  D.  828,  the  Mahomedan 
Saracens  seized  on  it.  About  1090 
Roger  of  Sicily  took  it  from  them. 
About  1530,  Charles  the  V.  empe- 
ror of  Germany,  and  king  of  Spain, 
gave  it  to  the  Military  knights,  whom 
the  Turks  had  about  seven  years  be- 
Ibre,  with  terrible  bloodslicd,  driven 
from  Rhodes.  It  was  attacked  by 
the  Turks  in  1566,  who,  after  many 
dreadful  assaults,  were  obliged  to 
abandon  the  enterprise,  with  the  loss 
of  30,000  men.  When  the  knights 
came  there,  the  inhabitants  were 
about  1 2,000,  wretched  enough,  and 
the  soil  exceedingly  barren.  It  is 
now  quite  the  reverse !  the  soil  bears 
excellent  fruit,  melons,  cotton,  &c. 
The  number  of  inhabitants  is  vari- 
ously estimated  at  from  60  to  90 
thousand,  who  speak  a  corrupt  Ara- 
bic, and,  in  the  towns,  Italian.  The 
knights  continued  masters  of  it,  and 
were  in  a  kind  of  perpetual  war  with 
the  Turks,  using  (heirships  in  much 
the  same  manner  as  the  Algerinesdo 
those  of  Italy  and  Spain ;  and  have 
on  various  occasions  performed  won- 
ilers  of  bravery,  defending  the  island 
against  huge  armies  of  infidels.  But 
it  was  taken  from  them  at  the  close 
of  the  last  century  by  the  French, 
and  afterwards  from  them  by  the 
Gnglish  ;  in  whose  hands  it  still  con- 
'.inues. 

MELODY,  a  sweet  musical  sound, 
Amos  V.  23.  To  make  rnelody  in  the 
heart  to  tlic  Lord,  is,  from  a  joyful  and 
thankful  disposition,  to  please  him 
with  the  ascription  of  praise,  glory, 
and  honour  to  him,  Col.  iii.  16.  Eph. 
V.  19. 

MELONS,  a  kind  of  pompion,  of 
a  good  smell,  but  cooling  to  the 
blood,  and  tending  io  promote  urine,- 


and  hence  are  useful  in  fevers  and 
stranguries,  but  of  s^mall  use  lor  food. 
Tourneiourt  nieiilions  seven  kinds  of 
melons.  The  Eg}  ptiaii  are  the  worst; 
but  the  Hebrews  wickedly  preferred 
those,  with  coarse  ciicuinliers  fit  on- 
ly for  beasts;  and  leeks  and  onions, 
to  the  manna  which  the  Lord  mer- 
cifully gave  them.  Numb.  xi.  5. 

MELT,  (1.)  To  render  metal,  or 
hard  bodies,  liquid,  Ezek.  xxii.  22. 
Exod.  xxxii.  4.  (2.)  To  be  dimi- 
nished, and  waste  away  as  snow  in 
a  thaw,  1  Sam.  xiv.  16.  (3.)  To 
faint  or  be  discouraged,  Psal.  cxix. 
28.  Josh.  ii.  11.  Exod.  xv.  15.  The 
earth  or  mountains  melted,  before  or 
at  the  voice  of  God.  The  ore  on  the 
top  of  Sinai  was  melted  by  the  terri- 
ble fire  on  it ;  hills  or  earth  are  de- 
pressed by  earthquakes  or  thunder ; 
and  the  opposers  of  God,  however 
strong  and  fixed,  are  easily  subdued, 
Judg.  V.  5.  Psal.  xlvi.  6.  and  xcvii. 
5.  Isa.  Ixiv.  1,2. 

MEMBER,  a  part  of  an  animal 
body,  such  as  a  leg,  hand,  ear,  eye, 
&c.  Psal.  cxxxix.  15.  Because  our 
whole  man,  soul  and  body,  is  united 
into  one  system,  the  faculties  of  the 
soul,  as  well  as  the  parts  of  the  body, 
are  called  members,  Rom.  vi.  13,  10, 
Christ  and  bis  people  being  consi- 
dered as  a  body,  tlie  saints  are  called 
his  members,  and  members  one  of  ano- 
ther;  they  are  closely  united  to  him 
as  their  head,  and  Joined  to  one 
another  as  his,  by  having  the  same 
spirit,  engagements,  profession,  and 
practice,  Epli.  iv.  25.  and  v.  30. 
Our  inward  principle  of  corruption 
being  likened  to  a  body,  the  various 
affections  and  lusts  thereto  belong- 
ing, are  called  members,  and  numbers 
on  the  earth,  that  are  inclined  to 
earthly  things,  and  much  excited  and 
acted  by  the  earthly  body,  Rom.  vii. 
23.    Col.  iii.  5. 

MEMORY,  (1.)  That  power  of 
the  mind  whereby  we  retain  or  can 
recollect  ideas  of  things  formerly 
seen,  imagined,  or  understood,  1 
Cor.  XV.  2.  The  best  way  to  strength- 
en it,  is  to  exercise  it  much,  anilget 
many  things  distinctly  by  heart.  (2.^) 


MEM 


158     ) 


31  E  N 


Memorial,  name,  report,  Piov.  x.  7. 
Isa.  xxvi.  14.  Memorial,  is  what 
tends  to  bring  a  person  or  thing  to 
remembrance.  God's  name  Jeho- 
vah, is  his  manorial  in  all  genera- 
tions ;  the  name  Avhereby  he  shall  be 
remembered,  called  upon,  and  thought 
and  spoken  of,  Exod.  iii.  15.  The 
soul  ransom-money,  the  part  of  the 
meat-oi»ering  burnt  on  the  altar,  and 
the  frankincense  set  on  the  show- 
bread,  are  called  a  memorial :  they, 
as  it  were,  put  God  in  mind  of  his 
covenant  with,  and  of  the  mercies 
necessary  to  be  shown  to  the  He- 
brews :  and  they  put  the  Hebrews  in 
mind  of  Jesus  as  a  ransom,  offering, 
and  intercessor,  for  them,  Exod.  xxx. 
16.  Lev.  ii.  2.  and  xxiv.  7.  The 
stones  of  the  high  priesf  s  breastplate 
and  shoulder-piece,  were  for  a  memo- 
rial :  they  tended  to  put  him  in  mind 
^o  pray  earnestly  for  the  Hebrew 
tribe  :  and,  as  it  were,  called  down 
mercies  from  God  upon  them,  Exod. 
xxviii.  1 2,  29. 

MEMPHIS,  hy  the  mouth,  Moph, 
or  NoPH,  a  famous  city  of  middle 
Egy|)t,  about  15  miles  above  the 
parting  of  the  Nile;  and  on  the  south- 
west of  which  stood  the  famed  pyra 
mids.  It  is  thought  to  have  been 
built  by  Menes,  or  Mizraim,  and  i>e- 
fore  Alexander's  time  was  long  the 
royal  city.  Here  was  kept  their 
bull-deity,  in  a  stately  temple.  The 
princes  of  it  were  trepanned  or  con- 
quered by  Psammitichus,  their  rival, 
and  the  country  terribly  ravaged, 
that  he  might  obtain  the  kingdom, 
Isa.  xix.  13.  Much  about  the  same 
time,  a  nudtitude  of  the  Israelites 
fled  from  the  Assyrians  into  Egypt, 
and  being  cut  off  by  the  sword  and 
pestilence,  were  buried  about  Mem- 
phis, Hos.  ix.  6.  The  princes  or 
kings  of  Memphis,  often  deceived 
the  Jews  with  empty  promises  of 
help,  and  occasioned  the  ruin  of 
their  state  by  the  Chaldean;*,  Jer.  ii. 
1 6.  Terribly  Avas  the  distress  it  suf- 
fered from  the  Chaldeans  and  Per- 
sians, Jer.  xlvi.  14,  19.  Ezek.  xxx. 
13, 16.  It  was  however  rebuilt,  and 
the  Greek  kings  of  Egypt  mightily 


adorned  it.  About  the  time  of  our 
Saviour's  birth,  it  was,  next  to  Alex- 
andria, tire  principal  city  of  Egypt. 
Notwithstanding  manifold  disasters, 
it  continued  to  make  some  figure  till 
about  J.  D.  640,  when  the  Saracens 
destroyed  it,  and  built  another  almost 
opposite  to  it,  on  the  east  side  of  the 
Nile;  and  which,  with  the  additions 
made  to  it  by  the  Fathemite  caliphs, 
is  now  called  Grand  Cairo,  or  Alka- 
hir.  There  scarcely  remains  the 
least  vestige  of  Memphis  to  point  out 
where  it  stood;  probably  the  Nile 
runs  over  its  foundations. 

MENSTRUOUS,  monthly.  To 
approach  a  woman  under  her  natural 
infirmity,  is  wicked  and  abominable; 
and  if  done  wittingly,  was  punished 
with  the  death  of  both  parties  by  the 
Hebrew  law,  Ezek.  xviii.  6.  Lev. 
XX.  18.  Jerusalem  was  like  a  men- 
sir  uous  woman,  when  rendered  weak 
and  detestable  to  the  neigbouring  na- 
tions. Lam.  i.  17.  To  cast  away 
idols  as  a  menstruous  cloth,  is  to  re- 
ject them  as  filthy  and  detestable, 
Isa.  xxx.  22. 

MEN  AHEM,  tluir  comforter,  or 
leader,  the  son  of  Gadi,  seems  to 
have  been  general  to  Zechariah,  the 
son  of  Jeroboam  the  2d.  No  soon- 
er did  he  hear  that  his  master  was 
murdered  by  Shallum,  the  son  of  Ja- 
besh,  in  Samaria,  than  he  marched 
from  Tirzah,  cut  otr  Shallum,  and 
seized  the  crown  for  himself.  Provok- 
ed that  the  citizens  of  Tiphsah  did  not 
readily  acknowledge  him,  and  open 
their  gates  to  him,  he  nmrdered  most 
of  the  peoide,  ripped  up  the  women 
with  child,  and  dashed  the  infants  to 
pieces.  Pul,  the  king  of  Assyria,  soon 
after  invaded  his  kingdom ;  but  with  a 
thousand  talentsofsilver,  or  342,1 87/. 
IOa'.  sterling,  Menahem  procured  his 
friendship.  This  money  Metialiem 
exacted  of  his  people  at  the  rale  of 
fifty  shekels  from  all  such  as  were 
able  to  bear  it.  After  a  reign  of  ten 
years,  ftlenuhem  died,  A.  M.  2341  ; 
and  Peki.hiah  his  son,  after  a  reign  ol 
two  years,  was  murdered  by  Pekah, 
2  Kings  XV.  14—20. 

MENE.     SeeEKi.snAz'/AR. 


ai  E  p 


(     159     ) 


ai  E  R 


To  MENTION,  or  make  7ruiUion; 
is,    (1.)    To   n;une,   speak   of,  espe- 
cially  with  lUt-asure,  Exod.  xiii.   13., 
(2.)  To  i)ray  for,  or  recommend,  a' 
person,  Rom.  i.  9.  Gen.  \1.  14.     To 
make  mcnlion  of  the  God  of  Israel,  but 
not  in  truth,  is  hypocritically  to  pro-j 
less  to  be  \vor9hii>pers  of  him,   and 
members  of  his  church,  Isa.  xlviii.  l.j 

MKPHIBOSHETH,  out  of  n\y\ 
mouth  proceeds  reproach,  (1.)  A  son! 
ol"  kin;;  Saul  hy  Rizhah,  2  Sani.  xxi.j 
8,  9.  (2).  iMKPinnosHETH,  the  sonol; 
Jonathan,  and  grandclnid  of  Saul.  I 
When  liis  lather  and  friends  were  kill- 
ed at  the  battle  of  Gilboa,  his  nursej 
was  struck  with  such  terror  at  thej 
news,  that  she  let  Mephibosheth  fall ;; 
this  fall  rendered  him  ever  after  lame; 
of  both  his  feet,  2  Sam.  iv.  In  hisj 
childhood,  he  was  secretly  broughtj 
up  in  the  family  of  one  Machir  ofj 
liOdebar,  in  the  land  of  Gilead.  When 
David  was  established  on  the  throne 
of  I?rael,  and  had  avenged  himself  of 
the  Philistines  and  Moabites,  he  ex- 
amined Ziba,  who  had  been  one  of 
SauKs  principal  servants,  whether 
any  of  the  house  of  Saul  yet  lived, 
that  he  might  show  them  kindness 
for  the  sake  of  Jonathan  ?  Ziba  told 
him  of  Mephibosheth :  with  great 
earnestness,  David  sent  and  brought 
him  to  his  house,  and  told  him,  he 
must  eat  bread  continually  at  his  ta- 
ble. Mephibosheth  accepted  the 
favour  with  the  irtmost  humility  and 
complaisance.  David  ordered  Ziba, 
and  his  famil}^  of  1 5  sons  and  20  ser- 
vants to  cultivate  for  Mephibosheth, 
and  his  child  Micah,  the  whole  inhe- 
ritance of  Saul,  2  Sam.  ix. 

Some  years  after,  when  Absalom's 
rebellion  forced  David  to  quit  his 
capital,  Mephibosheth  desired  Ziba 
to  saddle  him  his  ass,  that  he  might 
ride  off  with  hU  benefactor,  as  he 
could  not  walk  on  foot.  Ziba,  in- 
stead of  obeying  him,  resolved  to 
trick  him  out  of  his  whole  estate. 
He  went  after  David  with  a  present 
of  two  ass-loads  of  provision,  and 
told  him  that  ^lephibosheth  wailed 
at  Jerusalem,  in  hopes  that  the  He- 
brpw^,    who   were   in    arm?    asainst 


David,  would  now  restore  him  to 
the  throne  of  his  grandfather  and 
uncle.  Hereon  David  too  rashly 
made  a  grant  of  all  Mepbibosheth's 
estate  to  his  villanous  servant.  When, 
after  the  defeat  of  Absalom,  David 
returned  to  Jerusalem,  JMephibosheth 
met  him  in  deep  mourning,  his  feet 
never  washed,  nor  his  beard  trimmed, 
since  David  had  gone  otT  from  his 
ca[(ital.  David  asked  him.  Why  he 
had  not  gone  along  with  him  ?  Me- 
phibosheth told  him  how  Ziba  his 
servant  had  deceived  him,  and  had 
slandered  him;  but  added,  that  Da- 
vid might  do  with  him  as  he  pleased : 
and  that  since,  while  his  father's 
whole  family  were  all  obnoxious  to 
ileath  from  his  hand,  he  had  made 
him  his  table  companion,  he  had  no 
reason  to  complain  of  the  disposal  of 
his  lands  to  Ziba,  nor  was  it  proper 
the  king  should  trouble  himself  to 
provide  for  liim.  David  told  him, 
he  needed  say  no  more,  as  he  order- 
ed him  and  Ziba  to  share  the  land  be- 
tween them  in  equal  portions.  Me- 
phibosheth replied,  that  he  was  con- 
tent Ziba  should  take  it  all,  as  the 
king  had  safely  returned  to  his  throne. 
By  his  son  Micah,  whose  sons  were 
Pithon.  Melech,  Tahrea,  and  Ahaz, 
he  had  a  numerous  posterity,  2  Sara, 
xvi.  1— 4.andxix.  24—30.  1  Chron. 
viil.  34—40. 

MEK  AB,  he  that  fights,  or  disputes, 
or  multiplies,  the  eldest  daughter  of 
king  Saul.  She  was  promised  to  Da- 
vid in  marriage,  as  a  reward  for  that 
victory  which  he  obtained  over  the  gi- 
ant Goliah ;  but  Saul  broke  his  pro- 
mise and  gave  her  to  Adriel  the  son 
of  Barzillai  the  Meholathite,  1  Sam. 
xiv.  49.  and  xviii.  1 7, 19.  Merab  had 
six  sons  by  him,  who  were  delivered 
over  to  the  Gibeonites,  and  crucified 
upon  the  mountain  before  the  Lord, 
as  a  re{)aralion  for  that  injustice  that 
Saul  had  done  the  Gibeonites,  2  Sam. 
xxi.  8.  The  text  indeed  says,  that 
the  six  men  that  were  delivered  to 
the  Gibeonites,  were  the  sons  of 
Michal,  the  daughter  of  Saul,  and 
wife  of  Adriel.  But  there  is  reason 
to   believe,    that   the    namo   Michal 


M  E  R 


(     160     ) 


I\I  E  R 


is  by  mistake  slipt  into  tiie  text 
instead  of  Merab;  for  (1.)  Michal  did 
not  marry  Adriel,  but  Phaltiel ;  and, 
(2.)  We  nowhere  read  that  Michal 
had  six  sons.  Others  think,  that  these 
six  children  were  sons  of  Merab  by 
birth,  and  of  Michal  by  adoption. 

MERAIOTH,  bitterness,  rebel- 
lious, changing,  the  son  of  Ahitub 
the  high  priest  of  the  Jews,  1  Chron. 
ix.  11.  This  is  supposed  to  be  the 
same  person  that  is  called  the  son  of 
Seraiah,  Ezra  ii.  2.  There  is  ano- 
ther Meraioth,  son  of  Seraiah,  and 
father  of  Amariah,  named  among  the 
high  priests,  in  1  Chron.  vi.  6. 

MER  ARI,  bitter,  stirred  up,  provo- 
ked, the  third  son  of  Levi,  and  fa- 
ther of  Mahli  and  Mushi.  When  the 
Hebrews  came  out  of  Egypt,  the  Me- 
rarite  males,  from  a  month  old  and 
Ui')ward,  were  6,200 ;  and  those  fit  for 
service,  between  30  and  50  j^ears  of 
age,  were  3,200.  To  them  it  pertain- 
ed to  bear  in  their  waggons,  and  to 
fix,  the  pillars,  bars,  and  boards  of 
the  tabernacle.  They  went  first  of  all 
theLevitesin  their  march  through  the 
wilderness,  that  the  pillars  might  be 
set  up,  and  boards  fastened,  before  the 
hangings  came  forward  to  be  laid  on, 
as  these  last  were  spread  ere  the  sa- 
cred furniture  came  up.  Numb.  iii.  33 
-—37.  and  iv.  29—45.  Some  of  his 
posterity  were  sacred  porters,  1  Chr. 
xxvi.  19.  Theircities  were  Jokneara, 
Kartah,  Diriinah,  Nahalal,  Bezer,  Ke- 
demoth,  Jahazah,  Mephaath,  Ra- 
moth-gilead,  Blahanainr,  Heshbon, 
.Jazer,  Josh.  xxi.  34 — 40.  1  Chron. 
vi.  63,  77—31. 

MERATHAIM,  a  province  of 
Chaldea,  on  both  sides  of  the  Tigris  ; 
and  it  seems  Pekod,  Koa,  and  Shoa, 
were  places  near  it;  Pekod,  it  is 
said,  lay  near  Ninevelv,  Jer.  I.  21. 
Ezek.  xxiii.  23. 

MERCHANTS.  Those  of  Midi- 
an,  and  other  parts  of  Arabia,  were  the 
most  ancient.  Gen.  xxxvii.  28. 
Those  of  Nineveh  and  Jerusalem 
were  numerous  and  wealthy,  Neh. 
iii.  16.  Ezek.  xvii.  4.  Christ  is  li- 
kened to  a  merchant ;  having  all  ful- 
,ness  of  grace  and  glory  in  his  hand, 


he  eariu  stly  calls  and  invites  sinful 
men  deliberately  to  buy,  that  is,  re- 
ceive freely  from  him  according  to 
their  need,  and  state  themselves 
debtors  to  his  accompt :  and  saints 
are  merchants,  because  sensible  of 
their  manifold  needs,  and  persuaded 
of  their  having  infinite  advantage, 
they  trade  with  him  on  these  terms, 
and  reckon  themselves  everlasting 
debtors  to  the  riches  of  his  free  grace, 
Rev.  ii.  18.  Matt.  xiii.  45. 

MERCURIUS,  merchandise,   the 
son     of    Jupiter    and    Maja,     Avas 
one   of  the   fabulous  deities  of  the 
heathen,  and  messenger  to  the  rest. 
He  was  worshipped  as   the  god  of 
i  learning,  eloquence;  and  trade,  and 
[famous  for  lying  and  deceit.  Perhaps 
I  he  was  an  ancient  king  of  (he  Gauls; 
jor,    as   some   think,    the    Egyptian 
i])hilosopher    Hermes     TrismegistuS: 
or  the  very  great  interi)reter,    wor- 
shipped    alter    his     death.     Others 
I  think,  that  the  exploits  of  Mercury 
are  only  those  of  Moses  and  Aaron, 
quite     disguised     with    fable.       At 
Lystra,  Paul  was  called  Mercurius, 
because  he  was  the  chief  speaker, 
Acts  xiv.  8—12. 

MERCY,  (1.)  Afiectionate  pity 
to  such  as  are  in  misery  and  dis- 
tress, and  a  readiness  to  do  them 
good.  Tit.  iii.  5.  Phil.  ii.  1.  Col. 
iii.  12.  (2.)  Kind  acts  proceeding 
from  inward  compassion,  and  a 
desire  to  relieve  such  as  are  in  want 
and  distress,  1  Tim.  i.  13,  16, 
Psal.  cxlv.  9.  All  God's  paths 
arc  mercy  and  truth,  to  such  a5 
keep  his  covenant :  all  his  dealings 
with  them  are  the  effects  of  mercy 
and  kindness,  and  are  the  acconi- 
plishment  of  his  |)romises  to  them^ 
Psal.  XXV.  10.  To  sho7v,  have,  or 
give  mercy,  is  to  discover  inward  [)ity 
and  com|)assion  by  acts  of  kindness 
to  the  distressed.  Gen.  xxxis.  21. 
Exod.  XX.  6,  Psal.  iv.  2  Tim.  i. 
18.  To  find  or  obtain  mercy,  is  to 
receive  acts  of  kindness,  and  valuable 
blessings,  proceeding  from  pity  and 
compassion,  Heb.  iv.  16.  Matt.  v.  7„ 
To  keep  ?ncrcy,  is  to  be  in  a  constant 
rea<!ine5?  to   do  good  freely  to  the 


lil  E  R 


C    1^1    > 


M  E  R 


iHstreesed  and  miserable,  Dan.  ix.  4. 
To  remember  merci/,  h  fo  pass  by  in- 
juries unrpsentfd,  and  <lo  acts  of  nn- 
defetTvcd  liindness,  Uab.  iii.  2.  To 
locc  mercy,  is  to  love  Jesus,  the  mercy 
promised  to  the  fatliers,  and  love  to 
receive  tlie  free  2;ilts  of  God  through 
liim;  and  to  take  a  j)leasMrein  doing 
undeserved  good  to  fmch  as  are  in 
misery  and  want,  JMic.  vi.  8.  To 
J'ollow  mercy,  is  earnestly  to  seek 
after  a  share  in.  the  blessings  of  the 
new  covenant,  and  study  to  exer- 
cise acts  of  pity  towards  those  who 
ai-e  in  misery,  Prov.  xxi.  21.  One 
is.folloivcd  by  mcrcij,  when  every  day 
he  receives  multitudes  of  new  bless- 
ine:3  proceeding;  from  the  love  of 
■God,  and  suited  to  Jiis  need,  Psal. 
xxiii.  C.  To  forsaJce  onc''s  own  mcrcij. 
is  io  worsliip  idols,  which  are  called 
lying  vanities,  or  to  set  the  afiections 
on  earthly  things,  and  so  neglect  God 
whois  the  fountain  of  all  mercy,  pt>ace, 
and  salvation,  Jon.  ii.  8.  God  will 
have  mercy,  and  not  sacrifice,  and  the 
knowledge  of  God,  rather  than  burnt- 
offering.  Charitable  compassion  and 
kimjlness  towards  others,  flowing 
from  a  spiritual  knowledge  of  God 
as  our  Gotl,  is  more  highly  valued 
by  him  than  any  legal  sacrifice,  Hos. 
vi.  6.  Matt.  ix.  10.  Mercy  rejoicelh 
against  judgment,  as  God  takes  pecu- 
liar delight  in  sho^ving  mercy  and 
kindness  to  men :  and  as  there  is 
more  real  pleasure  for  us  to  be  em- 
j)lo_yed  in  acts  of  kindness,  tha«  in 
acts  of  severity,  so  these  merciful 
men,  who,  from  a  principle  of  true 
affection,  have  shown  pity  and  kind- 
ness to  the  saints,  need  not  servilely 
fear  damnation,  but  may  and  ought 
to  rejoice  in  the  hopes  of  a  future 
judgment,  and  a  gracious  God  will 
take  pleasure  in  their  eternal  re- 
demption. Jam.  ii.  13. — God's  7ner- 
c.y  and  truth  meet  together,  righteous- 
ness and  peace  kiss  each  other.  In 
the  work  of  our  redemption,  mercy 
is  shown  in  fullconsistence  with  every 
promise,  nay,  with  every  threatening 
as  executed  on  Christ;  and  justice 
being  satisfied  by  our  Redeemer, 
accords  with  and  promotes  the  peace 
Yoi,.  IT. 


and  reconciliation  of  sinful  men  with 
God,  Psal.  Ixxxv,  10.  God's  mercy- 
is  multiplied  to  his  people,  when  it  is 
more  fidly  and  clearly  discovered  in 
greater  or  more  numerous  acts  of 
kindness,  Jude  2.  Christ  is  ihc  mer- 
cy promised  to  the  fathers ;  he  is  the 
free  gift  of  God  to  sinful  and  miser- 
able men,  suited  to  all  their  miseries 
and  wants,  Luke  i.  72.  Mic.  vii.  20. 
Eternal  life,  and  the  blessings  of  the 
new  covenant,  are  called  mcrcicsy 
and  sure  mercies  of  David;  they  pro- 
ceed from  the  infinite  compassion  of 
God,  are  purchased  by  the  blood, 
lodged  in  the  hand,  and  communi- 
cated to  undeserving  and  miserable 
men,  by  Jesus  our  antitypical  David, 
and  are  in  him  secured  by  the  love, 
the  [>ower,  the  promise,  and  new 
covenant  relations  of  God,  in  him,  2 
Tim.  i.  18.  Isa.  iv.  3.  With  the 
merciful,  God  ivill  show  himself 
merciful.  To  those  who  are  by  his 
grace  disposed  to  show  undeserved 
kindness  to  their  distressed  brethren 
on  earth,  God  will  signally  manifest 
his  pity,  in  granting  them  undeserved 
help  and  comfort  in  their  distress, 
and  a  proper  deliverance  therefrom, 
Psal.  xviii.  25. 

MERCY-SEAT,  the  covering  of 
the  ark  of  the  covenant.  See  ark. 
The  Hebrew  name  of  this  cover, 
which  we  translate  mercy-seat,  is 
nii3D  Caporet,  (Exod.  xxv.  17,  22.) 
from  1:33  Cefper,  which  signifies,  io 
cover,  to  shut  up.,  to  expiate,  to  pay^ 
This  cover  was  of  gold,  and  as  its 
two  ends  were  fixed,  the  two  cherub- 
im of  the  same  metal,  which,  by  their 
wings  extended  forwards,  seemed  to 
form  a  throne  for  the  majesty  of  God, 
who  in  scripture  is  represented  to  us 
as  sitting  between  the  cherubim ;  and 
the  ark  itself  was,  as  it  were,  his 
footstool.  It  was  from  hence  that 
God  gave  his  oracles  to  Moses,  or 
to  the  high  priest  that  consulted  him, 
Exod.  xxv.  22.  Numb.  vii.  89. 

MERODACH;  or  Berodach 
BALADAN,  hittcr  contriHon  without 
jtulgmcnt,  or  Mardokempad,  Avas 
the  son  of  Baladan  king  of  Babylon. 
About  //.  M.  8292,  he  sent  me/sen- 


M  E  S 


(     162     ) 


M  E  S 


gers  to  congratulate  Hezekiali  ou  his 
miraculous  recovery,  the  deliverance 
of  his  capital  from  tlie  Assyrians, 
and  the  retrogade  motion  of  the  sun  ; 
and  perhaps  to  form  an  alliance 
against  the  now  reduced  Assyrians, 
Isa.  xxxix.  2  King's  xx.  It  seems 
Merodach  was  a  great  king,  and  was 
worshipped  after  his  death  in  Bahy- 
lon  :  when  Cyrus  took  that  city,  Me- 
rodach's  image  was  broken  to  pieces, 
Jer.  i.  3.  Nebuchadnezzar,  it  £;eems, 
expected  his  son  would  be  another 
great  Merodach,  but  he  turned  out 
to  be  Evil-Mcrodach,  the  fool  of 
Merodach. 

MEROM,  high  to  elevations. 
The  waters  of  Meroni  are  generally 
supposed  to  be  the  Samachon,  or  up- 
per lake  of  Jordan  ;  Meroni  in  He- 
brew, and  Samachonin  Arabic, signi- 
fy high.  Near  these  waters,  Joshua 
defeated  the  allied  array  of  Jabin. 
Others  think  these  Canaanites  would 
not  abandon  so  much  of  their  country 
to  the  conqueror,  and  wait  for  him 
at  the  lake  of  Samachon ;  and  will 
have  the  waters  of  Merom  to  have 
been  situated  near  mount  Tabor,  and 
the  civer  Kishon,  at  some  important 
pass,  where  Barak  defeated  the  ar- 
jny  of  Jabin  II.  It  is  certain,  wluit 
we  render  hiirh  places,  is  in  the  He- 
brew Mcrome,  Jiidg.  v.  18. 

MEROZ,  secret,  or  leanness,  a 
city  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  river 
Kishon,  the  inhabitants  of  which  re- 
fused to  assist  Barak  against  the  ar- 
my of  Jabin.  By  the  direction  of  an 
angel,  Deborah  and  Barak  denounced 
•a  grievous  curse  upon  them,  Judg.  v. 
23.  but  what  etfect  it  had,  and  whe- 
ther tills  be  the  Merrus  of  Eusebius 
and  Jerome,  about  12  miles  north 
from  Sedasle,  appears  uncertain. 

MESHA,  a  burden,  a  taking,  or 
salvalion,  a  place  where  the  pos- 
terity of  Joktan  had  their  west  bor- 
der. Calmet  will  have  it  to  be 
mount  Masius  in  Armenia;  but  as  all 
the  oriental  writers  agree,  that  Jok- 
tan's  posterity  i)eopled  Arabia  the 
Ha[»py,  we  cannot  believe  him.  We 
must  therefore  seek  Mesha  in  the 
west  parts  of  Arabia.  But  whether  it 


was  Muza,a  sea-port  town  on  the  Red 
Sea,  or  the  famed  Mecca,  to  which 
multitudes  of  Mahometans  nov/  tra- 
vel in  pilgrimage,  and  Avhich  was 
anciently  called  Mesha,  we  cannot 
determine,  Gen.  x.  30. 

Mesha,  the  king  of  Moab.  Af- 
ter the  death  of  Ahab,  he  revolted 
from  the  yoke  of  the  ten  tribes,  an<l 
denied  his  yearly  tribute  of  100,000 
lambs,  and  as  many  rams,  Avith  the 
wool.  Provoked  at  this,  Joram, 
king  of  Israel,  assisted  by  the  Jews 
and  Edon)ites,  invaded  his  kingdom, 
antl  routed  his  army  before  they 
could  put  themselves  into  battle- 
array.  Mesha  shut  up  himself  in  Ar, 
his  capital;  and  finding  that  he  could 
not  decoy  the  king  of  Edom,  nor 
break  through  his  troops,  whom  he 
reckoned  the  weakest  of  the  besieg- 
ers, he,  filled  with  rage  against  the 
Israelites,  took  his  eldest  son  and  heir 
to  the  crown,  and  oftered  him  for  a 
burnt-sacrifice  on  the  wall,  as  the  last 
and  only  effectual  means  to  procure 
the  favour  and  assistance  of  his  idol- 
god.  The  enemy  seeing  this  token  of 
his  desperation,  went  home  with  their 
booty.  Whether  it  was  this  outra- 
geous king  who  afterward  invaded  the 
land  of  Edom,  and  having  apprehend- 
ed the  king  of  it,  dead  or  alive,  burnt 
his  body  to  lime,  is  not  altogether  cer- 
tain, 2  Kings  ii.  and  iii.  Amos  ii.  1. 
MESHECH,  7vho  is  drawn  by 
force,  shut  vp,  or  surrounded,  the 
6th  son  of  Japheth.  We  suppose 
him  to  have  been  the  father  of  the 
Moscheni,  who  inhabited  the  Mos- 
chic  mountains  on  tlie  north-east  of 
Cappadocia;  and  that  the  Mus- 
covites are  partly  his  descendants. 
Before  the  Chaldean  conquests,  the 
Moscheni  traded  with  the  Tyrians 
in  vessels  of  brass,  and  in  slaves. 
But  whether  they  brouglit  them  by 
land,  or  whether  the  Tyrians  sailed 
up  to  the  Euxine  or  Black  Sea,  and 
got  them  there,  we  know  not,  Ezek. 
xxvii.  13.  The  Mcshcch-Tubal,  and 
their  multitude,  whose  graves  were 
round  about  their  prince,  we  sup- 
pose were  those  Scythians  that  were 
massacred  iu  Media,  about  the  end 


M  E  S 


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M  E  S 


of  Josiah's  reip;n,  or  perli.ips  also  thej 
Cauls  and  Scythians,  cut  off  by  tlie 
kings  of  Lydia,  E/.ok.  xxxii.  20. 
It  is  tliouglit  by  some  that  IMcshtrh's 
posterity  will  assist  (he  Turks  against 
the  Jews  at  the  be-rinniui;  of  the 
millennium,  but  shall  |K'i-ish  in  Iheir 
attein|)t,  Ezek.  xxxviii.  23.  and 
xxxix.   1. 

MESOPOTAMIA,  between  the 
rircrs,  a  famous  province  between 
the  rivers  Tigris  and  Euphrates.  The 
Hebrews  called  it  Padan-aram,  or 
the  Field  of  Aram ;  and  the  north- 
west of  it,  which  was  not  the  Avhole 
of  it,  was  called  Arani-naharaim,  or 
Sijria  of  the  two  rivers.  Taking  this 
country  at  large,  it  was  the  first  re- 
sidence of  mankind,  both  before  and 
alter  the  (lood.  Here  were  Eden, 
Shinar,  Babylon.  Here  Abraham, 
Nahor,  Sarah,  Kebekah,  Leah,  Ra- 
chel, and  all  the  children  of  Jacob, 
save  Benjamin,  were  born,  Acts  vii. 
2.  Gen.  ix.  31.  xxix.  xxx.  Neh.  ix. 
7.  From  this  country  came  Balaam 
to  curse  Israel,  Deut.  xxiii.  4.  Here 
Cushanrishathaim,  who  was  the  tirst 
oppressor  of  the  Hebrews  after  their 
settlement,  reigned,  Judg.  iii.  8. 
Great  numbers  of  the  Syrians  of  Me- 
sopotamia assisted  the  Ammonites 
against  David;  and  it  seems  terri- 
fied his  troops,  if  they  did  not  gain 
some  victory  over  them,  which  oc- 
casioned his  penning  the  00th 
Psalm.  In  after-times,  Mesopota- 
mia was  reduced  by  tlie  Assyrians, 
and  afterwards  by  the  Chaldeans, 
After  these  it  fell  under  the  yoke  of 
the  Persians,  Greeks,  Romans,  Par- 
thians,  Saracens,  Seljukian  Turks, 
Tartars,  Turkmans,  and  Ottoman 
Turks  in  their  turn.  No  place  that 
I  know  of  in  the  universe,  has  been 
more  deluged  with  human  blood. 
According  to  Plolem}',  it  anciently 
contained  20  cities  on  the  east  bank 
of  tlie  Euphrates,  14  on  the  west 
banks  of  the  Tigris,  and  35  in  the 
inland  country.  At  present,  after 
Chaldea  is  added  to  it,  it  contains  no 
places  of  note  that  we  know  of, 
save  Karahmot,  Rakka,  Moussul, 
Orsa,  Nisibis,  Bir,  Gczjr,  Merjdeo, 


Amad,  Carasera,  Felujah,  and  Kor- 
nah. — Great  numbers  of  Jews  re- 
mained in  this  country,  afler  Cyrus 
gave  thorn  liberty  to  return  to  tlieir 
own  land.  Many  of  the  Mesopota- 
mian  Jews  attended  Peter's  sermon 
at  Pentecost,  and  believed  in  Christ. 
Chrir^tianity  has  never  since  been 
wholly  extirpated  from  the  country. 
Acts  ii.  9. 

MESSAGE-  The  message  frcvi 
God  to  Eglon  by  Ehud,  was  a 
sudden  deaUi,  Jndg.  iii.  20.  The 
Jewish  citizens  of  our  Saviour 
sent  a  vussage  afler  him,  that  th<\v 
would  not  have  him  to  reign  over 
them  ;  after  his  ascension,  they  open- 
ly and  contemptuously  rejected  liis 
ojTers  of  grace  and  mercy,  Luke  xix. 
14. 

MESSENGER,  one  sent  on  an 
errand,  to  carrj^  a  message,  or  the 
ike.  Christ  is  calle^l  the  77icssc7iger 
of  the  covenant.  In  his  Father's  name 
he  came  to  publish  and  apply  its 
contents  to  men  by  his  word  and 
Spirit,  Mai.  iii.  1.  Job  xxxiii.  23. 
John  Baptist,  and  other  prophets  and 
preachers,  were  Christ's  7}iesse}igers ; 
they  were  sent  by  God  to  declare 
his  will,  and  publish  the  speedy  ap- 
pearance of  his  Son  in  our  world,  and 
in  his  public  ministry,  or  in  the  hearts 
of  men,  ]\Ial.  iii.  1.  and  ii.  7.  Minis- 
ters are  77icssc7igcrs  of  Uie  cJnirchcs ; 
they  bring  messages  from  God  for 
the  salvation  of  men;  they  act  in  the 
church's  Avork  and  errands ;  and  by 
them  the  churches,  as  it  were,  re- 
turn answer  to,  or  present  their  re- 
quests before  God,  2  Cor.  viii.  23.  An- 
gels, Assyrians,  or  other  instruments 
of  God's  uTath,  who  quickly  execute 
his  judgments,  are  sivifL  messe7igcrs, 
Isa.  xviii.  2.  The  77icssengers  of  the  nei- 
tio7is  who  were  to  be  informed  that  the 
Lord  had  founded  Zion,  were  those 
who  came  I'rom  the  Heathens  aronnd. 
to  iu(iuire  concerning  Hezekiah's 
marvellous  recovery,  the  going  back 
of  the  sun,  and  the  overthrow  of 
Sennacherili's  host,  Isa.,  xiv.  32.  Sa- 
tan, and  the  judgments  of  God,  are 
the  evil  an<l  O'ucl  messengers  sent 
against  men  obstinately  wicked,  oi- 


M  I  tJ 


(     1G4     ; 


BI  i  C 


the  officers  who  carry  them  to  pri- 
son, or  take  away  their  life,  Psal. 
Ixxviii.  t  49.  Prov.  xvii.  11.  Evil 
angels,  outrageous  men,  horrid  temp- 
tation?, sore  afflictions,  strongly  ex- 
cited corruptions,  are  the  messengers 
of  Satan,  2  Cor.  xii.  7.  The  king's 
wrath  is  as  a  inessenger  of  death;  it 
threatens  death  or  ruin  to  the  objects 
of  it,  and  has  sometimes  frightened 
persons  out  of  their  life,  Prov.  xvi. 
14. 

MESS,  a  share  of  meat  at  table, 
Cfen.  xliii.  34. 

MESSIAH.     See  Christ,  Jews. 

METHEG-AMMAH,  the  bridle 
of  bondage,  was  either  Gath,  or  some 
other  city  near  it,  by  Avhich,  as 
a  bridle  of  bondage,  the  Philistines 
were  enabled  to  keep  the  Hebrews 
of  the  country  adjacent  in  slaverj'. 
33avid  took  it  from  the  Philistines, 
2  Sam.  viii.  1. 

MICAH,  poor,  humble,  or  who 
sti'ikcs,  who  is  here,  or  the  maters  here, 
a  native  of  mount  Ephraira,  near  Shi- 
liOH,  the  son  of  a  rich,  but  supersti- 
tious Avidow.  Micah  stole  from  her 
1100  shekels  of  silver,  or  about 
125/.  105.  sterling.  She  pronounced 
the  heaviest  curses  against  the  thief 
who  had  stolen  her  money.  Afraid 
of  her  curse,  or  unwilling  to  keej)  her 
in  anxiety,  Micah  told  her  that  lie  had 
taken  her  money,  or  had  recovered  it. 
Overjoyed  with  the  news  of  her  mo- 
ney, she  blessed  him,  and  bade  him 
keep  it  to  himself:  he,  however,  re- 
stored it.  She  told  him  it  had  been  dedi- 
cated to  the  service  of  God,  to  make 
images  of  it  for  their  family  worship. 
The  images,  one  graven,  and  another 
molten,  were  made,  and  an  ephod 
for  their  idolatrous  priest;  Micah 
placed  them  in  a  chamber,  and  con- 
secrated one  of  his  sons  to  that  office. 
As  Jonathan  the  son  of  Gershom,  the 
son  of  Manasseh  or  Moses,  a  vagrant 
Levite,  passed  that  way,  Micah,  ima- 
gining it  would  be  more  advantageous 
to  have  him  to  be  his  priest,  and 
liiore  effectual  to  procure  the  bless- 
ing of  heaven  upon  the  family, 
hired  him  at  the  low  rate  of  his  vic- 
tuals, a  suit  of  clothes,  and  1 0  she- 


kels, or  22.9.  10?/.  a  year.     Ah,  ka^v- 

I  base  arc  abandoned  ministers  t     Soon 

I  after,  he  gave  Micah  the  slip,  and 

'carrying   his  idols  Avith  him,  went 

[With  GOO  Danites  to  Laish.      Poor 

[Micah,  almost  frantic  wilh  grief  for 

I  the  loss  of  his  idols,  assembled  his 

i  neighbours,  and  overtaking  the  Dan- 

lites,  complained  that  they  had  ren- 

jdered   him   su|)erlatively   Avretched, 

by  carrying  off    his  gods.       They 

Avere  so  far  from  pitying  him,  tliat 

they  threatened  his    life,   unless  he 

made  quickly  off    himself    and  his 

attendants,  Judg.  xvii.  and  xviii. 

Micah,  the  Morasthite,  or  inha- 
bitant of  Morcsheth  near  Gatii,  one 
of  the  lesser  prophets,  Avas  contem- 
porary Avith  Isaiah,  has  a  someAvhat 
similar  style,  and  even  sundry  of  his 
expressions,  Isa.  i.  1.  and  ii.  1 — 4. 
and  xli.  15.  Avith  Mic.  i.  1.  and  iv. 
1 — 4,  13.  He  cont!nue<]  prophe- 
sying about  50  years,  in  the  reigns 
of  Jotham,  Ahaz,  and  Hezekiah, 
and  seems  to  hare  had  a  plentiful 
share  of  contempt  and  affliction,  Mic. 
i.  1.  and  vii.  1 — 10.  In  the  first 
three  chapters  of  his  prophecj',  he 
exclaims  against  the  Avickedness  of 
the  ten  tribes,  but  chiefly  of  the  ru- 
lers, priests,  and  false  prophets,  of 
Judah;  foretells  the  Assyrian  inva- 
sion, and  the  destruction  of  the  city 
and  temple  of  Jerusalem  by  the  Chal- 
deans and  Romaijs.  In  the  4th  and 
5th,  he  foretells  their  deliverance 
from  the  Assyrian  and  Chaldean  cap- 
tivity, and  their  after  flourishing 
estate ;  but  chiefly  the  birth  of  the 
Messiah,  his  spread  of  the  gospel, 
and  spiritual  conquest  of  the  nations 
to  himself,  and  the  spiritual  jieace 
and  prosperity  of  the  NeAV  Testa- 
ment church.  In  the  two  last,  he 
reproves  Israel  and  Judah  for  their 
ingratitude,  their  oppression,  fraud, 
lying,  continued  observance  of  the 
idolatrous  laAvs  of  Omri  and  Ahab  ; 
and  for  their  Avant  of  natural  affec- 
tion, their  treachery  and  mocking  of 
pious  persons:  he  predicts  the  Assy- 
rian ravages  and  ruin ;  remarks  the 
astonishing  mercy  and  faithfulness  of 
God;  and  concludes  Avilh  a  prcdic- 


M  I  C 


(     165     ) 


M  I  C 


tion  of  God's  re-establishment  of  the 
Jews,  as  ill  the  days  of  old.—* 

MICAIAH,  rvlwialikc  the  Lm-d, 
the  son  of  linlah,  an  Ephraimite,  a 
faithful  prophet,  who  uso<l  to  reprove 
Ahab  very  frecl}'-  for  his  wickedness. 
Whether  it  was  he  who  foretoUl  to 
Ahab  his  repeated  victories  over  the 
Syrians,  we  know  not :  but  v;e  sup- 
pose it  was  he  who  in  disguise  met 
Ahal)  as  he  returned  Ironi  Apliek  to 
Samaria.  He  had  just  before,  in  the 
name  of  the  Lord,  desired  his  neigh- 
bour to  smite  him :  his  neighbour 
declined  it;  and  as  the  prophet  de- 
clared, a  lion  soon  after  met  him, 
and  killed  him.  The  prophet  bade 
another  who  came  by  smite  him; 
the  fellow  did  so,  and  wounded  him. 
The  prophet  then  looking  like  a 
wounded  soldier,  covered  himself 
with  ashes,  as  one  come  from  a  hot 
battle.  When  Ahab  came  up,  he, 
in  his  disguise,  called  out  to  him, 
and  stopped  him.  He  parabolical- 
Jy  represented,  that  having  been  at 
the  battle,  one  had  committed  to  him 
a  prisoner,  to  be  kept  under  pain 
of  death,  or  of  paying  a  talent  of 
silver;  and  that  while  he  was  busied 
in  other  matters,  the  prisoner  had 
escaped.  Ahab  told  him  he  must 
stand  to  the  agreement,  and  under- 
go the  penaltj'.  The  prophet  imme- 
diately undisguised  himself,  and 
Ahab  knew  who  he  was.  He  told 
Ahab,  that  since  he  had  suffered  to 
escape  with  life  and  honour  Ben- 
liadad,  a  vile  blasphemer,  whom  God 
had  providentialljMlelivered  into  his 
Jmnds,  his  life,  and  that  of  his  sub- 
jects, should  go  for  that  of  Beniia- 
dad  and  his  i)eop[e,  1  Kings  xx. 
When  Ahab  intended  to  take  Ra- 
nioth-Gilead  from  the  Syrians,  lie, 
not  willingly,  but  to  gratify  .Jeho 
shaphat  his  ally,  sent  for  IMicaiah, 
of  whom  he  said  he  always  prophesi- 
ed evil  concerning  him,  that  he  inigh 
consult  him,  whether  he  should  go 
and  besiege  Ramoth-Gilead  or  not. 
As  Micaiah  was  introduced  into  the 
king's  |)resencc,  some  courtiers  told 
him,  that  the  prophets  of  Baal  had 
Uuaniniously  assured  tlie  king  of  suc- 


cess in  (he  war,  and  begged  he  would 
do  so  too.  lie  told  them  he  would 
say  what  the  Lord  liirected  him  to 
speak.  When  he  was  come  into 
Ahab's  presence,  and  interrogated 
on  the  afiair,  he,  with  an  ironical  air, 
bade  him  go  u|)  to  Ramotb-gilead, 
and  ex[)ect  the  Ivoid  would  deliver  it 
into  his  hand.  Ahab  obser\ing  his 
ridiculous  manner  of  pronunciation, 
adjured  him  by  God  to  lell  him  no- 
thing but  the  truth.  Micaiah  then 
seriously  told  him,  that  in  a  vision 
he  had  seen  the  army  of  Israel  re- 
turning from  the  war  without  a  king 
at  their  head;  and  had  it  represent- 
ed to  him,  that  God  had  permitted 
Satan  as  a  lying  spirit,  to  enter  into 
his  prophets  of  Baal,  that  they  might 
entice  him  to  go  up  and  fall  at  Ra- 
moth-gilead.  Zedekiab,  the  son  of 
Chenaanah,  who  had  made  himself 
horns  of  iron,  and  told  Ahab  that 
with  these  he  should  push  the  Syri- 
ans till  lie  had  consumed  them,  smote 
Micaiah  on  the  cheek,  and  asked 
him  which  way  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord 
had  come  from  him  to  speak  with 
him  ?  Micaiah  replied,  he  Avould 
know  that  ^vhen  for  fear  of  the  Sy- 
rians, he  would  run  into  an  inner 
chamber  to  hide  himself.  Ahab  then 
ordered  Micaiah  to  be  carried  to  the 
prison  of  Samaria,  and  there  main- 
tained on  bread  and  water  till  he 
returned  in  peace.  Micaiah  took  all 
the  assembly  to  witness,  that  if  ever 
Ahab  returned  sale,  himseif  should 
be  held  as  a  false  proi)het.  But  the 
event  fully  justified  his  prediction, 
1  Kings  xxii.  7 — 28."" 

]\I1CHAEL,  who  is  like  Goil,  tlie 
archangel,  at  least  sometimes  sig- 
nifies Jesus  CJuist.  He  is  the  per- 
son who  is  as  God,  and  which  this 
name  signifies :  against  him  and  his 
angels,  his  ministers  and  followers, 
the  devil  and  the  heathen  empire  of 
Rome,  and  their  agents,  fought  in 
the  way  of  reproach,  laws,  persecu- 
tions, kc.  Rev.  xii.  7.  He  is  the 
great  Prince  of  the  Jewish  nation, 
^vho  in  the  millennium,  shall  reco- 
ver them  from  their  present  miseiy, 
and  shall  raise  the  dead,  Dan.  >;ij.  J, 


M  I  C 


(     166     ) 


M  I  D 


2,  3.  But  perhaps  when  Michael  is 
called  one  of  the  chief  princes,  i.  e. 
principal  angels,  or  is  said  to  dispute 
>vith  the  devil  about  the  body  of 
Moses,  and  durst  not,  that  is,  thought 
it  not  becoming  his  dignity  to  bring 
a  railing  accusation  against  the  devil, 
J>ut  rebuked  him  in  the  name  of  the 
Lord,  it  may  signify  a.  created  angel, 
Dan.  X.  13.  Jude  9. 

MIC  HAL,  who  is  perfect  or  com- 
plete, the  daughter  of  Saul.  Her  fa- 
ther, after  his  deceitful  disposal  of 
Merab,  her  eldest  sister,  to  Adriel  the 
Meholathite,  when  she  ought  to  have 
been  given  to  David,  being  informed 
that  Michal  had  a  strong  affection  to 
David,  promised  her  to  him  in  mar- 
riage; but  in  order  to  ruin  him,  re- 
quired a  hundred  foreskins  of  the 
Philistines  as  her  dowrj'.  Two  hun- 
dred were  given,  and  Michal  was  mar- 
ried. Not  long  after,  her  father  de- 
signing to  mfirder  David  in  her  house, 
she  got  notice  of  it,  and  let  him  do"wn 
from  a  window  in  the  night,  and 
begged  him  to  escape  for  his  life. 
To  amuse  her  father's  messengers, 
she  put  an  image  and  teraphim, 
which  it  seems  she  kept  for  her  pri- 
vate idolatries,  and  laid  it  in  the  bed 
with  a  pillow  of  goat's  hair  for  the 
bolster,  and  pretended  it  was  David 
lying  sick.  When,  nest  morning, 
new  messengers  came  to  apprehend 
David,  sick  as  he  was  thought  to  be, 
the  bed  was  searched,  and  the  trick 
discovered-  Blichal  pretended  to 
lier  father,  that  David  threatened  to 
kill  her  if  slie  did  not  thus  assist  him 
to  make  his  escape,  1  Sam.  xix.  1 1 
• — 17.  Not  many  years  after,  when 
David  was  in  a  state  of  exile,  Saul 
married  Michal  to  Phalti  or  Phaltiei 
the  son  of  Laish,  a  Benjamite  of  Gal- 
Jim,  1  Sam.  XXV.  44.  When,  about 
eight  or  nine  j'ears  after,  Abner  pro- 
j)Osed  to  render  David  king  of  all 
Israel,  David  required  the  restoration 
of  Michal  his  wife,  as  one  of  the  pre- 
liminaries of  any  such  treaty.  Ish- 
bosheth,  her  brother,  sent  her,  on 
David's  demand.  Phalti,  her  last, 
but  adulterous,  husband,  to  whom 
perhaps  she  had  children,  attended 


her  weeping  till  they  came  to  iBahu- 
rim,  wliere  Abner  ordered  him  back. 
Her  upbraiding  of  David  with  his 
joyful  attendance  of  the  ark  to  Jeru- 
salem, as  if  too  base  for  one  of  his 
station,  was  divinely  punished  with 
her  per[»tual  barrenness:  but  it 
seems  she  took  and  educated  the  five 
children  which  her  sister  Merab  bore 
to  Adriel :  or  Michal  is  put  for  the 
sister  of  Michal,  2  Sam.  iii.  12—10. 
and  vi.  1 6—23.  and  xxi.  8,  9. 

MICHMASH,  one  who  strikes,  or 
a  poor  man  who  is  taJien  away,  a  city 
of  the  Benjamites,  about  nine  miles 
north-east  of  Jerusalem,  and  perhaps 
four  south-east  of  Bethel.  Here  the 
huge  host  of  Ihe  Philistines  encamped; 
and  near  to  it  was  a  high  rock,  with 
two  sharp  sides,  or  two  sharp  rocks, 
viz.  Seneh  and  Bozez,  the  one  front- 
ing Michmash  on  the  north,  and  the 
other  Gibeah  on  the  south ;  one  <yf 
which  Jonathan  and  his  armour-bear- 
er climbed  up,  and  began  the  rout  of 
the  Philistines'  army ;  here  too  was  a 
strait  passage,  1  Sam.  xiii.  3,  23.  and 
xiv.  1 — 16.  Here  Sennacherib  laid 
up  his  heavy  carriages  and  provision, 
and  perhaps  mustered  his  army,  when 
he  invaded  Judea,  Isa.  x.  28.  Mich- 
mash was  rebuilt  after  the  captivity, 
Neh.  xi.  31.  and  was  a  village  of 
some  note  about  A.  D.  400, 

MID  I  AN,  judgment,  habit,  cover- 
ing,  or  measure,  the  4th  sou  of  Abra- 
ham by  Keturah,  and  father  of  the 
Midianites,  who  inhabited  the  land  of 
Midian,  Gen.  xxv.  2.  In  scripture, 
two  different  places  fire  represented  as 
the  land  of  Midian,  the  one  about  the 
north-east  point  of  the  Red  Sea, 
where  Abulfeda  places  the  city  of 
Midian  or  Madian,  and  where  Jethro 
dwelt.  These  western  or  southern 
Midianites  were  also  called  Cushites, 
because  they  dwelt  in  the  country 
originally  pertaining  to  Cush-  They 
retained  the  true  religion,  when  it 
seems  to  have  been  lost  by  the  east- 
ern or  northern  Midianites,  Exod.  ii. 
Numb.  xii.  1.  The  northern  Midi- 
anites dwelt  on  the  east  of  the  Dead 
Sea,  and  were  neighbours  to  tin; 
Moabites.     The  Midianites  consist- 


M  I  D 


(     167     ) 


M  1  G 


eJ  of  five  principal  tribes,  descended 
Irom   Ephah,  Ephcr,  Hanocli,  Api- 
dah,  IVoui  EKlaah,  each  of  which  seem 
to  have  had  tiieir  owu  kiugs.     Very 
early  the  Midianites  applied  Iheiii- 
selvee  totrallio,  particularly  to  Esrypt, 
in  spices,  bulin,  and  the  like ;  some 
of  them  were  concerned  in  the  buy- 
ing of  Joseph  and  taking  liini  into 
Eg}'pt,  and,  it  seems,  some  ages  after, 
they  had  a  war  with  the  Edomites  un- 
der king  Hadad,  Genesis  xxv.  2,  4- 
and  xxxvii.  28,  36.  and  xxxvi.  35. 
The  Midianites  were  mightily  alarm- 
ed at  the  Hebrews'  passage  through 
the  Red  Sea,  and  the  marvellous  ap- 
pearances on  Sinai,  and  in  the  wil- 
derness, Heb.  iii.  7.     Possibly  the 
greater  part  of  the  southern   Midi- 
anites removed  from  the  Red  Sea  on 
that  occasion,  and  settled  w  ith  their 
brethren  on  the  borders  of  Moab.     1 1 
seems    Sihon    had    conquered   their 
country ;  for  their  five  kings  are  call- 
ed dukes  of  Sihon,  Joshua  xiii.  21. 
Some  of  the  elders  of  Midian  attend- 
ed those  of  Moab,  to  bring  Balaam 
-to  curse  Israel.     By  his  advice,  a 
jnultitude  of  the  Midianitish  women 
,poured  themselves  into  the  Hebrew 
jcamp,  which  was  at  Abel-shittim,  on 
their  north  border,  and  enticed  the 
•Hebrews  to  whoredom  and  idolatry. 
This   brought    a    plague   from    the 
Lord  upon   the  Hebrews,  in  which 
24,000  were  cut  otf.     To  revenge 
this,  the  Lord  directed  Moses  to  send 
12,000  Hebrews  into  the  country  of 
Midian,  and  cut  off  every  body  they 
could  find,  virgins  excepted.     The 
Hebrews   did    so,   and    killed   Evi, 
Rekem,  Zur,  Hur,  and  Reba,  kings 
of  Midian,  together  with  Balaam, 
and  multitudes  more.     They  burnt 
their  cities,   and  carried  off  a  rich 
booty :  32,000  virgins,  675,000  sheep, 
72,000    beeves,    and    61,000    asses, 
wiiich  were  equally  divided  betwixt 
the  12,000  warriors  and  the  rest  of 
tile  Hebrews.     The  50th  part  of  the 
congregation's  half,  and   the  500th 
part  of  the  warriors'  half,  was  assign- 
.ed  to  the  Lord,  Num.  xxii.  and  xxv. 
and  xxxi.  Josh.  xiii.     Some  ages  af- 
ter, the  Midianites,  who  had  escaped 


this  destruction,  were  mightily  iu- 
creased,  and  for  seven  years  griev- 
ously oppressed  the  Hebrews;  but 
were  at  last  miraculously  routed  by 
Gideon,  and  tiicir  kings  (Jreb  aud 
Zeeb,  Zebah  and  Zalmunnuh,  witb 
about  135,000,  fell  by  the  sword, 
Judg.  vi.  and  vii.  and  viii.  Isa.  ix.  4. 
and  X.  26.  Fsal.  Ixxxiii.  9—12.  The 
small  remains  of  the  Midianites  seem 
to  have  incorporated  with  the  Moab- 
ites  and  Arabians.  Some  of  their 
descendants,  or  the  inhabitants  of 
their  country,  did,  in  the  apostolic 
age,  and  shall  in  the  millennium,  em- 
brace the  Christian  faith,  Isa.  Ix.  6, 

MIDST,  (1.)  In  the  inmost  part, 
w  hich  is  equally  distant  from  both 
extremities.  Numb.  xxxv.  5.  Ezek. 
xlviii.  15.  (2.)  Among,  Deut.  xviii. 
15.  Markx.  16.  (3.)  The  thickest 
throng,  Luke  iv.  30.  (4.)  The  most 
convenient  place,  Deut.  xix.  2.  God 
walked  in  the  midst  of  the  Hebrew 
camp;  his  tabernacle  was  settled 
and  carried  about  in  the  midst  of 
them,  Deut.  xxiii.  14.  He  is  in  the 
midst  of  his  church,  and  Jesus  in  the 
midst  of  the  golden  candlesticks :  he 
is  among  them  by  his  ordinances : 
be  is  in  their  heart  by  faith,  and  isJ 
always  near  to,  present  with,  and 
ready  to  help,  the  churches,  and 
their  true  members,  Zeph.  iii.  17. 
Rev.  i.  13.  Christ  is  in  the  midst  of 
the  throne :  he  is  the  middle  Person 
in  the  adorable  Trinity,  he  is  the 
Mediator  between  God  and  men :  he 
is  graciously  accessible  by  all  sinners 
that  come  to  him,  or  are  worshippers 
of  him,  and  is  most  permanently 
established  in  bis  glory  and  exalta- 
tion, Rev.  vii.  17. 

MIGDOL,  a  tower,  or  greatness^, 
or  Magdolum,  a  place  near  the  north- 
west point  of  the  Red  Sea,  and  not  far 
from  Sin.  On  the  east  or  south-east 
of  it,  the  Hebrews  encamped,  before 
they  passed  through  the  sea,  Exod. 
xiv.  2.  Here  Johanan,  the  son  of 
Kareah,  and  his  rebellious  comrades, 
took  up  their  residence,  Jer.  xliv.  1. 
The  ravage  of  Egypt  from  Migdol 
to  Syene,  imported  the  ravage  of  the 
whole  coantry,    by  the  Clwldeans 


M  I  L 


(     160     ) 


M  I  L 


and  Persians  in  their  turn,  Ezek. 
3txix.  10. 

MIGHTILY,  (1.)  Greatly,  De«t. 
vi.  3.  (2.)  With  great  force,  Rev. 
-xviii.  2. 

MIGHTY,  (1.)  Of  great  power 
ami  activity,  Jer.  ix.  23.  (2.)  Very 
great  and  aggravated,  Amos  v.  12. 

MILCOM.  See  Molech. 

MILDEW,  a  dewy  moisture  which 
falls  on  grass,  corn,  and  leaves,  in 
the  form  of  dew,  and  ^vhen  dried  on 
them  by  the  heat  of  the  sun,  hinders 
their  spreading  themselves;  but  they 
shrink,  and  soon  wither.  Shaking 
of  the  leaves,  corn,  or  grass,  just 
after  it  falls,  before  it  be  dried,  may 
do  some  good  ;  but  the  only  efi'ectua! 
cure  is  wind,  and  rain  quickly  after, 
which  at  once  wash  and  shake  it 
off",  Deut.  xxviii.  22.  Amos  iv.  9. 
Hag.  ii.  17. 

MILE.  The  ancient  Hebrews 
had  no  miles,  furlongs,  or  feet,  in 
their  reckoning  of  measure,  but  mea- 
sured by  cubits,  reeds,  and  lines, 
Ezek.  xl.  to  xlviii.  The  Greeks  mea- 
sured by  stadia  or  furlongs;  the 
Romans  measured  by  miles,  each  of 
which  was  equal  to  eight  of  the 
Greek  furlongs,  and  contained  5000 
feet.  The  miles  of  the  modern  na- 
tions are  very  different.  Reckoning 
by  the  Roman  or  Rhinland  foot, 
which  is  very  near  four-tenth  parts  of 
an  inch  less  than  ours,  or  is  to  ours 
as  967  is  to  1000,  the  Russian  mile 
consists  of  3750  feet,  the  Italian  of 
5000,  the  English  of  5454,  the  Scotch 
of  6130,  the  French  mile,  or  league, 
of  15,750;  the  mile  of  Burgundjs  of 
18,000;  the  Lithuanian,  of  18,500  ; 
the  Persian  mile,  or  parasanga,  of 
18,750;  the  Polish  mile,  of  19,850; 
the  Flandrian,  of  20,000;  the  Ger- 
man, of  20,000,  22,500,  or  25,000; 
the  Spanish,  of  21,270;  tlie  Dutch, 
of  24,000  ;  the  Egyptian,  of  25,000 
feet. — We  may  observe,  that  the 
Italian  mile  contains  but  4835  Eng- 
lish feet;  the  English  mile,  5280; 
the  Scottish,  5920.  Travellers  into 
the  east  oiten  count  their  way  by 
hours,  one  of  which  is  about  a  French 
leagMe,  or  rather  less. 


MILETUS,  red,  or  scarkt,  or 
MiLETUM,  a  sea-port  city  of  Caria  in 
Lesser  Asia,  and  capital  city  of  both 
Caria  and  Ionia.  It  said  to  have 
been  built  by  Miletus,  the  son  of  Iht- 
idol  god  A|>ollo.  Here  were  four 
hai-bours,  sufficient  to  hold  all  the^ 
Persian  fleet.  Here  was  a  magnifi- 
cent temple  of  Apollo.  Here  Thales 
and  Anaximenes,  the  famed  philo-, 
so[)hers,  were  born,  and  Timotheus 
the  famous  musician.  The  place  wa^ 
also  famed  for  its  milolc,  or  milatc^ 
a  soft  kind  of  v/ool,  of  which  they 
made  fine  carpets.  The  Milesians 
had  anciently  kings  of  their  own. 
The  Persians  ruined  their  city,  and 
transplanted  the  inhabitants.  They 
returned,  and  rebuilt  it ;  but  were 
quickly  made  slaves  by  the  Persians, 
When  they  fell  under  the  power  of 
the  Greeks  and  the  Romans,  they 
were  kindly  used.  They  ancienth' 
sent  out  colonies  to  Spain  and  other 
places,  some  think  even  to  Ireland. 
It  lay  about  36  miles  south-west  of 
Ephesus;  and  here  Paul  sent  for 
and  gave  solemn  charges  to  the  el- 
ders of  that  church.  Acts  xx.  15 — 38. 
For  about  300  years  after  Christ,  we 
find  no  accounts  of  a  church  at  Mile- 
tus; but  in  the  5th,  6th,  7th,  and  8th 
centuries  of  the  Christian  era,  there 
were  bishops  in  this  place.  Since 
the  Saracens  ravaged  these  parts,  it 
has  gone  to  ruin,  so  that  nothing  is 
now  to  be  seen  but  rubbish,  and  a  few 
cottages  for  shepherds. 

MILK,  is  a  well-known  substance 
in  the  dugs  of  females,  for  the  nou- 
rishment of  their  young,  and  has 
sometimes  been  produced  in  males. 
It  consists  of  three  ditferent  substan- 
ces, whence  butter,  cheese,  and 
whey,  are  formed.  To  the  corrup- 
tion of  milk  in  the  stomachs  of  in- 
fants, are  owing  most  of  their  dis- 
eases. The  milk  of  goats,  asses, 
mares,  and  cows,  is  often  used  as  a 
medicine  in  consumptive  cases :  but 
where  the  juices  of  the  stomach  are 
sharp  and  acid,  milk  is  readily  turn- 
ed into  curd,  and  hurts  the  health. 
A  land  flowing  with  inilk  and  hotiofy 
is  one  abounding  with  these  ami  other 


M  1  L 


(     169     ) 


M  I  N 


deJi^litfuI  provision,  Jo-?li.  v.  6.  To 
milk  are  coin|iare(l,  (1.)  Tlie  soul- 
noui-isiiiii;r,  restoriiia;,  atul  comroil- 
ing  blessiti};  of  reileijiption,  Is;!.  Iv. 
1.  (2.)  The  pure  wonl  of  God,  ts- 
pecially  tiic  more  easy  ami  i)lain 
triitiis  ol'  the  |;ospel,  wherel)y  the 
saints,  even  in  their  sjiiritual  iiif-iu- 
cy  ami  weaknes:?,  are  delighted,  nou- 
rished and  strengthened,   1  Pet.  ii.  1. 

MILL,  MiiJ.si'oNK.     See  Grind. 

MILLET,  in  the  Linniiian  system 
of  i)otany,  is  a  species  of  panicum, 
with  the  vagina}  of  the  leaves  hoary. 
The  generical  characters  oi'  this  plant 
nre  as  follows  :  the  pannic  is  a  genus 
of  the  triandriadigynia class  of  plants, 
the  flower  of  wjiicli  is  composed  of 
two  shar[)-poinled  valves,  and  in- 
closes the  seed,  wliich  is  single  and 
roundish,  Ir.it  somewhat  trailed.  Eze- 
kiel,  iv.  0.  receives  an  order  from 
the  Lord,  to  make  himself  bread  with 
a  mixture  of  wheat,  barley,  beans, 
lentils,  and  millet.  The  Hebrew 
word  used  for  millet  here  is  Jm  Do- 
chvi.  The  Septuagint  render  this 
word  K£y;;ti^ov,  which  signifies  ??H7ZeZ  : 
but  then  they  also  render  the  Hebrew 
word  WDJ  iiisman,  KsyxP^^  or  millet ; 
Isa.  xxviii.  25.  and  in  this  transla- 
tion are  followed  by  the  Vulgate,  and 
several  other  interpreters.  But  the 
truth  is,  the  signification  of  this  last 
vvordrtwrnflM  is  doubtful.  Some  ren- 
der it  spelts  ov filches,  ovvetchcs,  others 
make  an  adjective  of  it,  which  they 
.join  to  the  barley,  as  our  translators 
have  done,  by  rendering  it  the  ap- 
pointed harLy ;  and  M.  Le  Clerc 
translates  it  hordcum  signatinn.  The 
word  Nisman  is  nowhere  else  found 
in  the  Hebrew  Bible  but  in  thisfjlace, 
nor  is  Dochan  to  be  read  any  where 
else  but  in  the  passage  of  Ezekiel 
already  cited. 

iMlLLO,  fulness,  plenitude^  trplc- 
tion,  a  noted  [»erson,  or  a  place  near 
Shechem,  whose  family  or  inhabit- 
ants assisted  the  Shechemites  in  mak- 
ing Abimelech  king,  and  were  ruin- 
ed by  him  at  last,  Judg.  ix.  6,  20. 
(2.)  A  place  in  Jerusalem,  adjacent 
to  the  city  of  David;  but  whether  it 
was  a   citadel    between  the   city  of 

VOT,.   II, 


David  and  Old  Jebus,  or  if  it  was  the 
filling  np  of  the  valley  between  the 
two,  we  know  i»ot,  IJavitl  began  to 
build  about  Millo,  and  gave  the  com- 
mand of  the  place  to  Joab,  2  Sam. 
v.  9.  1  Chron.  xi.  8.  At  great  ex- 
pense, Solomon  carried  on  the  build- 
ings of  Millo;  and  perhajis  here  was 
erected  the  palace  for  PharaohV 
daughter.  This  building  occasioned 
some  disgust  to  Jeroboam  the  son  of 
Nebat,  1  Kings  ix.  15,  24.  and  xi. 
27.  King  Joash  was  murdered  in 
the  house  of  Millo,  in  the  going  down 
to  the  Silla,  or  causey  that  led  to  the 
palace,  2  Kings  xii.  20. 

MILLlOiV,  a  thousand  thousand, 
Gen.  xxiv.  00. 

MINCE,  to  walk  nicely  by  short 
steps,  Isa.  ii.  16. 

MIND,  properly  signifies  the  con- 
ceiving, judging,  and  reasoning, 
power  of  the  soul ;  but  it  is  also  put 
for  (1.)  The  heart,  or  soul  in  general. 
Gen.  xxvi.  35.  (2.)  The  will  and 
atfections:  and  lience  we  read  of 
readiness  :)f  mind,  1  Peter  v.  2. 
Acts  xvii.  11.  (3.)  The  memory, 
which  retains  what  passes  in,  or  is 
adverted  to,  by  our  understanding, 
Psa.  xxxi.  12.  Isa.  xlvi.  8.  (4.)  The 
principle  of  grace  in  the  soul,  which 
rules  the  understanding  and  other 
powers  thereof,  Rom.  vii.  22,  25. 
(5.)  The  thoughts  and  sentiments 
formed  in  the  mind,  Judg.  xix. 
30.  Isa.  xxvi.  3.  God  is  of  one 
mind.f  his  thoughts  and  [jurposes  are 
ever  the  same,  JoNxxiii.  13.  None 
knows  his  mind;  that  is,  his  purposes 
are  unsearchable  to  creatures,  Rom. 
xi.  34.  What  carnal  man  hath  known 
the  mind  of  the  Lord,  his  counsels, 
and  the  mysteries  of  our  redemption, 
that  he  may  instruct  the  spiritual  man  ? 
but  spiritual  men  have  tJie  mind  of 
Christ,  are  experimentally  acquaint- 
ed with  the  mysteries  of  the  gospel, 
1  Cor.  ii.  1 6.  To  have  the  same  mind 
that  was  in  Christ  Jesus,  is  to  have 
similar  views  of  created  enjoyments, 
the  like  humility  and  lowliness  of  dis- 
l)osition,  and  the  same  inclination  to 
suffer  rather  than  sin;  the  like  love 
to  aouls,  and  willingness  of  mind  to 
Y 


M  1  N 


C      170      } 


M  I  N 


obtain  glory  through  suffering,  Phil, 
ii.  5.  A  spiritual  mind,  is  one  that 
is  renewed  by  the  Holy  Ghost  dwell- 
ing in  it,  and  Avhich  chiefly  thinks 
of,  and  delights  in  divine  and  spirit- 
ual things,  Rom.  viii.  6.  A  sound 
mind,  is  a  mind  endued  with  the  sav- 
ing knowledge  of  God  in  Christ,  and 
the  things  which  concern  our  everlast- 
ing peace,  1  Tim.  i.  7.  A  pure  mind, 
is  a  mind  cleansed  by  the  blood  of 
Christ,  and  filled  with  his  Spirit  and 
grace,  2  Pet.  iii.  1.  A.  fervent  mind 
or  readi/  mind,  is  attended  with  strong 
and  lively  affections,  1  Pet.  v.  2.  A 
sober  mind,  is  humble,  and  averse  to 
all  vanity  or  intemperance.  Tit.  ii.  6. 
A  ris:ht  mind,  is  a  mind  capable  of  ex- 
ercising reason  without  any  delirium, 
Mark  v.  1 5.  To  have  the  saj7ic  mind, 
or  to  be  of  one  mind,  is  to  agree  in 
sentiment  and  affection,  1  Pet.  iii.  8. 
Rom.  xii.  16.  1  Cor.  i.  10.  K  feeble 
mind,  is  one  of  small  understanding, 
and  ready  to  despond  at  every  hard- 
ship felt  or  feared,  1  Thess.  v.  14. 
A  carnal,  fleshly,  or  defiled  mind,  is 
one  wherein  sin  reigns,  and  attaches 
it  to  vile  and  earthly  thoughts,  de- 
sires, and  delights,  Rom.  viii.  7.  Col. 
ii.  18.  Tit.  i.  15.  A  corrupt  mind, 
is  one  full  of  errors  and  sinful  inclina- 
tions, 2  Tim.  iii.  8.  A  double  mind, 
is  one  inconstant,  and  even  self-in- 
consistent in  thoughts,  sentiments, 
and  appearances,  James  i.  8.  A 
high  mind,  is  one  proud  and  self- 
conceited,  1  Tim.  vi.  1 7.  A  reprobate 
mind,  is  one  given  up  of  God,  to  en- 
tertain and  delight  in  the  most  ab- 
surd error  and  impiety,  Rom.  i.  28. 
A  wicked  mind,  is  one  full  of  mali- 
cious, or  other  sinful  ends  and  designs, 
Prov.  xxi.27.  To  mind,  is  to  think 
of,  purpose,  care  for,  Rom.  xii.  16. 
Acts  XX.  13.  Phil.  iii.  16. 

MINGLE,  MIX,  God  ^ningled  the 
Jews'  adversaries,  when  he  raised  up 
sundry  at  once,  Isa.  ix.  f  11.  His 
mimrling  the  Egyptians  with  the  Egyp- 
tians, and  mingling  a  perverse  spirit 
among  them,  imports  his  kindling  of 
civil  wars  among  thein  by  Psammiti- 
chus  and  his  eleven  rivals,  and  be- 
tween Amasis  and  Pharaoh-ho[»hra, 


&c.  Isa.  xix.  2, 1 4.  The  Romans  min. 
glcd  themselves  with  the  seed  of  tmn, 
but  did  not  cleave  to  them :  they  dwelt 
in  the  same  countries  with  the  Goths, 
Huns,  and  other  invaders  of  the  em- 
pire, but  they  never  had  any  hearty 
affection  for,  or  unity  of  design  with 
them,  Dan.  ii.  43.  Mingled  people, 
are  such  as  belonged  to  different 
tribes  in  their  original,  Jer.  xxv.  20, 
24.  and  I.  37.  Ezek.  xxx.  5.  The 
mixed  multitude  that  attended  the 
Hebrews  in  their  departure  from 
Egypt,  were  Arabs,  Egyptians,  Lybi- 
ans,  &c.  They  first  temjjted  the  He- 
brews to  despise  the  manna.  Numb, 
xi.  4.  They  generally  either  died  in 
the  wilderness,  returned  to  Egypt, 
or  settled  in  Arabia.  The  mixed 
multitude  which  Nehemiah  se[)arated 
from  the  Jews,  were  the  Philistines, 
Ammonites,  Moabites,  and  others 
who    had    come    and    intermarried 

among  them,  Neh.  xiii.  3. God's 

Avord  is  mixed  with  faith,  when  by 
faith  it  is  received  into  the  heart, 
Heb.  iv.  2.  God's  cup  of  wrath  is 
full  of  mixture ;  like  strong  wine,  his 
wrath  is  most  powerful  and  pene- 
trating, and  comprehends  judgments 
unnumbered,  Psal.  Ixxv.  8.  It  is 
mithout  mixture,  when  no  mercy  or 
comfort  is  mingled  with  it.  Rev. 
xiv.  10. 

To  MINISTER,  (l.^)  To  serve, 
Exod.  xxviii.  1,  4,  41,  43.  (2.)  To 
execute  an  office,  Deut.  xviii.  5.  (3.) 
To  give  charitable  supply,  Matt. 
xxv.  41.  (4.)  To  effect,  produce, 
Eph.  iv.  2&, 

Minister,  one  who  attends  upon 
and  serves  another,  Exod.  xxiv.  13. 
Jesus  Christ  was  the  Minister  of  tlie 
circumcision,  as  he  exercised  his 
public  ministry  almost  solely  among 
the  Jews,  Rom.  xv.  8.  He  is  called 
the  Minister  of  the  sanctuary,  and  true 
tabernacle;  he  exercised  his  office  in 
his  holy  human  nature :  and  in  hea- 
ven he  still  executes  it,  interceding 
for  us,  and  pouring  down  blessings 
on  us,  Heb.  viii.  2.  Angels  are  God's 
ministers ;  they  attend  his  throne,  are 
always  ready  to  execuJe  his  com- 
mands,   and    to    help  and    comfort 


M  I  N 


(     ni     ) 


M  I  R 


his  people,  Psal.  civ.  4.  and  they 
are  called  miniatcrins;  spirits  to  the 
heirs  of  salvution,  as  they  instruct, 
direct,  gnard,  provide  lor,  comfort,  or 
deliver  them,  as  God  appoints,  Heb. 
i.  14.  Aposlles-,  evangelists,  pastors, 
or  teachers,  are  ministers:  they  attend 
the  service  of  God  and  his  church, 
and  did,  or  do,  faithfully  and  wisely 
dispense  Christ's  word,  sacraments, 
and  censures,  to  his  people,  1  Cor. 
iv.  1.  Magistrates  are  God's  minis- 
ters; their  otfice  is  to  serve  him  and 
their  country,  in  promoting  true  re- 
ligion, in  punishing  evil-doers,  and  in 
protecting  and  encouraging  such  as 
do  well,  Kom.  iii.  4,  6.  A  minister 
of  sin,  is  one  who  encourages  by  doc- 
trine or  example,  or  assists  others 
to  commit  sin.  Gal.  ii.  17. 

Ministry,  (1.)  The  office  of  a  mi- 
nister in  the  church.  Acts  i.  1 7.  (2.) 
The  discharge  of  such  an  office,  Hos. 
xii.  10.  (3.)  The  service  belonging 
to  deacons,  Rom.  xii.  7.  The7Hwm- 
trr/  of  reconciliation,  is  either  the  gos- 
pel itself,  which  declares,  offers,  and 
effectuates  peace  between  God  and 
men,  or  the  office  of  pi-eaching  it, 
2  Cor.  v.  8. 

Ministration,  (1.)  Service  in  the 
work  of  any  minister,  Luke  i.  23.  (2.) 
Distribution  of  alms,  Acts  vi.  1.  2 
Cor.  ix.  13.  The  law  of  Moses  was 
the  ministration  of  death  and  condem- 
nation ;  it  convinced  men  of  their  be- 
ing guilt}^  of  death  spiritual,  and  con- 
demned them  to  death  eternal ;  and, 
for  many  of  the  breaches  of  it,  did 
God  require  men  to  be  cut  oft'  by  a 
temporal  and  violent  death.  The  gos- 
pel is  the  ministration  of  the  Spirit 
that  p:ivcth  life:  it  proceeds  from  the 
Holy  Ghost,  is  confirmed  and  apj)lied 
by  him,  and  by  means  of  if  he  con- 
vej's  life,  and  all  spiritual  benefits,  to 
(he  souls  of  men,  2  Cor.  iii.  7,  8. 

M I N  ST  REL,  a  musician;  one  who 
play?  upon  instruments.  Perhaps  the 
minstrel  which  Elisha  called  for,  to 
allay  his  ruffled  spirit  with  a  tune, 
misht  be  one  of  the  singers  of  the 
temple,  who  played  to  him  one  ol 
David's  Psalms,  2  Kings  iii.  13.t— 
From  minstrel*  playing  at  the  death 


of  .lairus's  daughters,  it  seems  that  the 
JeAvs  had  introduced  the  heathenish 
custom  of  diverting  themselvea  on  the 
occasion  of  mortality;  and  which  still 
appears,  in  a  few  places,  in  our  fool- 
ish lightwakes  and  revelling  dirges, 
invented  no  doubt  by  Satan,  to  pre- 
vent all  serious  thoughts  of,  or  con- 
cern about  death,  that  might  then  be 
excited,  Matt.  ix.  23. 

INIINNl,  disposid,  reckoned,  pre- 
pared, an  ancient  kingdom,  Avhose 
king  and  troops  assisted  the  Medes 
and  Persians  to  destroy  Babylon. 
Probably  it  was  the  same  with  Mi- 
nias,  Jer.  Ii.  27. 

MINN  IT  H,  counted,  prepared,  a 
city  about  four  miles  from  Heshbon, 
on  the  road  to  Rabbah.  In  the  days 
of  Jephthah,  Minnith  pertained  to 
the  Ammonites,  and  to  this  place 
Jephthah  pursued  them,  Judg.  xi.  33. 
It  was  famed  for  its  fine  wheat,  Ezek. 
xxvii.  1 7. 

MINT,  a  well-known  herb.  Ita 
flower  is  a  single  leaf,  and  its  seeds 
are  at  the  bottom  of  the  cup.  It  ge- 
nerally yields  three  crops  a  year : 
and  is  very  useful  for  the  cure  of  the 
head  and  stomach.  Its  water,  its 
oil,  and  decoction,  are  well  known. 
Tournefourt  mentions  23  kinds  ot" 
mint.  If  mint  grow  in  a  glass,  and  a 
glass  of  salt  water  be  set  near  it,  it 
will  contract  a  saltishness ;  or  if  a 
glass  full  of  ink  be  set  near  it,  it  will 
become  blackish,  and  taste  of  copper- 
as ;  or  if  a  little  of  the  decoction  of 
garlic  seed  be  put  into  the  water  in 
which  mint  gvows,  it  will  quickly 
wither,  and  have  the  taste  of  garlic, 
Matt,  xxiii.  23. 

MIRACLE,  an  effect  above  hu- 
man or  natural  power.  To  pretend 
that  there  can  be  no  miracles,  as  the 
laws  of  nature  are  fixed  by  the  di- 
vine will,  and  so  very  good,  is  wick- 
edly and  blasphemously  to  chain 
dun  11  the  Almighty  as  a  slave  to  the 
order  of  second  causes.  To  pretend 
that  no  miracles  ought  to  be  credited, 
iiecause  they  are  contrary  to  tlie  com- 
mon observation  of  mankind,  is  stu- 
pid in  a  superlative  degree.  If  mira- 
cles were  not  contrary  to  the  com- 


I\I  I  R 


(     172     ) 


M  1  K 


mon  observation  of  mankinil,  they 
could  be  no  miracles  at  all,  nor  liave 
any  effect  as  sucli.  The  negative 
voice  of  millions  unnumbered  as  to 
an  event  which  thej^  are  allowed  to 
be  absent  from  the  jilace  of  at  the 
tinieoii/s  haiipening,  is  of  no  force 
at  ail.  Miracles  are  never  a  whit 
more  real  discoveries  of  the  power 
of  God,  than  the  common  preserva- 
tion and  government  of  things  :  but 
are  an  exertion  of  his  power  in  an 
uncommon  manner,  to  alarm  the 
world,  and  answer  some  imi)orlant 
end.  All  things  that  are  done  in  the 
world,  are  done  either  immediately 
by  God  himself,  or  l)y  created  in- 
telligent beings;  matter  not  being 
at  all  ca[)able  of  any  laws  or  powers 
whatsoever  :  so  that  all  those  things 
which  we  say  are  the  etfects  of  the 
natural  power  of  matter,  and  laws  of 
motion,  are  properly  the  effects  of 
God  acting  upon  matter  continually, 
and  every  moment  either  immedi- 
ately by  himself,  or  mediately  by 
some  created  intelligent  being.  As 
we  are  not  capable  to  understand 
how  far  the  power  of  second  causes 
may  go,  or  the  power  of  evil  angels 
may  extend,  God  has  not  alloAved  us 
to  rest  the  proof  of  revelation  upon! 
miracles  alone,  but  to  examine  also 
the  doctrine  confirmed  thereby,  whe-j 
ther  it  be  worlh}-^  of  God.  Nor  are; 
the  miracles  whereby  he  has  con- 
firmed the  mission  of  the  princi|)al 
publishers  of  his  revelation,  a  few, 
or  any  wa}'^  doubtful,  but  multitudes,! 
all  of  the  uncontrolled  kind,  neither} 
wrought  to  confirm  any  thing  trilling | 
or  base,  nor  contradicted  by  a  s!i|te-j 
rior  power;  and  most  of  them  in  flie' 
most  open  manner,  before  friends  and  | 
foes.  Many  of  them  were  oHen  re-| 
|)eated  :  they  concurred  to  establish  I 
a  system  of  religion  honourable  to| 
God,  and  unspeakably  useful  to  nieu,I 
calculated  to  render  them  happy  in  i 
this  and  in  a  future  state.  Nor  didj 
they  who  wrought  them  proudly  I 
boast  of  these  wondrous  exploils.  j 
The  miracles  pretended  to  have  been  I 
wrought  by  Apollonius  and  Ves|!a- ! 
sian,  w^ere  neither  evidently  superior' 


to  the  power  of  second  causes, 
nor  have  we  any  proper  evidence  oi' 
the  facts,  but  the  mere  report  of  zeal 
ous  partisans,  or  llatlerers.  The 
miracles  pretended  by  the  Papists, 
either  relate  to  trifles  unworthy  of 
the  divine  interposal,  or  they  have 
been  wrought  before  persons  drown- 
ed in  gross  ignorance,  and  incapable 
to  try  them,  or  before  persons  re- 
solved at  any  rate  to  believe  them. 
Nothing  of  the  delusive  kind  ever 
exceeded  the  exploits  of  the  Egyp- 
tian magicians  :  but  the  miracles  of 
Moses  controlled  them  :  his  rod, 
when  turned  into  a  serpent,  swallow- 
ed uj)  their  rods,  which  were  trans- 
formed in  like  manner.  He  produced 
many  miraculous  plagues,  which 
they  could  not.  Our  Saviour's  mi- 
racles were  transcendent  in  their  na- 
ture, benevolent  in  their  tendency, 
divine  in  their  manner,  by  a  touch 
or  a  word;  full  in  their  evidence, 
before  thousands  of  friends  and  foes, 
and  correspondent  to  the  ancient 
prophecies  concerning  the  Messiah. 
The}^  were  directed  lo  confirm  the 
most  exalted  and  benevolent  system 
of  doctrines  and  laAvs,  and  the  histo- 
ry thereof  was  plain  and  simple,  and 
exposed  lo  the  trial  of  his  Avorst  ene- 
mies; so  that  nothing  but  want  of 
capacity  to  examine  and  perceive 
them,  or  hearty  haired  of  him  and 
his  way,  can  hinder  us  from  believ- 
ing Ihem,  and  the  gospel  confirmed 
by  them.  When  the  form  of  true 
religion  is  once  establislied  in  the 
world,  there  is  no  need  of  the  conti- 
nuance of  miracles  lor  its  confirma- 
tion ;  as  men  have  been  already  suf- 
ficiently alarmetl  to  consider  it,  and 
the  mission  of  its  publishers  suffi- 
ciently attested  ;  and  the  jirevalence 
of  the  true  religion,  in  opjwsition  (o 
flie  inclinations  and  endeavours  of 
men,  with  tlie  fulfilment  of  prophe-  .^^^^ 
cies,  fiucceedetl  in  their  room.  The  ■■ 
miracles  of  Moses  were  similar  to  his  **■ 
fiery  law,  mostly  ruinous  and  destruc- 
tive; the  miracles  of  .lesus,  like  his 
gospel,  were  almost  wholly  of  the  be- 
nevolent kind. 

MIUE.  (1.)    Mud.    dirt.    1  Sam. 


M  I  S 


(     173     ) 


M  I  S 


xxii.  43.  (2.)  A  fenny  moist  place, 
Job  viii.  11.  Wickrtl  persons  are 
likened  (o  marxhc.s  and  vtii-i/  places  ; 
how  sour  and  corrupted  their  nature! 
how  entanj^ling;  their  |)raclicel  and 
how,  notwithstanding  the  lair  pre- 
tences they  may  have,  thej'  sink  to- 
wards hellV  Ezek.  sivii.  11.  Wick- 
ed courFes  are  likened  to  mire  and 
dirl ;  how  base  and  [lolluting !  how  en- 
tanocling  and  sinking;  and  how  often, 
after  an  escape  therefront,  do  men 
return  thereto!  2  Pet.  li.  22.  Sore 
afflictions  are  likened  to  mire,  and 
miry  day;  how  hase,  contemptible, 
ami  disagreeable,  in  the  view  of  a 
carnal  world,  they  render  men!  and 
how  hard  it  is  to  get  out  of  them,  or 
to  avoid  sinking  deeper  and  deeper  in 
them!  .lob  XXX.  19.  Psal.  Ixix.  2, 14. 

MIRIAM,  bitterness  of  the  sea, 
myrrh,  or  mistress  of  the  sea,  the  sis- 
ter of  Moses,  who,  at  the  desire  of 
Pharaoh's  daughter,  called  his  own 
mother  to  nurse  him.  It  is  said  she 
was  married  to  Hur.  She  directed 
the  Hebrew  women  in  their  songs  of 
praise,  after  their  safe  passage  through 
the  Red  Sea.  For  her  railing  at  Bloses 
she  was  smitten  with  a  leprosjs  but 
cured  by  bis  prayers.  She  died,  and 
was  buried  at  Kadesh,  A.  M.  2552, 
Exori.  ii.  and  xv.  21,22.  Numb.  xii. 
and  XX.  1. 

MIRTH.     See  Joy. 

MISCHIEF,  hurt,  injury.  To 
conceive,  devise,  imagine,  or  have 
mischief  in  one's  heart,  and  to  prac- 
tise it,  is  to  contrive,  resolve  on,  and 
put  in  execution  a  plan  for  hurting 
others,  Job  XV.  35.  Psal.xxxvi.  4.  and 
xxviii.  3.  1  Sam.  xxiii.  9.  To  frame 
mischief  by  alaw,  is  to  enact  laws  tend- 
ing to  men's  hurt  and  ruin,  Psal.  xciv. 
20.  To  imagine  ?«i5c/ii>/"against  God, 
is  to  contrive  methods  of  dishonour- 
ing him,  Hos.  vii.  15.  Wicked  men 
have  mischief  under  their  tongue,  in 
their  heart,  and  are  in  readiness  to  ut- 
ter words  tending  to  their  own  or 
others  hurt,  Psal.  x.  7.  They  slcei) 
not  excejit  they  have  done  mischief 
and  caused  some  to  fall,-  they  daily 
injure  some  person,  and  are  never 
mote  delighted  than  when  so  employ- 


ed, Prov.  iv.  IG.  and  vi.  18.  and  x- 
23.  and  xxiv.  2A\\c\r  mischiffrdurns 
on  their  head,  and  the  inisch'cf  of 
their  lips  consumes  them,  when 
their  purposes,  endeavours,  and 
8|)eeches,  designed  for  the  hurt  of 
others,  turn  to  their  own  ruin,  a?  hap- 
pened in  the  case  of  Hamau,  Psal. 
vii.  It),  and  xli.  9.  Mischievous  is 
what  is  calculated  and  intended  to 
harm  or  ruin  others,  Psal.  xxi.  11. 
Prov.  xxiv.  8. 

MISERY,  ivretcheduess,  unhap- 
piness;  and  sometimes  the  cause  of 
it  is  so  called,  Judg.  x.  10.  Job's 
Iriends  were  imsn^ahle  comforters, 
who,  instead  of  comforting  and  en- 
couraging him,  greatly  added  to  his 
distrcj-s  by  their  uncharitable  speech- 
es, Job  xvi.  2.  If  the  <lead  should 
not  be  raised,  gospel-ministers  and 
saints  would  be  of  all  men  the  most 
miserable;  as  through  their  endea- 
vours to  follow  and  serve  Christ, 
they  are  deprived  of  many  pleasures 
of  this  life,  and  exposed  to  the  hatred 
and  persecution  of  men,  1  Cor.  xv.  19. 

MISREPHOTH-MAIM,  burn- 
ings hot  waters,  or  salt  furnaces  for 
salt  pits,  was  either  hot  batlis,  or  a 
glass-work,  near  Zidon,  or  rather  hot 
baths  in  the  north  of  Gilead.  'J^o  this- 
place  Joshua's  troo|)s  [)ursued  that 
part  of  Jabin's  army  that  fled  to  the 
westward,  Josh.  xi.  8. 

MISS,  (1.)  To  fail  of  hitting  an 
intended  mark,  Judg.  xx.  16.  (2.) 
To  be  wanting,  1  Sam.  xxv.  15.  (3.) 
To  take  notice  of  one's  absence,  1 
Sam.  XX.   18. 

MIST,  (1.)  A  small  thin  rain  not 
perceived  in  single  dro[)s,  that  waters 
and  refreshes  the  earth;  it  chiefly  ho- 
vers over  hills  and  moist  places,  Gen. 
ii.  6.  (2.)  A  coMiparative  blindness, 
Act;  xiii.  11.  Eternal  misery  is  the 
mist  of  darkness  ;  how  perplexing  and 
uncomfortable  !  and  how  impossible 
to  get  out  of  it!  2  Pet.  ii.  17. 

iMI STRESS.  Nineveh  was  a  mis- 
tress of  mitchcraft,  that  sold  nations 
tin-ough  her  whoredoms  an<l  witch- 
crafts. The  Assyrians  were  tame<I 
for  enchantments,  and  other  diabolic 
arts ;    and  by  their  flattery,    carnal 


M  1  Z 


(     174     ) 


M  N  A 


policy,  and  charms  of  wealth  and 
luxury,  decoyed  nations  into  slavery 
and  idolatry',  Nah.  iii.  4. 

MISUSE,  to  contemn,  persecute, 
murder,  2  Chron.  iii.  16. 

MITE.  See  Farthing.  But  some 
make  the  mite  much  less  than  we 
have  there  done,  and  1 4  of  them  are 
reckoned  at  little  more  than  a  far- 
thing and  one-fourth  of  a  farthing  of 
English  money,  Mark  xii.  16. 

MITRE.     See  Bonnet. 

MITYLENE,  purity,  cleansins: 
of  the  wine-press,  the  capital  city  of 


ing  the  wall  of  Jerusalem,  under  the 
direction  of  Nehemiah,Neh.  iii.  7, 15, 
19.  (2.)  A  city  in  the  mountains  of 
Gilead,  and  near  mount  Hermon.  This 
place  Avas  so  called,  because  here,  la- 
cob  having  made  a  covenant  with  La- 
ban,  wished  the  Lord  might  watch  be- 
tween them,  that  the  one  might  never 
pass  it  to  hurt  the  other.  Gen.  xxxi. 
49.  Thus  far  it  seems  Joshua's  troops 
pursued  such  of  Jabin's  army  as  fled 
to  the  eastward.  Josh.  ix.  3,  8.  Here 
was  the  city  in  which  Jephthah  dwelt, 
and  where    he    mustered   his   army 


the  island  of  Lesbos,  in  the  east  of  the  i  against  the  Ammonites,  Judg.  xi.  3, 
Mediterranean  Sea,  and  about  seven  111,  29,  34.  Whether  this  be  the  Miz- 
or  eight  miles  from  the  continent  of  i  peh  of  Moab,  where  David  for  a  while 
Lesser  Asia.  It  was  handsome  in  its '  sojourned,  I  cannot  certainly  say ;  but 
form  and  buildings,  but  unwholesome;  I  rather  think  Mizpeh  of  Rloab  was 
as  to  the  air,  when  the  south  or  south-'  farther  south,  as  I  know  not  how  the 


west  winds  blew.  It  was  famous  for 
the  birth  of  Pittacus  the  wise  Grecian, 
Theophanes  the  historian,  Alc;eus 
the  poet,  and  Diophanes  the  rhetori- 
cian. Paul  touched  here,  as  he  sailed 
from  Corinth  to  Jerusalem,  Acts  xx. 
14.  but  we  find  no  appearance  of  a 
Christian  church,  except  in  the  5th, 
6th,  7th,  and  8th  centuries.  It  is  now 
a  place  of  little  or  no  consequence. 

MIX.     See  Mingle. 

MIZPAH,  or  Mizpeh,  a  watch- 
tower,  speculation,  judgment,  cover- 
ing, (1.)  A  city  of  Judah,  about  18 
miles  west  of  Jerusalem,  in  the  large 
plain.  Josh,  xv,  38.  but  it  seems  to 
have  been  given  to  the  Benjamites, 
Josh,  xviii.  26.  or  perhaps  that  of  Ben- 
jamin was  a  different  place.  Here  the 
Hebrews  held  their  meeting  about  the 
affair  of  the  Levite's  concubine,  who 


Moabites  could  have  come  by  the  Miz- 
peh of  Gilead ;  though  otherwise  this 
situation  would  suit  very  well  with  its 
being  in  the  land  of  the  Hermonites, 
and  near  the  hill  Mizar,  which  stood 
near  Hermon,  if  it  was  not  a  part  of 
it,  1  Sam.  xxii.  3.  Psal.  xlii.  6. 

MIZRAIM,  trihtdations,  who  is 
straitened,  or  blocked  up,  or  BIezer, 
the  son  of  Ham,  and  father  ofLudim, 
Anamim,Lehabim,  Naphtuhim,Path- 
rusim,  and  Casluliim,  from  which  last 
sprung  the  Philistines,  and  Caphto- 
rim.  These  descendants  of  his,  and  the 
tribes  called  from  their  names,  had  no 
doubt  their  original  residence  in 
Egypt;  but  some  of  them  moved  to- 
wards the  west;  and  as  Casluhira  seems 
to  have  dwelt  in  the  east  of  Egypt,  his 
posterity  partly  settled  in  the  south- 
west of  Canaan.     Sonre  learned  men 


was  basely  murdered  by  the  men  ofi  have  imagined  that  these  names  end- 


Gibeah,  Judg.  xx.  1.  Here  Samuel 
dwelt,  and  the  Hebrews,  under  his  di- 
rection, observed  a  solemn  fast,  to  ob- 
tain a  deliverance  from  thePhilistines, 
1  Sam.  vii.  5,  6.  Here  Saul  was 
anointed  to  be  king,  1  Sam.  x.  1 7.  Asa 
built  a  great  part  of  it,  with  the  stones 
he  transported  from  Ramah,  1  Kings 
XV.  22.  Here  Gedaliah  dwelt,  and  for 
a  short  time  ruled  the  remnant  of  the 
Jews,  Jer.  xl.  41 .    Ezer  and  Shallum, 


ing  in  im,  a  plural  termination  in  the 
Hebrew,  must  signify  tribes,  not  par- 
ticular persons  ;  but  we  know  not  of 
sufficient  reasons  to  support  this  in- 
ference. Gen.  X.  6,  13,  14.  The 
Ara!)s  slill  call  Egypt  Mesr  ;  and  they 
called  Memi)his,  and  now  call  Grand 
Cairo,  Mesr,  from  Misraim. 

MNASON,  a  diligent  seeker,  be- 
trothing, reincmhering,  of  whom 
mention  is  made.  Acts  xxi.  16.  an 


nilcrs,  and  some  other  inhabitants  of  i  ancient  disciple,    a   Jew    by  birth, 
tliis  place,  were  very  active  in  repair- 1  and  converted  by  Jesus  Christ  him- 


M  O  A 


(     1-5    ) 


M  0  A 


self,  and  put  into  the  rank  of  the  se- 
venty disciples.  Paul  lodtjed  in  his 
house  a:  Jerusalem,  A.  D.  f)S. 

MO.AB,  of  a  father,   the  son   ol 
Lot  by  lis  eldest  daughter,  was  born 
about    tie   same   time  as    Isaac,   in 
A.  M.  2108.       He  and  his  posterity 
dwelt  ii  the  land  called  by  his  name, 
eastwart   of    the    Dead    Sea,     and 
about  thi?  river  Arnon,  with  the  Am- 
monites on  the  north-east,   and  the 
Midianit?s   on    the     south-west    of 
them.      They  expelled  the  Emims, 
and  seize!  on  their  country.     They 
had  not  leen  long  a  nation,   when 
they    bc«ame   idolaters,    and    wor- 
shipped  Chemosh    and     Baal-peor, 
Numb.   ^x;i.  29.  and  xxv.  1,  3.     Si- 
hon,  kins  of  the  Amorites,  took  from 
them  all  heir  territory  northward  of 
the  river  Arnon.       Not  long  after, 
Balak  tht  son  of  Zippor  was  king  of 
Moab.     fe,  but  in  vain,  hired  Ba- 
laam to  cirse  the  Hebrews,  who  en- 
camped 01  his  borders,  Numb.  xxi. 
— xxiv.    '^o  revenge  this,  no  Moab- 
ite    or    Anmonite   was   allowed  to 
enter  the  Hebrew  congregation   of 
the  Lord  t>  their    10th  generation, 
Deut.    xxi.    3—6.     About   A.   M. 
2661,    the  loabites  under  Eglon  re- 
duced the  Febrews  under  their  yoke, 
and  mightil  oppressed  them  for  18 
years;    but  Ehud  killed  their  king, 
and  his  troos  killed  10,000  of  the 
most  valiantVIoabites,  and  recovered 
to  the  Hebrcvs  their  liberty,   Judg. 
iii. — Some  tine  after,  Elimelech  and 
Naomi,  on  acount  of  a  famine,  left 
Canaan,  andiojourned  in  the  land  of 
Moab :  lis  sens  Mahlon  and  Chilion 
married  two  Vloabitish  women,  some 
say  of  Uie  "oyal   family,     Ruth    i. 
Saul  suc2essully  waged  war  with  the 
Moabites    1  Sam.  xiv.  47.     When 
David  vas  )ersecuted  by  Saul,  he 
fled  to   he  and  of  Moab,   whence 
Ruth     lis    jreat-srrandmother     had 
come,  aid  cimmilted  his  parents  to 
the  protetioi  of  the  king  of  Muab,  1 
Sam.  xxi.  3,4.     Provoked  with  the 
Moabites  po:sibly  for  the  murder  of 
his   parerts,  David,  about  12  years 
after,  terrbly  lavaged  their  country, 
and  reducU  thera  to  the  basest  ser- 


vitude; such  of  them,  at  least  of  tlie 
soldiery,  as  he  took  prisoners,  he 
measured  them  with  lines  to  mark 
them  for  death  or  life,  killing  the 
half,  if  not  two-thirds  of  them, 
2  Sam.  viii.  1,  2.   Psal.  Ix.  8. 

For  about  150  years,  they  continu- 
ed subject  to  Israel,  ami  Saraph  a  Jew 
was  one  of  their  governors,  and  one 
Jlhmah  a  Moabite  was  one  of  David's 
mighties,  1  Chron.  iv.  22.  and  xi. 
46.  Solomon  married  some  Moab- 
itish  women,  and  established  the 
worship  of  Chemosh  their  idol  at 
Jerusalem,  1  Kings  xi.  1,  7,  33. 
After  the  division  of  the  Hebrew 
kingdom,  the  Moabites  fell  to  the 
share  of  the  ten  tribes,  as  their 
territories  were  contiguous  to  the 
Reubenites;  but  after  the  death  of 
Ahab,  Mesha  their  king,  a  noted 
sheep-master,  refused  to  pay  his 
tribute.  This  occasioned  a  terrible 
defeat  of  the  Moabites  by  Joram, 
king  of  Israel,  and  his  allies,  and 
a  furious  ravage  of  their  country, 
2  Kings  iii.  Not  long  after,  or 
perhaps  before,  they  entered  into  a 
league  with  the  Edomites,  Amalek- 
ites,  Ishmaelites,  Philistines,  Am- 
monites, Hagarenes,  Ashurites,  Ge- 
balites,  and  Tyrians,  to  destroy  the 
whole  race  of  Israel ;  but  their  army 
that  came  against  Jehoshaphat,  was 
miraculously  destroyed,  2  Chron.  xx. 
Psal.  Ixxxiii. 

Some  time  after,  the  Moabites  seem 
to  have  invaded  the  land  of  Edom, 
and  burnt  the  bones  of  the  king  of  it 
into  lime,  Amos  ii.  1.  About  the 
time  of  Elisha's  death,  straggling 
bands  of  the  IMoabites  ravaged  the 
country  of  the  ten  tribes,  2  Kings 
xiii.  20.  During  the  decline  of  the 
kingdom  of  the  ten  tribes,  or  after 
their  begun  captivity  by  Tiglath- 
[)ileser,  the  Moabites  seized  on  a 
great  part  of  what  pertained  to  the 
Reubenites,  if  not  more  of  the  land 
of  Gilead.  The  Assyrians,  under 
Shalmaneser,  ravaged  their  country, 
and  rendered  it  almost  desolate,  Isa. 
XV.  and  xvi.  and  xxv.  10.  Amos  ii. 
1 , 2.  They  however  recovered  from 
this  shock,  and  again  became  a  floii- 


M  O  C 


(      176 


M  O  L 


rishing  nation.     Their  principal  ci- 
ties   were    Nebo,    Kirjatliaim,    Kir, 
Misgab,  Heshbon,   Madmen,   Uoro- 
naini,  Ar,  Dibon,  Aroer,  Diblath,  or 
Beth-diblathaim,    Holon,     Jahazali, 
Mefthaath,  Beth-gamul,  Beth-nieon, 
Keriotli,   Bozrah,  Medeba,  Elealeh, 
Jazer,  and  Sibinah,  the  most  of  which 
had  once  pertained  to  the  Hebrews. 
It  seems  they  early  sided  with  tlie 
Chahleans,  and  bands  of  them   har- 
assed  the    Jews    nnder  Jehoiakim; 
but    as    they  formed  a  league   with 
Zedekiah  for  shaking  oft'  the  Chal- 
dean yoke,  Nebnchadnezzar,  about 
4  or  5  years  after  he  had  destroyed 
Jerusalem,    invaded    their   country, 
and  reduced  it  to  an   almost  desert, 
and  carried  multitudes  of  them  cap- 
tive into  his  eastern   dominions,  2 
Kings  xxiv.  2.    Jer.   xlviii.    9,   26. 
and  XXV.  21.    Ezek.  xxv.    Zeph.  ii. 
8.    I  find  no  evidence  that  ever  they 
much  recovered  from  this  overthrow. 
Some  of  their  women  were  married 
to  the  Jews,  who  had  come  back  to 
their  own  land,  and  were  put  away 
by  Nehemiah's  order,  Neh.  xviii.  23. 
The  i)oor  remains  of  them  were  sub- 
ject to  the  Persians  and  Greeks  in 
their  turns,  and  to  the  Jews  under 
Alexander,  Janneus,  and  Herod,  ami 
finally  to   the  Romans.     Long   ago 
they  lost  their  name  as  a  nation,  as 
they  incorporated  with  the  Jews  or 
Arabians;  and  their  country  is  almost 
quite  desolate,  and  is  not  properly 
subject  to  the  Turks,  but  to  the  wild 
Arabs  of  Hejaz,  Zeph.  ii.  8,  tJ,  10. 
Isa.  xxv.  10.  and  xi.  14.    Dan.  xi. 
41.  but  in  Isa.  xxv.  10.  Moab  may 
be  understood  of  the  enemies  of  the 
church  in  general. 

M0CK,(1.)  To  deride,  to  laugh 
at,  to  ridicule,  2  Chron.  xxxvi.  10, 
(2.)  IMerrily  to  make  a  jest;  so  fools 
make  a  mock  at  sin,  Pror.  xiv.  9. 
(3.)  To  deceive  one  with  wonls, 
Jndg.  xvi.  10,  13.  (4.)  To  ravish 
or  abuse  a  w  oman.  Gen.  xxxix.  1 7. 
God  mocks  at  mcri's  fear,  when  with- 
out pity,  he  brings  his  fearful  strokes 
of  judgment  upon  them,  Prov.  i.  26, 
God  is  not  mocked ;  he  will  not  be 
deceived  or  jested  with.      Ii   men 


live  in  sin,  they  shall  certainly  be 
for  ever  punished,  Gal.  vi.  7.  Men 
7Hock  God,  when,  in  words  or  beha- 
viour, they  jest  at  his  being,  his  pur- 
poses, words,  works,  ordinances,  mi- 
nisters, or  people,  Job  xiii.  6,  Wine 
is  a  mocker,  and  strong  drink  is  rag- 
ing :  it,  if  drank  to  excess,  Receives 
men,  and  renders  them  objects  of  de- 
rision, unhappy  and  ouirageous, 
Prov,  xs.  1. 

Mockers,  are  such  as  habitually 
give  themselves  to  scoff  aid  jest  at 
divine  things,  and  to  begiile  men 
with  deceitful  words,  Isa.  xxviii.  22, 
Jude  18. 

MODEPtATE,  to  abate  to  keep 
in  due  bounds.  .  To  moderdc  threat- 
ening, is  to  restrain  it  wthin  due 
bounds,  Eph.  vi.  f  9.  Oui  modera- 
tion shouhi  be  kyiown  to  all  men,  be- 
cause tlw  Lord  is  at  hand :  ve  should 
exercise  tenderness  toward  all  men; 
interpret  their  words  and  jehaviour 
in  the  best  sense  ;  use  infeiors  with 
kindness  and  respect ;  anl  bear  in- 
juries, because  the  Lord  olserves  our 
conduct,  and  will  quickl;  judge  us, 
and  resent  the  injuries  ©ne  to  us, 
Phil.  iv.  .5. 

MODEST,  liumble,  claste.  iVfo- 
dcst  apparel,  is  such  as  leconie.-  an 
humble,  sober,  and  moiest  person, 
1  Tim.  ii.  9. 

MOISTURE,  SAP,  Avitness,  Luke 
viii.  6.  BIij  moisture  i:  turned  into 
the  drought  of  summer  j  my  body  is 
parched,  and  its  naturalmoisture  ex- 
iiausted;  my  soul  is  bereaved  of 
()r03perity  and  comfort:  by  the  im- 
pressions and  fears  ol  thy  wrath. 
Psal.  xxxii.  4. 

MOLE,  a  small  foui-footed  ani- 
mal which  ferrets  in  thf  eaith,  hath 
its  feet  formed  for  diggng ;  its  eyes 
very  small,  and  hence  beleved  by 
the  vulgar  to  be  blind,  it  lives  on 
roots,  toads,  and  worn?;  >ut  that 
the  Hebrew  Tinshamck  sgnifies  a 
mole,  we  dare  not  atnrn,  tJough  the 
Jewish  rabbins,  and  th«  Claldee  pa- 
raphrases, so  interpret  it.  Bochari 
will  have  it  to  be  a  cam^lioi;  Castalio 
a  toad;  and  others  a weael.  It  is 
certain  it  was  legallr  utdean,  and 


M  O  L 


(     177     ) 


M  0  N 


that  the  aanie  word  is  fraiislatctl  a 
swan,  Lev.  xi.  30.  with  IB.  'J'o  cast 
idols  to  tlie  moles  and  to  the  bats,  is  to 
leave  them  to  ignorant  and  worhlly 
men,  or  rather  to  throw  them  awa}'^ 
with  tlie  ntniost  contempt,  Isa.  ii.  20. 

MOLECH,  a  kin<(,  IMoi.och, 
MiLco.M,  Mai. CHAM,  tlie  |)rincipal 
idol  of  the  Ammonites:  he  had  the 
face  of  an  ox ;  his  hands  were  stretch- 
ed out  as  it  ready  to  receive  pre- 
sents. He  was  hollow  within,  and 
there  the  fire  was  placed  to  heat  the 
image,  that  it  might  burn  the  ofl'er- 
ings.  Fagius  informs  us,  that  the 
image  of  Molech  was  of  brass,  con- 
trived with  seven  cells,  or  recepta- 
cles, probably  representing  the  seven 
planets,  the  first  for  receiving  an  of- 
fering of  flour,  the  second  of  turtle 
doves;  the  third  for  an  ewe,  the 
fourth  for  a  ram,  the  fifth  for  a  calf; 
the  sixth  for  an  ox ;  the  seventh  for 
a  child,  who,  being  shut  U[)  in  this 
cell,  as  in  a  furnace,  was  therein 
burnt  to  death,  whilst  the  people 
danced  about  the  idol,  and  used  tim- 
brels, that  the  cries  of  the  inlant 
might  not  be  heard.  We  have  au- 
thority from  the  sacred  writings  to 
believe  that  the  Phenicians,  Egyp- 
tians, and  others  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  Judea,  actually  sacrificed 
their  children  to  that  grim  idol,  in 
some  such  horrid  manner.  Compare 
2  Chron.  xxviii.  3.  Jer.  vii.  3 1 .  xxxii. 
35.  xix.  5.  Psa.  evi.  37,  38.  Ezek. 
xvi.  20,  21.  In  all  which  jjlaces,  to 
pass  through  the  jirc,  signifies  the 
consuming  of  the  victim  by  fire.  That 
Blolech  was  derived  from  the  Egyp- 
tians, and  is  the  same  as  Remphan, 
Chiun,  or  Serapis,  and  worshipped  un- 
der the  form  of  a  bull,  and  with  the 
Anamelech  and  Adramelech,  to 
which  the  inhabitants  of  Sepharvaim 
burnt  their  children,  we  believe  to  be 
certain  ;  but  whether  he  was  the  same 
with  Saturn,  to  whom  human  sacrifi- 
ces were  offered,  or  the  Sun,  we  shall 
not  now  determine.  It  is  evident,  Mo- 
lech was  very  early  worshipped 
among  the  Anmionites:  and  {)crhaps 
it  was  the  crown  of  Molech,  not  of  the 
Ammonitish  kin<r.  that  David  took  a1 

Vol,.  II. 


Kabbah,  and  which  weighed  a  ta- 
lent, 2  Sam.  xii.  30.  God  very  early 
prohibited  the  worship  of  Molech  to 
his  people.  Lev.  xviii.  21.  ami  xx.  2, 
3,  4.  'J'iiey,  however,  were  often 
guilt)'  ol  it :  they  carried  the  taber- 
nacle of  their  Molech  in  the  wor- 
ship of  tlie  golden  calf,  which  was  a 
kind  of  representation  of  the  Egyp- 
tian Serapis,  Acts  vii.  43.  Solomon 
built  a  tem|)le  to  Molech  on  the 
mount  of  Olives,  1  Kings  xi.  7.  Ahaz, 
IManasseh,  and  other  .lews,  burnt 
their  children  in  honour  to  this  idol, 
|)articularly  in  Tophet,  2  Kings  xvi. 
3.  and  xxi.  3,  4.  Jer.  xix.  5,  ti. 

MOMENT,  a  very  short  space  of 
time  in  comparison  of  eternal  dura- 
tion. God  hides  himself  from,  is 
angry  with,  and  afflicts  his  people 
hut  for  a  viomcnt,  Isa.  liv.  7,  8.  Psa. 
XXX.  5.  2  Cor.  iv.  17.  And  the  joy 
of  hypocrites  is  but  for  a  moment,  is 
quickly  changed  into  eternal  sorrow. 
Job  XX.  5.  A  lying  tongue  is  hut 
for  a  vioincnt,  as  truth  will  quickly 
be  discovered  to  the  liar's  shame, 
Prov.  xii.  19. 

MONEY.  The  most  ancient  me- 
thod  of  trade  was  by  barter,  exchang- 
ing one  thing  for  another:  in  after 
times,  the  more  precious  metals  were 
used  as  the  price  in  merchandize. 
The  gold  and  silver,  howe^  er,  were 
long  weighed,  not  coined.  Abra- 
ham neighed  the  four  hundred  she- 
kels which  he  gave  for  his  burying- 
place.  Gen.  xxiii.  13,  16.  Joseph 
was  sold  for  20  shekels  weight  of  sil- 
ver, and  his  brethren  carried  back 
to  Egypt  the  same  weight  of  money 
that  had  been  returned  in  their  sacke^, 
Gen.  xxxvi.  28.  and  xliii.  21.  Je- 
remiah weighed  the  seventeen  she- 
kels of  silver  which  he  gave  for  his 
cousin's  field,  Jer.  xxxii.  10.  She- 
kels and  talents  whereby  money  was 
estimated,  were  weights,  not  coins, 
2  Sam.  xii.  30.  and  xiv.  26.  We  are 
not  certain  of  any  coined  money  in 
the  world  till  about  A.  M.  3460, 
when  Crasus  king  of  Lydia  coined 
his  Cra's»i,  and  Darius  the  IMedeliis 
Darics,  or  Darkmons.  Nor  do  \sv 
know  of  the  Jews  coining  finv  till 
Z 


M  O  N 


(     178     ) 


:\i  u  N 


about  400  years  after,  when  Antio- 
chus  Sidetes  gave  Simon  the  Mac- 
cabee  a  privilege  for  that  purpose. 
The  Romans  began  to  coin  silver 
about  J.  M.  3735,  and  gold  in  A.  M. 
3797.  The  ancient  Britons  used 
rings  or  plates  of  iron  for  money. 
The  Lacedemonians  used  bars  of 
iron.  Anciently,  and  in  straitened 
circumstances,  leather,  wood,  paste- 


board, &c.  have  been  coined  for  mo- 
ney. To  this  day,  the  Chinese  do 
not  coin,  but  cut  and  Aveigh  their 
gold  and  silver  for  trade  :  and  in 
some  nations,  they  trade  with  shells 
and  fruits  instead  of  money. — Christ's 
blessings  are  iviihout  money  and  ivith- 
out  price;  altogether  free,  neither 
price,  nor  promise  of  price,  being  re- 
quired from  us,  Isa.  Iv.  1. 


The  value  and  proportion  of  the  Grecian  coiiis. 


Lept( 

3n  or  mite 

7 

Chalcos 

14 

9 

Dichalcos 

28 

.|. 

Hemiobolion 

56 

8 

4 

2 

Obolos 

112 

16 

8 
16 
24 

4 

8 

12 

2 
4 
6 

Diobolon 

224 

32 

2  Tetrobolon 

336 

48 

i 

H 

Drachme 

672 

96 

48 

24 
48 

12 
24 

6 
12 

3 

6 

2 

4 

Didrachi 

1324 

192 

98 

2  Tetr 

!l655 

240 

12ol  60 

30 

15|   1\ 

5 

91       1 

s. 
0 

d. 
0 

^336 

0 

0 

Off 

0 

0 

^■k 

0 

0 

2t^ 

0 

1 

U 

0 

0 

01 

-■i 

0 

5 

o§ 

0 

7 

3 

1 

3 

2 

2 

7 

0 

3 

2 

3 

Pentadrachm 


Note  1.    Of  these,  the  Drachm,  Didrachm,  &c.  were  of  silver;  the  rest,  for 

the  most  part,  of  brass;  the  other  parts,  as  Tridrachm,  Triobolus,  «fec. 

were  sometimes  coined. 
Note2.  I  have  supposed,  with  the  generality  of  Authors,  that  the  Drachma 

and  Denarius  were  equal,  though  there  is  reason  to  believe  the  Drachma 

was  somewhat  the  weightier. 


The  Grecian  Gold  Coin  was, 

The  golden  Stater,  weighing  two  Attic  Drachms,  or  half  "^ 
of  the  silver  Stater,  and  exchanging  usually  for  25  At-  >- 
tic  Drachms  of  silver,  in  our  money.  ) 

According  to  our  proportion  of  gold  to  silver 

There  was  likewise  the  Stater Cyziceuus,  exchanging  for? 
28  Attic  Drachms,  or  5 

Slater  Philippicus,  and  Stater  Alexandrinus,  of  the  same 
value 

Stiiter  Daricus,  according  to  Josephus,  worth  50  Attic  7 
Drachms,  or  3 

Stater  Cresius,  of  the  same  v&lue. 


/.  5.  d. 

0  16  It 

1  0  9 

0  18  1 

1  12  3h 


M  O  N  (     179     )  M  0  N 

The  value  and  proportion  of  the  Rotnan  Coins. 

Terunciua 

Sembrlla  .... 

Lil)ella,  As  -  - 

Sestertius  ... 

Quinorius,  Victoriatus 
Denarius 


4 
10 
20 


40 


10 


20 


10 


d. 

0 

9- 

0 

Wz% 

0 

3tV 

1 

3? 

3 

3i 

7     3 


Note,   or  these  the  Denarius,  Victoriatus,  Sestertius,  and  sometimes  the 

As,  were  of  silver;  (he  rest  ol'  brass. 
There  were  sometimes  also  coined  ol"  brass,  the  Triens,  Sextants,  Uncia, 

Sextula,  and  Dupondius. 

The  Roman  gold  coin  was  the  Aureus,  which  weighed  generally  double 

the  Denarius. 

The  Aureus,  according  to  (be  first  proi)or(ion  of  coinage, 

mentioned  by  Pliny,  lib.  xxxiii.  cap.  3.  was  worth 
According  to  the  proportion  that  obtains  now  amongst  us, 

worth 
According  to  the  Decuple  proportion,  mentioned  by  Livy  > 

and  Julius  Polux,  worth  5 

According  to  the  proportion  menlioaed  by  Tacitus,  and  \ 

which  afterwards  obtained,  whereby  (he  Aureus  ex- V     0     16     If 

changed  for  25  Denarii,  its  value  ) 

Jewish  money  reduced  to  the  English  stamlard. 


/. 

s.     d. 

1 

4     33 

1 

0     9 

0 

12  11 

Gerali 

Silver  momy. 

10 

Bekah 

20 

2 

Shekel 

1200 

120 

50 

Maneh,  Mina  Hebraica 

60000  6000 

3000 

60 

Talent 

Gold  Meney. 
Solidus  Aureus,  or  Sextula,  worth 
A  Shekel  of  gold,  worth 
A  Talent  of  gold,  worth 


0 

s. 
0 

d.q. 
1/A 

0 

1 

m 

0 

2 

3^ 

5 

14 

Of 

342 

3 

9 

/. 

0 

1 

5475 

s.     d, 

12     0| 

16     6 

0     0 

MONEY-CHANGERS,  were 
such  as,  at  a  certain  rate  of  profit, 
have  lesser  pieces  of  money  for  great- 
er, or  greater  for  lesser,  to  accommo- 
date such  as  came   to  the  solemn 


feasts,  or  other  worship  at  Jerusalem. 
These  Jesus  twice  drove  from  the 
stations  which  they  had  taken  in  the 
courts  of  the  temple,  John  ii.  14, 15. 
Matt.  xxi.  12. 


^l  O  N 


(     180     ) 


MOO 


MONSTERS,  huge  and  unshape- 
ly animals,  such  as  whales,  &:c.  Lam. 
iv.  3. 

MONTH,  is  a  space  of  time  mea- 
sured either  by  the  sun,  passing  the 
Zodiac,  and  called  Solar;  or  by  the 
moon,  running  through  the  whole 
Zodiac,  and  called  Lunar;  and  both 
are  either  astronomical,  consisting 
not  only  of  whole  days,  but  of  super- 
numerary hours,  minutes,  Sec.  or  ci- 
vil or  calendar  months,  consisting  of 
whole  days  only,  coming  the  nearest 
possible  to  some  astronomical  month, 
either  solar  or  lunar  consisting  alter- 
nately of  30  and  of  29  days,  as  ap- 
pears from  the  following  table.  When 
we  say,  that  the  Jewish  months  an- 
swer to  ours,  this  is  to  be  understood 
with  some  latitude;  for  lunar  months 
can  never  be  reduced  exactly  to  so- 
lar. The  vernal  equinox  falls  be- 
tween the  20th  and  21st  of  March, 
according  to  the  solar  year;  but  in 
the  lunar  year,  the  new  moon  will 
fall  in  the  month  of  March,  and  the 
full  in  April.  So  that  the  Hebrew 
months  will  commonly  answer  to 
part  of  two  of  our  months,  and  par- 
take of  both.  A  month  of  thirty  days 
intercalated  between  Adarand  Nisan 
is  called  Veader. 

The  names  of  the  nionths  of  the  holv 


7.  Nisan  30 

8.  Jiar  29 

9.  Sivan  30 

10.  Thammuz  29 

11.  Ab  30 

12.  Elul  29  ^  S  ^August 

See  the  word  Year. 


o  ^  March 
Xii  \  April 
.2  J  May 
«  j  June 
Z  f  July 


year  were, 
1. 


3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

9. 
10. 
11. 
12. 


Nisan         30^ 

Jiar  29 

Sivan  30 

Thammuz  29  { 

Ab  30  I 

Elul  29 

Tisri  30 

Marchevan29 

Casleu        30 

Thebet       29 

Shebat       30 

Adar  29J 

The  names  of  the  months  of  the  ci- 
vil year  were. 


fMarch 

April 

May 

June 

July 

August 

mber 
toiler 

November 

December 

January 
LFebruarv 


!    bl}]  AUgUS 

•P  ]  Septei 
%  I  Octoix 


Tisri  30 

Marchevan 

Casleu 

Thebet 

Shebat 

Adar 


Se[)tember 
October 
ovember 
^  \  December 
I  .January 
V  February 


29/T4O 

30(.S)n 


MONUMENTS.  Those  in  which 
idolaters  lodged,  were  either  tombs, 
idol-tem|)les,  desert  places,  or  any 
where  with  idols,  or  their  supposed 
resident  devils ;  by  sleeping  in  which 
they  expected  fellowship  with  their 
false  gods,  in  dreams,  visions,  or  the 
like,  Isa.  Ixv.  4. 

MOON,  a  secondary  planet  al- 
ways attendant  on  our  earth.  Many 
astronomers  draw  her  face  as  if  di- 
versified with  hills,  vallies,  conti- 
nents, and  seas;  but  some  are  still  in 
doubt  of  all  this,  and  if  she  has  so 
much  as  an  atmosphere  to  produce 
clouds,  rain,  snow,  or  other  like  me- 
teors. The  diameter  of  the  moon  is 
reckoned  2175  miles;  her  surface  14 
millions  of  square  miles;  and  her  dis- 
tance from  the  earth  240,000  miles. 
She  performs  her  revolution  from  a 
fixed  star  to  the  same  again,  in  27 
days  7  hours  and  43  minutes ;  but  as 
the  sun  is  still  advancing  in  the  eclip- 
tic circle,  the  time  from  one  conjunc- 
tion with  the  sun  to  another,  is  29 
days  12  hours  44  minutes  and  3  se- 
conds. She  moves  about  her  own 
axis  in  the  same  time  she  moves 
about  the  earth,  and  hence  shows  al- 
ways the  same  face  to  us.  The  moon 
is  of  herself  a  dark  body,  but  reflects 
the  light  of  the  sun  to  us ;  and  per- 
haps our  earth  reflects  as  much  light, 
if  not  more,  towards  the  moon. — ■ 
When,  at  her  change,  she  comes  di- 
rectly between  us  and  the  sun,  the 
sun  is  eclipsed  to  us.  When,  at  her 
full,  the  earth  is  directly  between  her 
and  the  sun,  she  is  ecli|)sed  to  us. 
The  moon  was  formed  to  give  light 
in,  and  rule,  the  night,  and  to  dis- 
tinguish times  and  seasons,  Gen.  i. 
14.  She  has  a  mighty  influence  on 
the  ebbing  and  flowing  of  the  sea  ; 
and  was  the  great  guide  as  to  the 
time  of  the  Jewish  feasts.     The 


M  O  R 


(     181     ) 


j\I  O  R 


Heathens  have  generally  worshipped 
the  moon  under  the  names  of  (^ueen 
of  Heaven,  Venus-Urania,  Succoth- 
benoth,  Ashtaroth,  Diana,  Hecate, 
or  perhaps  Meni,  &c.  Job  xxxi.  2tJ, 
27.  Deut.  iv.  19.  and  xvii.  3.  Out- 
ward prosperity,  and  the  saints  with 
their  present  excellencies,  are  liken- 
ed to  a  moon  ;  they  borrow  all  their 
glory  and  usefulness  from  Jesus  the 
Sun  of  rishteousncss,  Isa.  Ix.  20. 

MORIJECAI,  hitler  contrition, 
pure  myrrh,  teaching  contrition,  the 
son  of  Jair,  grandson  of  Kish,  and 
descendant  of^lhe  family  of  Saul,  was 
carried  to  Babylon  with  Jehoiachim, 
king  of  Judah,  when  he  was  very 
young.  If  he  was  one  of  the  chiefs 
who  conducted  theJews  from  Babylon 
to  Judea,  he  must  have  returned  to 
Shushan  in  Persia.  When  Esther  his 
cousin,  wlioni  he  had  trained  up,  was 
married  to  Ahasuerus,  Mordecai  wait- 
ed near  the  palace  gate,  that  he  might 
have  information  concerning  her  from 
time  to  time.  Here  having  got  know- 
ledge of  Bigthau  and  Teresh's  inten- 
tion to  murder  the  king,  he  informed 
Esther  of  it,  and  the  traitors  Avere 
hanged  ;  and  it  was  entered  in  the  an- 
nals of  the  kingdom,  that  Mordecai 
had  given  the  information  against 
them.  AVhen  Haman  was  made  prime 
minister  of  Persia,  all  the  servants 
were  ordered  to  bow  the  knee  to  him 
as  he  passed  by  thefji.  Mordecai  con- 
ceiving this  an  approach  towards  di- 
vine honour,  or  reckoning  it  sinful  to 
revere  an  Amalekite,  declined  com- 
pliance.— Scorning  to  punish  Blor- 
decai  alone,  Haman  procured  a  royal 
edict  for  an  universal  massacre  of  the 
Jewish  nation.  Mordecai  hearing  of 
this,  informed  Esther,  and  earnestly 
begged  she  would  interpose  with  the 
king  for  the  life  of  her  people.  At 
her  desire,  Mordecai  caused  all  the 
Jews  in  Shushan  to  fast  three  days, 
lor  success  from  God  in  her  attempt, 
Neh.  vii.  7.  Esth.  ii.  5.  to  chap.  iv. 
IMeanwhile,  Providence  directed  to 
be  read  to  Ahasuerus,  one  night  as  he 
could  not  sleep,  that  part  of  the  royal 
annals  which  mentioned  Mordecai's 
discoxery  of  the  treacherous  eunuchs. 


Ahasuerus  finiling  that  he  had  re- 
ceived no  reward,  asked  Haman,  who 
was  just  come  to  obtain  the  king's 
permission  to  hang  Mordecai  on  his 
lofty  gallows,  what  should  be  done 
to  honour  the  king's  great  favourite  ? 
As  Haman  imagined  it  could  be  none 
other  than  himself,  he  [iroposed  the 
highest  honours  he  could  think  off. 
According  to  the  tenor  of  his  own 
|)roposal,  he  was  ordered  to  array 
Mordecai  in  the  king's  ordinary 
robes,  set  him  on  the  king's  own 
horse,  and  lead  the  horse  with  Mor- 
decai on  it,  through  all  the  city  of 
Shushan,  and  proclaim  before  him. 
Thus  shall  it  be  done  to  the  man  whotn 
the  king  dclightcth  to  honour.  No  Avay 
inflated  with  these  extraordinary  ho- 
nours, Mordecai  returned  to  the  king's 
gate;  but  Haman  being  hanged  that 
very  day,  he  was  advanced  to  his  of- 
fice. After  he  and  Esther  had,  by 
letters  to  the  various  provinces,  stopt 
the  massacre  of  their  nation,  he  for 
some  time  continued  to  discharge  his 
high  trust  with  great  fidelity  and 
usefulness,  Esth.  vi. — x. 

MORI  AH,  the  bitterness  of  the 
Lorel,  or  the  fear  of  the  Lord,  a  hill 
on  the  north-east  part  of  Jerusalem, 
and  which  is  sometimes  reckoned  as  a 
part  of  Zion.  Here,  it  is  supposed, 
Isaac  was  intentionally  offered ;  and 
here  Araunah  had  his  threshing-floor; 
and  hereon  the  temple  was  built,  2 
Chron.  iii.  1.  The  whole  place  where 
Jerusalem  stood,  was  anciently  called 
the  land  of  Moriah,  Gen.  xxii.  2.  but 
the  plain  of  Moreh  lay  a  good  way 
north  between  Gerizzim  and  Ebal, 
Gen.  xii.  6.  Deut.  xi.  29,  30.  and  the 
hill  of  DIoREH  was  perhaps  a  top  of 
Gilboa,  Judg.  vii.  1. 

MORNING,  (1.)  That  part  of 
the  day  before  or  about  the  rising  of 
the  sun,  Mark  xvi.  2.  (2.)  The  light 
which  by  its  spread  forms  the  morn- 
ing, Joel  ii.  2.  The  morning  is  re- 
presented as  having  eye-lids,  to  in- 
timate the  first  appearance  of  the 
rising  light  in  the  reddish  sky,  Job 
xli.  18.  as  having  mings,  to  denote 
the  rapid  motion  of  light,  Psal. 
cxxxix.  9.  and  as  having  a  womb. 


M  O  K 


(     182     ) 


M  O  S 


from  which  the  dew  is  produced, 
Psal.  ex.  3.  Every  morning;  is  dai- 
ly, often,  Psal.  Ixxiii.  14.  In  the 
vioriiing,  is  early,  seasonably,  ear- 
nestly, suddenly,  Psal.  v.  3.  and 
XXX.  5,  To  execute  judgment  in  the 
morning,  is  to  do  it  readily,  and  as 
reasonably  and  speedily  as  possible, 
Jer.  xxi.  12.  Psal.  ci.  8.  To  tat  in 
the  morning,  denotes  unseasonable 
and  intemperate  eflting  and  drinking, 
luxury,  Eccl.  x.  16.  Jer.  v.  8.  A 
state  of  grace  is  called  a  7norning  : 
it  comes  after  a  sad  night  of  sin  and 
misery;  and  how  happily  one  is 
awakened,  enlighiened,  and  refreshed, 
by  the  increase  of  its  p[)irilual  dis- 
coveries, and  application  of  heart- 
warming love,  till  it  issue  in  the  hi'zh 
day  of  eternal  happiness!  Isa.  viii. 
20.  A  season  of  prosperity,  or  gos- 
pel-opportunity, is  called  a  morning  .• 
it  comes  after  a  night  of  distress  or 
dark  ignorance  ;  and  how  delightful 
and  refreshing!  Isa.  xxi.  12.  The 
general  resurrection  is  called  a  morn- 
ing :  after  a  night  of  darkness  and 
sleep  of  death  how  shall  men  be 
awakened  by  the  last  trumpet,  en- 
lightened by  the  glory  of  and  ma- 
nifold discoveries  made  by  the  Son 
of  man  !  and  into  what  an  everlasting 
day  will  it  usher  the  saints!  Psal.  xlix. 
14.  Fearful  judgments  are  likened 
to  the  morning  ;  they  overtake  trans- 
gressors in  their  spiritual  sleej)  and 
carnal  security,  and  often  suddenly, 
and  always  seasonably,  when  their 
sins  richl_v  deserve  them,  Ezek.  vii. 
7,  10.  To-morrow,  next  day,  or  in 
a  short  time,  Luke  xiii.  32,  33. 

MORSEL,  (1.)  A  small  piece  of 
bread,  Psal.  cxlvii.  18.  (2.)  A 
meal  of  meat,  Heb.  xii.  16.  Better 
is  a  drp  morsel  with  quietness,  than  a 
house  full  of  sacrifices  yvith  strife.  Bet- 
ter is  the  meanest  fare  in  a  state  of 
peace  with  God,  and  in  the  enjoy- 
ment of  peace  of  conscience,  and  of 
true  peace  with  men,  than  the  most 
abundant  and  delicate  provision  with- 
out it,  Prov.  xvii.  1. 

MOPtTAR,  a  hollow  vessel  for 
braying  things  in  with  a  pestil.  In 
mortars  did  some    of  the   Hebrews 


grind  the  manna,  to  prepare  it  for  lie- 
ing  baked  into  bread.  Numb.  xi.  8. 
To  bratf  a  fool  with  a  pestil  in  a  mor- 
tar, is  to  punish  him  severely  for  his 
folly,  Prov.  xxvii.  22. 

MORTAR,  a  well-known  materi- 
al used  to  connect  stones  in  buildings, 
and  it  was  anciently  made  by  the 
treading  of  the  feet  of  men  or  beasts : 
so  the  Ninevites  are  bid  to  go  into 
the  clai/,  and  tread  the  mortar ;  that 
is,  prepare  materials  for  repairing 
the  breaches  of  their  walls,  Neh.  iii. 
14.  To  come  upon  princes  as  tipon 
mortar,  is  easily  to  subdue,  enslave, 
and  oppress  them,  Isa.  xli.  25.  Flat- 
tering and  false  doctrines  and  pre- 
dictions, are  likened  to  a  daubing 
with  untempered  mortar ;  however 
they  may  for  a  while  seem  to  strength- 
en, yet  in  the  end  they  but  ruin  na- 
tions, churches,  and  persons,  there- 
by encouraged. — One  built  a  wall, 
and  another  daubed  it  with  untempered 
jnortar ;  one  false  prophet  said,  Je- 
rusalem would  stand  the  Chaldean 
siege,  and  another  most  wickedly  and 
falsely  confirmed  his  word.  So  one 
preacher  encourages  his  hearers  to 
hope  for  acceptance  with  God  through 
their  own  righteousness,  and  another 
confirms  them  in  this  opinion,  till  they 
be  eternally  ruined,  Ezek.  xiii.  10, 11. 

To  MORTGAGE  land,  is  to  con- 
sign it  over  to  a  creditor  to  be  his 
properity,  if  it  be  not^edeemed  by 
the  payment  of  the  debt  within  a 
time  limited,   Neh.  v.  3. 

MORTIFY,  to  put  to  death.  To 
mortify  the  deeds  of  the  body,  and  our 
members  which  are  on  the  earth;  is, 
by  the  Spirit,  and  through  the  word 
of  God,  to  apply  the  blood  and  in- 
fluence of  Jesus  Christ,  for  the  de- 
stroying of  our  sinful  corruptions, 
Rom.  viii.  13.  Col.  iii.  5. 

MOSES,  drawn  up,  drawn  forthy 
taken  out,  the  brother  of  Aaron, 
and  Miriam,  and  younger  than  ei- 
ther, was  born  A.  M.  2433.  Before 
his  birth,  Pharaoh  king  of  Egyi)t 
had  issued  orders  to  murder  every 
male  infant  of  the  Hebrews.  His 
parents,  however,  either  perceiving 
some  things  about  him  which  they 


M  0  S 


(     183     ; 


U  0  s 


reckoned  presages  of  his  future  great- 
ness, or  IVom  aflecfion,  they  hi(' 
him  three  niontlis.  When  they 
couUl  hiile  him  no  longer,  his  mo- 
ther, Jochebed,  made  an  ark  of 
hulrushes;  and,  having  jilched  it, 
that  it  might  draw  no  water,  siie  put 
Mose.  therein,  and  hiid  it  near  the 
banks  of  the  Nile,  where  the  princes 
and  other  noble  Egyptians  used  to 
walk.  He  iiatl  not  been  long  in  this 
condition,  when  Phar.ioii's  daughter, 
'riiernnitis,  coming  to  wash  herself, 
as  perhaps  was  usual,  observed  the 
ark,  and  caused  one  of  her  maids  to 
fetch  it,  and  opening  it,  found  the 
child  !  Moved  with  the  beauty  and 
wee[)ing  of  the  balje,  she,  knowing 
it  to  be  one  of  the  Hebrew  children, 
resolved  to  bring  hiiu  up  for  herself, 
as  a  child  of  her  own.  Miriam,  his 
sister,  who  ■waited  hard  by,  asked 
leave  to  call  a  nurse  ;  being  allowed, 
she  called  Jochebed,  his  mother, — 
Pharaoh's  daughter  called  him  JMo- 
gheh,  because  she  drew  him  out  of 
the  water  She  took  care  to  have 
lum  instructed  in  all  the  sciences  then 
known  in  Egypt.  In  his  earliest 
years,  Jochebed  and  Amram,  no 
doubt,  took  care  to  instruct  him  in 
the  Hebrew  language,  and  in  the 
principles  of  the  true  religion,  and 
in  the  knowledge  of  the  promises 
that  God  had  made  concerning  Is- 
rael. Afl"ected  with  these,  and  endow- 
ed with  the  grace  of  God,  he,  when 
grown  up,  refused  to  be  called  the 
son  of  Pharaoh's  daughter,  and  chose 
rather  to  suffer  affliction  with  the 
people  of  God,  than  to  enjoy  the 
short-lived  pleasures  of  sin.  Trusting 
in  the  invisible  God,  and  encouraged 
by  the  hopes  of  an  everlasting  re- 
ward, he  feared  not  the  wrath  of  the 
Egyptian  king,  nor  whatever  ridi- 
cule, threatening,  or  persecution,  he 
had  to  endure. 

1 1  is  scarcely  to  our  purpose  to  relate 
the  perha|)s  fabulous  storj'  of  his  suc- 
cessful expedition  against  the  Ethio- 
pians, who  about  this  time  emigrated 
from  Aral)ia  to  Abyssina  southward 
of  Egypt,  at  the  head  of  the  Egyp- 
tian forces.     It  is  certain,  that  beins 


40  years  of  age,  and  being  divinel} 
instructed  that  he  was  to  be  the  de- 
liverer of  Israel,  he  went  to  visit  his 
brethren  at  their  hard  labour.  Ob- 
serving an  Egyptian  cruelly  abuse 
a  Hebrew,  an»l  going  to  murder 
him,  he  hastened  to  them,  assisted 
the  Hel)r(;w,  and  kilk^l  the  Egyp- 
tian, and  hid  his  liod}'  in  the  sand. 
Next  day,  he  observed  two  Hebrews 
at  variance,  and  begged  tlie  faulty 
person  not  to  hurt  his  brother.  The 
fellow  pertly  replied,  who  made 
thee  a  ruler  or  judge  over  us  ?  wilt 
thou  kill  me  as  thou  ili<lst  Uie  Egy|)- 
tian  yesterday  /  Finding  that  his 
slaughter  of  the  Eg3'ptian  was  di- 
vulged, he  lied  into  the  country  of 
Midian,  on  the  Red  Sea.  Sitting 
down  bj'  a  well,  tlie  seven  daughters 
of  Jethro  came  up  to  it,  with  their 
llocks :  they  had  scarcely  filled  the 
troughs  with  the  Avater  which  they 
drew,  when  some  barbarous  fellows 
came  u{),  and  would  have  the  water 
for  their  Hocks.  i^Ioses  assisted  the 
damsels,  and  drove  away  the  injuri- 
ous shepherds.  Jethro  had  no  sooner 
heard  of  his  kindness  to  his  daugh- 
ters, than  he  ordered  him  to  be  call- 
ed in,  to  take  some  refreshment. 
Moses  hired  himself  to  feed  Jethro's 
flock,  and  received  his  daughter  Zip- 
porah  in  marriage,  by  whom  he  had 
two  sons.  The  first  he  called  Ger- 
shoni,  to  denote  his  being  a  stranger 
in  that  place;  the  other  lie  called 
Eliezcr,  to  denote  that  his  God  was 
his  help,  Exod.  ii.  Acts  vii.  20 — 29. 
Heb.  xi.  24,  25,  2G.  About  the  be- 
ginning of  J.  M.  2513,  the  king  of 
Egypt,  by  whose  daughter  or  sister 
Moses  had  been  educated,  was  dead; 
but  the  bondage  of  the  Hebrews  still 
continued  under  their  new  tyrant. 
As  iMoses  one  day  led  his  llocks  near 
to  the  north  or  west  side  of  Sinai, 
the  Lord  appeared  to  him  in  a  bush 
that  burnt,  but  was  nothing  con- 
sumed. Moses,  astonished,  went  near 
to  see  the  miracle.  The  Lord  spoke 
to  hi/n  out  of  the  bush,  and  bid  him 
put  off"  his  shoes  ere  he  came  any 
nearer,  as  the  spot  was  sacred  to 
the  honour  of  God.  He  declared  him 


Bl  O  S 


(     1S4    ; 


M  0  S 


self  the  God  of  Abraham,  Isaac,  and 
Jacob  ;  and  that  from  regard  to  his 
promise,  and  to  the  groans  of  his  op- 
pressed people,  he  now  intended  to 
deliver  them,  and  bring  them  into 
Canaan,  by  him  as  the  instrument. 
Moses  began  to  excuse  himself,  as  if 
the  Hebrews  would  not  believe  that 
he  had  a  mission.  God  promised  him 
his  presence,  and  bid  him  tell  the 
Hebrews,  that  the  Great  I  AM,  who 
is  being  itself,  and  gives  being  to  his 
creatures,  and  fulfils  every  promise, 
had  sent  him  to  inform  them  of  their 
approaching  deliverance,  and  assur- 
ed him  that  they  would  believe  him. 
He  ordered  him  to  go  to  Pharaoh, 
and,  in  God's  name,  require  him  to 
let  the  Hebrews  go  three  daj'^s  jour- 
ney into  the  Arabian  desert,  to  offer 
a  solemn  sacrifice  to  their  God. 
Meanwhile,  he  told  him  that  Pha- 
raoh would  not  grant  this  small  re- 
quest, till  he  and  his  country  should 
be  almost  ruined  by  fearful  plagues. 
Moses  still  excusing  himself,  God  en- 
couraged him  by  a  fourfold  sign. 
His  rod  was  turned  into  a  serpent, 
to  signify  what  plagues  it  w^ould 
bring  on  the  Egyptians.  It  was  re- 
turned to  a  rod,  to  show  how  useful 
it  would  prove  for  the  support  of 
the  Hebrews.  To  mark  how  easily 
God  could  weaken  the  power  of  the 
Egyptians,  and  strengthen  the  Israel- 
ites, Moses's  hand,  being  put  into 
his  bosom,  became  leprous  white  as 
snow ;  and  again  returned  into  his 
bosom,  became  sound  as  the  other. 
These  miracles  he  was  ordered  to  re- 
peat before  the  Hebrews,  for  the  con- 
firmation of  his  mission ;  and  if  ne- 
cessary, to  add  the  taking  of  water 
out  of  the  river,  and  it  should  become 
blood.  Moses  pleaded  that  he  had 
not  a  ready  utterance  in  his  speech, 
begged  to  he  excused,  and  wished  the 
Lord  would  send  some  more  proper 
person.  Provoked  with  his  unbelief, 
God  told  him  that  he  could  qualify 
him  with  speech;  and  that  Aaron, 
who  was  just  coming  to  meet  him, 
should  be  his  assistant  and  spokesman. 
Moses  being  at  last  persuaded,  went 
and  obtained  Ihe  leave  of  his  father- 


in-law  to  go  and  visit  his  brethren  in 
Egypt.  He  took  his  wife  and  chil- 
dren along  with  him.  As  they  were 
in  an  inn  by  the  way,  an  angel 
threatened  to  slay  Moses,  it  is  sup- 
posed on  account  of  his  neglect  to 
circumcise  his  child,  or  children.  To  v 

prevent  his   death,  Zipporah  took  a  i 

sharp  stone,  cutting  off  her  child's 
foreskin,  cast  it  at  the  foot  of  her 
husband,  and  said,  apparently  with 
much  warmth  oi'  temper,  surely  a 
bloody  husband  art  thou  to  mc. 
Probably  on  this  account  Zippo- 
rah and  her  children  returned  to 
her  father;  and  Moses  pursued  his 
course  into  Egypt,  and  was  met  by 
Aaron  his  brother :  they  told  the 
Hebrews  what  God  had  said,  and 
showed  them  the  signs;  the  people 
believed,  and  were  glad,  Exod.  iii. 
and  iv. 

Moses  and  Aaron  went  to  Pharaoh, 
and,  in  the  name  of  the  God  of  the 
Hebrews,  demanded  his  permission 
for  that  people  to  go  three  days' 
journey  into  the  Arabian  desert  to 
serve  their  God.  He  replied,  that  he 
neither  knew,  nor  would  pay  the 
least  regard  to  the  Hebrew  God, 
nor  suffer  them  to  stir  a  foot  out  of 
his  dominions.  He  increased  their 
miserjs  by  requiring  them  to  pro- 
vide straw  for  themselves,  and  yet 
furnish  out  the  daily  tale  of  their 
bricks.  He  thought  hard  labour 
would  put  religion  out  of  theiT  heads. 
Beaten  by  the  Egyptian  task-masters, 
for  not  fulfilling  what  was  impos- 
sible for  them,  the  Hebrews  com- 
plained to  Pharaoh;  but  he  gave 
them  no  hopes  of  relief,  and  told 
them  that  their  idleness  had  filled 
their  heads  with  whims  of  devotion. 
The  Hebrews  bitterly  reflected  on 
Moses  and  Aaron,  as  the  cause  of 
this  additional  misery.  Moses  cried 
to  tt)e  liOrd,  and  was  answered,  that 
Pharaoh  would  not  let  them  go,  till 
terrible  plagues  on  his  land  should 
force  him  to  it.  God  assured  him 
that  he  was  Jehovah,  a  promise- 
performing  God,  and  would  speedily 
deliver  the  Hebrews,  and  bring  them 
to  Canaan.     Moses  lold  this  to  the 


51  0  S 


(      185     ) 


M  0  S 


Hebrews;  but  their  grievous  servi- 
tude made  them  disregard  what  he 
said.  Moses  and  Aaron  again  de- 
manded Pharaoh's  permission  for  the 
people  to  go  into  the  desert.  To  ve- 
rify their  commission,  Aaron  flung 
down  his  rod,  and  it  became  a  ser- 
pent. The  magicians  of  Eg3'|)t  were 
brought  to  Confront  this  miracle ; 
tliey  cast  down  tlieir  rods,  and  they 
became  ser[)ents,  at  least  in  appear- 
ance; but  whether  Satan  indiscern- 
ibly  slipt  away  their  rods,  and  |)ut 
serpents  in  their  jjlace,  or  whether 
himself  actuated  their  rods,  or  only 
deceived  the  eyes  of  the  spectators, 
it  is  certain  that  Aaron's  rod  swal- 
lowed up  theirs,  as  a  mark  of  supe- 
rior authority  and  influence. 

Just  after  this,  the  Lord,  by  Moses, 
smote  the  Egyptians  with  ten  plagues 
within  the  space  of  less  than  a  month. 
About  the  18th  day  of  Adar,  the 
waters  of  the  Nile,  where  so  many 
Hebrew  children  had  been  drowned, 
were  turned  into  blood,  and  so  con- 
tinued for  seven  days.  About  the 
25th  day,  the  river  produced  such 
swarms  of  frogs,  as  spread  through 
the  country,  and  entering  into  houses 
and  their  chambers,  were  a  terrible 
nuisance.  These  two  plagues  the 
magicians  a  little  imitated ;  but  could 
imitate  no  more.  The  plague  of  lice 
happened  about  the  27th,  and  that  of 
flies  on  the  29th  day  of  Adar.  On 
the  second  day  of  Abib,  there  hap- 
pened a  grievous  murrain  among 
their  cattle ;  on  the  third  and  fourth, 
the  plague  of  boils;  on  the  fifth,  the 
plague  of  hail,  thunder,  and  light- 
ning; on  the  eighth,  that  of  locusts 
and  grasshoppers ;  on  the  tenth, 
eleventh,  and  twelfth,  that  of  the 
darkness ;  on  the  fourteenth,  the 
death  of  their  first-born.  None  of 
these  afl"ected  the  Hebrews.  While 
some  of  these  plagues  continued, 
Pharaoh  seemed  willing  to  let  the 
Hebrews  go;  but  whenever  they 
were  removed,  he  was  as  obstinate 
as  ever,  or  refused  to  let  their  flocks 
go  with  them,  and  of  these  Moses 
refused  to  leave  so  much  as  one;  but 
when  the  first-born  were  slain-  Pba- 

Vor..  II. 


raoh's  servants  urged  him  to  give 
the  Hebrews  their  dismission.  By 
sprinkling  the  blood  of  the  pass- 
over  lambs  on  the  door-i)03ts  and 
U[)per  lintels,  they  had  their  families 
protected  from  the  destroying  angel, 
Exod.  V.  to  xii.  Dent.  iv.  34.  and 
xi.  3.  Heb.  xi.  23—29. 

The  Hebrews  having  begun  their 
departure  from  Egypt  in  great  haste, 
and  having  carried  with  them  a  good 
ipart  of  the  wealth  of  the  Egyp- 
Itians,  they  took  their  Journey  to  the 
j  south-east.  Pharaoh  and  his  people 
! repented  their  letting  them  go,  and 
ja  mighty  army  pursued  them,  and 
'almost  overtook  them  on  the  west  of 
jthe  Red  Sea.  The  Hebrews  mur- 
I  mured  against  Moses  for  bringing 
them  out  of  Egypt.  IMoses  prayed 
I  to  the  Lord  for  deliverance.  At 
'  God's  command,  he  stretched  his  rod 
lover  the  Red  Sea,  and  it,  where  per- 
haps about  18  miles  broad,  parted 
asunder,  and  gave  the  Hebrews  an 
easy  passage.  By  taking  off  the 
wheels  of  their  chariots,  and  dark- 
ening their  way,  the  Lord  retarded 
the  march  of  the  Egyptians ;  and 
when  the  Hebrews  were  all  over, 
and  the  Egyptians  all  in  the  chan- 
nel, Moses,  by  divine  direction, 
stretched  his  rod  towards  the  sea, 
and  it,  moved  by  a  strong  wind,  sud- 
denly returned,  and  drowned  the 
whole  of  them.  On  the  east  side  of 
the  sea,  Moses  and  the  men,  and 
Miriam  and  the  women,  of  Israel, 
sung  a  song  of  praise  for  their  mira- 
culous deliverance.  Directing  their 
course  to  the  south-east,  the  Hebrews 
were  three  days  without  water;  and 
when  they  found  some  in  Marah,  it 
was  so  bitter  they  could  not  drink  it. 
They  murmured  against  Moses,  as 
if  he  had  brought  them  into  the  wil- 
derness to  kill  them  with  thirst. 
Moses  cried  to  God  for  their  relief; 
God  showed  him  a  tree,  of  what  kind 
is  uncertain,  and  he  cast  it  into 
the  waters,  and  they  became  sweet. 
Marching  thence,  they  came  to 
Elim,  where  were  12  fountains  of 
excellent  water,  and  70  [)alni-trecs. 
On  the  fiffpenth  day  of  the  second 
2  A 


M  O  S 


(     186     ) 


M  O  S 


month,  which  was  the  31st  from  their 
departure,  they  came  to  the  wilder- 
ness of  Sin :  their  food  was  quite 
spent,  and  now  they  murmured 
that  Moses  had  brouj^ht  them  into  the 
wilderness  to  kill  them  with  hunger. 
Moses  cried  to  the  Lord.  That  very 
night  a  multitude  of  quails  fell  about 
their  tents;  and  next  morning  the 
manna,  which  continued  with  them 
forty  years,  began  to  fall.  When 
they  came  to  Rephidim,  Moses,  by 
divine  command,  smote  a  rock  with 
his  rod,  and  thence  came  water, 
whose  streams  seem  to  have  follow- 
ed them  about  39  years.  Here, 
chiefly  by  Moses's  intercession,  and 
by  his  holding  up  the  rod  of  God  in 
his  hand,  the  Amalekites  were  de- 
feated; and  to  commemorate  the  vic- 
tory, Moses  reared  up  an  altar,  and 
called  it  Jchovah-nissi,  that  is,  the 
Lord  is  my  banner.  While  they  tar- 
ried here,  Jetliro  brought  to  Moses 
his  wife  and  children;  and,  to  ease 
him  of  his  great  burden  in  judging  the 
people,  advised  him  to  appoint  heads 
of  thousands,  hundreds,  fifties,  and 
tens;  and  let  thesejudge  all  the  lesser 
causes.  This  measure  being  ajjprov- 
ed  of  God,  was  immediately  put  in 
execution,  Exod.xiii.  to  xviii.  Deut. 
xi.  4.  Josh.  xxiv.  5,  6,  7.  Neh.  ix. 
9 — 13.  Psa.lxxviii.il — 29.  and  cv. 
26 — 43.  and  cvi.  7 — 14.  and  cxxxv. 
8,  9.  and  cxxxvi.  11 — 15. 

On  the  tirst  day  of  the  third  sacred 
month,  the  Hebrews  came  to  Sinai : 
on  this  mount,  God  had  told  Moses 
the  Hebrewsshould  serve  him.  When 
Moses  first  ascended  the  mount,  God 
declared  to  him  his  intention  to  enter 
into  a  covenant  with  the  peoj)le. 
When  Moses  rehearsed  this  to  the 
people,  they  professed  their  readiness 
to  do  whatsoever  the  Lord  should 
command  lliem.  When  Closes  return- 
ed to  the  mount,  and  represented  their 
rea«5y  comj)liance  with  the  divine 
will,  God  ordered  liim  down  to  direct 
the  people  to  sanctify  themselves, 
and  wash  their  clothes,  as,  on  the 
third  day,  the  Lord  would  descend 
on  the  mountain,  and  enter  into  co- 
venant with  their..     After  they  hud 


purified  themselves,  fiery  flames  on 
the  top  of  the  mount,  and  terrible 
claps  of  thunder,  made  all  the  congre- 
gation, Moses  not  excepted,  to  trem- 
ble and  quake;  and  all  the  adjacent 
country  shook,  and  was  illuminated. 
Boundaries  were  fixed  around  the 
mount,  that  neither  man  nor  beast 
might  touch  it ;  and  all  were  discharg- 
ed fron)  gazing,  as  if  curious  to  behold 
any  coporal  similitude  of  God  amidst 
the  fire.  With  an  audible  voice,  that 
all  Israel  might  he<ir,  God  proclaimed 
the  covenant  relation  between  him 
and  them,  and  the  ten  summary  pre- 
cepts of  the  moral  law,  in  a  manner 
adapted  to  every  particular  person. 
The  terrible  thunders  so  frighted  the 
Hebrew  assembly,  that  they  entreated 
the  Lord  would  speak  his  mind  only 
to  Moses,  and  that  Moses  might  de- 
clare it  to  them.  Moses  returned  to 
the  mount,  and  there  received  a  va- 
riety of  political  and  ceremonial  laws. 
Descending,  he  erected  1 2  pillars  for 
the  12  tribes,  and  ofTered  by  the 
hands  of  some  young  men  burnt-of- 
ferings and  peace-offerings  on  an  al- 
tar erected  of  rough  stones.  The 
half  of  the  blood  he  sprinkled  on  the 
altar:  with  the  other  half  he  sprink- 
led the  book  in  which  he  had  writ- 
ten the  laws  he  had  received,  and  the 
people.  After  which,  he  and  Aaron, 
and  his  sons,  and  70  of  the  elders  of 
Israel,  went  a  little  way  up  the 
mount,  and  feasted  before  the  sym- 
bols of  the  presence  of  God. — Thus 
was  the  covenant  solemnly  rati- 
fied, Exod.  xix.  to  xxiv.  Deut.  iv. 
and  V. 

Leaving  Aaron  and  Kur,  and  the 
70  elders,  to  govern  the  j)eople,  Mo- 
ses taking  Joshua  along  with  him,  at 
least  part  of  the  way,  went  up  to  the 
mount,  where  he  continued  without 
any  food  for  the  space  of  forty  days. 
God  gave  Moses  directions  concern- 
ing the  formation  of  the  ark,  altars, 
vails,  curtains,  candlestick,  and 
other  things  j)ertaining  to  the  taber- 
nacle ;  concerning  the  priests'  gar- 
ments, and  their  consecration,  and 
concerning  burnt-offerings,  incense, 
and  perfume,    and  concerning    the 


M  O  S 


(      1»7      ) 


M  O  S 


Sabbath;  and  ordered  IJeznIeel  and 
Aholial)  to  frame  <he  work  of  the 
(abcriiaele.  After  giving  to  him  the 
two  tables  of  stone,  probably  of 
marble,  whereon  the  ten  command- 
ments had  been  divinely  inscribed, 
he  l)id  hiin  ^o  down  hastily,  as?  tlu^ 
Hebrews  had  already  broken  their 
engagementi^,  and  were  worshi|»|iing 
a  golden  calf.  He  offered  to  make 
Moses's  family  increase  into  a  great 
ualion,  if  he  would  but  forbear  in- 
terceding for  his  guilty  brethren. 
Moses  fell  on  his  face  before  the 
Lord,  and  prayed  that  he  Mould  not 
destroy  them,  as  they  were  his  cove- 
nant jieople.  When  he  came  down 
from  the  mount,  and  observed  their 
idolatr}',  his  holy  zeal  was  so  ex- 
cited, that  he  threw  down  the  tables 
of  the  law,  and  broke  them  to 
pieces  before  them,  as  a  token  of 
their  breaking  God's  covenant,  and 
exposing  themselves  to  be  broken  in 
his  wr;ith.  He  took  their  idol-calf, 
and  reclnced  it  to  powder,  and  caused 
the  idolaters  to  drink  the  water 
strewed  with  the  dust,  as  a  token 
that  their  guilt  should  be  punished. 
After  sharply  rebuking  Aaron  his 
brother  for  his  hand  in  their  sin,  he 
placed  himself  at  the  door  of  a  tent, 
v.'hich  he  erected  without  the  camp, 
and  l)id  all  that  detested  this  idolatry 
to  come  to  him.  Three  thousand 
Leviies  quickly  joined  him.  These 
he  ordered  to  go  through  the  camp, 
and  slay  every  man  his  friend,  or 
near  kinsman,  who  had  been  active 
in  the  idolatry.  After  representing 
to  the  |)eople  the  greatness  of  their 
sin,  he  begged,  that  if  God  would 
not  forgive  the  Hebrews'  sin,  him- 
self might  be  blotted  out  of  the  book 
of  providential  preservation,  and  not 
live  to  see  thein  ruined,  or  have  the 
honour  of  his  famiU'  established  on 
their  ruin.  God  replied,  he  would 
only  cut  otf  from  life  iii  that  quarrel 
such  as  had  offended  ;  that  though 
they  could  not  exi>ect  himself  to  go 
with  them,  he  would  send  his  angel 
to  guide  them  in  the  \\'iiy.  The  }'.e- 
brews  were  extremely  afflicted  to 
hear  of    God*s  refusal    to   go    Avith 


them;  but  Moses  continued  his  in- 
tercession, till  (lod  promi.7e<l  his  pre- 
sence;  promised,  and  gave  him  a 
signal  manifestation  of  his  mercy, 
goodness,  and  ecpiity.  Hereon  IMo- 
ses  earnestly  retpiesled  th:it  (iod 
would  glorily  the  exceeding  riches  of 
his  grace,  in  going  up  with  them, 
who  where  a  most  rel)elliousand  stifl- 
necked  i)eople. 

Having  procured  two  new  tallies  of 
stone,  Moses  returned  again  to  the 
mount ; and  havingcontinued  there  40 
days,  came  down  with  the  moral  law 
divinely  inscrilied  on  the  tables.  His 
face  shown  with  the  reflection  of  the 
divine  glory.  V>''hen  he  came  to 
know  it,  he  covered  his  face  with  a 
vail,  that  the  Hebrews  might  con- 
verse with  him,  Exod.  xxv.  to  xxxiv. 
Heut.  ix.  and  x.  'JMie  tabernacle 
was  now  to  be  reared  by  a  voluntary 
contribution.  The  people  l)rought 
materials,  till  Moses  restrained  them. 
Every  male  paid  half  a  shekel,  as  the 
ransom.-money  of  his  soul.  After 
six  months'  work,  the  tabernacle  was 
finished,  every  thing  exactly  accord- 
ing to  the  command  of  God  to  Moses. 
After  divine  instructions  given  to 
Moses  concerning  the  various  offer- 
ings, Aaron  and  his  sons  were  conse- 
crated to  the  service  of  the  tabernacle, 
and  then  a  nuniberofotherceremonial 
laws  were  l)y  God  uttered  therefrom. 
See  Leviticus.  An  account  of 
the  Hebrews  Avas  then  taken,  and 
all  were  directed  in  their  station  and 
march,  au<l  their  princes  offered 
.their  oblations  for  the  dedication  of 
the  tabernacle.  After  this,  the  Le- 
vites  were  consecrated,  and  a  second 
passover  was  kept.  Now  Hobab 
the  brother-in-law  of  Moses,  who 
Iiad  perhaps  tarried  about  ten  months, 
intended  to  have  returned  home  ;  hui 
?,I()pe3  entreated  he  would  go  with 
them,  and  receive  his  share  of  the 
blessings  that  awaited  them,  Exod. 
xxxiv.  loxl.  Lev.  i.  to  xxvii.  Numb. 
i.  to  X. 

Scarcely  had  the  Hebrews  de[)arted 
from  Sinai,  Avlien  they,  chiefly  the 
mixed  nmititude,  fell  a  niur:nuring 
at  the  manna,   and  lusted  for  flesh. 


M  O  S 


(     188     ) 


M  0  S 


A  burning  pestilence  began  in  the 
outside  of  tlie  camp,  which  made  the 
spot  receive  the  name  of  Taherah, 
jr  burning.  It  was  stopt  by  Moses's 
praj^er;  but  the  murmuring  was  not. 
Moses  himself  became  peevish,  and 
doubted  how  God  couki  give  them 
a  months'  flesh,  as  he  had  engaged; 
and  complained  that  himself  could 
not  govern  so  unruly  a  people ;  and 
that  it  was  unreasonable  to  require 
him  to  do  it,  as  he  was  not  their 
common  parent.  To  relieve  him, 
God  ordered  70  or  72  elders  to  be 
employed  as  his  assistants;  and  by  the 
effusion  of  a  prophetic  spirit  on  them 
the  men  were  marked  out,  and  qua- 
lified for  their  work.  Soon  after, 
quails  were  brought  in  such  plenty, 
that  the  Hebrews  eat  of  them  a  whole 
month,  till  the  flesh,  through  the  dis- 
pleasure of  God  on  them,  came  out  at 
their  nostrils,  and  occasioned  a  pes- 
tilence, which  cut  off  many  of  them, 
and  the  place  was  called  Kibroth- 
Hattaavah,  the  graves  of  lust.  At 
Hazeroth,  Aaron  and  Miriam  quar- 
relled with  Moses,  as  if  he  now  ma- 
naged matters  by  the  advice  of  Zip- 
porah  his  wife,  and  had  not  consulted 
them  in  the  affair  of  the  elders. 
Miriam  was  smitten  with  a  leprosy, 
to  punish  her  insolence  ;  but  at  Mo- 
ses's request,  the  Lord  healed  her 
after  a  few  days.  When  they  came 
to  Kadesh-barnea,  on  the  south  bor- 
der of  Canaan,  Moses,  excited  by  the 
importunity  of  the  unbelieving  mul- 
titude, and  having  permission  from 
God,  as  a  punishment  of  their  incrt?- 
dulity,  sent  twelve  spies  to  view  the 
land  of  Canaan.  After  they  had  spent 
40  days  in  this  search,  and  had  gone 
to  the  northern  borders  thereof,  they 
returned,  and  two  of  them,  probably 
Caleb  and  Joshua,  brought  a  large 
bunch  of  grapes,  carried  on  a  rod 
between  them,  to  show  the  fertility 
of  the  country.  All  the  spies  acknow- 
ledged the  land  to  be  fertile ;  but  ten 
of  them  maintained  that  it  was  un- 
Avholesome,  and  the  cities  and  peo- 
ple were  so  strong  that  they  could 
not  hope  to  conquer  it.  Caleb  and 
Joshua  with  great  concern    remon- 


strated, that  as  the  land  Avas  exceed- 
ing good,  so,  with  God's  assistance, 
they  could  as  easily  conquer  the  in- 
habitants, as  a  man  eats  his  food. 
The  congregation  crediting  the  ten, 
were  on  the  point  of  stoning  the  two 
last,  and  required  to  be  directly  led 
back  into  Egypt.  Provoked  with 
their  outrageous  contempt  of  his 
promised  land,  God  had  destroyed 
them  on  the  spot,  had  not  Moses  in- 
terceded for  them.  He  denounced, 
that  none  of  them  able  to  bear  arms, 
but  Caleb  and  Joshua,  shouhl  ever 
enter  it ;  but  they  should  wander  in 
the  wilderness  during  40  years, 
till  all  the  rest  were  consumed  by 
death,  and  then  their  children  should 
enter  in.  To  confirm  his  threaten- 
ing, the  ten  spies  who  occasioned 
this  uproar  were  instantly  smitten 
with  the  plague,  of  which  they  died. 
Contrary  to  God's  declaration,  and 
Moses's  prohibition,  the  congrega- 
tion now  became  furiously  bent  to 
invade  Canaan,  and  immediately  at- 
tempted it;  but  the  Amalekites  and 
Canaanites  easily  drove  them  back, 
with  considerable  loss.  The  He- 
brews continued  long  at  Kadesh-bar- 
nea; but  whether  the  affair  of  Ko- 
rah,  and  of  Aaron's  budding-rod,  and 
his  making  atonement  for  the  con- 
gregation by  Moses's  orders,  or  the 
giving  of  the  laws  relative  to  meat- 
offerings, breach  of  the  Sabbath,  Le- 
vi tes'  portion,  and  red  heifer,  happen- 
ed here,  Ave  know  not,  Numb.  xii.  to 
xix. 

After  the  Hebrews  had  long  en- 
camped at  Kadesh,  they,  by  God's 
direction,  moved  southAvard,  by  17 
different  marches,  sundry  of  Avhich 
might  be  hither  and  thither,  to  Ezi- 
on-geber,  on  the  eastern  gulf  of 
the  Red  Sea.  They  then  returned  to 
Kadesh-barnea,  by  much  the  same 
route.  Here,  after  the  death  of  Mi- 
riam, their  Avater  failed;  the  people 
nunmured,  and  God  bid  Moses  speak 
to  a  rock  in  that  place.  Neither 
Moses  nor  Aaron  showed  a  proper 
confidence  in  God ;  the  former,  Avith 
an  angry  address  to  the  HebrcAVS, 
struck  the  rock,  instead  of  speaking 


Pan!  iV  Tluimns,  Print. 


THJE  TWO  SPIES, 


M  O  S 


(     189     ) 


M  O  S 


to  it.  For  this  offence  both  of  them 
were  prevented  entering  the  promised 
land.  The  Hebrews  were  not  yet 
allowed  to  enter  Canaan,  but  were 
ordered  to  take  a  long  circuit  to  the 
eastward.  From  Kadesli,  Moses  sent 
to  the  king  of  Edom,  and  requested  a 
free  passage  through  his  territories, 
which  was,  through  jealousy,  most  un- 
generously and  peremptorily  refused. 
Soon  after  Aaron's  death  in  mount 
Hor,  the  Hebrews  were  harassed 
by  Arad,  king  of  Horniah;  but  they 
quickly  prevailed  against  him.  Fiery 
serpents  too,  bit  them  for  despising 
the  manna;  but  they  were  miracu- 
lously healed,  by  looking  at  a  bra- 
zen ser[)ent  lifted  up  on  a  pole.  God 
did  not  permit  Moses  to  attack  the 
Moabites  or  Ammonites;  but  when 
they  came  to  the  borders  of  the  east- 
ern Canaanites,  ruled  by  Sihon  and 
Og,  these  kings  came  against  the  Is- 
raelites in  battle ;  their  troops  were 
routed,  themselves  killed,  and  their 
country  seized. — After  winding  to 
the  west  for  some  time,  the  Hebrews 
encamped  in  Shittira,  on  the  east  of 
Jordan.  Here  Balaam  in  vain  at- 
tempted to  curse  them;  here  the 
Midianitish  women  seduced  many 
of  them  to  whoredom  and  idolatrj'. 
Moses  ordered  1000  of  the  idolaters 
to  be  put  to  death,  and  a  plague 
cut  off  23,000  more.  Moses  then 
numbered  the  people,  and  found  that 
none  of  those  capable  of  war  when 
they  came  out  of  Egypt,  but  Caleb 
and  Joshua,  were  alive.  Here  loo, 
Moses  received  some  new  laws,  con- 
cerning offerings,  feasts,  vows,  and 
the  marriage  of  daughters  falling 
heirs  to  their  father,  and  cities  of 
refuge.  He  punished  the  IMidian- 
ites  with  almost  utter  extinction;  di- 
vided the  territories  he  had  taken 
from  the  Ammonites  to  the  tribes 
of  Reuben,  Gad,  and  part  of  Manas- 
seh,  on  condition  that  they  would  go 
over  Jordan,  and  assist  their  brethren 
to  conquer  the  rest  of  Canaan;  and 
he  appointed  three  of  their  cities  for 
refuge.  God  pointed  out  to  him 
the  borders  of  Canaan  westward  of 
Jbrdan,  and  directed,  that   Eleazar 


the  high  i)rie3t,  and  Joshua,  who  had 
already  been  marked  out  for  his  suc- 
cessor, and  ivu  princes  pertaining  to 
the  tribes  concerned,  should  divide 
it  according  to  the  proporliou  of  the 
tril)es  and  their  families,  Numb.  xx. 
— xxxvi. 

The  eleventh  month  of  the  JOlh 
year  of  the  Hebrew  travels  was  now  be- 
gun. Moses  tinding  that  no  inter- 
cession could  procure  God's  admis- 
sion of  him  into  the  promised  land, 
and  knowing  that  his  end  drew  near, 
rehearsed  to  the  Hebrews  in  a  summa- 
ry manner  what  God  had  done  for 
them,  and  a  number  of  the  law^s  he 
had  given  them,  with  some  additional 
ones,  and  caused  them  to  renew  their 
solemn  covenant  with  God;  and  set 
before  them  the  manifold  blesj-ings 
which  would  attend  their  obedience, 
and  curses  that  would  follow  on  their 
wickedness.  He  left  a  written  copy 
of  his  law,  to  be  placed  at  the  side 
of  the  ark :  and  ordered  the  reading 
of  it  to  the  {)eople  at  their  public 
meetings,  especially  on  the  year  of 
release.  After  giving  Joshua  a  so- 
lemn charge  with  respect  to  his  be- 
haviour; he  composed  an  elegant 
hymn,  that  represented  the  excellen- 
cy of  God,  and  their  duty  to  him, 
and  their  danger  if  they  apostatized 
from  it.  He  then  blessed  the  tribes 
of  Israel;  that  of  Simeon,  perhaps 
because  chief  compilers  with  the 
Midianitish  w  boredom  and  idolatry, 
only  excepted;  and  concluded  with  a 
lofty  commendation  of  God,  as  the 
source  of  their  happiness.  This  l)e- 
ing  tiuished,  he  went  up  to  the  top 
of  Pisgah,  where  God  strengthened 
his  eyes  to  take  a  clear  view  of  the 
whole  of  the  western  Canaan.  His 
natural  strength  was  noway  abated, 
but,  |)erhaps,  in  a  trance  of  wonder 
at  the  goodness  of  God,  he  breathed 
out  his  last ;  and  to  hinder  the  He- 
brews from  idolizing  his  relics,  the 
Lord  buried  him  in  the  valley  over 
against  Beth-peor;  but  his  grave 
could  never  be  found.  Satan,  if 
seems,  thought  to  have  discovered 
his  body ;  but  Michael  the  archangel 
prevented  it,  and  solemnly  charged 


M  O  S 


(      190     ) 


M  O  T 


Satan  to  give  up  his  attempt. — Mo- 
ses and  Elias  appeared  to  our  Savi- 
our on  the  holy  mount :  and  if  Mo- 
ses then  resumed  liis  natural  body, 
we  Can  liardly  forbear  thinking  he 
must  now  wear  it  as  glorified  in 
heaven,  Deut.  i. — 'Xxxiv.  Matt,  xvii, 
1 — 6.  Besides  the  five  books  ascrib- 
ed to  him,  Moses  also  wrote  the 
90lh  Psalm.  It  has  been  pretended 
that  these  five  books  were  not  writ- 
ten by  him ;  but  as  the  Holy  Ghost 
always  ascribes  them  to  him,  and 
sometimes  calls  them  by  his  name, 
the  pretence  is  absurd,  Josh.  viii. 
34,  1  Kings  ii.  3.  2  Chron.  xxiii. 
18.  and  xxv.  4.  and  xxxiv.  14. 
Luke  xvi.  29.  The  Jews  too,  have 
unanimously  ascribed  them  to  him, 
as  the  penman  of  them ;  and  so  have 
several  of  (he  Heathens.  In  the  cha- 
racter of  Moses,  every  thing  is  op- 
posite to  that  of  an  impostor :  his 
narratives  are  faithful  and  disinterest- 
ed :  he  is  everywhere  the  reverse  ol 
flattery  :  his  miracles  were  wrought 
before  multitudes,  and  in  things 
wherein  they  could  not  be  deceived 
Notwithstanding  his  loading  them 
with  ceremonies,  and  representing 
them  in  a  shameful  light,  the  Jews 
extol  him  as  almost  a  deit}'.  The 
Mahometans  likewise  extol  him,  as 
next  to  Jesus  and  Mahomet.  Num- 
bers of  the  ancient  Heathen  s[)read 
his  renown  ;  and  much  of  what  they 
ascribe  to  their  god  Bacchus,  is 
thought  to  be  the  history  of  Moses 
blended  with  fable. 

Moses  was  a  distinguished  type  of 
our  Saviour.  What  a  proper,  nay,  di- 
vine, child,  was  he!  but  how  early 
and  often  exposed  to  danger!  To 
what  exile,  reproach,  contradiction 
of  sinners,  and  murder,  was  he  ex- 
posed !  How  amiable  his  qualities, 
ins  contempt  of  the  pleasures,  ho- 
nour, and  wdllh,  of  this  world!  his 
compassion  towards  his  injurious 
brethren !  his  a/nazing  meekness ! 
his  noted  fideliiy,  boldness,  prudence, 
and  zeal: — How  solemn  and  parti- 
cular his  call  to  his  work!  and  by 
what  multitudes  of  miracles  in  favour 
of  his  peoplp,  and  by  what  ruin  on 


his  Jewish,  Antichristian,  and  other 
enemies,  it  is  confirmed !  How  ex- 
tensiA^e  his  office  !  What  a  marvel- 
lous deliverer,  that  frees  us  from 
worse  than  the  Egyptian  tyranny,  sin, 
Satan,  the  world;  and  of  Heathen- 
ism and  Popery  !  What  a  marvel- 
lous provider  of  spiritual  food,  hid- 
den manna,  and  living  water,  for 
his  people !  What  a  glorious  leader, 
who  opens  a  safe  passage  through 
every  difficulty  ;  and  by  power  and 
[)rayer  subdues  every  enemy,  and 
brings  his  faithful  peo[de,  not  mere- 
ly to  the  border,  but  to  the  enjoy- 
ment of  their  promised  rest ! 

MOTE.  The  Greek  word  K*^^a« 
signifies  any  thing  that  is  dry  and 
light,  as  straw,  stubble,  chaff,  or  a 
little  splinter  of  wood,  <fcc.  This, 
and  a  beam,  its  opposite,  were  pro- 
verbially used  by  the  Jews,  to  denote, 
the  one,  small  infirmities;  the  other, 
gross,  palpable  faults.  A  proud  Pha- 
risee, or  wicked  hypocrite,  may  be 
ready  enough  to  observe  and  con- 
demn the  upright  in  heart,  for  things 
which  are  as  painful  to  them  as  a 
s|)linter  in  the  eye  would  be,  while 
he  himself  lives  in  the  practice  of 
abundantly  greater  evils,  without 
any  pro[)er  uneasiness  on  that  ac- 
count. Matt.  vi).  3. 

MOTH,  a  kind  of  insect  which 
insensibly  consumes  that  in  which  it 
takes  up  its  lodging.  Some  moths 
reside  in,  and  eat  clothes :  others 
lodge  in,  and  eat  flowers  and  leaves; 
and,  it  is  said,  perhaps  without 
ground,  that  some  nestle  in,  and  eat 
the  very  substance  of  walls.  Some 
moths  wrap  Uj>  tiiemselves  in  a  kind 
of  silk,  which  the}'  spin  out  of  their 
own  bowels. — Secret  curses  or  judg- 
ments, that  insensibly  consume  men's 
character  or  estate,  are  likened  to  a 
?nolh.  Isa.  1.  9.  and  Ii.  3.  God  likens 
himself  to  a  vioih  and  roUcnness,  be- 
cause liy  his  judgments  he  gradually 
and  insensibly  weakened  the  Jews, 
and  rendered  them  conlemplil)le, 
Hos.  V.  12.  The  wicked  ma>i  build- 
eth  iiis  house  fl.v  a  violh:  he  builds  it 
by  covetousness  and  anxious  care; 
imasjines  his  lot  agreeable,  but  how 


>I  o  u 


(  1^1  ) 


M  O  U 


caaly  tlo  the  judgments  of  God  burn 
or  shake  hirn  out  of  it !  Job  xxvii. 
18.  Man's  beauty,  glory,  and  wealtli, 
waste  like  a  moth  ;  are  secretly  and 
insensibly,  but  quickly,  consumed, 
Psal.  xxxix.  1 1. 

MOTHEIl.     See  Father. 

MOVE,  (1.)  To  stir  out  of  a 
place,  2  Kings  xxi.  8.  (2.)  To  stir 
up,  provoke,  Deut.  xxxii.  21.  (3.) 
To  persuade.  Josh.  xv.  18.  (4.)  To 
stir  up,  and  strengthen,  Judg.  xiii. 
25.  (5.)  To  assist  in  bearing,  or 
to  practise.  Matt,  xxiii.  4.  (6.) 
To  tremble,  shake  out  of  its  place, 
Psal.  xviii.  7.  (7.)  To  raise  up, 
move  to  and  fro.  Job  xl.  17.  (8.) 
To  terrify  and  discourage  from  doing 
any  thing,  Acts  xx.  24.  (9.)  To  be 
all  in  motion,  Matt.  xxi.  10.  Acts 
xxi.  30.  (10.)  To  be  exceedingly 
affected  with  wonder  and  pity,  Ruth 
i.  19.  The  Holy  Spirit  moved  on  the 
waters,  when  his  creative  influence 
prepared  the  waters  lor  |)roducing 
fishes  and  fouls;  and  the  earthy 
particles  therewith  mixed,  to  produce 
herbs,  grass,  and  trees,  Gen.  i.  2. 
The  moving  of  my  lipn  should  assuage 
my  grief;  a  free  bewailing  of  my 
case  should  give  me  ease,  Job  xvi.  5. 
The  ways  of  a  harlot  are  moveable  ; 
she  goes  from  place  to  place,  that 
her  character  may  not  be  known; 
she  uses  a  thousand  different  arts  to 
entice  men  to  wickedness,  and  is 
quite  inconstant  in  her  temper  and  pre- 
tended affection,  Prov.  v.  6.  The 
motions  of  sin  in  cur  members,  are 
the  inward  propensities  of  it  stirring 
us  up  to  actual  sin ;  and  they  are  ir- 
ritated occasionally  by  the  precejits 
and  threatenings  of  the  law,  Rom. 
vii.  5. 

To  MOl^NT,(l,)  To  f^row  great. 
Job  xs.  G.  (2.)  To  go  upward,  Isa. 
XV.  5.  The  saints  mount  vp,  w])en 
they  are  exercised  in  holy  and  hea- 
venly desires,  thoughts,  meditations, 
ho[)e8,  conversation,  Isa.  xl.  31.  The 
Jews  m&itnttd  up,  went  into  dust,  or 
walked  prouiUy,  as  the  lirting  up  of 
sraoke ;  i.  e.  however  proud  they 
were,  they  should  quickly  be  scat- 
irred,  and  fall  into  ruin,  \iH.  \\.  13. 


MOLNT,    MOUNTAIN,    HILL.       That 

there  were  mountains  before  the 
flood,  some  think  is  manifest;  for  the 
waters  are  said  to  have  covered  the 
highest  mountains.  Gen.  vii.  20.  but 
those  mountains  were  possibly  occa- 
sioned by  (he  convuls^ions  of  the 
earth ;  therefore  this  |)assage  is  no 
proof  of  it.  It  is  certain  that  the  flood 
made  great  alterations  in  the  form  of 
the  earth.  Some  have  been  since 
cast  up  by  earthquakes;  and  some 
are  mere  heaps  of  sand  collected  by 
the  wind.  Mountains  are  useful  to 
produce  minerals  and  herbage  not 
iound  elsewhere ;  to  keep  off  the 
east  or  north  winds;  to  prevent  the 
vapourous  exhalation  of  hot  coun- 
tries, and  leaving  them  parched;  and 
to  emit  [)rodigious  nunsbers  of  ex- 
cellent springs.  Upon  a  careful  in- 
spection, the  mountains  will  in  ge- 
neral appear  regularly  disposed,  as 
various  links  in  a  chain  that  go 
quite  round  the  earlh.  There  is  a 
chain  of  them  which  begins  in  Ice- 
land, if  not  Greenland,  and  runs, 
v.ith  some  interruption,  through  Bri- 
tain, Italy,  Sicily,  and  through  Afri- 
ca, &c.  Another  chain  runs  from  the 
north  of  Tartary  to  the  Cape  of  Com- 
orin  in  the  East-Indies.  One  of  these 
is  continued  on  the  other  side  of  the 
globe,  in  the  mountains  that  run  from 
the  south  to  the  north  of  America. 
Another  chain  of  mountains  runs 
across  the  above-mentioned  country 
from  east  to  west,  beginning  near  the 
east  of  China,  and  running  westward 
through  Tartary,  Media,  Macedonia, 
i  Switzerland,  France,  «S:c. 
j  Canaan  abounded  with  mountains 
and  hills.  In  the  middle  of  the  coun- 
;  try,  to  the  west  of  Jordan,  there  was, 
ithe  plain  of  Jezreel  excepted,  little 
else  than  a  beautiful  arrangement  of 
hills  from  the  north  to  the  south, 
I  The  east  pari  of  the  country  beyond 
\  Jordan  Avas  also  one  continued  ar- 
.  nngejnent  of  hills  from  north  to 
Isoulh.  On  the  north  of  Canaan  were 
I  the  mountains  Lebanon  and  Ainana. 
!  On  the  east  of  Jordan,  going  soutli- 
'  ward,  were  mount  Hermon,  Zioii, 
or    Mizar,    Gilead.    Abraim,    Neho. 


M  O  U 


(     192     ) 


M  0  U 


and  Pisgah.  On  the  south  of  Canaan, 
in  Arabia,  were  mount  Sinai,  and 
Horeb,  Paran,  Hor,  Seir,  Halak; 
in  the  south  part  of  Canaan,  we  find 
the  hill  of  Hahilah,  Engedi,  and 
Ziz;  and  at  Jerusalem,  we  find  the 
mount  of  Olives,  Calvary,  Zion,  Mo- 
riah,  and  Careb.  In  the  middle  of 
the  country  north  of  Jerusalem,  we 
find  the  hills  of  Quarantana,  Eph- 
raim,  Ebal,  Gerizzim,  Gaash,  Sa- 
maria, Tzemaraim,  Zalmon,  and 
Amalek,  Moreh,  and  Gilboa.  In  the 
northern  parts,  were  Carmel,  Tabor, 
and  the  Ladder  of  Tyre.  The 
mountains  of  Samaria  are  those 
about  Samaria,  or  at  least  in  the  ter- 
ritories of  the  ten  tribes,  Jer.  xxxi. 
5.  but  what  mount  Israel  was,  whe- 
ther some  hill  anciently  denominated 
from  Jacob,  or  Jerusalem,  or  the 
hill  of  Samaria,  or  rather  the  moun- 
tainous part  of  the  land  of  Israel,  we 
hardly  know.  Josh.  xi.  16.  Heaps 
of  earth  raised  for  the  purpose  of  ta- 
king cities,  are  called  mounts,  Ezek. 
xvii.  17.  Jer.  xxxiii.  4.  Mountains 
have  been  sometimes  absorbed,  or 
sunk  into  the  earth.  Long  ago,  the 
mountains  Cymbotus  and  Sypelus, 
and  the  vast  promontory  of  Phlegium 
in  Ethiopia,  thus  disa[)peared.  The 
burning  mountains  of  Vesuvius  and 
Strongylus  have  lost  half  of  their  for- 
mer height.  In  latter  times,  Pious, 
an  exceedingly  lofty  mountain  in  one 
of  the  Molucca  islands,  was  swallowed 
up  in  an  instant,  and  a  lake  left  in 
its  stead.  In  A.  D.  1556,  a  moun- 
tainous province  of  China  sunk  into 
an  immense  lake.  In  the  terrible 
earthquake  of  Chili  in  America, 
A.  D.  1646,  several  whole  mountains 
of  the  lofty  Andes  sunk  into  the  earth, 
one  after  another.  In -4.  D.  1618,  a 
mountain  in  the  north-east  of  Swit- 
zerland, fell  upon  an  adjacent  town, 
and  quite  buried  it,  with  near  2000 
persons  in  it. 

Mmintains  and  hills  are  used  to  re- 
present, (1.)  The  people  that  dwell 
in  a  mountainous  and  hill  country, 
E'/ek.  vi.  2,  3.  (2.)  The  temple, 
which  was  built  on  the  top  of  a  hill, 
Isa.  XXX.  2r).  Jer.  xvii.  3.  12.     (?,.) 


The  church  of  God,  typified  by 
mount  Zion,  and  which  is  firmly 
settled,  conspicuous,  and  useful,  in 
the  world,  Psal.  ii.  6.  Isa.  ii.  2.  and 
which,  as  a  great  mountain,  shall  fill 
the  whole  earth,  when  all  nations 
shall  be  gathered  to  Christ,  Dan.  ii. 
35,  44.  (4.)  The  ordinances  of 
Christ,  which  elevate  his  people  hea- 
venward, and  afford  them  much  rich 
provision  for  their  souls,  Joel  iii.  18. 
(5.)  Men  high  in  station,  power, 
and  authority,  as  magistrates  in  the 
state,  and  apostles  and  ministers  in 
the  church,  Psal.  Ixxii.  3.  Isa.  xliv. 
23.  and  Iv.  12.  (6.)  Powerful  ene- 
mies of  gospel  influence,  and  of  the 
people  of  Christ,  Isa.  xl.  4.  and 
xlix.  11.  and  xli.  15.  (7.)  The 
places  where  idols  were  worshipped, 
which  were  often  on  hills  and  high 
places,  Ezek.  xviii.  6,  11.  (8.) 
Idols  worshipped  in  these  places,  or 
any  thing  we  trust  in,  instead  of 
God,  Jer.  iii.  23.  (9.)  The  heavens, 
which  are  higher  than  mountains, 
Psal.  cxxi.  1.  God  is  likened  to  the 
mountains  round  about  Jerusalem,  as 
he  is  the  sure  defence  and  protector 
of  his  people,  and  the  source  of  all 
their  consolation,  Psal.  cxxv.  2.  Sa- 
maria is  called  a  mountain,  because 
built  on  a  hill,  Amos  iv.  1.  and  vi.  1. 
Babylon  is  called  a  mountain,  because 
of  her  lofty  buildings,  and  great 
power;  a  destroying  motintain,  be- 
cause it  overwhelmed  and  destroyed 
the  nations  around;  and  a  burned 
mountain,  because  it  was  at  last  burnt 
with  fire,  and  the  rubbish  looked 
like  a  burnt  mountain,  Jer.  Ii.  25. 

Under  the  second  apocalyptic  trum- 
pet, a  great  mountain  burning  tvith 
re  7vas  cast  into  the  sea.  By  the  sea, 
particularly  as  opposed  to  the  earth, 
the  west  of  Europe  is  supposed  to 
be  meant,  and  chiefly  the  vast  Ro- 
man empire.  A  mountain  is  often 
put  for  great  strength,  or  a  multitude 
of  people,  Jer.  Ii.  25.  This  may  de- 
note the  irrui)tion  of  the  barbarous 
nations  into  the  Roman  emi)ire.  The 
warlike  Goths  broke  in  upon  it  about 
the  year  250;  and  from  that  time 
the  irruption  of  one  nation  after  ano- 


r?; 


ai  o  u 


(     103     ) 


lyi  0  u 


ther  never  ceased,  till  the  very  form 
oftlic  Roman  ciiijiire,  ami  all  hut  tlio 
name,  waa  lost.  The  fir c  of  this 
nioiintain  is  thon2;ht  to  mean  the 
fire  of  uar,  ami  the  r.iriL^e  of  those 
savage  nations.  Roinc  was  taken 
and  hurnt,  and  terrible  was  the  ra- 
vage of  the  Golhs,  Huns,  Vandals, 
Suevi,  A:c.  in  almost  every  [jart  of 
the  empire,  Rev.  viii.  8.  At  Anti- 
Christ's  destruction,  the  islands  \\\\\fly 
wvi!/,  and  the  mountains  not  be  found  ; 
every  thing  connected  with  .\nti- 
clu-ist,  however  stable  and  apparently 
beyond  danger  at  present,  will  most 
certainly  be  ruined,  Rev.  xvi.  20. 

MOURN",     LAMENT,    WEEP,   WAIL. 

When  gates,  walls,  ramparts,  Le- 
banon, and  high  ways,  new  wine,  or 
a  country,  are  saiil  to  Liment,  mount, 
or  weep,  it  denotes  their  being  in  a 
most  doleful  and  wretched  condition, 
deserted  of  inhabitants  or  travellers, 
Isa.  iii.  (J.  and  xxiv.  4.  Lam,  i  4. 
and  ii.  8.  Ezelc.  xxxi.  5.  Mournim^, 
i.xmentation,  wcepin'^,  and  wailing,  de- 
note, (1.)  Guu;y,  and  the  expres- 
sion of  it,  whether  godly,  Mutt.  v.  4. 
Isa.  Ixvi.  10.  professedly  religious 
and  solemn,  Ezra  x.  (3.  or  natural. 
Gen.  xxiii.  2.  and  I.  3,  or  desperate, 
as  in  hell.  Matt.  xxii.  !8.  and  xxiv. 
30.  (2.)  Judgments  and  afflictions 
that  cause  grief  and  sorrow,  Ezek. 
ii.  10.  Lamf7?M/on  also  signifies  an 
oration,  v>hereia  is  bev.ailed  some 
misery  or  loss,  2  Chrou.  xxv.  25. 
At  the  death  their  friends,  the 
Hebrews  gave  all  possible  demon- 
stration of  grief;  they  sometimes 
mourned  several  weeks,  as,  30  days 
for  Aaron,  and  as  much  for  Moses : 
but  the  ordinary  term  of  mourning 
was  seven  days;  so  long  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Jabcsh-gilead  mourned  for 
Sad,  Numb.  XX.  29.  Deut.  xxxiv.  8. 
1  Sam.  xxxi.  13.  During  this  time 
of  mourning,  they  rent  their  clot  lies, 
smote  their  breasts,  fasted,  and  lay 
on  the  ground,  and  went  barefoot ; 
they  did  eat  on  the  ground;  and 
whatever  food  they  took,  was  reck- 
oned unclean,  and  that  it  poiiutedeve- 
ry  one  that  partook  of  it,  Hos.  ix. 
4.  They  did  not  dress,  or  thave 
Yoh.  ir. 


themselves,    nor    [)are    their    nn'ils^ 
nor  salute    any    body ;     their  faeefe 
and  heads  were  covered  ;  they  had 
mourners  for  the  purjiose,    both  men 
and  women,  who  made  a  trade  of  it, 
and  could  raise  the  most  doleful  out- 
cries and  howling;  and  were  used  to 
curse    the  (lays  whereon  some  emi- 
nent disaster  had    happened,  Amo3 
v.  10.  Jer.  ix.  17.  Jol)  iii.  8.  Parents 
mourned  excessively  for  an  only  son 
and  for  a  first-born,  as  his  death  cut 
ofl"  the  remembrance,  or  at  least  the 
honour,  of  their  family,  Zech.    xii. 
10.     The    priests  mourned  only  for 
near  relations,  and    the    high-jjriest 
for  none.   Lev.    xxi.  1 — 12.     After 
the  death  of  such  as  had  no  friends 
left  to  bewail  them,  some  persons  oi" 
character  of  the  place  acted  the  part 
of  mourning  friends,  atidwerein  like 
manner  comforted.    It  was  reckoned 
a  very  pious  work  to  comfort  mourn- 
ers;   and   when  they  came  to    the 
mourners,  they  stood  around  them, 
ten    in  a   row,  and   approaching  to- 
wards  them,  one  by  one,  wished  them 
comfort  from  heaven,     if  they  sat, 
it  was  on  the  ground,  and  the  mourn:- 
ers  had  the  chief  seat.     The  friends 
came  not  to  comfort  them  till  after 
the  interment,  and  not  many,  till  the 
third  or  fourth  day  after  the  decease, 
John  xi.  19,  39.     They  sometimes, 
went  to  the  graves  to  lament   their, 
dead,  and  so  the  Turkish  women  do 
to  this  day.     The  Jews  had  a  kind 
of   prayer,  or   rather  benediction  ol 
God,  as  the  raiser  of  the  dead,  which 
they  repeated  as  they  mourned,     0£ 
even  )>assed  the  graves  of  their  dead, 
"^rhe  Jews  in  Chaldea  did  not  mouru 
and  7vcrp,   but  mourned  one  tojvardi, 
an  ether ;  they  durst  not  openly    be> 
wail  their  misery,    but  they    did  it 
secretly,  Ezek.  xxiv.  23. 
.    IMOUSE,  a  small  but  well-known 
animal,    whose  fore-teeth  are  sharp, 
its  feet  divided,  and  its  ears  nakeil  of 
hair.     Mice   are    extremely  fertile, 
e3[!ecially  in  wet  harvests.     As  they 
can  feed  on  dang  ands^vine's  fiesh,it 
is  no  wonder  they  were  declared  un- 
clean by    the  Mosaic  law;  but  they 
\vere   a  part  of    food  to  the   ancient 
•2  Ji 


M  O  0 


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MO  U 


HOmans,  Lev.  xi.  29.  Isa.  Ixvi.  17. 
In  some  parts  of  Palestine  they  were 
so  plentiful,  that,  had  it  not  been  for 
birds  which  devoured  them,  they 
had  destroyed  the  whole  seed  or  crop 
of  corn ;  and  it  seems  they  had  ex- 
ceedingly marred  the  Philistines'crop 
that  year  in  which  the  ark  of  God 
was  a  captive  in  the  country,  1  Sam. 
vi.  5. 

MOUTH,  LIPS,  and  tongue,  are 
well  known  in  their  natural  significa- 
tion ;  only  mmith  is  sometimes  put 
for  a  particular  part  of  it,  as  the 
throat,  roof  of  the  mouth,  &c.  and 
in  figurative  language,  have  in  many 
things  the  same  meaning.  As  month 
Bigsiifies  any  door  or  entrance,  out- 
ward or  inward,  of  a  thing ;  Up  sig- 
nifies the  brim  or  edge  of  it,  Dan 
tii.  26.  2  Kings  ii."  13.  and  the 
tonpic,  the  uttermost  part  of  it,  I 
xi.  15.  Mouth  sometimes  signifies 
the  desire  or  appetite,  as  the  natural 
appetite  is  satiated  by  the  mouth, 
Psal.  ciii.  5.  All  the  three  words 
very  frequently  denote  language  or 
speech,  Job  xix.  16.  and  ii.  10. 
Prov.  xii.  18.  and  sometimes  tongue 
signifies  a  particular  language,  1 
Cor.  xiv.  5.  or  even  the  persons 
that  speak  in  various  languages,  Rev. 
vii.  9.  and  x.  11.  Mmdh  or  lips, 
ascribed  to  God,  denote  his  will, 
jrd,  or  j)roii)ise,    Isa.   i. 


authority 

20.  Job  xi.  5.  To  have  God's  law 
in  our  mouth  or  tongue,  is  to  delight 
in  and  converge  much  on  it,  Exod. 
xiii.  9.  Josh.  i.  8.  2  Sara,  xxiii.  2. 
To  draw  near  to  God  with  the  mouth, 
and  honour  hi.n  with  the  lips,  is  to 
make  an  outward  appearance  of  de- 
votion, cf  prayer,  and  praise,  while 
tliere  is  no  proj^er  regard  to  hira  in 
tiie  heart,  Isa.  xxix.  13.  Matt.  xv.  8. 
A  (kcdffid  or  double  tongue,  is  that 
wb^h  utters  tilings  false,  deceiving, 
and  inconsistent,  Zeph.  iii.  13. 1  Tim. 
iii.  8.  A  wholesome  tongue,  is  speech 
that  shows  a  sincere  heart,  aud  tends 
to  the  edification  of  others,  Prov.  xv. 
4.  A  bridled  tongue.,  or  watched 
mouth,  is  one  restrained  from  sinful, 
reproachful,  or  passionate   language 


3.     A  tamed  tongue,  is  one  restrained 
from   evil  language,  and  applied  to 
good,   James  iii.  8.     A  soft   tonguey 
is  kind  and  courteous  speech,  Prov. 
XXV.  15.     The  tongue  of  the  Icarnedy 
is  ability  to  speak  to  the  conviction, 
edification,  and    comfort,  of   men's 
souls,  Isa.  1.  4.     A  froward  mouth, 
is  one    full  of  peevish,  fretful,  and 
disobedient    speech,    Prov.  iv.    24. 
A  smooth  inouth,  is  one  full  of  soft 
and    flattering  language,    Prov.    r. 
3.     Unclean  lips,  are    such    as  are 
polluted  with  sinful  words,  Isa.  vi. 
5.     Burning   lips,    denote  fine    and 
handsome  language,   or  talk    appa- 
rently full  of  love,  Prov.  xxvi.  23, 
The  mouth  of  the  foolish  is  a  rod  of 
pride,  is  near  destruction,  and  is  its 
owner's  destruction ;  wicked  and  fool- 
ish speeches  afHict  neighbours,  and 
ruin  the  speakers  themselves,  Prov. 
X.  14.  ami  xiv.  3.  and  xviii.  7.     To 
open  the   moidh,  is  to   cause   one  to 
speak,   Numb.  xxii.  28.  or  to  com- 
plain, Isa.  liii.  7.  or  to  speak  with  full 
freedom  and  boldness,  Psal.  cix.  2. 
Job   iii.  1 .  or  to  listen  attentively,  as 
deaf  people  oj)en  their  mouth  to  help 
their  hearing,  and  to  desire  earnestly, 
Psal.  cxix.  131.     To  open  the  mouth 
or  lips  wide,  is  to  talk  rashly,   boast- 
ingly,  reproachfull}^  Psal.  xxxv.  21. 
Pro*/,    xiii.  3.  or  to  listen  with  the 
utmost  attention,  earnestly  desiring 
instruction.    Job    xxix.  23.    or  ear- 
nestly to  desire  satisfaction  and  bless- 
ings to  our  souls,  Psal.  Ixxxi.    10, 
The  earth  opened  her  mouth,  when 
rent  asunder,  and  a  golph  was  made, 
Numb.  xvi.  32.  Hell  opens  her  mouth 
when  multitudes  go  into  it,  Isa.  v.  14. 
Stopping  or   shutting  the   moidh,   or 
keeping   ilie   door  of  the  mouth,   im- 
ports a  sense  of  guilt,  sliame,  silence, 
restraint  of  speech,  or  inability    to 
speak,  Rom.  iii.  19.  Psal.  Ixiii.  11. 
Mic.  vii.  5.  Eccl.  xii.   4.     Iniquity 
steps  its   mouth,  when  wicked  men 
are  restrained  from  the  exercise  of 
their  power,  and  are  ashamed  to  sin 
openly,  Psal.  cvii.  42.     To  lay  the 
hands  on   the  moidh,  and  have  the 
cars  deaf,  is  to  be  struck  silent  with 


James i.  26.  Psal.-xxxix.  l.anUcxli,  shame  and  terror.  Mic.  vii.  16.     To 


M  U  P 


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M  U  L 


have  the  7nouih  or  lips  covered,  im- 
ports shame  and  grief.  Lev.  xiii.  45. 
Ezek.  xxiv.  17,  20.  iMic.  iii.  7.  To 
refrain  the  lips,  is  to  speak  little  and 
seasonably;  as  the  talk  of  the  lips, 
vain  and  idle  speech,  and  empty 
boasting  without  practiee,  tends  only 
to  poverty,  Prov.  x.  1!<.  and  xiv. 
23.  To  sel  the  mouth  ((gainst  the 
heavens,  is  to  speak  arrogantly'  and 
blasphemously,  without  fear  of  God 
or  men,  ¥sn\.  Ixxiii.  9.  To  wltettlu 
tons;vc,  is  with  great  <liligence  and 
activity  to  backbite,  slander,  and 
revile,  Psal.  ixiv.  -1.  To  gnaw  the 
tongue,  or  gnash  tiu:  teeth,  is  exj)rcs- 
sive  of  great  torn^ent,  rage,  and  de- 
spair, Rev.  xvi.  10.  Umkr  the  tong7ie 
or  lipSy  or  in  the  month,  sometimes 
denotes  in  the  heart,  but  so  as  it  is 
ready  to  be  uttered  by  tiie  tongue  or 
lips,  Psal.  X.  7.  and  cxl.  3.  Some- 
times the  tongue  is  put  for  the  heart, 
Psal.  Hi.  2. 

God  divides  men's  tongues,  when  he 
hinders  their  joint  designs  agahist  and 
persecutions  of  his  peoj)le,  Psal.  Iv. 

6.  The  mouth  delivers  and  satisfies ; 
the  prayers  and  instructions  of  saints 
are  means  of  the  salvation  and  com- 
fort of  others,   Prov.  xii.  6.  and  xiv. 

7.  Out  of  the  mouth  of  Christ's  wit- 
nesses proceeds  fire  to  devour  their 
enemies,-  according  to  their  prayers, 
hopes,  and  declarations,  divine  wrath 
is  executed  on  Antichrist,  Rev,  xi. 
5.  The  mouth  of  tlie  dragon,  and 
beast,  and  false  prophet,  is  the  autho- 
rity, influence,  or  doctrine  of  Satan, 
the  Heathen  Romish  empire.  Anti- 
christ, and  Mahomet,  Rev.  xii.  10. 
and  xiii.  2.  and  xvi.  13.  The  Turks 
have  power  in  their  mouth,  and  in 
their  tails  ;  in  their  terrible  lire-arms, 
and  numerous  infantrj^  or  in  their 
soldiers  and  false  teachers.  Rev.  ix. 
17,  18,  19.  God  will  divide  the 
fongitc  of  the  Egyptian  Sea,  by  re 
moving  every  hindrance  of  the  con 
version  of  the  Gentiles,  or  impedi- 
ment of  the  recalling  of  the  Jews  to 
his  favour,  and  to  a  church-state, 
Isa.  xi.   15. 

MUFFLERS,  women's  vails,  or 
masks,  which  covered   their  whole 


face,  except  the  eyes;  such  jneces 
of  apparel  Avere  conmion  among  the 
Arabs  and  .lews,  Isa.  iii,  19. 

MULRERRV-TREKS  have  their 
flowers  of  the  amenlaceouB  kind, 
roMsisting  of  a  great  number  of  sta- 
mina, with  points  rising  frcrm  a  four- 
leaved  cup ;  tlie  berries  contain 
roundish  seeds,  are  soft,  and  full  of 
nice.  Tiiere  are  five  kinds  of  nud- 
berry-frees.  The  fruit,  when  un- 
ripe, is  of  a  very  binding  quality ; 
but  when  riiie,  it  is  rather  purgative, 
and  is  most  cooling,  delicious,  am! 
good  for  quenching  of  thirst.  The 
syrup  made  of  it  also  is  very  plea- 
sant. The  Romans  preferred  nud- 
bcrrj'-apjjles  to  every  kind  of  fo- 
reign fruit.  At  present,  the  leaves 
of  this  tree  are  much  used  to  feed 
silk-worms ;  and  the  leaves,  fruit, 
juice,  bark,  and  root,  have  been  used 
in  medicine.  IMidtitudes  of  mulber- 
ry-trees grew  in  the  drier  soils  of 
Canaan,  as  in  the  vallej'  of  Rei:haim, 
Bacha,  &c.  By  a  sound  made,  no 
doubt,  by  angels,  on  the  tops  of  the 
mull)erry-trees,  in  the  valley  of  Rcr 
jjhaim,  was  David  directed  when  to 
attack  the  Philistines,  2  Sam.  v.  23, 
24. 

MULE,  a  mongrel  animal,  pro- 
duced by  a  horse  and  an  ass,  or  by 
a  mare  and  he-ass.  Neither  mules 
nor  any  other  mongrel  animals  are 
capable  of  procreation,  God  having 
wisely  so  ordered,  to  prevent  the 
filling  of  the  world  with  monsters- 
The  Jewish  law  expressly  prohibit- 
ed every  attempt  to  confound  the 
species  of  animals.  Some  have  pre- 
tended, that  Anaii  the  Horite  was 
the  inventor  of  the  unnatural  manner 
of  gendering  mules;  but  we  have 
supposed  the  text  to  have  another 
meaning.  It  is  certain,  there  were 
plenty  of  mules  in  the  time  of  Da- 
vid. He  and  his  sons  rode  on 
mules,  2  Sam.  xiii.  29.  and  xviii.  9. 
Solomon  rode  upon  one  at  his  coro- 
nation, and  |)rocured  a  considerable 
number  of  them,  1  Kings  iv.  28. 
and  x.  25.  Ahab  had  vast  numbers 
of  them,  1  Kings  xviii.  5.  Naaman 
had  several   o!"   thejn  in  his   train, 


M  U  N 


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M  U  R 


2  Kinirs  T.  1 7.  The  people  of  To- 
j;ai)ii.ih  sold  numbers  of  them  to  the 
Tjriaiis,  Ezek.  xxvii.  14.  The  Jews 
had  245  of  them,  to  bear  (heir  furni- 
tiire,  from  Babylon,  Ezra  ii.  The 
Persians  used  them  for  their  post-])oys 
to  ride  on,  Esth.  viii.  10.  They  are 
stiil  much  used  in  several  countries, 
^vhere  tiie  ways  are  hard  and  rocky. 
Great  numbers  of  them  are  kejjt 
about  the  Alps,  on  the  north  of  Italy, 
and  the  Pyrenean  mountains,  be- 
tween France  and  Spain.  These 
mules  are  generally  black,  weli-Iimb- 
ed,  and  mostly  bred  of  Spanish  mares. 
Some  of  them  are  15  or  16  hands 
high.  They  are  much  stronger, 
hardier,  and  surer  footed,  than  horses, 
and  will  live  and  work  the  double  of 
their  age:  they  are  light,  and  fit  for 
riding,  but  gallo;»  roughly. 

MULTIPLY,  to  increase  in  num- 
ber or  quantity.  In  muUiplyins;  Goil 
imdiipUcd  Al)raham,  when  his  pos- 
terity, and  their  blessings,  were  ren- 
dered exceedingly  numerous  and 
great,  Gen.  X7\ii.  17.  Heb.  vi.  14. 
God's  mercy  is  imdiipUcd,  not  by  in- 
crease in  him,  but  by  the  increase  of 
its  fruits  to  men,  and  their  being  more 
abundantly  assured  of  his  favour, 
Jude  2.  His  Avord  is  imdtiplicd, 
when  it  is  more  abundantly  and 
successfully  preached,  to  the  con- 
version and  edification  of  men.  Acts 
xii.  24. 

MULTITUDE,  (1.)  A  great  com- 
pany of  persons  or  things,  (ilen.  xxx. 
30.  and  xlviii.  4.  (2.)  The  com- 
mon people,  who  are  the  most  nume- 
lous,  Matt.  xiv.  5.  (3.)  The  whole 
assembly,  both  senators  and  common 
yeo'ile,  Acts  xxiii.  7.  (4.)  A  great 
compawy  of  professed  Ohrislians, 
Acts  xxi.  22.  (5.)  Great  store 
and  variety,  Jer.  x.  13.  Eccl.  x*.  3, 
7.  The  horses  that  remain  arc  as 
the  multitude  cf  Israel ;  they  are  as 
lean  and  near  starving  as  tlie  people 
are,  and  so  it  viill  be  no  great  matter 
suppose  they  fall  into  the  hands  oi 
ihe  Syrians,  2  Kin2;s  vil.  13. 

MUNITION,  FORT,  Nah.  ii.  1. 
©hrist  is  like  the  inumlicni  of  rocks 
{o  his  people ;  ia  him  they  are  safely 


protected  from  condemnation,  froW 
the  dominion  of  sin,  and  IVom  Satau 
and  his  agents,  Isa.  xxxiii.  It). 

MURDER,  (1.)  The  act  of  lik- 
ing away  the  life  of  another  unlawful 
ly,  Mark  xv.  7.  (2.)  Hatred  of  ouf 
neighbour,  in  thought,  word,  or 
deed,  Matt.  xix.  18.  1  John  iii.  15,. 
The  voluntary  killing  of  anj'  person, 
except  in  lawful  war,  execution  of 
public  justice,  or  necessary  self-de- 
ience,  hath  been  peculiarly  marked 
out  by  the  vengeance  of  God.  Cain, 
the  first  murderer,  was  preserved  as 
a  monument  of  the  divine  indigna- 
tion. Gen.  iv.  15.  but  in  ordinary 
cases,  God  requires  that  murderers 
be  put  to  death  Iiy  the  magistrate. 
No  sacrifice  was  accepted  for  this 
sin :  no  money  was  to  ransom  the 
life  of  -the  guilty.  Suppose  he  (led 
to  God's  altar  for  protection,  he  was 
to  be  dragged  thence,  and  executed, 
Gen.  ix.  6.  Psa!.  Ii.  16.  Numb. 
XXXV.  27 — 31.  If  a  man  had  ever 
so  involuntarily  and  accidentally 
slain  his  neighbour,  God,  to  show  his 
abhorrence  of  murder,  ordered  the  in- 
voluntary manslayer  to  be  banished 
his  native  abode,  and  confined  to  a 
city  of  refuge  till  the  death  of  the 
high  priest ;  and  if  found  without  it 
by  the  slain  person's  friend,  might  be 
put  to  death,  Numb.  xxxv.  Deut.  xix. 
If  a  body  was  found  murdered  in  the 
field,  and  the  murderer  unknown,  the 
rulers  of  the  next  cily  slew  a  heifer, 
and,  with  washing  of  hands,  solemnly 
protested  their  innocence  of  the 
crime,  and  their  ignorance  of  the 
actor:  and,  with  tlie  priests  or  Ler 
vites  present,  entreated  that  the  Lord 
would  not  Jay  the  sin  io  the  charge 
of  tiie  land,  Deut.  xxi.  1 — 8. 

MURMURING,  a  complaint 
made  for  some  wrong  pretended  to 
have  been  received,  Exod.  xvi.  2. 
St.  Paul,  1  Gov.  X.  10.  forbids  all 
murmuring,  which  was  so  fatal  lo  the 
Israelites  who  murmured  in  the  wil- 
derness; and  for  which  God  punished 
them  severely.  They  murmured  at 
the  graves  of  iusJ,  and  God  sent  tliein 
quails  for  food;  but  hardly  was  this 
meat  out  of  their  mou.tJis,  A^heu  -thfe 


M  U  S 


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M  U  S 


wralh  of  the  Lord  v.r8  kimlled 
againft  (hem,  and  he  df>?tfoye<l  three 
andtwenlv  thousrindof  them,  Nuinh. 
xi.  33,  3"j.  Pstil.  Ixxviil.  30,  31. 
They  nnirrnuied  again  at  the  return 
of  the  sjiies,  uho  were  sent  to  search 
out  and  view  tiie  promised  land  ; 
and  God  ()uijijhed  them  hy  deprivinj:; 
them  of  the  happiness  of  ever  sceliia: 
that  land,  and  condemned  them  lo 
die  in  the  wihlerness.  Numb.  xiv. 
29,  30.  They  were  again  punislied 
for  murmuring  by  the  fiery  serj)ents 
that  God  sent  ajnongbt  them,  which 
killed  a  great  number  of  them,  Num. 
xxi.  4 — 6.  The  murmuring  of 
Miriam,  the  sister  of  Moses,  was 
punished  i)ya  leprosy  that  seized  her 
whole  body,  and  obliged  her  to  abide 
seven  days  without  the  camp,  id. 
xii.  1,  2,  10,  15.  And  tlie  murmur- 
ing and  rebellion  of  Corah,  Dathan, 
and  Abirarn,  was  chastized  in  a  still 
more  terrible  manner;  the  earth 
opening  and  swallowing  up  the  au- 
thors of  the  sedition;  and  fire  con- 
suming their  accomplices,  id.  xvi. 

MURRAIN,  a  kind  of  pestilence 
that  killed  a  great  many  of  the  Egyp- 
tian cattle,  Exod.  ix.  3.  Psal.  Ixxviii. 
50. 

MUSE,  lo  think,  to  consider, 
Psal.  cxliii.  5. 

IviUSIC  is  of  a  very  ancient  ori- 
gin. Tubal,  a  descendant  of  Cain, 
fong  before  the  flood,  taught  men  to 
play  on  the  har[)  and  organ.  Laiian 
complained  that  Jacob  deprived  him 
of  an  opportunity  of  sending  off  his 
daughters  with  music.  Gen.  iv.  21. 
and  xxxi.  27.  The  ancient  He- 
brews had  a  very  great  taste  for 
music:  when  they  had  passed  the 
Red  Sea,  both  men  and  women  sung 
their  respective  hymns  to  the  ])raise 
of  God,  their  miraculous  deliverer, 
Exod.  XV.  Silver  trumpets  were  di- 
vinely ordered  to  be  made  for  sound- 
ing over  their  sacrifices,  especially 
at  solemn  feasts.  Numb.  x.  With 
music  .lephthah's  daughter  welcomed 
liim  home  from  his  victory,  Judg. 
xi.  34.  and  with  music  the  Hebrew 
women  welcomed  David  back  from 
the  slaughter  of  Goliath,  1  Sam.  xvii. 


0.  David  himself  was  an  excellent 
musician,  and  it  seems  ha.d  plenty 
of  singing  men  and  singing  women 
in  his  court,  1  Sam.  xvi.  and  2  Sam. 
vi.  and  xix.  21.  SoIomjou  had  them 
probably  in  a  far  greater  number, 
Eccl.  ii.  n.  In  the  time  of  .leroboam 
thesonof  Joash,  tiie  Israelites  valued 
themsehes  ujion  invent ing  new  mu- 
sical instruments,  Amos  vi.  5.  At 
his  idolatrous  festival,  Nebuchad- 
nezzar had  a  large  concert  of  music; 
and  music  was  the  ordinary  recrea- 
tion of  the  Median  king,  Dan.  iij. 
and  vi.  18.  Thetem|)le  music  makes 
the  ciiief  figure  in  scripture.  David 
in  his  own  time,  com|)0?ed  a  variety 
of  Psalms,  and  caused  his  skilful 
players  to  set  them  to  music,  as  ap- 
l)ears  by  their  inscriptions  to  Jedn- 
(hun,  Asaph,  or  the  sons  of  Korah,  1 
Chron.  xv.  and  xvi.  AsnowtheLe- 
vites  were  eased  of  a  great  |)arl  of 
the  burdensome  work  of  their  charge, 
by  the  tabernacle  and  ark  being  fixed 
in  a  place,  David,  before  his  death, 
distril)uted  the  4,000  sacred  singers 
into  24  classes,  who  should  serve  at 
the  temple  in  their  turns.  The  three 
chief  musicians  were  Asajdi,  Heman, 
and  Jeduthun.  The  four  sons  of 
Asaph,  six  of  Jedufhun,  and  14  of 
Heman,  were  constituted  tlie  chiefs 
of  the  24  classes.  It  is  probable, 
that  they  all,  or  most  of  them,  attend- 
ed at  the  solemn  festivals.  They 
were  thus  arranged;  Gershonites 
on  the  south  of  the  brazen  altar; 
the  Pvlerarites  on  the  north ;  and 
the  Kohathites  between  them,  possi- 
blj'  on  the  east  and  west  of  it,  1 
Chron.  xxv.  The  Jews,  or  their 
singers,  were  mocked  with  their 
sacred  songs  at  Babylon,  Psalm 
cxxxvii.  2.  Two  hundred  singing 
men  and  singing  women  returned 
from  the  Chaldean  captivity  along 
with  Zerubbabel,  Esra  ii.  65.  From 
the  Heathens  the  JeAVs  adopted  mu- 
sic into  their  funeral  rites,  Matt, 
ix.  23.  Their  neoi.noth,  or  stringed 
instruments,  were  the  psalta^y  and 
harp ;  to  which  may  jjerhaps  be  add- 
ed, the skimimlh,.sht:yhan.  or shushan- 
im.  and  the  alamctk,aix{l  didcimer^  and 


M  Y  n 


C     198     ) 


M  Y  R 


sackbut :  and  the  hehiloth,  or  wind 
instruments,  were  the  organ,  cornet, 
flute,  pipe,  and  trumpet:  their  drum 
instruments  were  timbrels,  cymbals, 
and  bells. 

MUST,  denotes,  (1.)  That  a  thing 
is  morally  certain  on  account  of  ex- 
isting circumstances.  Matt,  xviii.  7. 
Acts  i.  16.  (2.)  Absolutely  neces- 
sary, John  iii.  7.  (3.)  Expedient,  as 
an  event  to  be  fidfilled  for  answering 
the  predictions,  purposes,  or  ends, 
of  God,  Rev.  xx.  3.  2  Tim.  ii.  6. 

MUSTARD,  a  plant  whose  flower 
consists  of  four  leaves,  and  is  formed 
like  a  cross.  The  pistil  arises  from 
the  cup,  and  finally  becomes  a  long 
pod,  divided  by  an  intermediate 
membrane  into  two  cells,  containing 
roundish  seeds.  The  pod  also  usu 
ally  terminates  in  a  fungus  horn, 
with  some  seeds  in  it.  There  are 
11  or  12  kinds  of  mustard.  The 
seeds  are  of  a  hot,  sharp,  and  biting 
taste.  The  mustard  in  Canaan  grew 
much  larger  than  ours.  The  Jewish 
Talmud  mentions  a  stalk  of  it  that 
was  sufficient  to  bear  a  man  climbing 
up  on  it,  and  another  whose  princi- 
pal branch  bore  three  barrels  of  mus- 
tard seed.  Our  Saviour  represents 
its  stem  as  growing  to  the  height  of  a 
tree,  sufficient  to  lodge  birds  among 
its  branches.  The  kingdom  of  hea- 
ven is  compared  to  it,  to  represent 
what  is  the  small  beginning,  and  yet 
the  wonderful  increase,  of  the  gospel 
ehtirch,  and  of  the  work  of  grace  in 
the  hearts  of  men.  Matt.  xiii.  31. 

MUSTER,  to  array,  to  put  an  ar- 
my in  proper  rank  and  order,  2  Kings 
xxv.  19.  The  Lci'd  musterclh  the 
host ;  by  his  providence  he  collects, 
and  ranks  into  order  the  armies 
which  execute  his  vengeance,  Isa. 
xiii.  4. 

MUTTER,  to  speak  softly.  It 
seems  wizards  muttered  and  peeped 
to  their  familiar  spirits,  Isa.  viii.  10. 

MUTUAL,  belonging  to  both 
parties,  Rom.  i.  12. 

MUZZLE,  to  put  any  thing  in  or 
on  the  mouth  of  a  beast,  to  restrain 
it  from  eating,  Deut.  xxv.  4. 

MYRA4  Iflorv,  pmif  cul>>  7vftp.  a 


city  of  Lysia,  where  Paul  embarked  in 
an  Alexandrian  ship  bound  for  Rome, 
Acts  xxvii.  5.  Whether  he  founded  a 
church  here,  or  not,  we  are  uncertain; 
but  from  the  fourth  to  the  ninth  cen- 
tury, when  the  Saracens  seized  on  it, 
there  were  bishops  in  this  place. 

MYRRH,  a  kind  of  gum  issuing 
from  the  trunk  and  larger  branches 
of  the  myrrh-tree,  which  is  common 
in  Arabia,  Egypt,  and  Abyssinia. 
Sometimes  it  issues  spontaneously ; 
but  chiefly  flows  out  by  means  of 
incision.  The  incisions  are  made 
twice  a  year,  and  the  gum  or  rosin 
is  received  on  rush  mats  spread  be- 
low. It  comes  to  Europe  in  loose 
grains,  from  the  size  of  a  pepper- 
corn to  that  of  a  walnut,  but  mostly 
about  the  size  of  pease  or  horse- 
beans,  and  but  seldom  roundish. 
Myrrh  is  of  a  reddish  brown  colour, 
with  somewhat  of  a  mixture  of  yel- 
low. It  is  soluble  in  common 
water,  and  its  purest  pieces  are  some- 
what transparent.  Its  taste  is  disa- 
greeable, bitter,  and  acid,  with  a 
peculiar  flavour.  Its  smell  is  strong, 
but  not  unpleasant.  The  best 
myrrh  is  that  which  is  clear,  light, 
easily  broken,  and  of  the  bitterest 
taste.  Mj^rrh  is  of  a  purifying  and 
preservative  nature,  and  was  used  by 
the  ancients  in  the  embalming  of  their 
dead,  and  in  perfuming  garments, 
beds,  and  women,  John  xix.  39.  Psa. 
xlv.  8.  Prov.  vii.  17.  Esth.  ii.  12.— 
Being  valuable,  it  was  often  given  in 
presents.  Gen.  xliii.  11.  Matt.  ii.  12, 
It  was  an  ingredient  in  the  sacred 
perfume  or  incense  of  the  Jews, 
Exod.  XXX.  23.  Christ's  garments 
are  said  to  smell  of  myrrh,  &c.  his 
work  of  redemption  is  more  agreea- 
ble to  saints  than  any  perfumed  bed 
or  garment,  Psal.  xlv.  8.  His  influ- 
ences, and  the  graces  that  flow  from 
him  to  his  people,  are  like  myrrh; 
how  precious,  purifying,  and  jire- 
serving  to  their  souls!  and  they  en- 
dear them  to  him,  and  render  them 
as  myrrh,  for  the  purification  and 
preservation  of  others. 

MYRTLE,  a  comely  and  fragrant 
tree,  ever  green,  and  which  grows 


^l  Y  b 


(     iiiO    ) 


M  Y   S 


beet  in  low  and  well  watered  vallies.  inlellis;iUc  as  facts  to  Uie  vuantiit^ 
The  flower  is  ol'  the  ros-y  kimi,  amljuiiilrrj^iandintr-  ^V'ht•u  llie  apostle 
J9  comj)Oscd  of  several  petals  ar-;slyks  the  mystery  of  a;odlinesb  «rcfl/, 
ranged  in  a  circular  form.  The  fruit 'he  i^eeuis  plainly  to  allude  to  the  fa- 
is  a  herry,  shaped  as  an  olive,  anil  inous  Elusinian  myslrrie-,  whicU 
contains  kidney-sliajted  seeds.  The  |  were  distinc;uished  \i\io  small  antl 
berries  are  cooling;   and   astringent,  i^nal,  the  lalter  of  which  were  had 


Tournefort  mentions  12  kinds  of 
myrtles.  Saints  are  likened  to  mi^r- 
tlcs,  for  their  spiritual  comeliness, 
an(l  their  peculiar  grou  th  in  trouble, 
when  humble  and  well  watered  by- 
Christ,  Isa.  xli.  19.  and  Iv.  13.  Zech. 
i.  3.  But  in  the  last  text,  imjrllc- 
trccs,  with  a  man  amoiig  them,  jiiay 
denote  the  Jews  in  their  low  and  f  n- 
slaved  condition  in  Babylon,  with 
Christ  among  them  as  their  pre- 
ser\'er. 

MYSIA,  abominable,  crimvial. 
There  was  a  Mysia  in  Europe,  on 
the  east  of  Dalmatia,  and  north  of 
Macedonia  ;  but  the  Mysia  mention- 
ed iu  scripture,  is  that  in  Lesser 
Asia,  which  had  the  Hellespont  Sea  on 
the  north-west,  Bitliyniaon  the  north 
east,  and  Phrygia  on  the  south.  The 
inhabitants  were  stuj)id  arul  con- 
temptible to  a  proverb;  but  here 
Paul  preached  the  gospel,  and  ever 
since  there  have  been  some  vestiges 
of  a  Christian  church,  Acts  xvi.  7,  8. 

MYSTERY,  the  Greek  word 
y.vTiipiov  denotes  (1.)  Something /lu/- 
<kn,  or  7iot  fully  manifest.  Thus,  2 
Thess.  ii.  7.  we  read  of  the  mystery 
of  iniquity,  which  began  to  worlc  in 
secret,  but  was  not  then  completely 
disclosed  or  manifested.  (2.)  Some 
sacred  thing  hidden  or  secret,  Avhich  is 
naturally  unknown  to  human  reason, 
and  is  only  known  by  the  revelation 
of  God.  Thus,  1  Tim.  iii.  16.  Great 
is  the  mystery  of  godliness  ;  God  was 
manifest  in  the  flesh,  justified  by  the 
Spirit,  li-c.  The  mystery  of  godli 
ness,  or  of  true  religion,  consisted  in 
the  several  particulars  here  mentioned 
by  the  a|)ostle.  Particulars,  indeed, 
which  it  would  never  Jiave  entered 
into  the  heart  of  man  to  conceive, 
(I  Cor.  ij.  9.)  liad  not  God  accom- 
plished tiiem  in  fact,  and  published 
them  by  tlie  preaching  of  his  gospel ; 
ttut  which  being  thus  manijhtcd,  are 


in  the  highest  reverence  among  (he 
Greeks  and  Romans.      In  like  man- 
ner, the  term  mystery,   Rom.  xi.  23. 
1  Cor.  XV.  5 1 .  denotes  what  was  hid- 
den or  unknown,   till  revealed;  and, 
thus  the  aj)Ostle  speaks,  1  Cor.  xiii. 
2.  of  a  man's  tindir standing  all  myste- 
ries,  i.  e.  all  the  revealed  truths  oV 
the  Christian  religion,  which  is  else- 
where called  the  mystery  of  faith,  I 
Tim.  iii.  9.  And  when  he  who  spake 
in  an  unknown  tongue,   is  said    to 
speak  mysteries,   1  Cor.  xiv.  2.  it  is" 
plain,  that  these  mysteries,  however 
unintelligible  toothers  on  account  of 
the  language  in  which    they   were 
spoken,  were  yet  understood  by  the 
person    himself,    because   he  hereby 
edified  himself,  ver.  4.    Acts  ii.  11.. 
and  X.  40.    And  though,  in  1  Cor.  ii. 
6.  we  read  of  the  wisdom  of  God  in 
a  mystery,  even  the  hidden  wisdom. 
which  (ver.    8.)  none  of  the  prince* 
of  this  world  knew,    yet,  says  the 
apostle,  we  speak  or  declare  this  wis- 
dom; and  ver.  10.  he  observes,  that 
God    had    revealed    the   particulars 
of  Avluch  it  consisted,  to  them  by  his 
Spirit.      So   when  the  ajjostles  are 
called  stewards  of    the   mysteries  of 
God,    1  Cor.  iv.  1.    these  mysteries 
could  not  mean  what  was,  as  facts, 
unknown  to  them,  (because  to  them  it 
was  given  to  know  the  mysteries  of  the 
kingdom  of  God,  Matt.  xiii.  1 1 .)  yea, 
the  character  here  ascribed  to  them 
implies  not  only  that  they  kncwiluse 
mysteries   themselves,    but   that    as 
faithful  stewards  they  were  to    dis- 
pense or  make  them  known  to  others. 
See  Luke  xii.  42.  1  Pet.  iv.  10.     In 
Col.  ii.  2.  St.  Paul  mentions  his  pray- 
ing for  his  converts,  that  their  heartt^ 
might  be  comforte<l  to  the  knoAvledge 
of  ihe  mystery  of  God,  even  of  the  Fa- 
ther, ami  of  Christ ;  for  thus,  I  think, 
the  |)a5sage    should     be    translated. 
But  if  with  our  translators  wo  rend.";:- 


M  Y  b 


•(     200 


M    Y    S 


J^Tiyma-iv  acknoyviedgmcnls,  stili  the!  Thus,  Rev.  i.  20.  the  mi/stcrv,  I.  e^ 
wo>'d  f^v?-i!piov  can  by  no  means  ex- j  the  sijintual  nie;iniiig  of  ike  sevn 
elude  knowledge,  for  this  is  life  cier-\stars:  The  seven  stars  arc  the  angels- 
7i(d,  sailh  our  Lord,  John  xvii.  3.1  of  the  seven  churches.  So  Rev.  xvii. 
that  they  may  know  lhee,thc  only  inte^  5.  And  upon  her  forehead  a  name 
God,  and  Jesus  Christ  whom  thou  hast\  written.  Mystery,  Babylon  the 
sent.  Aa<l  iastly,  whatever  be  the  Great,  i.  e.  Bab3^1on  in  a  spiritual 
particular  meaning  of  the  mystery  of  sense,  the  mother  rf  idolatry  and  aho- 


God,  mentioned  Rev.  s.  7.  yet  it 
was  something  he  had  declared  to  (or 
rather  hy)  his  servants  the  prophets. 
(3.)  The  word  mystery  is  sometimes 
in  the  writings  of  St.  Paul  applied  in 
a  peculiar  sense  to  the  calling  of  the 
Gentiles,  which,  Eph.  iii.  3 — 6.  he 
styles  the  mystery,  and  the  mystery  of 
Christ,  which  in  other  generations  was 
not  made  known  to  the  sons  of  men., 
as  it  is  now  revealed  to  his  holy  apos- 
tles andprophels  by  the  Spirit,  that  the 
Gentiles  should  he  fcUow-hcirs,  and  of 
the  same  body,  and  partakers  of  Christ 
by  the  gospel,  Rom.  xvi.  25.  Eph.  i. 
9.  and  iii.  0.  and  vi.  19.  Col.  i.  20, 
27.  and  iv.  3.  (4.)  It  denotes  a  spi- 
ritual truth  couched  under  an  external 
representation  or  similiiudc,  and  con- 
cealed or  hidden  thereby,  unless  some 
explanation  of  it  be  otherwise  given. 


minations  ;  and  ver.  7.  I  will  tell  tliee 
the  mystery  or  spiritual  signification 
of  the  woman.  Com{)are  Matt.  xiii. 
11.  Markiv.  11.  Luke  viii.  10.  Eph. 
V.  32.  and  their  respective  context?. 
— I  must  beg  leave  to  observe,  that 
I  have  in  the  above  carefully  ta- 
ken notice  of  all  the  passages  of 
the  New  Testament,  in  which  the 
term  mystery  occurs;  and  this  I 
have  t!ie  rather  done,  because  a 
most  imscriptural  and  dangerous 
sense  is  but  too  often  put  upon 
this  Avord,  as  if  it  meant  somewhat 
ahsolutely  imintelligible  and  incom- 
prehensible. A  strange  mistake  1 
When  in  almost  every  text  wherein 
mystery  is  used,  it  is  mentioned  as 
something  whicii  is  revealed,  declared, 
shown,  spoken,  or  v/hich  ?««'_?/  be  known 
or  understood. 


N 


N  A  A 


1^ 


A  AM  AN,  beautiful,  agreeable, 
or  greatly  moving,  general  of 
Benhadad,  king  of  Syria,  highly  es- 
teemed by  his  master,  because  he  had 
saved  Syria  from  ruin,  probably  in 
the  battle  where  Ahab  gave  Benha- 
dad his  last  defeat,  or  at  the  siege  of 
Ramoth-gilead,  when  Ahab  was  slain : 
but  he  was  sorely  afflicted  with  a  le- 
prosy. A  Hebrew  captive,  v.  ho  serv- 
ed in  his  famil}^  happened  to  say  to 
her  mistress,  thatif  Naaman  would  ap- 
ply to  Elisha  the  prophet  in  Israel, 
he  would  quickly  cure  him.  On  this 
hint,  Naaman  resolved  to  make  a 
trial;  and  Benhadad  imagining  that 
Jehoram,  king  of  Israel,  had  the  pro- 
phets under  his  direction,  wrote  him 
a  letter,  expecting  (hat  he  would  get 
his  general  cured  of  his  distemper. 
Elisha  soon  removed  Jthoram's  oer- 


N  A  A 


pSexity,  by  bidding  him  send  Naamau 
to  him,  and  the  |)ovN'er  of  the  God  cf 
Israel  should  be  discovered  in  his  cure. 
Naaman,  with  his  chariots  and  train, 
presented  himself  at  the  door  of 
Elisha.  That  Elisha  might  maintain 
a  due  distance  from  leiiers;  might 
mortify  Naaman's  pride,  and  mani- 
fest that  the  cure  was  wkolij'^  of  God ; 
he  only  seat  him  forth  orders  to  go 
wash  himself  seven  times  in  Jordan. 
Enraged  that  Elisha  showed  so  little 
regard  for  hinj,  Uiat  he  came  not 
forth,  and  by  prayer  and  stroking  of 
his  body,  cured  him,  Naaman  in- 
tended to  pour  contempt  on  his  or- 
ders; and  the  rather,  because  he 
thought  Abana  and  Fharpar,  rivers 
of  Damascus,  were  preferable  to  al) 
the  rivers  of  Israel.  His  servants 
entreAterf  him  to  think  how  cheerfully 


2<f  A  A. 


(     201      ) 


NAB 


ife  would  have  undergone  llie  niosl 
dirticiilt  operation  lo  t^et  rid  ol  hh 
disease,  had  the  [)ro(dict  couiniandtd 
it:  and  why  should  he  then  ^tick  nl 
a  thing  so  very  siinj)U'  and  easy  . 
Naaman  was  persuaded,  and  in  con- 
formity to  the  se^  en-loid  s|)rinlvlinji; 
of  the  leper,  \v  ished  liimself  seven 
limes  in  Jordan,  an<l  was  perlectlj 
Cwred.  He  returned  lo  Elirha,  aju! 
ofl'ered  him  a  present ;  but  it  was 
not  accepted.  He  tlien  |)rofesscd 
his;  faith  in  the  God  of  Israel  as  the 
only  true  God,  and  craved  two 
mules  burden  of  Israelitish  earth  to 
huild  an  altar  for  sacrificing  to  him 
alone;  and  asked  the  forgiveness  ol 
his  bowing  of  himself  in  the  house  of 
Rimmon,  the  idol  of  Syria,  as  he  at- 
tended his  master  to  the  temple. 
Elisha  granted  him  his  desired  quan- 
tify of  earth,  and  bid  him  go  in  |)cace. 
Some  imagine,  he  asked  indulgence 
in  future  idolatry,  which  he  thought 
his  office  of  supporting  the  king 
obliged  him  to  act ;  bvA  it  is  perhaps 
as  just  to  understand  the  text  of 
forgiveness  of  what  he  had  done; 
according  to  ihe  following  transla- 
tion, given  by  some  learned  men ; 
iVhcn  my  mailer  went  to  the  house  of 
Rimuion,  he  leaned  on  my  hand,  and 
I  bowed  down  myself  in  the  house  of 
Rimmon, — the  Lord  pardon  thy  ser- 
vant concerning  this  thing. 

Naanian  went  off  very  joyful ;  but 
Gehazi,  Elisha's  servant,  displeased 
\Yith  his  master  for  refusing  his  pre- 
sent, soon  overtook  him.  Naaman 
humbly  alighted  from  his  chariot, 
and  asked  him  wlmt  was  liis  desire. 
He  falsely  told  him,  that  two  joung 
prophets  from  mount  Ephraim  were 
just  come  to  his  master,  who  were  in 
necessitous  circumstances,  and  need- 
ed each  a  suit  of  clothes,  and  some 
money.  Naaman  was  so  touched 
with  gratitude,  that  he  never  once 
considered  how  unlikely  it  was  that 
Elioha  would  ask  a  talent  of  silver  for 
two  young  scholars,  urged  Gehazi  to 
take  two  talents  insteatl  of  one,  which 
amounted  to  084/  Ts  Gd  sterling, 
and  sent  his  servants  to  carry  Ihem 
as  far  as  Gehari  would  permit. — 
Vol.  I  J. 


When  Gehazi  had  laid  this  pre.:' 
sent  up  as  secretly  as  he  could,  he 
j  resented  himself  before  Elisha,  who 
asked  him  w  here  lie  had  been.  He 
denied  that  he  had  been  any  where 
(lilt  of  Ihe  way.  Elisha  gave  him  to 
understand,  that  by  the  discoveries  of 
God's  Sp.irit,  he  saw  him,  when  Naa- 
man Imned  brick  to  meet  him  ;  and 
added,  thou,  at  this  season  so  very 
improper,  intendest  to  buy  fields,  vine- 
yards, andoliveyards,  with  the  money 
thou  hast  wickedly  obtained ;  but  to 
punish  thy  covetousness,  falsehood, 
and  treachery,  the  leprosy  of  Naa- 
man shall  cleave  to  thee  and  thy  pos- 
terity. Wc  suppose  Naaman  soon 
after  either  died  or  quitted  his  post  in 
the  SjTian  army,  that  he  might  not 
lead  it  against  the  Hebrews,  and  that 
Hazael  became  general  in  his  room, 
2  Kings  V.  Luke  iv.  27.-" 

NA13AL,  a  fool,  mad,  or  sense- 
less, a  rich,  but  very  churlish  man, 
of  the  tribe  of  Judah,  and  race  ot" 
Caleb :  he  had  numerous  fiocks,  w  Inch 
had  their  |)asture  about  South  Carmel^ 
near  Maon.  David,  in  his  exile,  lodg- 
ed in  the  neighbouring  wilderness  ol* 
Paran.  He  and  his  men  not  only 
did  no  hurt  to  Nahal's  flocks,  but 
.irotected  them  from  the  Arabs,  and 
from  wild  beasts,  and  assisted  the 
herdsmen  in  every  thing  they  could. 
When  Nabal  held  his  shearing  feast, 
David,  in  the  most  discreet  manner^ 
sent  to  desire  a  present  of  what  part 
of  the  provision  he  pleased.  Nabal_, 
in  the  most  harsh  and  surly  manner, 
told  David's  messengers,  that  he 
knew  better  things  than  to  give  his 
servants'  provision  to  a  contemptible 
fellow,  who  had  run  away  from  his 
master,  and  to  his  partizans.  In- 
formed of  this  rudeness,  David  rashr 
ly  resolved  immediately  to  put  Na- 
bal and  all  that  he  iiad  to  the  sword, 
as  a  mean  of  deterring  others  from 
using  him  in  like  manner.  Abigail, 
l)y  her  prudent  behaviour,  disarmed 
David's  rage,  and  won  his  affection. 
As  soon  as  Nai)al  her  husband  was 
sober,  she  told  him  into  what  danger 
his  conduct  had  brought  himself  and 
familv.  The  poor  creature  wa«  so 
2  C 


N  A  H 


(     202     ) 


N  A  I 


terrified,  that  he  fell  sick,  and  in  ten 
days  after  died,  as  stupidly  as  he  had 
lived;  and  not  long  after,  Abigail 
Avas  espoused  to  David,  1  Sam.  xxv. 

NABOTH,  a  speech^  prophecies, 
fruits^  an  Israelite  of  the  city  of  Jez- 
reel.  He  had  a  fine  garden  hard  by 
Ahab's  palace  :  Ahab  required  him  ei- 
ther to  sell  it  to  him,  or  to  exchange  it 
for  another.  Naboth,  attentive  to  the 
divine  law,  which  prohibited  the  alie- 
nation of  inheritances  without  neces- 
sity, or  sell  them  irredeemably,  refu- 
sed to  sell  or  exchange  the  inheritance 
of  his  fathers.  Ahab  having  taken  the 
refusal  extremely  ill,  Jezebel  his 
■wife  desired  he  -would  make  himself 
easy,  and  she  would  get  him  the^ 
vineyard.  She  wrote  letters  in 
Ahab's  name,  and  sealed  llieni  with 
his  ring,  requiring  the  magistrates  ol' 
Jezreel  to  hold  a  fast,  or  as  some 
think,  a  general  court,  and  suborn 
two  or  three  wretched  lellows  to  bear 
false  witness  against  Naboth,  that  he 
had  blasphemed  God  and  the  king, 
and  thus  condemn  and  put  him  to 
death.  The  abandoned  magistrates 
directly  executed  her  orders.  Na- 
both was  stoned  to  death  as  a  blas- 
phemer, and  A  hab  took  possession  of 
the  vineyard ;  but  the  vengeance  of 
he'iven  carefully  pursued  him  and 
his  family,  for  Ihe  covetousness,  \\y- 
pocrisy,  perjury,  and  murder,  com- 
mitted in  this  affair,  1  Kings  xxi. 
2  Kings  ix.  10. 

NA!)AB.  See  Aaron,  Jeroboam. 

NAHASH.  See  Ammon,  Jadesii. 

NAHOR,  hoarse,  dry,  angri/,  the 
3on  of  Terah,  grandson  of  another 
Nahor,  and  brother  of  Abraham.  He 
fixed  his  residence  at  Harau  in  Meso- 
potamia, aud  which  Avas  sometimes 
called  by  liis  nanie.  He  married  Mil- 
cah  the  daughter  of  his  brother  Ha- 
ran,  who  was  alrea«Iy  deceased.  By 
ber  he  had  eight  sous,  viz.  Huz,  or 
Uz,  the  father  of  the  Husites,  on  the 
west  o^  li»e  Euphrates,  in  the  land  ol' 
Uz  ;  Sjuz,  the  father  of  the  Buzites,  of 
who;n  Elihu  w%is  descended ;  Kem- 
uel,  the  father  of  the  Camelites,  and 
the  Arameans,  or  Syrians  ;  and  Che- 
sed^thc  father  of  at  least  one  tribe 


of  the  Chaldeans;  and  Hazo,  whona 
some  carry  into  Persia,  and  make 
the  father  of  the  Hazoye,  or  Huz- 
reansin  Chusistan,  or  the  Chosseans ; 
and  Pildash,  whom  Dr.  Hyde  seems 
fond  of  making  the  father  of  the 
Persians;  Jidlaph,  and  Bethuel,  the 
father  of  Laban  and  Rebekah.  By 
a  concubine  called  Reumah,  Nahop 
had  other  four  sons,  viz.  Tebah,  Ga- 
hatn,  Thahash,  and  Maacah,  Gen. 
xi.  22,  24,  26.  and  xxii.  20,  21,  22. 
and  xxiv.  10. 

NAHUM,  a  cojnforter,  fcnilcnt, 
or  their  guide,  a  prophet  of  the  city 
of  Elcosh,  or  Eikoshai,  in  Galilee. 
As  he  speaks  of  the  Assyrian  ra- 
vages of  Egypt,  and  the  destruc- 
tion of  No,  as  a  thing  past,  and 
represents  the  Assyrian  king  as 
imagining  an  evil  thing  against  the 
Lord,  it  is  probable  he  prophesied 
just  as  either  Sennacherib  or  Esar- 
haddou  was  returning  from  the  ra- 
vage of  Egypt,  Mith  an  intention  to 
destroy  the  kingdom  of  Judah.  Nah. 
iii.  8,  9,  10.  and  i.  9,  11.  After  a 
lofty  description  of  Go<l,  the  great 
subject  of  his  short  pro[)hecy  is  the 
ruin  of  Nineveh  and  the  Assyrian 
empire.  This  he  describes  in  a 
manner  so  pathetic  and  picturesque, 
andj'^et  so  plain,  as  is  not  to  be  ex- 
ceeded by  the  greatest  masters  of  ora- 
tory. Had  Herodotus  written  his 
histor}'^  of  the  Assyrians,  or  had  it 
come  to  our  hands,  with  what  plea- 
sure should  we  have  seen  the  exact 
fulfilment  of  these  predictions  t 

NAIL,  (1.)  A  horny  substance  on 
the  i)oint  of  men's  fingers  or  toes, 
Deut.  xxi.  12.  (2.)  A  nail  of  iron, 
brass,  or  other  metal,  for  fixing  boards 
together,  or  hanging  things  on,  Judg. 
iv.  21.  Eliakini,  and  Jesus  Christ, 
as  prefigured  by  him,  arc  likened  to 
a  nail  in  a  sure  pi  ace,  fcr  hangin<>;  of 
vt^sseLs  on.  God  made  Eliul:ini  the 
Jewish  minister  of  siate,  and  on  him 
did  the  subordinate  rulers  and  the 
people  depend.  God  established  Je- 
sus in  the  office  of  Mediator,  and  on 
hiiu  do  all  his  servants  and  people 
<lepend,  Isa.  xxii.  23,  24,  25.  'J'he 
nail  that  came  forth  of  Judah,  is  ei- 


N  A  K 


(     203     ) 


N  A  QT 


ther  Zerubhabrl,  Ncliemiah,  or  tlie 
Maccahees,  ulio  established  (he  Jew- 
ish state,  Zech.  x.  4.  The  words  of 
the  wise  are  as  tiails  fastcnal ;  the 
truths  of  God  fixed  in  tiie  heart,  and 
remaining  there,  make  tlie  soid 
cleave  to  Jesus,  his  churcli,  and  ordi- 
nances, Ecel.  Nii.  1-1.  'I'lie  nails  of 
lirass  wliich  Daniel's  fourth  beast  had, 
<lenote  the  covetousnes?,  rn!>l)ery, 
and  ravage,  of  iite  Romans,  and  their 
power  to  retain  their  conquereil  pro- 
vinces, Dan.vii.  19.  Christ's  «fl/7j» if 
the  cerenjonial  law  to  his  cross,  im- 
ports, that  the  end  of  it  as  a  shadow 
of  good  things  to  come,  was  accom- 
plished, and  therefore  he  has  abolish- 
ed its  l)inding  force,  Col.  ii.  14. 

NAIX,  or  N.vnr,  bcaitti/.,  plea- 
santness, a  city  Avhere  our  Saviour 
restored  the  son  of  a  widow  to  life,  as 
his  friends  were  carrying  him  out  to 
his  burial.  It  is  generally  said,  that 
this  place  was  near  Endor,  and  about 
two  miles  south  of  Tabor;  but  Maun- 
drel  seems  to  think  it  was  situated 
near  the  foot  of  mount  Hermon, 
Luke  vii.  8 — 11. 

NAIOTH.     See  Ram  ah. 

NAKED,  (1.)  Altogether  uncloth- 
ed or  uncovered,  Gen.  ii.  25.  (2.) 
Having  few  clothes  on,  1  Sam.  xix. 
24.  John  xxi.  7.  (3.)  Clearly  seen, 
and  fully  known.  Job  xxvi.  6.  Hcb. 
iv.  13.  (4.)  Destitute  of  worldly  good 
things,  Job  i.  21.  \^5.)  A  want  of 
innocencj',  holiness,  and  righteous- 
ness, and  hence  exposed  to  shame 
and  misery.  Lev.  iii .  17,  18.  (6.) 
Deprived  of  the  divine  favour  and 
protection,  and  ready  to  be  a  prey 
to  their  enemies,  Exod.  xxxii.  25. 
2Chron.xxviii.  19.  Before  the  fall, 
there  was  no  sinful,  shameful,  or 
huriful  nakedness;  as  there  was  no 
sinful  disposition,  no  i)arl  of  the  hu- 
man body  was  improper  for  view  ; 
but  sin  entering,  they  knew  they 
Avere  naked;  that  they  were  become 
unljoly  and  unrighteous;  and  that 
they  needed  a  covering  for  those 
])arts  of  their  body  afterward  called 
nakedness,  Gen.  iii.  7,  10,  11.  and  ix. 
22.  The  nakedness  of  a  land,  is  the 
poverty,  weakness,  and  ruinous  con- 


dition of  it,  or  its  phamcful  Avicked- 
ness,  E/ek.  xvi.  R,  'M\  37. — Go- 
ing nakul,  or  almost  so,  was  an  em- 
bU'm  of  distress,  and  of  deprivation 
of  comfort,   Isa.  xx.  3.  Mic.  i.  8. 

NAIME,  is  properly  that  whereby 
a  jierson  or  thing  i--  called,  to  dis- 
tinguish it  from  another.  A  great 
many  of  the  names  of  person.*  and 
place?,  mentioned  in  the  scripture, 
were  founiled  on,  and  express  somi; 
particular  reason.  Those  that  begin 
or  end  in  kl,  or  begin  witluE,  jkho, 
or  end  in  iaii,  bear  a  relation  to  God. 
As  multitudes  of  persons  and  things 
had  dillerent  names,  we  need  not  won- 
der at  finding  them  sometimes  called 
by  one  name,  and  sometimes  by  an- 
other. So  Moses's  father-in-law  was 
called  Reuel  and  Jethro;  Isaac's 
yo«mger  son,  Jacob  and  Israel;  Jeho- 
^haphat's  grandson,  Jehoahaz,  Ahaz- 
iah,  and  Azariah,  Szc.  Sic.  Some  let- 
ters too,  especially  vowels,  e  for  a,  &c. 
are  altered  in  the  spelling  of  the  same 
name,  as  Gaslumi  or  Gcskan,  Aclian 
or  Achar,  Arc. 

Name,  Avhen  ascribed  to  God,  com- 
prehends whatever  he  makes  him- 
self known  by.  The  name  of  God 
signifies,    (1.)    Himself,  Psal.  xxix. 

2.  and  xxxiv.  3.  and  Ixi.  5.  (2.) 
His  titles,  Exod.  iii,  13,  14,  and  vi. 

3.  (3.)  His  attributes  or  properties, 
Exod.  xxxiii.  19.  and  xxxiv.  6,  7. 
(4.)  His  word,  Psal.  v.  11.  Acts  ix. 
15.  (5.)  His  worship  and  service, 
1  Kings  V.  5.  Mai.  i.  6.  (6,)  His 
will  and  purpose  concerning  our  sal- 
vation, and  his  grace  and  mercy 
therein  displaj'ed,  Psal.  xxii.  22. 
John  xvi.  0,  20.  (7.)  His  power, 
help,  and  favourable  assistance,  1 
Sam.  xvii,  Ab.  Psal.  xxi.  1,  7.  (8.) 
His  wisdom,  power,  and  goodness, 
displayed  in  the  works  of  creation 
and  providence,  Psal.  viiii.  1,  9.  (9.) 
His  authority,  commission,  Mic.  v.  4. 
(10)  His  honour,  glory,  and  renown, 
Psal,  Ixxvi.  1. — The  name  of  Christ 
denotes,  (1.)  Himself,  Avhat  he  real- 
ly i--.  Wonderful,  Pdight^'  God,  God 
with  us,  Isa.  ix.  G.  and  vii.  14.  (2.) 
His  titles,  as  Saviour,  Prophet,  Priest, 
King,  &c.  Mutt.  i.  21.    Rev.  xix. 


N  AM 


(     204     ) 


N  A  M 


14.  (3.)  His  authority  anti  commis- 
sio.i.  Matt.  vii.  22.  Acts  iv.  7.  (4.) 
His  glorious  gospel,  and  the  profes- 
sion of  it,  Acts  ix.  15.  Matt.  x.  22. 
ami  xix.  29.  Rev.  ii.  13.  (5.)  His 
exaltation  to  the  highest  honour, 
power,  and  glory,  as  our  Mediator, 
Phil.  ii.  9,  10.— The  name  of  men 
denotes,  (1.)  That  particular  desig- 
nation by  which  they  are  usually  call- 
ed (2.)  The  persons  themselves, 
Luke  X.  20.  Rev.  iii.  4.  and  xi.  \  l\. 
(3.)  Reputation,  good  or  evil,  Prov. 
xxii.  1.  Deut.  xxii.  14.  (4.)  Ho- 
nour, 2;iory,  renown,  Deut.  xxvi.  19. 
Zeph.  iii.  20.  2  Chron.  xxvi.  8,  15. 
(5.)  Memory  or  remembrance,  Deut. 
xxix.  20.  (G.)  Posterity,  which 
Iceeps  Uj)  one''s  name  or  renown, 
Deut.  XXV.  7.  Isa.  Ixvi.  22. 

God's  name  is  in  Christ;  his  nature 
and  authority  are  in  him;  he  hath 
sent  hifji  to  he  our  Redeemer;  and 
by  his  execution  of  his  office,  is  his 
honour  chiefly  exalted,  Exod.  xxiii. 
21.  To  be  baptized  in  the  name  of 
-the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  is 
to  be  baptized  by  the  warrant  and 
authority,  and  into  the  i)rofession, 
faith,  and  obedience,  of  these  divine 
Persons  as  one  God,  Matt,  xxviii. 
19.  Acts  xix.  5.  To  trustor  believe 
in  the  name  of  God  or  Christ,  is  to 
credit  his  word,  and  rely  on  his  per- 
fections, titles,  and  relations,  as  a 
certain  ground  of  our  receiving  all 
"blessings  and  salvation  from  him, 
John  iii.  18.  To  name  the  name  of 
Christ,  is  openly  to  profess  that  we 
are  his,  and  to  regard  his  honour  and 
service,  2  Tim.  ii.  19.  The  7icw 
name  that  Christ  gives,  and  writes 
on  his  })eople,  is  the  redeemed  of  the 
Lord,  the  righteotiS7icss  of  God  in  him, 
&c.  wiiich  answers  to  their  new  co- 
venant stale,  ?.nd  their  new  nature : 
and  in  heavcis,  their  character  is 
made  gloriously  to  appear,  Rev.  ii. 
17.  This  is  better  than  of  sons  and 
daughters,  as  it  b  more  honourable 
to  be  the  children  of  God,  and  the 
spouse  of  Christ,  than  to  be  parents 
of  sinful  men,  Isa.  Ivi.  4,  5.  God's 
changing  the  7iame  of  hia  cJuirch, 
denotes  Im  changing  her  condition 


from  distress  and  grief  (o  happiiieajr 
and  joy,  Isa.  Ixii.  3,  4.  The  saints 
pray,  anddo  all,  in  the  nameof  Christ, 
when  they  do  it  in  the  faith  of  his 
promise,  in  obedience  to  his  com- 
mand, and  with  a  total  dependence 
on  his  death  and  intercession,  and  by 
the  assistance  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  for 
acceptance,  John  xiv.  13.  Col.  iii/ 
1 7.  To  take  the  name  of  God  in  vain, 
is  to  make  an  unholy  and  irreverent 
use  of  any  thing  whereby  he  maketh 
himself  known,  whether  titles,  attri- 
butes, ordinances,  words,  or  w^orks ; 
and  particularly  by  ignorant,  rash,  ir- 
reverent, and  false  swearing,  Exod. 
XX.  7.  The  Hebrews  were  forbid- 
den to  mention  the  names  of  the 
heathen  idols,  except  when  it  was 
necessary  to  warn  the  people  against, 
or  mark  their  detestation  of  them, 
Exod.  xxiii.  15.  and  so  a  thing  nof 
named,  is  what  is  not  mentioned  with 
pleasure,  or  what  is  scarcely  known 
or  heard  of,  or  is  not  practised,  but 
abhorred,  I  Cor.  v.  1,  Eph.  v.  3. 
To  kno7v  a  man  hy  name,  is  to  have  a 
peculiar  favour  for,  and  familiarity 
with  him,  Exod.  xxxiii.  12.  iLOgivq, 
names  to  persons  or  animals,  imports 
dominion  over  them.  Gen.  ii.  1 9.  To 
have  a  name  to  live,  and  yet  he  dead, 
is  to  make  a  profession  and  have  an 
appearance  of  religion,  and  yet  be 
under  the  reign  of  spiritual  death,  Rev. 
iii.  1.  T\\e  names  of  the  12  tribes  of 
Israel  being  on  the  1 2  gates  of  the  New 
Jerusalem,  im[)orts,  in  tlie  opinion  of 
some  writers,  that  the  Jews  shall  be 
brought  into  the  church  in  the  mil- 
lennium, and  the  heavenly  glory 
hereafter.  Rev.  xxi.  12.  I'he  7iamcs 
of  the  12  apostles  bei7ig  oti  the  \2foun- 
datio7is,  imports,  that  it  is  Jesus,  as 
represented  in  the  doctrine  of  the 
12  apostles,  that  is  the  foundation  of 
the  church,  and  of  our  everlasting 
happiuess,  Rev.  xxi.  14.  To  have 
the  mark,  name,  or  niwiber,  of  the 
name  of  Antichrist,  is  to  believe, 
profess,  and  practise,  aci'.ording  to 
the  error,  idolatry,  and  superstition, 
of  the  church  of  Rome  : — it  is  7iamcs 
of  blasphemy  ;  the  doctrines  of  the 
Pope's  supremacy,  and  of  men's  per- 


N  A  O 


(     205      ) 


NAP 


fectinp;  Christ's  saciifice  with  thoir 
oMations  and  <;oo'.l  works,  «^:c.  and 
a  repro  ich  to  Christ  and  his  Father, 
Rev.  xiii.  1,  17. 

NAOMI,  J':iu\  comchi,  beauiiful, 
and  her  hinhand  Kliriiolech,  retired 
to  the  country  of  I\lo;ili,  on  aecount 
of  I  famine  that  ha|»|tenedin  Canaan. 
There  their  (wo  sons,  Alaldon  and 
Chilion,  married  two  .Moahilisli  wo- 
men, Orjiah  and  Uiilh.  They  had 
been  ai)out  ten  years  in  (he  country 
of  Moah,  when  Elimelech  and  his 
sons  (Hed  without  leavinsj;  auy  issue. 
Naomi  resolved  to  return  to  Iser 
country.  Her  daughters-in-law  were 
intent  on  atfentling  her.  She  re- 
presented to  them,  what  difficulties 
thej'  might  expect  in  so  doing,  and 
entreated  they  would  return  home, 
and  ad<led,  that  she  was  grieved  on 
account  of  their  affliction.  At  last 
Orpah  was  prevailed  with  to  return; 
but  Kuth  continued  resolute  to  go 
with  her,  and  to  embrace  the  Jewish 
religion.  When  they  arrived  at  Beth- 
lehem, the  place  of  Naomi's  former 
abode,  the  people  crowded  about 
them,  and  some  in  pity,  and  others 
perhaps  in  contempt,  asked  if  this 
was  Naomi  ?  She  requested  they 
would  not  call  her  Naomi,  ?hj/  plea- 
sant one  J  but  ilarah,  because  the 
Lord  had  dealt  very  bitterly  with  lier. 
insomuch  that  having  gone  oft  full, 
with  a  husl)and,  children,  and  some 
wealth,  she  had  returned  a  poor  des- 
titute widow.  It  being  tlie  harvest- 
season,  Ruth  went  forth  to  glean. 
and  providence  conducted  her  to  the 
field  of  Boaz,  a  near  kinsman  of  her 
deceased  husband.  On  his  being  in- 
formed who  she  was,  he  commended 
her  for  her  idndness  to  her  mother- 
in-law,  and  bade  her  continue  glean- 
ing in  his  field,  and  take  her  food 
with  his  reajsers,  who,  bj^  his  orders, 
let  fall  handfuls  of  the  corn  for  her 
use.  Ruth  most  humbly  and  <Iis- 
creetly  thanked  him  for  his  kindness 
to  a  poor  stranger.  Hearing  of  all 
this  at  night,  Naomi  told  Ruth,  that 
jBoaz  was  tlieir  near  kinsman. 

When  harvest  was  endeil,  and  Boaz 
one  night  watched  his  com  on  the 


thrrshing-floor,  Naomi  directed  l{uth 
(o  go  and  lie  down  at  his  feet,  and 
to  hid  him  cast  his  skirt  over  her,  or 
marry  Inr,  as  he  was  her  near  kins- 
man. The  known  modesty  of  both 
prcventeil  all  siispition  of  unseemly 
conduct.  When  Boaz  awaked,  he 
observed  a  wonian  at  his  feet,  and 
asked  who  she  was  ?  She  told  him, 
and  recpicsted  he  would  spread  his 
skirt  over  her  as  a  token  of  his  alter 
espousing  her.  Boaz  blessed  her  for 
so  closely  adhering  to  the  Heljrew 
law  in  the  affair  of  her  marriage; 
and  in  the  morning  sent  her  hotne 
loaded  with  corn  for  herself  and  Na- 
omi, and  [)romised  he  would  sjjeedily 
ctVect  her  marriage,  either  with  him- 
self or  with  a  nearer  kinsman.  Na- 
omi hearing  of  this,  assured  B:.h 
that  Boaz  would  without  fail  bt  ,is 
good  as  his  word.  Early  in  the 
morning,  Boaz  convened  the  ehiers 
of  the  city  at  the  gate,  and  called 
Elimelech's  nearest  kinsman  to  de- 
clare whether  he  would  redeem  the 
inheritance  of  Eiimelech,  and  marry 
Ruth  the  widow  of  Chilion,  or  not. 
The  kinsman,  after  his  offering  to 
redeem  the  inheritance,  recalled  his 
word,  and  requested  Boaz  to  do  it, 
and  by  plucking  ofl' his  shoe,  resigned 
his  right  to  him.  Boaz  at  the  same 
time  espoused  Ruth,  and  soon  after 
had  by  her  a  son  called  Obed,  in  hopes 
he  would  be  a  servant  of  the  Lord,  and 
would  be  serviceable  to  his  family. 
The  neighbours  most  cordially  con- 
gratulated Naomi,  as  having  now  got 
an  heir,  and  restorer  of  comfort  in 
her  old  age.  With  great  tenderness 
she  nursed  the  child,  Rulh  i.  to  iv. — 
Who  wrote  the  short  history  of  Ruth, 
whether  Samuel  or  another,  is  not 
quite  certain.  The  ancient  fathers 
considered  it  as  an  appendix  to 
.fudges.  The  affair  happened  about 
the  time  of  Debohait. 

N  AP  H  T  ALL  likaiess,  slvKs^dinir^ 
crookedness,  the  sixth  son  of  Jacob, 
by  Bilhah  the  handmaid  of  Rachel. 
His  sons  were  Jahzeel,  Guni,  Jezer, 
and  Shi  Hem,  all  of  them  parents  of  a 
numerous  progeny.  In  his  blessing  of 
Naphtali,  Jacob  said,  Naphiali  is  a 


NAP 


(     206     ) 


N  A  T 


hind  lei  loose  ;  he  giveth  goodly  7Vor  da.  .The  Na\il\td\ites  were  many,  if  not 
Tliis  might  express  the  activity  and  (most  of  them,  carried  captive  by  Tig- 
courtesy  of  that  tribe;  but  some ilath-pileser king  of  Assyria,  2  Kings 
prefer  the  translation  of  the  Seventy,  j  xv.  29.  Josiah  purged  their  country 
which  reads  the  passage  thus,  Naph-  \  from  idols.  Our  Saviour  and  his 
i-ali  is  a  tree  shot  out,  bringing  /orf/i ;  disciples,  during  his  public  ministry^ 
goodly  branches;  and  so  would  im-jmuch  resided  and  preached  in  the 
port  the  fertility  and  increase  of  that  I  land  of  Naphtali,  Isa.  ix.  1.  Matt, 
tribe:   but  neither   do  the   Hebrew liv.  13,  15. 

accents  countenance  this  reading,  NAPHTViilM,  open,  an  openings 
nor  is  it  different  from  the  blessing  of  the  fourth  son  of  Mizraim.  Calmet 
Joseph,  in  the  very  next  text,  thinks  he  peopled  that  part  of  Afri- 
When  this  tribe  came  out  of  Egypt,  can  Ethio])ia  between  Syene  and 
it  consisted  of  53,400  fighting  men,  Meroe,  and  of  which  Nepata  was  the 
under  the  command  of  Ahira  the. capital:  but  we  rather  think  with 
son  of  Euan,  but  they  decreased  injBochart,  that  his  posterity  peopled 
the  wilderness  to  45,000.  They  en- j  Marmarica,  west  of  Egypt,  and  on 
camped   on  the  north  of  the  taber->  the  south  shore  of  the  Mediterranean 


nacle,  and  marched  in  the  rear  of  the 
Hebrew  host,  in  the  camp  of  Dan. 
Their  spy  to  search  Canaan,  was 
Nahbi  the  son  of  Vophsi ;  and  their 


agent  to  divide  it,  was  Pedahel  the  originally   a  Lybian,   and    had   his 


son  of  Ammihud.  Their  inheri- 
tance was  the  sea,  and  the  south,  along 
the  south  of  Lebanon,  and  the  west  of 
the  seas  of  Merom  and  Tiberias, 
which  was  extremely  fertile.  Gen. 
xlvi.  24.  and  xlix.  21.  Numb.  xxvi. 
48—51.  and  i.  15,  42,  43.  and  ii.  25, 
30.,  and  x.  27.  and  xiii.  14.  and 
xxxiv.  28.  Deut.  xxxiii.  3.  Josh.  xix. 
32—39.  But  they  permitted  the  Ca- 
naanites  to  retain  Bethanath  and 
Bethshemesh,  two  of  their  cities,  ou 
condition  of  their  paying  them  tribute, 
Judg.  i.  33.  Under  Barak,  their  ge- 
neral, they  and  the  Zebulunites 
fought  v/ifh  distinguished  bravery 
against  the  army  of  Jabin  the  young 


Sea. — Hereabouts  we  find  the  temple 
of  the  god  Aptuchus;  nor  is  it  un- 
likely that  Naphtuhim  may  be  the 
Neptune  of  the  Heathens,  who  was 


er,  and  at  the  desire  of  Gideon,  they  Ion,  when  ruined;  with  great  atten 


pursued  the  3Iidianites,  Judg.  iv.  10. 


temples  ordinarily  built  on  sea-shores, 
Gen.  X.  13. 

NARCISSUS,  astonishment,  stu- 
pidity, surprise.  Paul,  in  his  epistle  to 
the  Romans,  xvi.  11.  says,  "Greet 
them  that  be  of  the  household  of 
Narcissus,  which  are  in  the  Lord." 
It  doth  not  follow  hence  that  Narcis- 
sus was  a  Christian.  However,  the 
Greeks  make  him  a  bishop  of  Athens^ 
and  a  martyr,  and  place  him  in  tlie 
number  of  the  seventy  disciples. 

NARROW.  God  looked  narrow- 
ly to  Job's  ways,  and  carefully  pre- 
vented every  ))ossible  waj"-  of  his  es- 
ca[»e  from  trouble,  Job  xiii.  27.  The 
nations  looked  narrowly  upon  Baby- 


tion  and  amazement,    they   thought 


and  V.  13.  and  vii.  23.     A  thousand! how  quickly   an  empire,  lately  so 


of  tlieir  captains,  with  37,000  of 
their  troops,  assisted  at  David's  co- 
ronation, and  brought  great  quanti- 
ties of  provision  with  them,  1  Chron. 
xiii.  34,  40.  We  find  no  person  of 
distinguished  note  among  them,  save 
Barak,  and  Hiram  the  artificer.  In- 
stigated by  Asa,  Benhadad  the  elder, 
king  of  Sj'ria,  terribly  ravaged  the 
land  of  Naphtali;  and  what  it  suffer- 
ed in  .after  invasions  by  the  Syrians, 
WG  are  partly  tOld^  1  Kings  xv.  20. 


strong  and  powerful,  had  come   to 
ruin,  Isa.  xiv.  6. 

NATHAN,  given,  giving,  reward- 
ed, a  famed  prophet,  and  a  confident 
of  king  David.  Not  long  after  David's 
advancement  to  the  throne  of  Israel, 
he  intended  to  build  a  temple  for 
the  Lord.  Nalhan,  without  waiting 
for  divine  instruction,  encouraged 
him  to  do  it :  but  soon  after  was  di- 
rected by  Gqd  to  forbid  him,  and  tell 
him,  that  that  work  was  graciously 


:n  A  T 


C    207     ) 


NAY 


Resigned  for  liis  son  and  successor. 
5$ofne  few  years  al'fer,  when  David 
had  defiled  Bathsheba,  and  murdered 
her  husband,  Nalii:tn,  at  the  com- 
mand of  God,  reproved  him.  He  intro- 
duced his  reproof  by  a  parable  of  a 
man  wholiad  a  great  many  llucks  and 
herds  of  his  own,  and  yet,  when  his 
friend  came  to  visit  bim,  he  by  force 
look  from  a  poor  neighbour  his  only 
lami),  which  was  very  dear  to  him, 
k)  entertain  his  friend.  With  great 
indignation,  David  replied,  that  such 
a  person  should  be  obliged  to  restore 
fourfold  to  the  poor  man,  and  then 
be  put  to  death.  Nathan  told  him, 
that  he  himself  was  the  guilty  crimi- 
nal intended;  for  God  had  made  him 
ruler  over  the  whole  Hebrew  nation, 
had  providentially  put  in  his  power 
all  the  wives  and  concubines  of  Saul, 
and  was  about  to  bestow  on  him  other 
favours;  and  j^et  he  had  defiled  Bath- 
sheba, the  only  wife  of  Uriah,  and 
had  murdered  him.  On  which  ac- 
count, Nathan  assured  him,  he  and 
his  family  should  be  severely  punish- 
ed with  lewdness  and  death. — David 
was  so  well  pleased  with  this  plain- 
ness of  Nathan's  rebuke,  that  it 
seems,  he  named  one  of  Bathsheba's 
sons  after  him.  When  Adonijah  at- 
tempted tosettlehimselfonthe  throne, 
Nathan,  and  Bathsheba  by  his  direc- 
tion, prevented  it;  and  he  and  Be- 
naiah,  and  others,  were  immediately 
appointed  to  crown  Solomon,  2  Sam. 
vii.  and  xii.  1  Kings  i.  Nathan  and 
Gad  wrote  the  history  of  David,  pro- 
bably the  second  book  of  Samuel, 
and  the  last  part  of  the  first.  He  and 
Abijah  wrote  the  history  of  Solomon, 
1  C'hron.  xsix.  29.  2  Chron.  Lx.  27. 
but  whether  this  Nathan  was  the  fa- 
ther of  Azariah  and  Zabud,  who  were 
olTicers  of  considerable  dignity  under 
Solomon,  we  knoAV  not,  1  Kings  iv. 

NATHANAEL,  the  gift  of  God, 
a  disciple  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Je- 
sus Christ;  the  manner  of  whose  con- 
rersion  is  related  .fohn  i.  45,  6cc. 
Many  have  supposed  him  to  be  the 
same  with  Bartholomew,  since  the 
evangelists   who  tnentign  Bartholo- 


mew, say  nothing  of  NathanaeJ;  and 
John,  who  mentions  Nathanael, 
takes  no  notice  of  Bartholomew. 
See  B.vRTiioiiOMEW. 

NATION.     See  Pkcplic. 

NATIVITY,  (1.)  'J'hebirthofa 
person.  Gen.  xi.  28.  (2.)  The  origi- 
nal rise  of  nations,  Ezek.  xvi.  3,  4. 

NATUKK,  (1.)  The  ordinary 
course  of  things,  which  God  hatli 
settled  in  the  world,  Rom.  i.  2(5,  27. 
(2.)  The  reasoning  powers  of  the 
soul,  assisted  by  divine  grace,  Horn, 
ii.  14.  (3.)  Common  sense,  or  the 
general  consent  of  nations,  1  Cor.  xi. 
14.  (4.)  The  substance  or  essential 
parts  and  properties  of  a  creature, 
Heb.  ii.  10.  (3.)  Birth,  or  natural 
descent,  Gal.  ii.  15.  We  are  bij  na- 
ture children  of  wrath  :  we  are  born 
with  a  corrupt  principle,  inclining  us 
to  all  evil;  is  enmity  against  God, 
and,  separate  from  the  merit  of 
Christ,  would  lead  us  to  eternal  death, 
Eph.  ii.  3.  Through  the  gospel  pro- 
mises, we  are  made  partakers  of  a  di- 
vine nature  ;  we  have  fellowship  with 
God  in  spiritual  knowledge,  righ- 
teousness, and  holiness,  2  Pet.  i.  4. 
Idols  are  by  nature  no  gods;  they 
have  no  self-existence,  nothing  of  the 
essential  perfections  of  Godhead  in 
them.  Gal.  iv    8. 

Natural,  is,  (1.)  What  proceeds 
from  birth  and  natural  causes,  1  Cor. 
XV.  44.  (2.)  What  is  agreeable  to 
natural  design,  form,  or  inclination, 
Rom.  i.  26,27. 

NAVEL,  that  part  of  the  belly  by 
which  nourishment  is  conveyed  to 
children  in  the  womb,  and  which  is 
cut  and  fastened  at  their  birth.  Be- 
hemoth hath  his  strength  in  his  na- 
vel, belly,  or  trunk  of  his  body.  Job 
xl.  16,  It  is  put  for  the  whole  man, 
soul  an<l  body.  Godliness  is  health  ta 
the  navel,  and  marrow  to  the  bones; 
it  produceth  and  secures  the  welfare 
of  both  soul  and  body,  arising  from 
an  inward  sense  of  a  conscience 
washed  in  Jesus's  blood,  and  ^^  heart 
renewed  by  his  grace,  Prov.  iii.  o. 
Tlie  navel  of  the  Hebrews  not  biing 
cut,  imported,  that  their  sinful  na- 
ture \ras  not  corrected  or  chaneed; 


N  A  Z 


<     208     ) 


N  A   Z 


and  that  in  Egypt,  they,  as  a  nation, 
W€re  in  a  most  forlorn  and  dangerous 
condition. 

NAUGHT,  (1.)  What  is  worth 
nothing,  Prov.  xx.  14.  (2.)  What 
is  nnwholesome  and  hurtful,  2  Kings 
ii.  19.  Naughty  persons  are  such  as 
are  opposed  to  gowl,  and  active  in 
doing  mischief,  Jer.  xxiv.  2.  Prov. 
vi.  12.  Naughtiness  is  base  wicked- 
ness; and  thus  men  are  taken  in, 
when  punished  for  it,  Prov.  xi.  6. 

NAVY,  a  fleet  of  ships,  1  Kings 
ix.  26,  27. 

NAZARETH, separated,  crowned, 
sanctified,  a  small  city  of  the  Zeb- 
ulunites  in  Galilee,  about  70  or  75 
miles  north  of  Jerusalem,  to  the  west 
of  mount  Tabor,  and  east  of  Ptolemais. 
It  was  built  on  a  hill  and  noted  for  the 
wickedness  of  its  inhabitants,  Mark 
i.  9.  Luke  iv.  29.  .John  i.  46.  Here 
our  Saviour  was  conceived,  and  la- 
boured the  most  part  of  the  30  years 
ol  his  private  life ;  but  their  contempt 
of  his  ministry,  and  early  attempt  to 
murder  him,  by  casting  him  from 
tlie  brow  of  the  hill  whereon  their 
city  was  built,  occasioned  his  resid- 
ing here  little  afterward,  and  working 
lew  miracles  among  them,  Luke  iv. 
16,  29.  Blalt.  xiv^  57.  It  was  a 
place  of  some  note  for  about  1200 
years  after  Christ ;  but  is  at  present 
of  small  consequence.  It  is  unwor- 
thy of  this  work  to  mention  the  va- 
rious curiosities  collected  and  ima- 
gined here  by  fantastic  superstition, 
-and  shown  to  travellers  :  aiid  more  es- 
pecially to  relate  the  Papists'  ridicu- 
lous fable  of  the  ange's  transporting 
the  house  of  the  blessed  Virgin  from 
hence  to  Dalmalia,  and,  after  some 
more  removes,  to  Loref  to  in  Italy.  Je- 
sus's  dwelling  at  Nazareth,  occasioned 
hh  being  caSlt^d  a  Nazarene  :  and  by 
means  of  it,  the  prophecies,  that  re- 
presented him  as  a  Nazir,  typified  by 
Jose;:h  and  the  Nazarites,  or  as  the 
Neizi-r,  or  branchy  or  the  Notzer, 
or  preserver  of  men,  were  remarka- 
bly fulfilled.  Gen.  xlix.  26.  Numb. 
vi.  Isa. xi.  1.  and  Ix.  21.  Jobvii.  20. 
Matt.  ii.  24.  The  Jews  called  his 
followers   Nasarencs,   Acts  xxiv.  5. 


but  those  mongrel  professors,  vh* 
were  lor  mingling  Christianity  with 
Judaism,  came  afterwards  to  be  call- 
ed Na:^arcnes,  or  Nazira;ans.  1 1  is 
said,  they  detested  the  traditions  of 
the  Pharisees. 

Nazarites  were  persons  devoted 
to  the  pecatiar  service  of  God,  for  a 
week,  a  moiith,  a  year,  or  for  life. 
Some  of  them  devoted  themselves; 
and  sojne,  as  Samson  and  John  Bap- 
tist, were  expressly  claimed  by  God. 
During  their  vow,  they  were  never 
to  cut  their  hair,  or  drink  any  wine 
or  strong  drink ;  and  it  was  ex- 
tremely \vicked  to  offer  them  any, 
Amos  ii.  12.  Nor  were  tliey  to  at- 
tend a  funeral,  or  enter  a  house  de- 
filed by  the  dead.  If  they  acci- 
dentally contracted  any  defilement, 
or  any  ways  broke  their  vow,  tliey 
had  the  time  and  duty  ot  Nazarite- 
ship  to  begin  again.  They  shaved 
off  all  their  hair  on  the  seventh  day, 
and  offered  unto  the  Lord  two  tur- 
tie-doves,  or  pigeons,  the  one  for  a 
sin-oifering,  and  the  other  for  a 
burnt-offering,  and  a  land)  for  a 
trespass-offering.  When  their  vow- 
was  finished,  Nazarites  presented 
themselves  at  the  door  of  the  ta- 
bernacle or  temple,  with  a  he-lamb 
for  a  burnt-offering,  a  she-Iamb  for 
a  sin-offering,  and  a  ram  for  a  peace- 
offering,  with  their  respective  meat- 
ofi'erings  and  drink-offerings,  and  a 
basket  full  of  cakes  of  unleavened 
bread,  and  Avafcrs  anointed  with  oil. 
After  these  were  oiTered,  the  Nazarite 
shaved  his  hair  at  the  door  of  the 
sanctuary,  and  burnt  it  under  the 
pot  in  which  the  flesh  of  his  peace- 
ofiering  was  boiled.  The  |)riest 
then  put  into  his  hand  the  roasted 
shoulder  of  the  ram  of  peace.ofler- 
ing,  with  a  cake  and  wafer  of  unlea- 
vened bread.  These  he  returned  to 
the  [)riest,  who  waved  them  to  and  fro, 
dedicating  them  to  God  whose  pre- 
sence is  know  n  to  the  ends  of  the  earth, 
and  so  the  vow  was  finished.  As 
the  oblations  at  the  know  n  breach  ot" 
the  vow  atoned  for  the  same,  the  of- 
ferings at  the  finishing  of  it  were 
designed  to  expiate    the    unknown 


N  E  A 


(     200     ) 


N  E  A 


breaches  of  it,  and  to  rrnder  God 
thanks  lor  eniihlins:;  liiin  to  luHil  it  so 
niucli,  Numb.  vi.  Such  as,  like  Sa- 
muel, Samson,  and  .John  Baptist, 
were  dedicated  lor  life,  liad  no  oc- 
casion lor  th('se  olFerinj^s.  Those 
who  lived  out  of  Canaan,  cut  their 
hair  in  the  |)laces  Aviiere  the  days 
of  their  vow  were  finished  ;  but  de- 
ferred the  offerings  till  they  got  to 
the  sanctuary  :  so  Paul  shaved  olf 
his  hair  at  Cenchrea,  but  deferred 
his  oblation  till  he  came  to  Jerusa- 
lem, Acts  xviii.  18.  and  xxi.  23,  24. 
Some  who  had  not  an  opportunity  to 
perform  the  duties  of  the  Nazarite 
themselves,  contributed  to  bear  the  ex- 
penses of  such  as  had  taken  the  vow. 
— Some  think  these  JSazavites  were 
typical  of  Jesus  Chnst.  Never  was 
he  defiled  with  carnal  enjoyments, 
pleasures,  with  sinful  lusts  or  earthly 
cares;  by  irregular  affections  to- 
wards his  nearest  relations,  nor  by 
his  gracious  connexions  with  men, 
in  whom  spiritual  death  or  deadness 
did  Avork.  Never  did  he  break  his 
vow,  but  finished  it  in  giving  him- 
self an  offering  for  us. 

Others  su])pose,  that  these  Nazarites 
were  emblems  of  ministers  and  saints, 
who,  denying  themselves,  and  mor- 
tifying the  deeds  of  the  body,  con- 
secrate themselves  to  God  ;  renounce 
this  world,  and  the  pleasures  of  sin  ; 
and  on  every  breach  of  their  vow, 
through  inadvertent  fellowshi[)  with 
dead  works,  are  excited  to  an  appli- 
cation of  Jesus's  atonement  to  their 
conscience ;  and  alter  they  have  done 
all,  trust  only  in  his  all-comprehend- 
ing sacrifice  of  himself. 

NEAPOLIS,  a  new  city,  now 
called  Christopolis;  a  city  on  the  east 
of  Macedonia.  Ever  since  Paul  was 
here,  it  seems  there  has  been  less  or 
more  of  Christianity  in  it;  and  in 
the  6th  and  7th  centuries  of  the 
Christian  era,  we  find  bishops  here, 
Acts  xvi.  n. 

NEAR  at  hand.  God  is  near;  he 
is  every-where  present,  and  is  ready 
fo  help  his  people  in  every  cni?e  of  dif- 
ficulty, or  when  he  offers  to  save, 
uphold,  and  comfort,  Jer.  xsiiJ.  23. 

Vol.  11. 


Isa.  Iv.  0.  and  xli.  .5.  Deut.  iv.  7.  1 
Kings  ii.  7.  Psal.lxix.  IH.  andlxxv.  1. 
and  cxix.  151.  and  xxxii.  9.  Lam.  iii. 
37.  II c  is  luar  in  his  jjrqfcssina-  pco- 
pU\s  mouth,  but  far  from  their  nins, 
when  they  are  oltcn  talking  of  hinj, 
but  are  far  from  loving,  desiring,  and 
delighting  in  him,  Jer.  xii.  2.  God'.^ 
name  is  near ;  he  is  closely  related 
to  his  people,  and  intimate  is  their 
fellowship  with  him.  His  work  is 
7icar,  exerted  in  upholding,  protect- 
ing, and  comforting  them.  His 
word  is  nigh,  in  their  mouth  and  in 
their  heart,  [)roaclied  to  their  ear, 
spoken  bj--  their  lips,  conceived  by 
their  mind,  and  powerfully  applied 
to  their  soul.  His  Son  is  near  ;  of 
old  was  he  quickly  to  be,  and  now 
is  in  our  nature,  and  is  closely  con- 
I  nected  with  us  as  our  Surety,  Medi- 
tator,  and  Redeemer,  Psal.  Ixxv.  1. 
!  Rom.  X.  8.  God's  righteousness  is 
\near,  when  he  offers  Jesus  in  his 
f  word  to  guilty  sinners,  and  when  he 
shows  the  righteousness  of  his  nature 
j  in  justifying  the  ungodly,  Isa.  xlvi. 
'  13.  and  li.  5.  Salvation  is  near, 
when  it  is  to  be  wrought  without 
delay,  when  in  a  very  little  time 
we  shall  enter  the  state  of  perfect 
holiness  and  ha|)i)iness,  Romans 
xiii.  11.  Israel  was  a  peo[)le  near 
to  God,  Avhile  the  Gentiles  were  far 
off;  they  were  closely  united  to  him 
as  his  peculiar  people ;  they  had  his 
ordinances,  and  the  symbol  of  his 
presence  among  them :  and  he  Avas 
ready  to  su[)port  and  defend  them, 
Psal.  cxlviii.  14.  Isa.  Ivii.  19.  We 
draw  near  to  God,  when  we  wor- 
ship him,  and  by  faith,  prayer,  <fcc. 
have  intimate  fellowship  with  him, 
Lev.  xvi.  1.  1  Sam.  xiv.  30.  Psal. 
Ixxiii.  28.  Isa.  Iviii.  2.  Zeph.  iii.  2. 
Prayer  comes  near,  when  it  is  gra- 
ciously heard  and  accejjted,  1  Kings 
viii.  50.  Psal.  cxix.  109.  In  courts 
there  is  a  drawing  near,  as  a  judge,  a 
witness,  a  defendant,  or  an  advocate, 
Mai.  iii.  5.  Job  xxxi.  37.  Isa.  xli.  1. 
and  1.  8.  Trouble  is  near,  when  it  is 
actually  inflicted,  and  pierces  even  fo 
'  the  soul,  or  is  just  going  to  do  ^o^ 
P:^al.  xxii.  11.    " 

2  D 


NEB 


(     210     ) 


NEB 


NEBAIOTH,  buds,  fruits,  pro- 
phecies, the  eldest  son  of  Ishmael, 
the  fatlier  of  the  Nabatheans,  who 
appear  to  have  been  one  of  Ihe  most 
civilized  tribes  of  the  Arabians, 
and  the  most  friendly  to  the  Jews, 
and  part  of  whom  were  convert- 
ed to  Christ,  Gen.  xxv.  13.  Isa. 
Ix.  7. 

NEBO,  budding  forth,  speaking, 
prophesying,  an  idol  of  the  Chal- 
deans :  perhaps  they  borrowed  him 
from  the  Moabites,  whohad  a  hill  call- 
ed Nebo,  and  a  city  near  it  of  the 
same  name,  about  eight  miles  south 
of  Heshbon,  and  which  was  taken 
i)oth  by  the  Assyrians  and  Chaldeans, 
Isa.  xlvi.  1.  Deut.  xxiv.  4.  Numb, 
xxxii.  38.  Isa.  xv.  2.  Jer.  xlviii.  11. 
Or  Nebo  might  be  the  same  as  Che- 
mosh,  or  as  Beltis  the  queen  of  Belus, 
and  so  might  represent  the  moon.  The 
Seventy  call  this  idol  Uagon,  and 
Calmet  will  have  it  Bel ;  but  we  sun- 
pose  both  these  opinions  are  ground- 
less. It  is  certain,  Nebo  is  by  Isaiah 
represented  as  different  from  Bel,  and 
that  the  name  of  it  is  compounded 
with  many  of  the  Chaldean  names,  as 
Nabonassar,  Nabocolassar,  Nabopo- 
lassar,  Nebuchadnezzar,  Nebuzara- 
dan,  Nebushasban,  &c. 

NEBUCHADNEZZAR,  the  tears 
and  groans  of  judgment,  the  sorrow- 
ing of  poverty,  Nebuchadrez- 
zar, or  Nebopolassar  ;  the  most 
famed  king  of  Babylon.  When 
Pharaoh-necho  had  taken  Carche- 
mish,  a  city  on  the  Euphrates,  the 
Phenicians,  and  part  of  the  Syrians, 
revolted  from  the  Chaldeans,  who  it 
seems  had  just  before  reduced  them. 
Nabopolassar,  being  then  stricken  in 
years,  sent  Nebuchadnezzar  his  son 
with  an  army  to  recover  them.  He 
gained  a  complete  victory  over  the 
Egyptians  at  Carchemish,  retook  the 
place,  and  put  the  garrison  to  the 
sword.  He  then,  with  an  army  of 
180,000  foot,  120,000  horse,  and 
10,000  chariots,  according  to  Eupo- 
lemus, ravaged  Phenicia  and  Canaan, 
took  Jerusalem,  and  bound  Jehoia- 
kim,  the  tributary  of  the  Egyptians, 
in  chains  to  carry  liijn  to  Babylon  ; 


hot  afterwards  allowed  him  to  retain 
his  kingdom,  as  a  vassal  of  the  Chal- 
deans. He  carried  to  Babylon  Da- 
niel, Hananiah,  Mishael,  Azariah, 
and  others  of  the  princes  of  Judah. 
To  the  above  four  young  men,  he 
gave  new  names,  importing  connex- 
ion with  his  idol-gods,  calling  them 
Belteshazzar,  Shadrach,  Meshach, 
and  Abednego.  These,  and  other 
young  captives,  he  caused  to  be  train- 
ed up  in  all  the  learning  of  the  Chal- 
deans, that  they  might  serve  in  the 
court,  2.'Kings  xxiv.  Dan.  i.  About 
A.  M.  3399,  his  father  died,  and  he 
was  sole  king  of  Babylon.  In  the 
second  year  of  his  reign,  he  had  a 
surprising  dream,  but  entirely  for- 
got it.  He  assembled  his  diviners, 
and  charged  them  to  tell  him  liis 
dream,  and  the  interpretation  of  it. 
They  told  him,  that  though  they 
could  interpret  dreams,  yet  none  but 
the  gods  could  tell  a  man  what  he 
had  dreamed  ;  and  that  never  a  king 
had  demanded  any  such  thing  from 
any  of  his  sulyects.  Being  outrageous- 
ly provoked,  he  ordered  Arioch,  the 
captain  of  his  guard,  to  put  every 
wise  man  of  Babylon  to  death. — 
Daniel,  however,  obtained  leave  to 
tell  the  king  his  dream,  and  the  in- 
terpretation of  it.  He  was  so  satis- 
fied with  the  account  and  interpre- 
tation, that  he  fell  on  his  face  before 
Daniel,  as  if  an  inferior  deity,  and 
ordered  an  oblation  of  spices  to  be 
presented  to  him,  and  acknowledged 
ins  God,  the  God  of  gods,  and  Lord 
of  kings.  He  made  Daniel  chief  of 
the  wise  men,  and  governor  of  the 
province  of  Babylon  ;  and  made  Sha- 
drach,  Meshach,  and  Abednego,  sub- 
ordinate governors  in  the  same  place. 
Dan.  ii. 

Meanwhile,  a  peace  being  conclu- 
ded between  the  Medes  and  Lydians, 
by  the  mediation  of  Nebuchadnezzar, 
and  of  Syennesis,  king  of  Cilicia, 
Cyaxares,  king  of  Media,  gave  his 
daughter  Amyite  in  marriage  to  Ne- 
buchadnezzar ;  and  they  two  march- 
ed their  troops  against  Nineveh,  and 
levelled  it  to  the  ground.  Some  of 
Nebuchadnezzar's     troops    had  al 


NEB 


(     211     ) 


NEB 


ready  ravagod  Judea;  hut  the  As- 
syrian war  being  finished,  lie  sent 
his  army  into  that  conntry,  and  laid 
it  waste,  far  and  near.  JSoon  after, 
he,  upon  what  provocation  we  know 
not,  inarched  his  artny  against  Je- 
hoiachin^  hnt  that  young  monarch, 
with  his  whole  laniily,  surrendered 
themselves  to  his  mercy,  and  were 
made  prisoners,  and  carried  to  Ba- 
bylon. He  carried  ofTa  part  of  the 
sacred  furniture  of  the  tem|)le,  and 
a  multitude  of  captives.  The  Mo- 
abites,  Ammonites,  and  Phenicians, 
together  with  the  Egyptians,  encou- 
raged Zedekiah,  king  of  Judah,  to 
revolt  from  the  Chaldeans.  Nebu- 
chadnezzar, ^vith  great  furj^  march- 
ed to  chastize  them.  On  the  south- 
east of  Syria,  he  Avas  in  doul)t  whe- 
ther to  begin  with  the  Ammonites 
or  the  Jews;  he  referred  the  matter 
to  the  decision  of  divination;  the 
divination  directed  him  first  to  march 
against  the  Jews.  This  war  tooU 
him  up  nearly  two  years:  himself 
retired  to  Riblah,  and  left  his  gene- 
rals, Nebuzar-adan,  Nergal-sharezer, 
Saragar-nebo,  Sarsechim,  Rabsaris 
and  Rab-mag,  to  carry  it  on.  They, 
after  raising  the  siege  of  Jerusalem, 
to  march  against  the  Egyptians,  re- 
turned to  it,  and  took  the  city;  an:l 
then  left  the  poor  of  the  land  under 
the  charge  of  Gedaliah,  a  prince 
who  had  early  surrendered  himself. 
According  to  Nebuchadnezzar's  ex- 
l)ress  orders,  they  took  special  care 
of  Jeremiah;  but  the  prisoners  of 
distinction,  which  were  carried  to 
him  at  Riblah,  Seraiah,  and  Zepha- 
niah,  the  two  principal  priests,  Ze- 
dekiah's  children  and  general,  and 
68  others,  were  all  put  to  death. 
Zedekiah  had  his  eyes  put  out,  and 
was  carried  captive  to  Babylon,  2 
Kings  xxiv.  and  xxv.  2  Chr.  xxxvi. 
EzeV.  xxi.  19 — 24.  Jer.  vi. — xl. 
and"  Hi. 

ItVas  probably  at  this  lime,  about 
the  20th  year  of  his  reign,  that  he, 
with  the  gold  which  he  had  amassed 
in  his  western  expedition,'  erected 
the  monstrous  image  to  his  god  Be- 
his,  in  the  plain  of  Dura,    in  the 


province  of  Baliylon;  it  was  at  least 
!H)  ft-et  high,  anci  9  broad;  and  hav- 
ing convened  his  |)rinces,  governors, 
captain^*,  judgts,  and  other  ofhcera 
under  him,  to  the  dedication  of  this 
idol,  he  issued  a  proclamation,  that 
whenever  the  concert  of  music,  by 
cornet,  flute,  harp,  sacki)ut,  psaltery, 
dulcimer,  &:c.  should  begin  to  play, 
every  body  should  fall  down  on  his 
knees  or  face,  and  adore  this  mon- 
strous image,  under  pain  of  being 
cast  into  a  fiery  furnace.  Daniel  ei- 
ther was  absent,  or,  for  fear  of  his 
great  power,  was  not  informed 
against ;  but  Shadrach,  Meshach,  and 
Abednego,  Avere  accused  of  refusing 
to  worship  the  idol.  Nebuchadnez- 
zar called  them  before  him,  And  in- 
terrogated them  if  it  was  so.  They 
assured  him  they  would  not  worship 
his  image,  and  were  confident  their 
God  was  able  to  deliver  them  from 
his  burning  fiery  furnace.  Inflamed 
with  rage,  he  ordered  the  furnace  to 
be  heated  to  a  seven-fold  degree,  and 
them  to  be  cast  into  it  bound.  The 
flames  seized  on  those  that  cast  them 
in,  and  burnt  them  to  death.  The 
Son  of  God  appearing  in  human 
form  amidst  the  fire,  caused  it  to 
burn  their  bonds,  but  not  so  much  as 
to  singe  their  clothes,  or  a  hair  of 
their  head,  and  walked  with  them  up 
and  down  the  furnace.  Neduchad- 
nezzar  observing  this,  hinted  it  to 
his  own  people,  and  called  to  Sha- 
drach, Meshach,  and  Abednego,  to 
come  forth  out  of  the  furnace.  They 
were  quite  unhurt,  and  not  so  much 
as  the  smell  of  fire  was  uj)on  them. 
Nebuchadnezzar  extolled  the  power 
of  the  Hebrew  God,  and  ordered 
that  whosoever  should  speak  re- 
proachfully of  him,  should  be  put 
to  death,  and  his  house  made  a  dung- 
hill :  and  he  promoted  these  three 
Hel)rews  to  higher  governments 
in  the  province  of  Babylon,  Dan. 
ix.  3. 

About  the  22d  year  of  his  reign, 
he  marched  his  troops  into  Phe- 
nicia,  and  laid  siege  to  Tyre.  Mean- 
while, by  the  detached  parties,  he 
reduced  the   Ammonites,  Moabite?, 


NEB 


(     212     ) 


NEB 


Edomifes,  and  Northern  Arabians: 
and  Ntbuzar-adan  carried  off  745 
Jews,  whom  he  found  in  their  land. 
After  he  had  besieged  Tyre  13  years, 
till  his  army  was  almost  ruined  vvith 
fatigue,  and  at  tlie  end  obtained 
nothing  but  a  deserted  place,  the 
inhabitants  having  transported  them- 
selves and  their  effects  to  a  neigh- 
bouring island,  he  ordered  his  sol- 
diers to  reduce  the  city  to  ashes,  and 
cast  the  rubbish  into  the  adjacent  sea. 
With  fury  he  then  marched  against 
the  Egyptians,  who  had  supjdied  the 
Tyrians  during  the  siege;  and  after  ra- 
vaging their  country,  and  murdering 
the  inhabitants,  and  particularly  tlie 
Jews  who  had  tied  thither  after  the 
murder  of  Gedaliah  his  de[)uty,  he 
and  his  army  returned  to  Babylon, 
laden  with  rich  spoils.  He  also  sub 
dued  Persia;  and  Media  was  in  a 
kind  of  subjection.  But  the  precise 
year  when  this  happened  is  rather  un- 
certain, Jer.  XXV.  andxxvii.  andxliii. 
and  xlvi. — xlix.  Isa.  xxiii.  Ezek. 
XXV. — xxxii.  and  xxxv. 

By  this  time,  in  the  35th  year  of  his 
reign,  his  astonishing  ttructures  at 
Babylon  were  almost  finished.  He 
dreamed  of  a  tall  and  flourishing 
tree  laden  with  fruit,  and  a  place 
of  refuge  to  birds  and  beasts  un- 
numbered; and  yet  all  of  a  sudilen, 
orders  were  giveii  by  an  angel  to  hew 
it  dow^n,  shake  off  its  leaves  and  i'ruit, 
but  to  fasten  its  root  in  the  earth,  as 
if  with  a  band  of  iron  and  brass,  for 
seven  3^ears,  that  it  might  be  wet 
with  the  dew  of  heaven,  and  have  its 
portion  with  the  beasts  of  the  field. 
None  of  his  diviners  could  interj'irel 
it.  Daniel  came,  and  being  encou- 
raged by  the  king  to  tell  him  the  inter- 
pretation, be  what  it  would,  he  told 
him,  that  it  meant,  that  for  7  years 
lie  should  be  reduced  to  the  condi- 
tion of  a  beast,  and  be  driven  from  the 
society  of  men,  and  after  his  acknow- 
ledgment of  the  divine  siipremncj', 
should  lie  restored  to  his  throne 
Daniel  entreated  him  to  break  off 
Jhis  sinful  and  unjust  course  of  life, 
and  show  mercj^  to  the  [»oor  captives, 
or  others.     Regardless  of    Daniel's 


admonition,    Nebuchadnezzar    con- 
tinued as  proud  as  ever.     One  day, 
as  he  walked  on  the  top  of  his  palace, 
perhaps  in  his  hanging  gardens,  and 
looking  on  his  august  city,  he  said, 
either    to    himself,    or    some    com- 
panions, Is  not  this  great  Babylon, 
that  I  have  built  for  my  metropolis, 
and  Inj   the  might  of  my  powers  and 
for  the  honour  of  my  majesty  ?     A 
voice   from  heaven  replied  to  him, 
that  he  should  be  immediatelj^  driven 
from  human  society,  and  reduced  to 
the  condition  of  a  brute  beast.     He 
was  immediately  struck  with  a  kind 
of    madness  of    akin    to    what    we 
call    a   lycanthropy,    under    which 
a  person  fancies  himself  a  dog,  a  cat, 
&c.  and  how  Is,  bites,  and  eats,  in  their 
manner,  and   shuns  human   society. 
Nebuchadnezzar     probably    fancied 
he  was    an    ox,    and  imitated   the 
manner  of  one.     No  doul)t   his  as- 
tonished   friends    bound    him  as   a 
mad-man ;    but  he   escaped    out  of 
their  hands,  fled   to   the    fields,,  and 
there  lived  seven  years  on  the  grass, 
and  went  naked,  till   his  hair  g;A"ew 
like  eagles'   feathers,  and  iiis   nails 
like  birds'  claws.     At   the    end  <^ 
seven  years,  God  restored  him  to  the 
use  of   his  reason:   he  humbled  him- 
self, glorified  God,    and  ordered  an 
account  of  his  dream,   and  the  fulfil- 
ment of  it,  to  be  published  to  all  his 
subjects.     It  is  said,  that  after  he  was 
restored  to  his  government,  he   cast 
his  son   Evil-meroflach   into  prison, 
perhaps  that  in  Avhich  Jehoiachin  had 
lain  about  36  years,  either  for  the  lol- 
lies he  had  been  guilty  of  during  his 
father's  indisposition,  or  to  secure  the 
peace    of  the    kingdom,    Dan.    iv. 
About  a  year  after,  Nebuchadnezzar 
died  in   the   43d  or  44th  year  of  his 
reign.     It  is  said,  thatjust  before  his 
de;ith,  he,  being  affected  by  some  su- 
pernatural  impression,    went   up  to 
the  top  of  his  palace,  and  cried  to  the 
Babyloniftns,    that   a    mule   assisted 
jjy  a  Mede,  (i.  c.  Cyrus,  whose  fa- 
ther was  a  Persian,  and  his  mother  a 
Mede,    assisted  by  his  uncle  Darius 
the  Mede,)  should  ruin  their  em])ire, 
aod  reduce  them  to  sla^  ery. 


NEC 


(     213     ) 


N  E  H 


NEBTTZAR-ADAN.    See  Nebi- 

CHADNKZZAll. 

NECESSARY,  needful,  Avhat 
must  be,  or  ought  to  be,  1  Cor,  xii. 
22.  One  thins:  is  needful ;  an  interest 
in  Jesus  Christ  as  our  righteous^ness 
and  strength,  must  lie  had;  without 
it  we  cannot  live,  but  under  a  curse; 
we  cannot  die,  without  going  into 
everlastiiig  punisliment;  we  cannot 
honour  God,  profit  ourselves,  or  be 
truly  useful  to  our  neighbours,  Luke 
X.  42. 

NECESSITY,  (1.)  The  state  of 
a  thing  that  must  needs  be,  Heb. 
ix.  16.  (2.)  Poverty,  or  want  of 
temporal  good  things,  Rom.  xii.  13. 
(3.)  Force,  or  outward  constraint: 
thus  alms  are  not  to  be  given  mit  of 
iicoessiti/,  2  Cor.  ix.  7.  The  word 
necessary,  or  such  other  words  as  are 
equivalent  to  it,  as  mu^t,  must  needs, 
do  not  always  denote  an  absolute  ne- 
cessity, but  a  necessity  of  decency,  or 
of  duty,  or  merely  something  useful 
and  advantageous;  as,  for  exami)le, 
Lukexiv.  18.  I  have  bought  a  piece 
of  ground,  and  Ivutst  needs  go  and  sec 
it;  (hat  is,  It  is  convenient  that  1  go 
to  see  it,  Rom.  xiii.  3.  Ye  must  needs 
be  subject ;  that  is,  It  is  your  duty  as 
well  as  interest  so  to  be.  Of  neces- 
sity he  must  release  one  unto  them  at 
the  feast;  that  is,  according  to  Ihe 
wonted  custom,  it  \vas  necessary  for 
the  peace  and  welfare  of  the  city,  to 
release  a  prisoner,  whom  they  pleas- 
ed, Luke  xxiii.  17.  A  necessity  was 
laid  on  Paul  to  preach  the  gospel ; 
he  could  not  execute  his  office,  fulfil 
his  duty,  or  have  peace  in  his  own 
mind,  without  preaching  it,  1  Cor. 
ix.  16. 

NEC  HO.     See  Pharaoh. 

NECK,  (1.)  That  part  of  an  ani- 
mal body  which  is  between  the  head 
and  shoulders,  Judg.  v.  30.  (2.)  Both 
head  and  neck,  Deut.  xxi.  4.  (3.) 
The  heart :  and  so  hard,  stiff,  or 
iron  neck,  imports  a  love  to  sin,  and 
obstinacy  in  the  practice  of  it,  Neh. 
ix.  29.  Psal.  Ixxv.  5.  Isa.  xlviii.  4. 
(4.)  The  whole  man;  and  hence  to 
have  a  yoke  or  bandi  on  the  neck,  im- 
ports a  state  of  slavery  and  bondage. 


Deut.  xxviii.  48.  Isa.  lii.  2.  Jer. 
xxvii.  2.  Transgressions  co;h«  w/jon, 
or  are  wreathed  al)out  the  neck,  when 
they  are  pimished  wilh  l)ondage  and 
slavery.  Lam.  i.  14.  The  Assyrians 
reached  even  to  the  neck  ;  (hey  almost 
totally  overflowed  and  ruined  Jiidah, 
taking  all  the  cities  thereof,  but  Je- 
rusalem (he  capital,  Isa.  viii.  8.  and 
XXX.  28.  The  Ammonites  afm<;?//7on 
the  necks  of  the  slain  Jews,  when  tli'  y 
were  murdered  in  like  manner  by  the 
Chaldeans,  Ezek.  xxi.  29.  To  lay 
down  the  neck,  is  to  be  ready  to  sul- 
fer  imprisonment  or  death,  Rom.  xvi. 
4.  God  discovers  the  foundations 
unto  the  neck,  when  he  utterly  under- 
settles,  and  almost  entirely  destroys 
his  enemies,  Hab.  iii.  13. 

NECROMANCY,  the  inquiring 
into  futurity,  by  consuKing  the  dead : 
a  species  of  magic.  What  forms  of 
enchantment  were  used  on  these  oc- 
casions, is  not  easy  to  de(ermine ;  but 
that  there  were  several  sjjells  and  in- 
vocations used,  appears  irnm  Lucan, 
wiio  brings  in  Erictho  animating  a 
dead  body,  in  order  to  tell  young 
Ponipey  the  fate  of  the  civil  war. 
The  law  is  very  express  against  this 
practice,  Deut.  xviii.  11.  and  the 
punishment  allotted  for  it  was,  (o  be 
stoned  to  dea(h,  Lev.  xx.  27.  See 
Divine. 

NEGINOTH,  a  term  used  before 
some  of  the  Psalms;  as  Psal.  Ixvii. 
signifying  stringed  instruments  of 
7nusic,  to  be  played  on  by  the  fingers 
of  female  musicians;  and  the  title  of 
those  psalms,  where  it  is  found,  may 
be  thus  translated :  "  A  psalm  of  Da- 
vid, to  the  master  of  music,  who  pre- 
sides over  the  stringed  instruments." 

NEGLECT,  (1.)  To  take  no  care 
of.  Acts  vi.  1.  (2.)  To  despise, 
refuse,  make  no  proper  improve- 
ment of,  Matt,  xviii.  17.  1  Tim.  iv. 
14.  Heb.  ii.  3. — Negligent,  care- 
less, inactive,  2  Chron.  xxix.  11. 

NEHELAMITE,  atitleby  which 
Shemaiah,  a  false  prophet,  is  distin- 
guished, Jer.  xxix.  24.  and  intimates 
(hat  he  was  a  dreamer:  or  that  he 
was  of  Nehalal,  a  city  of  Zebulun, 
Josh.  xix.  15.  Judg.  i.  30. 


N  E  H 


(     214     ) 


N  E  H 


NEHEMIAH,  comolaUon,  rest, 
or  direction  of  the  Lord,  the  son  of 
Hachaliah ;  it  is  thought  he  was  of  the 
royal  family  of  David.  Probably  his 
being  the  royal  cup-bearer  in  the  Per- 
sian court,  and  his  succeeding  Zerub- 
babtl  in  the  government  of  the  Jews, 
tends  to  confirm  this  opinion.  About 
A.  M.  3558  or  3560,  about  90  years 
after  their  return  from  Chaldea,  he 
was  informed  by  Hanani,  that  Jeru- 
salem still  remained  in  a  ruinous  state, 
and  was  a  reproach  or  object  of  de- 
rision to  all  the  nations  around. 
Deeply  affected  with  his  narrative, 
Nehemiah  fasted,  and  prayed  that  the 
Lord  would  prosper  his  intention  to 
ask  the  king's  permission  to  go  and 
build  it.  He  indeed  attended  to  the 
bearing  of  the  royal  cup,  but  his 
countenance  marked  him  sad  and 
dejected.  King  Artaxerxes  observ- 
ing it,  asked  him  the  cause,  probably 
suspecting  he  had  formed  some  bad 
design.  Nehemiah  AVas  afraid;  but 
lifting  up  his  heart  to  God,  he  re- 
presented his  grief  to  the  king,  as 
the  queen,  some  say  Esther,  sat  by 
him.  Upon  his  request,  Artaxerxes, 
in  the  20fh  year  of  his  reign,  em- 
powered him  to  go  mid  rebuild  the 
walls  of  Jerusaleiii.  He  gave  him 
letters  of  safe  conveyance  to  the  go- 
vernors on  the  west  of  the  Euphrates, 
flnd  one  to  Asaph,  the  keeper  of  the 
forest  of  Lebanon,  ordering  him  to 
furnish  Nehemiah  with  timber,  and 
every  other  thing  necessary  for  the 
repairs  of  Jerusalem,  and  for  Nehe- 
niialfs  own  house. 

On  his  arrival  at  Jerusalem  w'itli  the 
king's  commission,  he  and  his  servant 
went  round  the  wall  of  the  citj"^  in  the 
night,  and  found  it  wholly  in  ruins. 
Hereon  he  assembled  the  chief  men 
of  the  Jews,  informed  them  of  his 
powers  and  intention,  and  encoura- 
ged them  to  begin  the  work.  They 
readily  agreed  to  his  proposal,  and 
different  pieces  of  the  wall  were  as- 
signed to  the  various  principal  men. 
Thirty-two  of  these,  together  with 
the  companies  of  the  priests,  Le- 
vites,  Nethinims,  and  the  goldsmiths 
and  merchants,  exerted  themselves 


in  this  good  work.  Some  repaired 
over  against  their  own  houses;  and 
some,  as  the  inhabitants  of  Tekoah, 
Gibeon,  and  Mizpeh,  generously  re- 
paired a  part  of  it,  though  they  lived 
in  other  cities.  Sanballat  the  Ho- 
ronite,  and  Tobiah  the  Ammonite, 
originally  a  servant,  but  now  a  go- 
vernor, and  Geshem  the  Arabian, 
were  extremely  vexed  to  hear  of 
Nehemiah's  arrival,  to  help  and  en- 
courage the  Jews,  and  to  see  the  re- 
pair of  the  wall  of  Jerusalem  carried 
on  with  so  much  ardour.  They  first 
scoffed  at  the  Jews  and  their  Avork ; 
but  seeing  it  go  on,  they  and  their 
countrymen  made  several  attempts 
to  surprise  and  murder  the  Jews  en- 
gaged in  il.  To  frustrate  their  in- 
tentions, Nehemiah  placed  a  guard 
on  the  outside  of  the  builders,  and 
caused  every  builder  to  keep  his 
sword  by  him,  as  he  builded :  they 
never  put  off  their  clothes,  either  day 
or  night,  except  for  washing ;  and  the 
trumpeter  accompanied  Nehemiah, 
ready  to  sound  the  alarm  in  case  of 
danger.  Finding  that  they  could  do 
nothing  by  open  violence,  Sanballat 
and  Tobiah  had  recourse  to  strata- 
gem. Tobiah  having  married  the 
daughter  of  Shechaniah,  a  prince  of 
Judah,  had  a  powerful  part  of  the 
Jews  in  his  interest.  These,  with 
the  Jews  that  lived  in  tlve  country 
round  about,  did  what  they  could  to 
dispirit  Nehemiah  and  his  friends,  as 
if  it  were  impossible  to  withstand  so 
many  enemies,  who  would  of  a  sud- 
|dea  attack  them  from  every  quarter. 
Sanballat  and  his  companions  wrote 
four  letters,  inviting  Nehemiah  to  a 
friendly  conference  in  the  plain  of 
Ono :  but  they  caused  a  party  to  lie 
in  wait  to  murder  him  by  the  way. 
He  returned  them  answer,  that  the 
great  and  important  AVork  Avhich  he 
was  about,  required  such  constant 
attendance  that  he  couhl  not  come, 
Sanballat  then  Avrote  him  an  open 
lette^,  importing,  that  a  report  Avas 
spread,  and  Avas  affirmed  by  Gashmu, 
a  man  of  credit  and  influence,  that 
he  and  the  Jews  rebuilded  Jerusa- 
lem with  a  design  to  revolt,  and  that 


N  E  H 


(     215     ) 


N  E  H 


he  had  suborned  the  prophets  to  ?tir 
up  the  people  to  choose  him  lor  then- 
king;  and  that  as  kiiij^  Artaxerxes 
could  not  but  hear  this  report,  it 
was  necessary  to  consult  together 
how  to  confute  it.  Nehemiah,  con- 
scious of  his  inuocency,  trusting  in 
his  God,  and  persuaded  of  the  king's 
favour,  returned  no  other  answer 
but  that  the  whole  report  was  false, 
and  had  been  Ibrged  by  Sanballat 
himself.  Sauballat  and  Tobiah  then 
bribed  over  the  prophet  Shemaiah, 
and  the  prophetess  Noadiah,  to  en- 
deavour the  murder  of  Nehemiah, 
and  the  hindrance  of  the  work.  She- 
maiah shut  up  himself  in  his  cham- 
ber, as  if  habitually  given  to  medita- 
tion, fasting,  and  prayer.  This  im- 
posed on  Nehemiah  a  little,  and 
made  him  think  him  remarkably  pi- 
ous, and  a  real  friend.  One  time  as 
Nehemiah  was  in  his  house,  he  told 
him  that  he  would  be  slain  that  very 
night,  unless  they  two  should  shut  up 
themselves  in  a  secret  place  of  the 
temple.  Nehemiah  replied,  that  it 
was  quite  improper  that  he,  whose 
conduct  was  so  innocent,  and  his 
presence  and  influence  so  necessary, 
should  hide  himself  anywhere. — 
Thus,  notwithstanding  all  that  San- 
ballat, Tobiah,  Gesheni,  and  their 
partizans  of  treacherous  Jews,  could 
do,  the  wall  was  finished  in  52  days 
after  they  began  to  repair  it;  and  al- 
most a  year  after,  it  was  dedicated 
with  solemn  sacrifices  and  thanks- 
giving, Neh.  i.  to  iv.  and  vi.  and  xii. 
27 — 43.  Meanwhile,  Nehemiah  ap- 
plied himself  to  rectify  disorders. 
He  curbed  the  inhumanity  of  the  no- 
bles and  rich  men,  who  retained  the 
lands  of  their  poor  brethren  in  mort- 
gage, and  held  their  children  in  sla- 
very. To  show  himself  a  distin- 
guished pattern  of  generosity,  he  ne- 
ver demanded  the  salary  prescribed 
him  by  the  Persian  king,  but  main- 
tained his  family  on  the  product  of 
his  own  fields,  and  on  the  salary 
which  he  received  as  the  king's  cup- 
bearer. He  settled  the  genealogies 
by  an  old  register  which  he  found. 
The  feasts  of  trumpeb?  and  of  taber- 


nacles Were  observed  with  more  ex- 
actness than  had  ever  been  done 
since  the  time  of  Joshua  the  son  of 
Nan;  and  Ezra,  assisted  by  13 
others,  did  on  both  occasions  read 
and  explain  the  book  of  the  law  to 
the  people.  Immediately  after,  he 
caused  the  Jews  who  had  married 
Heathenish  women,  to  put  them 
away  : — and,  after  solemn  fasting  and 
confession  of  sins,  the}'  renewed  their 
covenant  with  God,  and  solemnly 
vowed  obedience  to  his  law.  They 
particularly'^  vowed  to  espouse  no 
Heathen  women;  to  buy  no  goods 
on  the  Sabbath ;  to  observe  the  year 
of  release;  to  give  their  first-fruits 
aud  firstlings  to  the  Levites,  with 
more  exactness  than  had  been  done 
for  some  time  past;  and  to  allow 
the  third  part  of  a  shekel  extraordi- 
nary every  year  for  the  service  of 
the  temj>le :  22  priests,  1 7  Levites, 
and  44  chief  men  of  the  people,  sub- 
scribed this  covenant;  and  all  the 
rest  of  the  people,  who  understood 
it,  declared  their  adherence. 

As  Jerusalem  was  poorly  inhabited, 
the  tenth  man  was  chosen  by  lot  to 
dwell  in  't,  and  Nehemiah  blessed 
such  as  offered  themselves  willingly 
to  dwell  in  it;  and  the  charge  of  the 
city  was  given  to  Hanani,  the  bro- 
ther of  Nehemiah,  and  to  HananiaU 
the  son  of  Zerubbabel,  one  eminent- 
ly faithful  and  pious;  aud  a  guard 
was  ])laced  at  every  gate,  to  prevent 
the  enemies  from  entering  it.  The 
order  of  the  Levites,  priests,  singers, 
and  porters,  was  rectified  and  esta- 
blished, Neh.  v.  and  vii.  to  xii. 

After  Nehemiah  had  governed  the 
Jews  12  years,  he  returned  to  king 
Artaxerxes,  and  afler  some  stay  in 
Persia,  returned  to  Judea.  The 
Jews,  contrary  to  their  covenant, 
had  again  married  strange  wives : 
they  profaned  the  Sabbath,  by  bear- 
ing of  burdens,  and  buying  of  fish 
and  other  wares  from  the  Tyrian?; 
on  that  day  :  they  had  withheld  the 
dues  of  the  Levites,  and  obliged  theui 
to  desert  the  service  of  the  temple; 
all  these  disorders,  partly  by  expostu- 
lation in  ord'T  fo  convince' thcnvor 


N  E  I 


(     216     ) 


N  E  R 


the  sinfulness  thereof,  and  partly  by 
force,  Neheiniah  quickly  rectified. 
Tobiah  had  fixed  his  residence  at 
Jerusalem;  and  Manasseh,  the  grand- 
son of  Eliashib  the  high  priest,  who 
had  married  the  daughter  of  San- 
ballat,  had  procured  him  a  lodging 
in  the  court  of  the  temple.  Nehe- 
miah  drove  Tobiah  from  his  lodging, 
and  cast  out  his  furniture,  and  ba- 
nished Manasseh  the  priest  from  the 
city.  Sanballat,  his  father-in-law, 
obtaining  the  consent,  not  of  Alex- 
ander, as  Josephus  says,  but  of  Da- 
rius Nothus,  built  a  temple  for  him 
on  mount  Gerizzim,  where  he,  and 
probably  his  descendants,  officiated 
as  priests  to  the  Samaritans.  After 
Nehemiah  had  governed  the  Jewish 
state  about  36  years,  he  died.  It  is 
thought  he  wrote  the  chief  part  of  his 
own  history;  for  as  he  died  about 
A.  M.  3595,  Jaddua,  who  officiated  as 
high  priest,  Avhen  Alexander  passed 
that  way,  A.  M.  3670,  might  be  a  boy 
of  10  or  12  years  of  age,  Neh.  xii.  11. 
As  from  Ezra's  commission  to  rec- 
tify the  affairs  of  Judea,  to  the  year 
in  which  Nehemiah  is  here  supposed 
to  die,  is  49  years ;  it  is  thought  to 
correspond  to  the  seven  weeks  of 
Daniel,  in  which  the  city  and  wall 
of  Jerusalem  was  built  in  troublesome 
times,  Dan.  ix.  25. — The  Nehe- 
miah that  returned  from  Babylon 
with  Zerubbabel,  was  a  different  per- 
son from  him  who  is  the  suiyect  of 
this  article;  as  he  had  occasion  to 
see  the  ruins  of  Jerusalem,  and  could 
scarcelj'^  have  been  less  than  110 
years  of  age,  and  so  not  very  proper 
for  a  cup-bearer  in  the  20th  year  of 
Artaxerxes. 

NEIGH,  to  make  a  noise  like  a 
horse,  particularly  a  stallion.  The 
conduct  of  whoremongers  in  enticing 
women  to  unchastity,  is  called  a 
nei<r]iingy  because  it  is  brutish  and 
shameless,  Jer.  v.  8.  and  xiii.  27. 

NEIGHBOUR,  (1.)  One  who 
dwells  near  us,  Exod.  iii.  22.  (2.) 
A  fellow-laliourer,  Acts  vii.  27.  (3.) 
One  who  stands  in  need  of  our  help, 
and  to  whom  we  have  an  opportu- 
nity of   doing  good,    Prov.  iii.  28. 


Matt.  xxii.  39.  (4.)  One  who  pi- 
ties and  relieves  in  distress,  Luke 
X.  36.  Job  xvi.  f  21.  In  our  Sa- 
viour's time,  the  Jews  generally  ima- 
gined, that  only  those  of  their  own 
nation  were  their  neighbours,  who 
ought  to  be  loved,  and  that  they 
might  hate  every  body  else;  but  he 
showed  them,  that  all  men  living, 
even  such  as  hated  them,  were  their 
neighbours,  to  whom  love  and  bene- 
ficence ought  to  be  extended,  Matt. 
V.  43—48.  Luke  x.  29—37.  The 
evil  neighbmirs,  whom  God  would 
pluck  out  of  their  land,  were  the 
Egyptians,  Philistines,  Moabites, 
Ammonites,  Syrians,  andPhenicians, 
who  dwelt  near  to,  and  often  harass- 
ed the  Jews,  who  were  his  people, 
Jer.  xii.    14. 

NEPHEWS,  (1.)  Grand-children, 
Judg.  xii.  14.  1  Tim.  v.  4.  (2.) 
Posterity  in  general,  Job  xviii.  9. 
Isa.  xiv.  22. 

NERGAL,  searching  out,  a  candle 
covered,  an  idol  of  the  Cuthites,  who 
were  a  tribe  of  the  Chaldeans  or  Per- 
sians. The  Jews  represent  it  in  the 
form  of  a  cock;  but  as  the  word  sig- 
nifies a  covered  lamp,  it  is  more 
probable,  that  it  signifies  the  fire,  or 
the  sun.  Two  of  Nebuchadnezzar's 
generals  were,  in  honour  of  it,  called 
Nergal-sharezer,  2  Kings  xvii.  30. 
Jer.  xxxix.  3. 

NERO,  an  infamous  emperor  of 
Rome,  who  ruled  from  A.  D.  54,  to 
67  or  68.  In  the  first  part  of  his 
reign,  he  behaved  with  some  decen- 
cy and  justice,  pretending  to  copy 
after  Augustus.  In  the  end  of  it, 
he  turned  to  be  one  of  the  most  ty- 
rannical wretches  that  ever  breathed. 
He  murdered  his  mother,  and  almost 
all  his  friends  and  princif)al  subjects ; 
he  mightily  encouraged  stage-plays, 
and  every  thing  lewd  and  foolish. 
To  him  Paul  appealed.  Acts  xxv.  21. 
How  he  got  clear  of  the  accusation 
of  the  Jews,  does  not  appear.  He 
continued  two  years  at  Rojne,  preach- 
ing the  gospel  with  great  freedom, 
and  making  converts  in  the  empe- 
ror's court,  Philij).  iv.  22.  He  re- 
turned to  Rome  in  the  12th  of  Nero. 


NET 


(     217     ) 


NEW 


and  having  made  a  proselyte  of  a 
concubine  of  this  [)rince,  he  was 
seized  and  imprisoned,  hut  delivered 
at  this  time,  2  Tim.  iv.  16,  17.  Ap- 
pearing before  him  a  second  time, 
he  was  condemned  to  be  beheaded. 
About  J.  D.  t}5.  he  caused  tlie  city 
of  Rome  to  be  set  on  fire,  and  sung 
one  of  Homer's  poems  at  the  view  of 
the  flames.  To  appease  the  senate,  he 
transferred  the  blame  on  the  innocent 
Christians.  Multitudes  of  them  were 
apprehended ;  some  were  sewed  up 
in  the  skins  of  wikl  beasts,  and  lorn 
to  pieces  by  dogs  ;  others  were  cru- 
cified ;  others  were  burnt  in  Nero''3 
gardens,  as  nocturnal  illuminations 
to  the  city,  while  he  ^^■ith  great 
pleasure,  beheld  the  spectacle  from 
ins  window.  Perhaps  he  was  the 
more  enraged,  that  some  of  his  own 
family,  and  it  is  said,  one  of  his  fa- 
vourite concubines,  were  turned  to 
the  Lord,  Phil.  iv.  22.  In  this  perse- 
cution raised  by  him,  probably  most 
of  the  apostles  were  cut  off.  After 
♦his  tyranny  and  murder  had  render- 
ed him  quite  intolerable,  the  senate 
declared  him  the  eneiny  of  the  state; 
and  he,  in  despair,  fled,  and  being 
sought  for  to  be  killed,  murdered 
himself,  with  the  assistance  of  Epa- 
phroditus,  his  freed-man. 

NEST,  (1.)  A  small  lodgment 
where  fowls  hatch  their  young,  Deut. 
xxii.  6.  (2.)  The  egg,  or  young 
birds  in  a  nest,  Isa.  x.  14.  Deut. 
xxxii.  11.  (3.)  A  habitation  seem- 
ingly very  secure  and  undisturbed, 
Jer.  xlix.  16.  Obad.  4.  Hab.  ii.  9. 
A  nest  in  cedars,  is  houses  built  of 
cedar  wood,  Jer.  xxii.  23. 

NET,  DRAG,  (1.)  An  instrument 
for  catcing  fish,  birds,  or  wild 
beasts,  Matt.  iv.  18.  Isa.  li.  20.  (2.) 
Artificial  work,  wrought  or  woven 
in  the  form  of  a  net,  1  Kings  vii.  1 7. 
God's  net,  is  the  entangling  afflictions 
wherewith  he  chastises  or  punishes 
men.  Job  xix.  6.  or  the  dispensation 
of  the  gospel,  whereby  many  are 
drawn  to  Christ.  This  is  cast  into 
the  sea  of  this  world,  and  many  are 
either  really,  or  in  appearance,  in« 
closed  in  it.     At  last  it  wrll  be  emp- 

Vor,.  U. 


tied  into  the  eternal  state ;  all  the 
good  be  rendered  ha|)i»y,  and  the  bad 
be  cast  into  everlasting  fire,  Matt.xiii. 
47 — 50.  The  net  of  wicked  men, 
wherewith  they  ensnare  others,  and 
draw  wealth  and  power  to  them- 
selves, is  their  crafty  plots,  and  vi- 
gorously executetl  purposes  of  mis- 
chief, Psal.  ix.  15.  Mic.  vii.  2.  Psal. 
cxl.  5.  Hab.  1,  16.  The  Jewish  ru- 
lers and  priests  were  a  net,  a  mean  of 
drawing  others  into  sin  and  ruin, 
Hos.  V.  1 .  In  vain  the  net  is  spread 
in  the  sight  of  any  bird:  the  fowler 
who  spreads  his  net  in  the  sight  of 
the  bird,  loseth  his  labour;  but  sin- 
ners are  more  foolish  than  the  silly 
birds,  who,  though  they  are  not  ig- 
norant of  the  mischief  which  evil 
courses  of  life  mil  bring  upon  them- 
selves, yet  will  not  take  warning, 
Prov.  i.  17. 

NETOPHAH,  a  dropping  down 
from  the  head,  or  Netophathi  :  a 
city  of  Judah.  between  Bethlehem 
and  Anathoth,  and  peopled  by  the 
posterity  of  Salma,  the  father  of 
Bethlehem.  It  is  said  to  have  been 
noted  for  olives  and  artichokes,  1 
Chron.  ii.  51,54.  Whether  it  be  the 
same  as  Nephtoah,  I  know  not ;  but 
Maharai,  one  of  David's  mighties, 
and  Ephaj,  a  captain  that  submitted 
to  Gedaliah,  were  natives  of  this 
place,  2  Sam.  xxiii.  28.  Jer.  xl.  8. 

NEW,  (1.)  What  was  but  lately 
formed,  appointed,  or  begun  to  be 
used.  Josh.  ix.  13.  1  Kings  xi.  29. 
(2.)  Strange,  extraordinary.  Numb, 
xvi.  30.  (3.)  What  is  lifferent 
from,  or  more  excellent  than,  what 
went  before.  Thus  the  saints  are 
new  creatures,  and  have  a  new  spirit^ 
a  new  licarl,  and  all  things  new  ;  in- 
stead of  the  old,  corrupt,  and  carnal 
views,  dispositions,  and  manner  of 
life,  which  they  formerly  had  ;  they 
have  spiritual  knowledge,  holy  dis- 
positions, and  pious  lives,  springing 
from  a  conscience  purified  by  the 
blood  of  Christ,  and  a  heart  actuated 
by  his  Spirit,  and  directed  to  his  glo- 
ry. Gal.  vi.  15.  2  Cor.  v.  17.  Ezek. 
xi.  19.  and  xxxvi.  26.  Rev.  xxi.  7. 
God  created  a  new  thing  in  th€  tarth; 
2  E 


N  I  C 


(     218     ) 


N  I  C 


wken  he  made  the  blessed  virgin 
conceive  and  bring  forth  his  Son  in 
our  nature,  Jer.  xxxi.  22.  Christ's 
blood  opens  a  new  and  living  way ; 
one  not  afforded  by  the  oUl  cove- 
nant, but  one  more  excellent,  in 
which  life  is  given  to  dead  sinners, 
Heb.  X.  20.  Jesus  Christ  promised 
to  the  faithful  members  of  the  Phila- 
deljjhian  church,  who  should  over- 
oome  all  their  enemies,  that  he  would 
make  them  pillars  in  the  house  of  God, 
that  they  should  be  as  beautiful,  as 
useful,  and  as  immoveable  as  a  pillar 
in  the  church  of  God.  And  that  he 
would  write  upon  them  the  name  of  his 
God ;  that  the  nature  and  image  of 
God  should  appear  visibly  upon 
them.  And  that  he  would  write  upon 
them  the  name  of  the  city  of  God : — 
giving  them  a  title  to  dwell  in  the 
New  Jerusalem ; — and  his  7iew  name, 
a  share  in  that  joy  which  he  entered 
into  after  overcoming  all  his  enemies. 
Rev.  iii.  12.  The  saints'  songs  are 
called  new;  they  are  most  sweet, 
hearty,  and  excellent,  proceeding 
from  7iew  hearts,  and  for  God's  mer- 
cies, that  are  new,  fresh,  and  repeat- 
ed every  morning,  Psal.  xl.  3.  and 
cxlix.  Lam.  iii.  23.  There  is  nothing 
new  under  the  sun;  the  same  kind  of 
events  return  from  age  to  age ;  and, 
except  in  the  case  of  miracles,  there 
is  rarelj%  if  ever,  anj'^  event  but  had 
its  like  in  former  times,  Eccl.  i.  6, 
10.  and  iii.  15. 

NIBHAZ,  thai  fruclifies,  or  that 
produces  visions,  the  idol  god  of  the 
Avites,  who,  it  is  said,  was  worship- 
ped in  the  likeness  of  a  dog.  Possi- 
bly he  is  the  same  with  the  Egyptian 
Anubis,or  withNebo,  2King3  xvii.31 . 

NICODEMUS,  innocent  blood, 
or  according  to  the  Greek,  the  victo- 
ry of  the  people,  a  follower  of  Jesus 
Christ.  He  was  a  Jewish  Pharisee, 
and  a  ruler  among  his  people.  At 
first,  though  he  conceived  some  es- 
teem for  our  Saviour,  yet  he  was 
ashamed  to  profess  it,  and  so  came 
to  him  by  night  for  instruction. — 
When  he  had  complimented  our 
Saviour  with  some  honorary  titles,  as 
an  exe^llent  teacher,  and  hinted  his 


desire  to  learn  of  him,  Jesus  told 
him,  he  could  not  become  a  true 
member  of  his  church,  except  he 
was  born  again,  and  his  nature 
wholly  renewed.  Grossly  ignorant 
of  regeneration,  and  of  the  Old  Tes- 
tament oracles  relative  thereto,  Ni- 
codemus  asked,  how  one  could  re- 
enter his  mother's  womb,  and  be 
born  again  ?  Jesus  asked,  if  he 
was  a  teacher  in  Israel,  and  knew 
not  these  things  ?  and  informed  him 
that  the  new  birth  he  spoke  of  was 
effected  by  spiritual  influence  ;  and 
that  if  he  could  not  believe  what 
was  so  often  experienced  on  earth, 
how  Avould  he  believe  information 
concerning  heavenly  and  eternal 
things,  known  only  to  the  Son  of 
man,  present  in  heaven  as  to  his  di- 
vine nature,  while  his  human  Avag 
upon  earth  ?  He  informed  him,  that 
as  the  brazen  serpent  was  lifted  up 
in  the  wilderness  for  the  general 
means  of  cure  to  the  serpent-bitten 
Hebrews,  so  he  himself  should  be 
quickly  lilted  up  on  the  cross,  and 
in  the  gospel,  for  the  salvation  of  all 
the  ends  of  the  earth: — that  Gotl 
in  infinite  kindness  had  given  him 
to  be  the  Saviour  of  the  world; — 
that  whosoever  believed  on  him 
should  not  perish,  but  have  eternal 
life;  but  whosover  believed  not, 
should  be  damned : — and  added,  that 
the  reason  why  many  believed  not 
his  instructions,  was  because  their 
deeds  were  evil,  and  ready  to  be  dis- 
covered by  means  thereof,  John 
iii.  1.  to  21.  After  this  conference, 
we  hope  Nicodemus  was  a  real  dis- 
ciple of  Jesus  Christ,  and  attended 
his  ministrations  as  he  had  oppor- 
tunity. When  afterwards  he  sat  in 
the  sanhedrim,  and  heard  the  mem- 
bers raging  at  their  officers  for  not 
a[)prehending  our  S9.viour,  and  de- 
riding the  peot)le  who  believed  on 
him  as  ignorant  and  accursed,  he 
asked,  if  it  was  according  to  the 
law,  which  they  pretended  to  know 
so  well,  to  condemn  a  man  before 
they  heard  him?  These  furious  bi- 
gots asked  Nicodemus,  if  he  too, 
was  a  Galilean  ?  and  bid  him  read  his 


N  I  C 


(    2iy 


N  I  L 


Bible,  and  he  would  find  that  never 
a  prophet  c;mie  out  of  Galilee. — 
Poor  ignorant  rreatiires!  l)oth  Jonah 
and  Nahum  came  out  ol'  it. — When 
our  Saviour  was  crucified,  Nicodennis 
still  more  openly  avowed  himself  a 
Christian,  and  assisted  Joseph  of  Ari- 
mathea  to  inter  the  sacrod  corpse, 
John  vji.  45—52.  and  xix.  39,  40. 
It  is  said,  that  when  the  other  mem- 
bers of  the  sanhedrim  heard  of  Ni- 
codemus's  baptism,  they  deposed 
him  from  his  otfice  of  senator,  and 
excommunicated  him  from  their  sy- 
nagogue; but  Gamaliel,  his  cousin, 
took  him  to  his  country-house,  where 
he  lived  the  rest  of  his  time,  and  was 
honourably  buried  near  to  Stephen 
the  deacon.  A  spurious  gospel,  call- 
ed by  some  the  Jets  of  Pilate,  is 
ascribed  to  Nicodemus;  but  it  is 
plainly  marked  with  forger}'. 

NICOLAS,  victory  of  the  people, 
one  of  the  first  seven  deacons;  he 
was  a  native  of  Antioch,  a  proselyte 
to  the  Jewish  religion,  and  lastlj', 
a  convert  to  the  Christian  faith. 
He  was  much  distinguished  for  ho- 
liness and  zeal,  Acts  vi.  Whether 
by  some  imi)rudent  or  sinful  con- 
duct, he  gave  any  occasion  to  the 
rise  of  the  abandoned  sect  of  the 
NicoLAiTANs ;  or  whether  they, 
knowing  his  fame  for  sanctity, 
screeued  themselves  under  his  name; 
or  wiielher  the  Nicolas  who  founded 
that  sect  was  a  different  person;  is 
not  agreed.  Perhaps  this  sect  was  a 
part  of,  or  the  very  same  with  the 
Gnostics.  It  is  said,  they  used  their 
women  in  common,  reckoned  adul- 
tery, and  the  use  of  meats  offered  to 
idols,  indifferent  things  ;  they  iui- 
puted  their  wickedness  to  God  as 
the  cause;  they  held  a  multitude  of 
fables  concerning  the  generation  of 
angels,  and  the  creation  of  the  world 
by  subordinate  powers.  They  had 
a  considerable  spread  in  Asia  for  a 
time.  At  Ephesus  they  were  <le- 
tested;  but  at  Pergamos  and  Thya- 
tira,  they  were  sinfully  tolerated  by 
the  Christians,  Rev.  ii.  It  does  not 
appear  that  they  continued  long  un- 
der   the    name  of  Nicolaitans:    but 


it  is  thought  they  continued  under 
the  character  of  (Jainifes. 

NICOPOLIS,  a  city  of  victon/. 
a  city  where  Paul  informs  Titus  hr 
determined  to  winter;  but  whether  it 
was  Nicopolis  in  Epirus,  on  the  Am- 
bracian  gulf,  or  if  it  was  Nicopolis 
in  Thracia,  on  the  east  of  Macedonia, 
and  near  the  river  Nessus,  we  cannot 
positively  determine,  though  we 
chiefly  incline  to  the  latter.  Tit.  iii. 
12. 

NIGH.     See  Near. 

NIGHT,  (1.)  The  time  when  the 
sun  is  below  oup^horizon,  Ezek.  xii. 
30.  (2.)  The  time  of  heathenish 
ignorance  and  profaneness,  in  which, 
what  spiritual  darkness,  sloth,  dan- 
ger, and  slumbering  in  sin,  abound! 
Romans  xiii.  12.  (3.)  Adversity. 
which,  as  night,  is  perplexing,  com- 
fortless and  disagreeable,  during  the 
season  of  it,  Isaiah  xxi.  12.  Song  r. 
2.  (4.)  Death,  wherein  we  are  laid 
asleep,  and  are  quite  inactive,  John 
ix.  4.  (5.)  The  season  in  which 
any  thing  comes  suddenly  and  un- 
expectedly upon  us,  1  Thessalonians 
V.  2.  Isa.  XV.  1.  Luke  xii  20.  (6.) 
A  very  short  while,  Psal.  xxx.  6. 
The  day  is  made  dark  with,  night ;  the 
sun  goes  down  at  noon  ;  and  the  earth 
is  darkness  in  the  clear  day  ;  night  is 
unto  men;  and  the  day  dark  over  the 
prophets ;  when  all  of  a  sudden  pros- 
perity is  turned  into  misery,  and 
even  teachers  are  under  the  poAver 
of  delusion,  or  are  so  perplexed  that 
tliej''  know  not  what  to  think  or  say, 
Amos  v.  8.  and  viii.  9.  Micah  iii. 
6.  There  shall  be  no  night  in  the 
New  Jerusalem  :  during  the  millen- 
nium, there  »'hall  not  he  such  igno- 
rance, distress,  or  wickedness  in  the 
church,  or  in  the  world,  as  at  present : 
and  in  heaven  there  shall  be  no  ig- 
norance, no  sin,  no  distress,  Rev. 
xxi.  23. 

NILE,  SiHOR,  a  great  river  of 
Africa,  and  one  of  the  most  famous 
in  the  world.  The  rise  of  this  river 
remained  long  hid  from  the  penetra- 
tion of  the  greatest  travellers,  but 
the  moderns  assure  us,  that  it  arises 
from  two  source*,  which  are  at  the 


N  I  L 


(     220     ) 


N  I  L 


foot  of  a  great  mountain  in  the  pvo- 
vinceofGoyam, in  Abyssinia.  These 
springs,  says  father  Lobo,  are  about 
thirty  paces  from  each  other,  each 
appearing  like  an  ordinary  well. 
The  labours  also  of  Mr.  Bruce  de- 
clare, that  it  has  its  rise  from  two 
sources  in  Abyssinia.  It  is  increased 
by  numberless  rivulets,  which  run 
into  it  from  almost  every  part  of 
the  kingdom:  these  greatly  contri- 
bute to  the  enlarging  of  its  stream 
till  it  becomes  a  very  considerable 
river.  After  innumerable  turnings 
and  windings,  it  flows  into  Egypt, 
and  thence  into  the  Mediterranean. 
The  cataracts  of  the  Nile  have  been 
extravagantly  magnified  both  by  an- 
cient and  modern  writers,  who  have 
asserted,  that  at  them  the  water  falls 
from  a  prodigious  height,  with  such 
a  dreadful  noise,  that  people  have 
been  made  deaf  by  it.  Dr.  Shaw  on 
the  contrary,  assures  us,  they  are 
only  ordinary  falls  of  water,  such  as 
we  frequently  meet  with  in  great 
rivers,  where  the  stream  is  a  little 
confined ;  and  that  they  are  naviga- 
ble, so  that  a  boat  may  pass  them 
safely.  The  doctor,  however,  does 
not  inform  us,  whether  he  saw  them 
at  the  height  of  the  flood,  or  when 
the  river  was  low :  this  circumstance 
must  certainly  occasion  a  great  dif- 
ference. The  ancients  themselves 
indeed  acknowledge  that  boats  tlid 
sometimes  pass  them,  which  makes 
it  very  probable  they  do  not  fall  from 
such  stupendous  heights  as  some 
authors  pretend.  AVhat  confirms 
this  opinion  is,  that  the  ancients 
brought  all  their  vast  pillars  and  obe- 
lisks from  the  marble  rocks  in  Upper 
Egypt  upon  floats  down  the  Nile.  As 
there  seldom  falls  any  rain  in  Egypt, 
this  river,  which  waters  the  whole 
country  by  its  regular  overflowings, 
supplies  that  defect,  by  bringing  thi- 
ther, as  a  yearly  tribute,  the  rains  of 
Abyssinia.  The  rains  begin  to  fall 
in  April  in  Abyssinia,  and  about  the 
latter  end  of  May  the  Nile  begins  to 
rise  in  Egypt:  it  continues  to  rise 
till  about  the  middle  of  September, 
when  the  water  is  conveyed  into  the 


canals  which  were  cut  by  the  Egyp* 
tians  in  almost  all  parts  of  the  coun^ 
try. — About  three  days  journey  from 
its  source,  this  river  is  pretty  wide, 
and  sufficient  to  bear  boats.  After 
receiving  a  river  called  Jama,  it 
pursues  its  courses,  westward,  about 
90  miles :  it  then  winds  to  the  east, 
jand  falls  into  the  large  lake  of  Zaire 
!or  Damhea;  from  hence  it  winds 
!  about  to  the  south-east,  and  then 
ito  the  north-west,  till  it  comes  with- 
jin  about  twenty  miles  of  its  source, 
jit  then  runs  northward;  not  without 
I  several  windings,  till  at  last  it  falls 
jinto  Egypt.  Perhaps,  about  Sennar^ 
la  long  way  south  of  Egypt,  it  is 
parted  into  two  branches,  the  one  of 
{which  runs  westward  through  Afri- 
ca, and  is  called  the  Niger,  Nigir, 
or  ?Senega  river ;  and  the  other  runs 
northward  through  Egypt,  and  is 
called  the  Nile,  i  e.  Nahal  or  Neel 
river,  and  called  the  Sihor,  or  Shi- 
ho,  for  its  blackness,  by  reason  of  the 
black  mud  which  it  carries  along 
with  it ;  and  the  river  of  Egypt,  as 
there  is  none  else  in  that  country 
that  deserves  the  name.  Though  it 
runs  about  1500  miles,  and  receives 
a  great  many  rivers,  especially  be^ 
fore  it  enters  Egypt,  its  stream  on 
ordinary  occasions  is  not  so  great  as 
might  be  expected.  Villamont  in- 
deed says  its  width  at  Cairo  is  about 
three  miles;  but  others,  of  no  less 
credit,  make  it  much  less.  About 
60  or  80  miles  before  it  falls  iuto  the 
Mediterranean  Sea,  it  divides  into 
two  streams,  which  leave  the  Delta 
between  them;  and  these  two  cur- 
rents divide  into  others.  It  appears 
from  the  scripture  and  the  ancient 
writers,  that  it  then  had  seven 
streams,  Isa.  :si.  15.  How  many  there 
are  at  pi-e&ent  is  not  agreed ;  some 
have  reckoned  nine,  others  eleven^ 
others  fourteen;  but  it  seems  there  are 
but  three  ofany  account,  vi.~,  the  Pe- 
lusiac  on  the  east,  fhe  Canopic  on 
the  west,  and  the  Pathmetic  in  the 
middle.  In  August,  twenty  niiles 
on  either  side  are  covered  with  wa- 
ter, and  nothing  seen  except  the 
houses  and  trees:  but  travellers  dcj 


N  I  M 


(     221     ) 


N  I  N 


aot  agree  in  the  heiglrt  of  its  rise.  It 
is  certain,  that,  as  the  soil  is  now 
much  higher  by  the  yearly  increase 
of  mud,  perhaps  at  the  rate  of  a  foot 
in  100  years  according  to  Shaw,  it 
requires  a  much  higher  rise  to  fer- 
tilize the  country  than  it  did  of  old. 
Some  travellers  will  have  the  rise  of 
29  feet  perpendicular  to  be  the  aver- 
age :  but  others  will  have  about  36 
or  40  feet  to  be  the  height,  which  last 
I  su|)pose,  comes  nearest  the  truth. 
If  the  rise  of  the  water  be  too  small 
the  country  is  not  duly  fattened  with 
the  mud.  If  its  rise  be  too  great,  it 
deluges  the  country,  and  it  goes 
ofif  loo  late  for  the  sowing  of  the 
seed.  The  overflow  is  less  remark- 
able in  Lower  Egypt  than  in  the 
southern  part  of  that  kiwgdom,  per- 
haps on  account  of  the  multitudes  of 
ditches  and  canals,  and  partly  be- 
cause there  is  less  need  of  it  on  ac- 
count of  the  frequent  rains.  In  Uj>- 
per  Egypt  where  they  have  scarcely 
any  rain,  they  retain  the  water  in 
large  cisterns  or  canals,  that  they 
may  therewith  water  their  fields  at 
pleasure.  To  prevent  excessive  in- 
undations of  the  country,  they  digged 
the  immense  lake  of  Maeris;  and 
from  it  they  water  the  country  on 
proper  occasions.  They  likewise 
employ  about  200,000  oxen  in  draw- 
ing water  out  of  deep  pits  and  wells, 
to  water  their  fields  and  gardens. 
After  the  waters  of  the  Nile  are  with- 
drawn, the  Egyptians,  in  October 
and  November,  sow  their  seed 
among  the  mud,  which  being  tram- 
pled down  by  the  swine,  which  they 
allow  to  range  among  it,  or  covered 
by  other  like  careless  methods,  brings 
forth  a  plentiful  crop. 

NIMRAH,  a  leopard,  rebellion, 
bitterness,  change,  or  Beth-nimram, 
a  city  of  the  Gadites,  somewhere 
about  the  head  of  the  river  Arnon, 
Numb,  xxxii.  3,  36.  If  Nimrim 
stood  where  Jerome  places  Benamrs- 
rium,  near  the  Dead  Sea,  and  a  little 
north-east  of  Zoar,  it  must  have 
been  a  different  place  I'rom  Nijnrah. 
These  places  seem  to  have  had  their 
names   from   the  plenty  of  leopards 


found  in  them.  The  ivalers  o/Niin 
rim  were  desolate  when  the  fishers 
therein,  or  the  inhabitantsof  the  city, 
were  carried  info  cajjtivity  by  the 
Assyrians  and  Chaldeans,  Isa.  xv.  6. 
Jer.  Ixviii.  34. 

NlMROl),  rchelliotis,  apostate^ 
the  son  of  Cush.  He  was  a  mighty 
hunter  before  the  Lord;  and  either 
rendering  himself  useful  by  the  kill- 
ing of  wild  beasts  ;  or  by  violently 
oppressing  his  neighbours,  he  pro- 
cured himself  a  kingdom.  He  first 
set  up  for  king  at  Babylon,  and 
then  extended  his  dominion  to  Erech, 
Accad,  and  Calneh,  in  the  land  of 
Shinar.  He  was  no  doubt  a  mighty 
promoter  of  the  building  of  Babel ; 
and  it  seems  his  tyranny  had  obliged 
Ashur,  the  son  of  Shem,  to  leave 
the  country,  and  retire  eastward 
to  the  other  side  of  the  Hiddekel 
or  Tigris.  There  is  no  proper 
evidence,  that  Nimrod  was  the  Ninus 
who  founded  Nineveh,  though  he 
might  be  one  of  the  Beluses  con- 
cerned in  the  building  of  Babylon. 
Part  of  his  history,  dressed  up  in 
fable,  is  contained  in  the  Grecian 
history  of  Bacchus,  Gen.  x-  8 — 
11. 

NINEVEH,  beautiful,  agreeable, 
the  capital  of  Assyria,  and  built  by 
Ashur  the  son  of  Shem,  Gen.  x.  11. 
Without  doubt,  Nineveh  was  built  on 
the  bank  of  the  river  Tigris ;  but  whe- 
ther on  the  western  or  eastern,  is  not 
agreed.  We  suppose  it  stood  on  the 
eastern,  almost  opposite  to  the  pre- 
sent Mosul.  It  was  one  of  the  largest 
cities  in  the  world.  In  Jonah's  time 
it  was  a  city  of  three  days'  journey 
about,  or  would  require  him  three 
days  to  go  through  it,  proclaiming  its 
overthrow.  It  then  had  above  1 20,000, 
infants  in  it,  whom  we  cannot  sup- 
pose above  the  6th  part  of  the  in- 
habitants. Diodorus  says,  it  was 
60  miles  in  circumference;  and  Stra- 
bo  says,  it  was  larger  than  Baby- 
lon. Its  wall  was  200  feet  high,  and 
so  (hick  that  three  chariots  abreast 
might  have  been  driven  along  the 
to|).  On  the  wall  were  built  1500 
lowers,  each  200  feet  higher  than 


N  I  N 


(     222     ) 


N  I  T 


the  wall.  This  city  was  early  very 
much  noted  for  its  wealth,  idolatry, 
and  whoredom. 

When  Jonah  the  prophet,  about 
A.  M.  3142,  warned  the  inhabitants, 
that  if  they  did  not  repent,  they 
should  be  destroyed  within  40  days, 
they  were  greatly  affected :  a  last 
of  three  days  both  for  man  and  beast 
was  appointed,  and  they  cried  migh- 
tily to  God  for  the  preventing  of 
this  stroke.  He  heard  their  prayers, 
and  long  delayed  their  ruin.  Some 
say  it  was  destroyed  about  a  hun- 
dred years  after  Jonah,  but  for  the 
reasons  given  in  the  article  Assy- 
ria, we  cannot  believe  it;  and  the 
rather,  because  the  scripture  express- 
ly declares,  that  Nineveh's  ruin 
would  be  so  complete  as  to  need 
no  repetition.  The  kings  of  Assyria 
had  collected  into  it  most  of  the 
wealth  of  the  east,  Nah.  ii.  9,  12. 
Nahum  describes  the  ruin  of  Nine- 
A'eh  in  the  most  graphical  manner, 
that  the  rivers  should  break  through 
the  walls,  chap.  i.  8.  and  ii.  6.  that 
their  troops  and  inhabitants  should 
be  quite  dispirited,  chap.  iii.  13.  and 
seized  in  their  drunkenness,  chap. 
i.  10.  and  iii.  11,  18.  their  allies 
should  desert  them,  or  their  mer- 
chants forsake  the  city,  chap.  iii. 
15.  and  their  own  officers  through 
drunkenness  or  stupidity,  desert  their 
station,  chap.  iii.  1  7.  and  the  Medes 
and  Chaldeans  ride  with  torches 
through  the  city  in  the  night,  cha]> 
ii.  3.  4. 

The  Medes  and  Persians  had  se- 
veral times  laid  siege  to  this  city,  and 
were  diverted  by  various  accidents  ; 
but  after  the  massacre  of  the  Tartars 
in  Media,  they  repeated  the  siege. 
Cyaxares  and  Nebuchadnezzar  be- 
ing the  commanders.  After  thej'  had 
Iain  before  it  three  years,  the  river 
Tigris  or  Lycus,  exceedingly  swol- 
len, broke  down  two  miles  and  a 
half  of  the  wall.  When  the  water 
assuaged,  the  besiegers  rushed  into 
the  city,  and  murdered  the  inhabi- 
tants, Avho  lay  buried  in  their  drunk- 
enness, occasioned  by  an  advantage 
which  they  had  just  before  gained 


over  the  enemy.  When  the  king  oj 
it,  whose  name  we  suppose  was  Sar- 
danapalus,  heard  the  city  was  taken, 
he  shut  up  himself  and  his  family, 
and  wealth,  it  is  said,  to  the  value  of 
about  25,000  millions  sterling,  in  the 
palace,  and  then  set  fire  to  it,  and 
destroyed  all  that  was  in  it.  It  is 
reported  it  was  15  days  before  the 
flames  were  quenched.  This  happened 
adout  A.  M.  3403.  The  city  was 
never  rebuilt ;  but  another  Nineveh 
or  Ninus  was  built  near  it,  which 
continued  till  the  first  ages  of  Chris- 
tianity, but  at  present  there  is  scarce- 
ly a  vestige  to  be  discerned,  either 
of  the  one  or  the  other,  Nah.  i.  ii. 
iii.  Zeph.  ii.  13,  15. 

NISROCH,  flight,  standard,  thy 
table,  an  idol  of  the  Assyrians. 
What  he  was,  or  how  represented,  is 
hard  to  determine.  Perhaps  Vitringa 
is  in  the  right,  who  thinks  he  was  Be- 
lus,  worshipped  under  the  habit  of  a 
Mars,  or  god  of  war,  2  Kings  xix.  37. 
NITRE,  now  called  Nitrate  of  pot- 
ash. The  nitre  or  nitron  of  the  an- 
cients is  a  genuine,  native,  and  pure, 
salt,  extremely  different  from  our  ni- 
tre, which  has  ranked  among  neutral 
salts,  the  other  being  a  fixed  alkali, 
found  in  a  standing  lake  in  Egypt  and 
other  lakes ;  it  is  black,  very  sharp, 
and  when  thrown  iuto  an  acid  makes 
a  strong  ebullition  or  fermentateon. 
It  is  used  in  bleaching,  but  is  previ- 
ously mixed  with  a  milder  a<sh  to 
prevent  it?  burning  the  linen.  It  is 
called  7iether  in  Hebrew,  which  in 
our  version  is  translated  nitre.  That 
which  we  now  call  so,  is  saltpetre, 
a  well-known  substance,  whitish  in 
colour,  and  of  a  sharp  bitterish  taste. 
In  its  crude  state,  it  seems  to  have, 
no  acidity  at  all,  but  affords  an  acid 
spirit,  capable  of  dissolving  almost 
any  substance.  Saltpetre  is  natural- 
ly blended  with  particles  of  earth,  as 
the  ore  thereof.  Nay,  any  kind  of 
earth  w  ell  moistened  by  the  dung  or 
urine  of  animals,  will  yield  it  in  con- 
siderable quantities.  The  nitre  of 
the  ancients  seems  to  have  been 
quiie  different  from  ours,  and  being 
dissolved   in    vinegar,    washed  out 


N  O  A 


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N  O  A 


spots  from  people's  clothes  or  skin. 
'Ihei-e  were  mines  of  it  southward  of 
Memphis  in  Egypt,  Prov.  xxv.  20. 
"  Though  thou  wash  thee  \vith  nitre, 
and  take  thee  much  soap,  thine  in- 
iquity is  marked  before  me;"  tiiy 
guilt  is  so  groat,  that  no  pretences  to 
reformation  can  turn  away  thy  pu- 
nishment, Jer.  ii.  22. 

NO,  filirring  up,  or  forbidding, 
a  populous  city  of  Egypt;  but  where, 
is  not  agreed.  It  could  not  be  Alex- 
andria, as  that  was  not  built  when 
No  was  ruined.  Calmet  will  have  it 
to  be  Diospolis,  in  the  Delta,  which 
had  Busirls  on  the  south,  and  Men- 
desium  on  the  north.  But  we  can 
see  no  reason  why  this  should  be 
called  populous,  in  an  eminent  de- 
gree. Vitringa  inclines  to  think  it 
Noph  or  Memphis;  but  we  rather 
think  it  was  Thebes  or  Diospolis; 
which  is  much  the  same  as  No-am- 
mon,  the  hahilalion  of  Jupitcr-am- 
mon,  as  that  idol  had  a  famous  temple 
here.  It  w  as  the  capital  of  Upper 
Egypt,  and  was  built  chiefly  on  the 
east  of  the  Nile.  In  its  glojy,  it  is 
said  to  have  had  a  hundred  gates, 
each  capable  to  issue  forth  20,000 
men,  and  that  700,000  soldiers  had 
their  residence  in  it;  but  these  ac- 
counts are  too  pompous  to  be  credit 
able.  It  is  certain  it  was  very  popu- 
lous, and  No-ammon  may  signify  the 
dwelling  of  multitudes.  Under  Sen 
nacherib,  or  his  son,  the  Assyrians 
took  Thebes,  and  reduced  it  to  a  de- 
solation, while  Egypt  and  Ethiopia 
v.ere  under  one  king,  Nah.  iii.  8. — 
10.  It  was  rebuilt,  but  Cambyses, 
the  Persian,  destroyed  it  when  it  was 
about  52  miles  in  circumference,  or 
as  some  improbably  say,  in  length. 
The  wealth  they  found  in  it  was  im- 
mense. It  was  again  rebuilt,  but  far 
less  in  extent,  and  was  destroyed  by 
Cornelius  Gallus,  the  Roman  general. 
The  ruins  of  the  four  noted  temples 
that  were  here,  were  long  very  dis- 
cernible, if  they  be  not  so  still.  The 
«ity  Said,  or  perhaps  Luxxor,  is 
built  near  to  where  the  ancient 
Thebes  stood. 

NOAH.    Nor,  repose,  resf.,  conso- 


lation, the  son  of  that  Lamech  tliat 
was  descended  of  Seth.  He  was  the 
ninth  in  descent  from  Adam,  and  it 
seems  the  eighth  preacher  of  right- 
eousness, 2  Pet.  ii.  5.  At  his  birth, 
his  father  Lamech  expressed  his  hopes 
that  he  would  be  a  signal  cojnfort  to 
him  and  his  family,  and  so  gave  him  a 
name  signifying  rest  and  comfurt.  la 
his  time,  wickedness  universally  pre- 
vailed. Noah  not  only  walked  pi- 
ously himself,  but  urged  his  neigh- 
bours to  do  so  likewise.  To  reward 
his  strict  piety,  ami«lst  so  many  teinp- 
tations  to  the  contrary,  God  preserv- 
ed him  and  his  family  from  the  uni- 
versal deluge.  Toatfect  this,  he,  by 
God's  direction,  built  an  ark  suffi- 
cient to  accommodate  himself  and  fa- 
mily, and  a  sample  of  all  thf  animals 
that  could  not  live  in  the  water.  It  is 
thought  he  spent  120  years  in  build- 
ing it,  that  the  corrupt  Antediluvians 
might  have  the  more  time  to  repent 
of  their  sins  ere  the  flood  should  be 
sent.  In  A.  M.  1656,  and  when 
Noah  was  600  years  of  age,  he,  with 
his  wife,  and  three  sons,  Shem,  Ham, 
and  Japheth,  and  their  wives,  and 
seven  of  all  clean  animals,  male  and 
female,  and  two  of  unclean  animals, 
entered  the  ark,  and  were  shut  up  in 
it  by  the  Lord.  Wheu  Noah,  almost 
a  year  after,  found  that  the  waters 
mightily  decreased,  he  sent  out  a  ra- 
ven to  see  if  the  earth  were  dry.  It 
lived  probably  on  the  floating  carcas- 
'  ses,  and  never  returned  to  him.  He 
'next  sent  a  dove,  which  finding  no 
dry  place  to  rest  on,  returned,  and 
Noah  put  out  his  hand,  and  took 
her  into  the  ark  :  after  seven  days, 
he  sent  her  out  a  second  time,  and 
she  returned  Avith  a  fresh  olive-leaf 
in  her  mouth.  Wheu  he  sent  her 
out  a  third  time,  she  returned  not. 
After  he  and  his  family,  and  the 
other  animals,  had  lodged  a  year 
:  and  ten  days  in  the  ark,  they  came 
I  out.  Noah  offered  a  sacrifice  of 
•  thanksgiving  for  his  preservation,  and 
■  the  Lord  accepted  it,  and  promised 
j  that  no  wickedness  of  men  should 
[hereafter  provoke  him  to  destroy  the 
•earth,  or  the  animals  thereof,  or  to 


N  O  A 


(     224     ) 


NOB 


d^ay  the  regular  return  of  the  sea- 
sons. The  Lord  also  charged  Noah 
and  his  sons  to  multiply  and  reple- 
nish the  earth;  he  allowed  them  to 
eat  the  flesh  of  clean  animals,  pro- 
viding they  did  not  eat  them  with 
the  blood :  and  he  ordered  that  every 
murderer  of  a  man  should  be  put  to 
death.  To  mark  the  establishment 
«f  his  covenant  for  the  preservation 
of  the  world,  he  promised  to  set  his 
rainbow  in  the  cloud,  in  wet  wea 
ther,  as  a  token  that  the  waters 
should  no  more  cover  the  earth. 

Soon  after  the  flood,  Noah  com 
Bienced  a  husbandman,  and  cultivat- 
ed the  vine;  and  it  seems,  insensi- 
ble of  the  intoxicating  virtue  there 
of,  took  of  the  wine  till  he  was 
drunk,  and  lay  uncovered  in  his  tent 
Ham,  his  younger  son,  perhaps  in- 
formed by  Canaan,  went  and  saw  him 
in  this  condition,  and  in  a  sportive 
manner  told  his  two  brethren  of  it. 
They  took  a  mantle,  and  going  back 
ward,  that  they  might  not  behold 
their  father's  shame,  spread  it  over 
him.  When  Noah  awoke,  and 
was  quite  sober,  he,  Understanding 
the  behaviour  of  his  sons,  denounced 
a  curse  of  servitude  upon  the  pos- 
terity of  Ham,  chiefly  the  descend- 
ants of  Canaan.  These  he  predicted 
should  be  slaves  to  the  offspring 
of  the  two  brothers  who  had  covered 
him,  and  be  oppressed  by  the  He- 
brews, Assyrians,  Chaldeans,  Per- 
sians, Saracens,  and  by  the  Greeks, 
Romans,  Vandals,  and  Turks;  that 
of  Shem's  posterity  should  the  Mes- 
siah proceed ;  and  that  the  posterity 
of  Japheth  should  be  exceedingly  nu- 
merous, and  at  last  seize  on  the  ter- 
ritories of  Shem,  and  enter  into  a 
state  of  church  fellowship  with  God. 
At  last  he  died,  aged  nine  hundred 
and  fifty  years,  a  little  before  the 
birth  of  Abraham. 

Whether  Noah  consented  to  the 
building  of  Babel,  or  whether  be- 
fore his  death  he  assigned  to  his 
three  sons  their  different  shares  of 
the  then  known  world,  we  know  not. 
Nor  after  perusal  of  the  arguments 
on  both  sides,  dare  we  say,  but  after 


the  building  of  Babel  he  might  have 
removed  eastward  to  China,  and  been 
their  Pohi,  or  founder  of  that  king- 
dom, though  we  cannot  apprehend 
the  arguments  of  Shuckford  and  others 
in  favour  of  this  journey,  to  be 
really  conclusive.  It  is  said,  that 
Noah  is  the  Saturn,  or  old  god  of 
the  Heathen ;  and  that  Ham  is  their 
Jui)iter,  god  of  Heaven;  Japheth 
their  Neptune,  or  god  of  the  sea; 
and  Shem,  Pluto,  or  god  of  hell.  Per- 
haps their  Ouranus  or  Coelus,  their 
Ogyges,  Deucalion,  Janus,  Prome- 
theus, &c.  are  no  other  than  Noah 
dressed  up  in  fable. 

Did  not  this  patriarch  prefigure  Je- 
sus the  Saviour  ?  His  name  is  a  name 
of  rest,  and  source  of  consolation- 
Amidst  a  crooked  and  perverse  gene- 
ration, he  was  singularly  upright  and 
holy,  and  preached  righteousness  in 
the  great  congregation.  Through  him, 
how  the  patience  of  God  is  display- 
ed towards  men !  By  him,  the  ark  of 
the  church  is  gradually  reared ;  and 
in  it  are  Jews  and  Gentiles  saved 
from  eternal  ruin.  His  sweet-smell- 
ing sacrifice  removes  the  curse  and 
vengeance  of  God.  With  his  seed 
is  the  new  covenant  established,  and 
on  them  is  the  true  heirship  of  all 
things  bestowed.  Such  as  despise 
him,  and  turn  his  grace  into  licen- 
tiousness, or  the  infirmities  of  the 
saints  into  ridicule,  he  condemns  to 
endless  slavery  and  wo;  such  as 
love  his  person,  and  hide  the  infir- 
mities of  his  saints,  he  blesses  with 
high  advancement,  and  delightful 
fellowship  with  God. 

NOB,  prophecy,  a  small  city 
not  far  from  Jerusalem.  Here  the 
tabernacle  for  some  time  conti- 
nued. Here  Dbeg,  by  Saul's  order, 
murdered  all  the  families  of  the  84 
priests  who  were  slain  with  Abime- 
lech,  1  Sam.  xxii.  Here  Senna- 
cherib halted  in  his  march  to  the 
siege  of  Jerusalem,  Isa.  x.  32.  The 
children  of  Benjamin  dwelt  here 
after  the  captivity,  Nehemiah  xi. 
32. 

NOB  AH,  that  barks,  or  yelps,  & 
city  beyond  Jordan,  named  from  ar 


Paul  Sr  Thomas,  Print. 


NOAH. 


[I' 


N  0  0 


(     223     ) 


NOR 


Isj-aelite  so  called,  who  made  a  con- 
quest of  it,  Numb,  xxxii.  -12.  al)out 
i>  miles  to  the  south  of  Heshbon. 

NOBLE,  (1.)  or  a  very  honour- 
able ami  high  birth  or  station,  Neh. 
Ti.  17.  Acts  xxiv.  3.  (2.)  Of  a 
very  commendable  and  excellent  dis- 
position, so  as  to  receive  nothing  in 
religion  but  as  founded  in  (he  word 
of  God,  Acts  xvii.  11.  (3.)  Of  the 
best  kind,  Jer.  ii.  21.  Christ  is 
likened  to  a  nobleman ;  he  is  a  noble 
governor,  that  proceeded  from  among 
the  Jews.  Ho^v  high  and  honoured 
his  oflice,  as  our  Mediator,  Prince, 
and  King!  Luke  xix.  12.  Jer.  xxx. 
21. 

NOD,  fugitive,  vagabond.  It  was 
to  this  country  that  Cain  withdrew 
after  he  had  murdered  his  brother 
Abel,  Gen.  iv.  16.  The  Septuagint 
as  well  as  Josephus,  read  Naid  in- 
stead of  Nod,  and  have  taken  it  for 
the  name  of  a  place.  It  is  not  easil}"^ 
known  what  country  this  was,  unless 
it  was  the  country  of  Nyse  or  Ny- 
sea,  towards  Hyrcania.  St.  Jerome 
and  the  Chaldee  interpreters  have 
taken  the  word  Nod  in  the  sense 
of  an  appellative,  for  vagabond 
or  fugitive ;  "  He  dwelt  a  fugitive 
in  the  land.  "  But  the  Hebrew  reads, 
he  dwelt  in  the  land  of  Nod. 

NOISE.  The  thunder  that  roars 
above  us  in  the  air  of  heaven,  is  call- 
e<l  the  noise  of  Gotrs  tabernacle, 
Job  xxxvi.  29. 

NOON,  (1.)  The  middle  of  the 
day,  when  the  sun  is  at  its  highest 
in  our  hemisphere,  and  his  heat  and 
light  about  their  strongest,  Psal.  Iv. 
17.  (2.)  A  time  of  clear  light,  Job 
v.  14.  So  to  shine  as  the  noon-day 
is  to  appear  in  a  clear  and  glorious 
manner,  Psal.  xxxvii.  0.  To  waste, 
Avar,  spoil,  at  noon,  is  to  do  it  fear- 
lessly and  suddenly,  after  great  pros- 
perity, Psal.  xci.  ti.  Jer.  vi.  4.  and 
XV.  8.  Zeph.  ii.  4.  A  time  of  pros- 
perity is  called  tioon,  because  of  its 
glory,  i)leasantne3s,  and  brightness ; 
how  men  delight  to  enjoy  it !  how 
pleased  with  the  shining  smiles  of 
Providence !  and  yet,  how  common 
a  presage  of  an  apprpachiug  night  of 

Vol.  IL 


adversity!  Amos  viii.  9.  Isa.  Iviii. 
10.  A  time  of  aflliction  is  called 
noon,  because  men  are  distressed 
with  the  scorching  heat  of  Provi- 
dence, fciy  trials,  and  fury  dar}s 
of  Satan,  Isa.  xvi.  3. 

NOPH.     Sec  IVtEMPins. 

NORTH  and  South  are  re[)rc- 
scnted  relatively  to  Canaan,  or  the 
way  of  entrance  to  it,  or  to  some 
other  place  spoken  of  in  the  text : 
So  Sj'ria  was  north  from  Canaan,  and 
Egypt  was  south  of  it,  Dan.  xi.  1 — 
43.  Assyria  and  Babylon  were  north 
of  Judea,  either  in  situation,  or  that 
their  armies  invaded  Canaan  from 
the  north,  Jer.  iii.  12.  and  vi,  1.  and 
Media  lay  north-east  of  Babylon,  Jer. 
I.  3.  The  north  of  Europe,  and 
north-east  of  Tartar}',  are  ?iorthot  the 
Ottoman  Turks,  Uan.  xi.  44.  The 
one  raised  from  the  north  to  be  a 
mighty  conqueror,  is  either  Nebu- 
chadnezzar, or  rather  Cyrus,  Isa- 
xli.  25.  I  will  say  to  the  north, 
give  up;  and  to  the  south,  keep  not 
back ;  bring  ray  sons  from  afar,  and 
my  daughters  from  the  emh  of  the 
earth.  I  will  bring  the  Hebrews 
from  all  the  countries,  whether  north 
or  south  of  Canaan,  and  settle  them 
in  their  own  land;  and  from  coun- 
tries on  both  sides  of  Canaan,  as 
from  Lesser  Asia,  Europe,  and  Tar- 
tary,  &c.  on  the  north,  and  from 
Egypt  and  Abyssinia,  d'c.  on  the 
south,  shall  multitudes  be  coaverted 
to  Christ,  Isa.  xliii.  6.  Perhaps 
Ezekiel's  visionary  chambers  on  the 
north,  may  respect  the  Protestant 
churches  in  Europe  and  North  Ame- 
rica, Etek.  xiii.  1,  11,  13.  The 
order  to  go  out  by  the  south  gate,  if 
entering  by  the  north  gate ;  and  to 
go  out  by  the  north  gate,  if  entering 
by  the  south  gate ;  may  import,  that 
Christiana  should  go  straight  forward 
in  their  course  of  holiness,  whether 
they  meet  with  prosperity  or  adver- 
sity therein,  Ezek.  xlvi.  9. 

That  Christians  should  go  straight 
forward  in  a  course  of  holiness,  is  cer- 
tain ;  but  it  is  not  so  evident  that  this 
is  the  meaning  of  Ezekiefs  visionary 
chambera.  Perhaps  the  precipe  niean- 

-    -  -  ■       2  F 


N  O  T 


(    22a    ) 


NOV 


ing  of  theni  will  not  be  fully  known 
on  earth,  at  least  not  until  the  millen- 
iiial  glory  shall  diffuse  the  ra3"s  of  di- 
vine light  more  abundantly  through 
tlie  church  of  Christ. 

NOSE.  The  Hebrews  commonly 
place  anger  in  the  nose  y  there  went 
op  a  smoke  out  of  his  nostrils,  2  San), 
xxix.  2.  Job  xli.  20.  out  of  his  uos-' 
trils  goeth  smoke.  The  eastern  wo- 
men in  several  places  [>ut  golden 
rings  to  one  of  their  nostrils :  Solo- 
mon alludes  to  this  custom,  Prov.  xi. 
22.  "  As  a  jewel  of  gold  in  a  swine's 
snout,  so  is  a  fair  woman  without 
discretion."  They  also  put  rings 
into  the  nostrils  of  oxen  and  camels, 
to  guide  them  by  ;'  hence,  that  meta- 
phorical speech,  borrowed,  2  Kings 
xix.  28.  "  I  will  put  my  hook  in  thy 
nose,  and  my  bridle  in  thy  lips." 

NO,  NOT,  always  signifies  denial. 
(1.)  Sometimes  it  imports  it  abso- 
lutely, i.  c.  not  at  all,  in  any  respect 
or  circumstance,  Esod.  xx.  3 — 17. 
(2.)  Sometimes  it  imports  a  condi- 
tional denial ;  those  that  are  guilty 
of  envy,  murder,  &c.  shall  not  inher- 
it the  kingdom  of  God,  z.  e.  unless 
Ihey  repent  of  their  sin,  Gal.  v.  21. 
Pharaoh  did  not  let  the  Hebrews  go 
no,  7iot  by  a  strong  hand ;  no  not,  unless 
constrained  thereto  by  the  mighty  and 
destructive  plagues  of  God  ;  rather 
not  till  after  numerous  plagues  had 
been  inflicted  on  his  kingdom,  Exod 
iv.  19.  (3.)  Sometimes  it  imports  a 
comparative  denial.  Christ  sent  me 
not  to  baptize,  that  is,  not  chiefly  to 
baptize,  but  to  preach  the  gospel,  1 
Cor.  i.  1 7.  I  desired  mercy,  and  not 
sacrifice,  i.  e.  mercifulness  in  temper 
Rn<l  behaviour,  rather  than  sacrifice 
Hos.  vi.  6.  Matt.  xii.  7.  I  came  not 
to  send  peace,  but  a  sword  :  perseeu 
lion  and  division,  especially  to  the 
.Jews,  rather  than  carnal  peace  and 
proSj)erity,  are  the  consequents  ol 
my  coming  in  the  flesh.  Matt.  x.  34. 
tiuke  xii.  5^1.  When  not  is  in  pre- 
cepts or  promises,  it  is  ordinarily  to 
be  understootl  as  importing  the  con- 
trary of  what  is  prohibited  or  forl)id- 
den.  Thus,  when  God  saith,  Thoii 
"ihalt  not  kiU„  it  means,  tt  at  we  should 


not  merely  abstain  from  killing,  bnt 
should  use  all  lawful  endeavours  to 
preserve  and  promote  our  own  life, 
temporal,  sjiiritual,  and  eternal,  and 
that  of  others,  Exod.  xx.  13.  Or 
when  he  proiiiisetb,  I  will  not  fail 
thee  nor  forsake  thee ;  it  means,  I 
u'ill  abide  with,  and  encourage  and 
strengthen  thee,  .losh.  5.  God  de- 
sired net  sacrifices  or  offerings  iu 
order  to  merit,  or  in  case  of  capital 
crimes,  Psal.  xl.  5.  and  li.  16. 

NOTABLE,  cons|>icuousor  sight- 
ly, Dan.  viii.  5.  notorious,  iVsatt. 
xxvii.  16.  terrible.  Acts  ii.  20, 
known  or  apparent,  Acts  iv.  10. 

NOTHING,  NOUGHT,  (1.)  Not 
any  thing  at  all,  Gen.  xix.  8.  (2.) 
For  no  good  purpose  or  end,  Matt. 
V.  13.  (3.)  No  works  truly  good 
and  acceptable  to  God,  John  xv.  5. 
(4.)  Of  no  binding  force,  Matt,  xxiii. 
16,  18.  (5.)  Entirely  false,  and 
without  ground.  Acts  xxi.  24.  (6.) 
No  other  means,  Mark  ix.  29.  (7.) 
No  reuardor  wages,  3  John  7.  (8.) 
No  nexf  doctrine  relative  to  men's 
salvation ;  no  new  knowledge  or  au- 
thoril3%  Gal.  ii.  6.  (9.)  No  guilt  or 
corruption  to  work  upon,  John  xiv, 
20.  Nothing  is  sometimes  taken 
comparatively ;  thus  our  age  is  no- 
thing before  God,  bears  no  propor- 
tion to  his  eternal  duration,  Psalm 
sxxix.  5-.  All  nations  are  nothing, 
and  less  than  nothing,  and  vanity; 
bear  no  proportion  to  his  unbounded 
excellency  and  greatness,  Isa.  xl.  17,. 
Sometimes  it  is  taken  relatively :  so 
Paul  was  nothing  valuable  in  his  own 
estimationof  himself,  2  Cor.  xii.  11. 
Circumcision,  or  uncircumcision,  is 
nothing ;  is  of  no  avail  to  render  us 
accepted  before  God,  1  Cor.  vii.  19. 
To  come  to  nought,  is  to  be  ruined, 
turn  out  to  no  good  purpose.  Job 
viii.  22.  Isa.  viii.  10.  To  bring  to 
nought,  is  to  render  unsuccessful,  basp» 
and  contemptible.  Psalm  xxxiii.  10. 
1  Cor.  i.  28.  To  set  at  nought,  is  to 
unilervalue,  desjuse,  Prov.  i.  25. 

NOVICE,  one  newly  planted  in 
(he  church  ;  one  newlj'  converted  to 
the  Christian  faith.  Such  a  one  was 
not  to  be  ma<le  a  bishop,  lest,  being- 


N  U  I\X 


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N  U  M 


puEfcd  up  witlj  |)ri(le,  l-e  should  fall :  M  1,000,  the  number  of  the  Lamb's 
under  such  cuudeninatioa  and  |)u- ,  foliowcra.  Moreover,  if  the  square 
nisbment  us  the  devil  did,  1  Tim.  root  of  000  be  extracted,  it  will  lurii 
iii.  0.  out  25,  with  a  binall  fraction.     Now 

NOURISH,  (1.)  To  furuish  with  multitudes  of  thintrs  in  the  Popish 
food,  (len.  xlvii.  12.  Acts  xii.  20.  (pystem  are  precisely  iwcnty-fivc  : — 
(2.)  Kindly  to  hrint:  up,  Acts  vii.  21.  They  have  25  articles  ol  faith.  The 
(3.)  To  use  all  proper  ineaub  (o  make  council  of  Trent  that  e3(al)lished 
to  jrrow,  Isa.  xliv.  ]  J.  (4.)  To  che-  them  had  25  sessions.  Itwasbejiuii 
rish,  c'liniort,  James  v.  5.  Ixulh  iv.  with  23  prelates;  and  its  acts  were 
15.  (5.)  To  instruct.  And  \o  be  [subscribed  by  25  archbishops.  Rome 
nourished  in  tJie  word  of  faith  and  liias  23  gates.  There  were  origin  dly 
good  tloclrine,  is  to  be  carefully  in-  23  parishes  in  Rome.     The  college 


structed  in  the  frue  principles  of  the 
gosf)eI,  and  well  experienced  in  the 
power  thereof,  for  the  edification, 
progress  in  holiue.s,  and  comfort  of 
oursoids,  1  Ti:n.  iv.  0.  Jesus  Christ, 
and  his  fulness,  as  exhibited  in  the 
doctrines  and  promises  of  the  gos|>eI, 
and  api)lied  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  are 
the  HOiirish)iiint,  whereby  the  saints 
are  instructed,  comlorted,  and 
strengthened  to  every  good  word  and 
^vo^k,  Col.  ii.  19. 

NUMBER,  (1.)  A  reckoning  of 
persons  or  things,  whether  they  be 
few  or  many.  Gen.  xsxiv.  30.  (2.) 
A  society  or  company,  Luke  xxii.  3 
Acts  i.  1 7.  and  ?o  Matthias  was  num 
hereil,  i.  e.  by  virtue  of  suffrages,  or 
rather  by  lot,  was  added  to  the  so- 
ciety of  the  apostles.  Acts  i.  26. — 
Thenjonia'oftheAntichristian  beast 
is  six  hundred  andsixiy-six.  The  nu- 
meral letters  contained  in  his  Greek 
name  Lateinos,  or  in  his  Hebrew 
one  RoMiiTii,  Latin  or  Romish,  or 
in  Sethar^  which  signifies  mvsterv, 
when  added  together,  amount  to  just 
666.  '  It  w^as  about  A.  D.  600, 
that  pope  Vitalian  restricted  their 
public  liturgy  to  the  Latin  language, 
and  so  marked  the  church  with  an 
implicit  subjection  to  Rome.  From 
the  tinie  that  John  had  his  visions  in 
Patmos,  to  A.  D.  750,  when  the  pope 
became  a  civil  prince,  was  perha[)3 
])recisely  606  years.  This  numlier 
loo  may  denote  a  vast  number  o\'  of- 
fices, errors,  and  corru|)tions,  which 
to  carnal  view  have  a  regular,  well 
connected,  and  beautiful  ap[)ear- 
ance:  as    066   has   a  more  regular- 


of  cardinala  consisted  of  25  persons. 
The  cross  in  St.  Peter's  church  is  25 
hands-breath  in  height.  In  this 
church  are  25  altars,  and  25  marks 
of  Christ's  wounds  are  imprinted  ou 
each  altar.  The  celebration  of  their 
jubilee  was  reduced  to  every  25tb 
year.  The  25th  da}-^  of  months  is 
peculiarly  marked  with  their  super- 
stition, Rev.  xiii.  lO. — These  con- 
jectures on  the  number  of  the  beast 
arc  suffered  to  appear  in  this  work, 
to  show  what  a  fertile  imagination 
may  produce.  Many  other  conjec- 
tures, equally  nnsatisfactory,  have 
been  lately  offered  to  the  public,  and 
by  some  have  been  readily  swallowed; 
but  certainly  such  fancies  ought  to  bo 
well  examined  before  theybe  imbibed. 
God  numbered  Belshazzar's  kingdom, 
and  finished  it;  allowed  it  to  conti- 
nue for  the  years  he  had  delermined, 
and  not  one  day  more,  Dan.  v.  20. 
He  numhcrsinen  Lo  the  slausrhtcr,  when 
he  sets  them  apart  by  his  i)rovidence 
to  destruction  and  death,  as  a  shep- 
herd does  his  sheep  to  be  slain,  Isa. 
I XV.  12.  We  number  our  days,  when 
we  seriously  consider  how  frail, 
short,  and  uncertain,  our  life  is,  how 
great  the  necessit}'  and  business  of 
our  souls,  and  what  himlrancesof  its 
salvation  are  in  our  way,  Psal.  xc.  12. 
The  inspired  book  of  Ni/mbers  is  so 
called,  because  it  relates  so  much  to 
the  numbering  of  the  warriors,  and 
journies  of  the  Hebrev/s  in  the  de- 
sert. It  is  a  history  of  about  39  jears. 
It  gives  an  account  of  the  numbers, 
station,  and  marching  order,  of  the 
various  tribes  of  Israel,  and  of  the 


like  gradation  and  appearance  than!  offerings  of  their  princes  at  the  dedi* 


N  U  M 


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N  Y  M 


cation  of  the  tabernacle ;  the  conse- 
cration of  the  Levites;  the  observa- 
tion of  the  second  passover;  the  in- 
stitution of  the  70  eklere;  the  de- 
struction of  the  people  by  a  fiery 
plague,  and  by  the  quails  for  which 
they  lusted;  Miriam's  leprosy;  the 
search  and  contempt  of  Canaan,  and 
the  consequences  thereof;  the  punish- 
ment of  Korah  and  his  companions, 
and  the  plague  among  the  people  for 
quarrelling  thereat;  the  budding  of 
Aaron's  rod;  Moses  and  Aaron's 
itiisbehaviour  Avhen  the  people  mur- 
mured at  Kadesh;  the  death  of  Mi- 
riam and  Aaron;  the  plague  and  cure 
of  the  bites  of  fiery  serpents;  and 
conquest  and  division  of  the  king- 
doms of  Sihon  and  Og;  the  often- 
defeated  attempts  of  Balak  and  Ba- 
laam to  curse  Israel ;  the  enticements 
of  the  Hebrews  to  whoredom  and 
idolatry  by  the  Midianitish  women, 
and  the  revenge  thereof  in  the  death 
of  24,000  of  the  Hebrews,  and  the 
almost  total  ruin  of  the  Midianitish 
nation;  a  delineation  of  the  borders 
of  Canaan,  and  an  appointment  of 
twelve  persons  to  divide  it.  With 
these  narratives  are  mixed  a  variety 
of  laws  concerning  suspicion  of  adul- 
tery, Nazariteship,  blessing  of  the 
people,  chap,  v,  and  vi.  concerning 
the   lighting  of   the  lamps,  observ- 


ance of  the  passover  in  the  second 
month,  blowing  of  the  silver  trum- 
pets, chap.  viii.  and  ix.  and  x.  con- 
cerning meat-offerings,  drink-offer- 
ings, heave-offerings,  sin-offerings, 
atoning  for  a  breach  of  the  Sabbath, 
and  fringes  on  the  borders  of  their 
garments,  chap.  xv.  concerning  the 
office  and  portion  of  the  priests  and 
Levites,  and  the  purification  from  the 
uncleanness  of  dead  bodies  by  the 
ashes  of  the  red  heifer,  chap,  xviii. 
and  xix.  concerning  the  offerings  at 
festivals;  and  concerning  vows,  men- 
slayers,  cities  of  refuge,  chap,  xxviii. 
xxix.  and  xxx.  and  xxxv.  and  con- 
cerning the  marriage  of  heiresses, 
chap,  xxviii.  and  xxxvi. 

NURSE,  a  woman  who  suckles  a 
child,  Exod.  ii.  7.  one  who  assists  in 
bringing  up  children,  Ruth  iv.  16. 
It  is  applied  to  godly  kings  and 
queens,  who  have  a  sincere  affection 
and  tender  regard  to  the  church,  Isa. 
xlix.  23.  to  faithful  ministers  of  the 
gospel,  who  are  mild  and  obliging, 
using  all  kind  and  winning  persua- 
sions, as  nurses  do  to  train  up  chil- 
dren, 1  Thess.  ii.  7. 

NYMPH  AS,  a  bride,  spmtse,  or 
bridegroom,  Paul,  writing  to  the 
Colossians,  (iv.  15.)  salutes  Nym- 
phas,  and  the  church  which  is  in  his 
bouse. 


O 


OAK 


OAK 


or  On,  is  expressive  of  earnest- 
ness in  lamentation,  Luke  xiii. 
34.  in  prayer,  1  Kings  viii.  26.  in  ad- 
miration, Rom,  xi.  33.  in  reprov- 
ing or  expostulating.  Gal.  iii.  1.  or 
in  calling  and  inviting,  Psal.  xcv.  6. 
OAK-TREES,  have  male  flowers 
that  are  barren;  but  fhe  embryo 
fruit  appears  in  other  parts  of  the 
tree,  Avhich  grows  into  acorns,  the 
kernels  of  which  readily  split  into 
two  parts.  There  are  about  twenty 
kinds  of  oak,  but  the  holm  oaks, 
of  which  there  are  six  kinds,  differ 
considerably  from  the  others.  Oaks 
are  shadowy  in  their  leaves,  slow  in 


their  growth,  and  very  firm  and  dura- 
ble in  their  Avood,  and  will  continue 
fresh  for  many  ages,  if  kept  always 
wet,  or  always  dry.  Oaks  were 
very  plentiful  in  Canaan;  and  those 
of  Bashan  were  the  best.  Perhaps 
the  Hebrew  words,  clah,  allah,  and 
clon,  signify  the  Jewish  turpcnline^ 
and  only  the  word  allon  an  oak. 
It  was  common  to  sit  under  the  sha- 
dow of  oaks,  1  Kings  xiii.  14.  to 
bury  under  them,  Gen.  xxxv.  8. 
1  Chron.  x.  12.  to  make  idolatrous 
statues  of  them,  Isa.  xHv.  14.  and  to 
worship  idols  under  them,  Ez'ck.  vi. 
il3.    Isa.  i.  29.  Hos.  iv.  13.  Isa.  Ivii, 


O  A  T 


(     229     ) 


OAT 


r  5.  The  Tyrians  made  (heir  oars 
for  rowing  of  their  ships,  of  the  fine 
vaJcso/Buihan,  Ezek.  xxvii.  0.  The 
Hebrews  were  like  an  oal',  whose  leaf 
fadcth  ;  stript  of  their  confidence  in 
tlieniselves  and  otliers,  and  bereaved 
ol'  their  honour,  wealth,  prosperity. 
and  pleasure,  Isa.  i.  .'iO.  yet  like  an 
on/r,  or  tcU  tree,  whose  eubstance  is 
in  it,  they  couhl  never  be  utterly  de- 
stroyed i)y  the  Assyrians,  ChaUleans, 
or  Romans,  Isa.  vi.  13.  Governors, 
and  great  valiant  men,  are  likened 
to  the  tall  and  strong  oaks  of  Ba- 
>/jfl«,  to  mark  their  apparent  power, 
strength,  and  firmness,  and  their  fit- 
ness to  protect  others,  Isa.  ii.  13. 
Zech.  xi.  2. 

An  OATH,  is  a  solemn  act,  where- 
in we  swear  by  God,  or  call  him  to 
witness  the  truth  of  what  we  assert 
or  promise;  and  to  avenge  us  in  time 
and  eternity,  if  we  swear  what  is  false 
or  unknown  to  us.  An  oath  must 
never  be  taken  but  in  matters  of  im- 
portance, nor  sworn  by  the  name  of 
any  but  the  true  God,  as  it  is  an  act 
of  solemn  worship,  Josh,  xxiii.  7. 
Jam.  v.  12.  Deut.  vi.  13.  Matt.  v. 
34,  35.  Jer.  v.  7.  Nor  should  it  be 
done  irreverently,  without  godly 
fear,  and  awe  of  the  Most  High ;  for 
he  is  represented  as  a  wicked  man, 
who  is  not  deeply  impressed  with  an 
oath,  Eccl.  ix.  2.  nor  rashl}',  without 
<lue  caution,  hev.  v.  4.  Matt.  xiv. 
7.  Gen.  xxiv.  5,  8.  nor  falsely,  or 
tleceitfully,  atfirming  what  is  false; 
nor  without  a  candid  intention  and 
due  care  to  perform  our  solenm  en- 
gagements. Lev.  vi.  3.  and  xix.  12. 
Jer.  xlii.  5.  But  as  every  oath  ought 
to  be  sw  oru  in  tiniih,  the  thing  sworn 
being  true  in  itself,  and  we  having 
certain  evidence  and  persuasion  that 
it  is  truth,  so  should  we  swear  it 
witiiout  fraud  or  deceit;  in  judg- 
ment, with  understanding  of  the  na- 
ture of  an  oath,  and  of  the  thing 
we  swear,  and  with  a  heart-awing 
knowledge  of  him  by  whom  we 
swear;  and  in  righteousness,  swearing 
only  things  that  are  good,  and  which 
we  certainly  kno^v  to  be  lawful ; 
and  for  a  good  end,  to  glorify  God, 


and  do  real  good  to  ourgelres  and 
other?,  l)y  declaring  the  innocent,  and 
ending    a   controversy,    Jer.    iv.  2. 

1  Cor.  X.  31.  Heb.  vi.  18.  The 
[jhrases  expressive  of  oaths  or  so- 
lemn afl'irmations,  are,  As  the  Lord 
liveth,  Judg.  viii.  19.  God  is  vnf 
witness,  or  record,  Kom.  i.  9.  2  Thess. 
ii.  5,  10.  Phil.  i.    8.     God  Icnowcth, 

2  Cor.  xi.  11,31.  Behold,  li<forc 
God  I  lie  not,  Rom.  ix.  1.  I  sinj  the 
truthin  Christ,  and  lie  not,  1  Tim.  ii. 
7.  As  the  Iriilh  of  Christ  is  in  vie,  2 
Cor.  iv.  1 0.  Vcrih),  verily,  1  say  iinto 
yon,  John  i.  51.  yometimes  tlie  pa- 
triarchs used  the  putting  the  hand 
uiKler  the  thigh  of  him  to  w  horn  the 
oath  was  given.  Gen.  xxiv.  2,  3. 
and  xlvii.  29.  but  a  lifting  up  of  the 
hand  towards  heaven  was  the  most 
common  gesture  used  in  swearing. 
Gen.  xiv.  22.  Dan.  xii.  7.  Rev.  x. 
5,  6.  The  danger  of  swearing  un- 
necessarily, ignorantly,  irreverently, 
falsely,  is,  that  God  will  not  holdhim 
guiltless  that  takcth  his  name  in 
vaiii,  Exod.  XX.  7.  he  will  make  their 
plagues  wonderful,  Deut.  xxviii.  58, 
59.  and  his  extensive  curses  fixes  on 
them,  to  consume  them  and  what  be- 
longs to  them,  Zech.  v.  3,  4.  The 
Jews,  however,  in  later  times,  were 
much  given  to  prolane  swearing  ;  on 
accountof  which,  God  terribly  threat- 
ened and  punished  them,  Jer.  xxiii. 
10.  Hos.  iv.  2.  They  swore  by 
various  creatures,  by  heaven,  by  Je- 
rusalem, by  their  head,  &:c.  They 
pretended,  that  if  a  man  swore  only 
by  the  altar,  his  oath  Avas  not  bind- 
ing; but  if  he  swore  by  the  gift  pre- 
sented on  it,  it  was  obligatory,  Matt, 
xxiii.  10—20. 

Scarcely  any  thing  can  more  evi- 
dently mark  men's  hatred  against 
their  Maker,  than  the  general 
spread  of  profane  swearing,  particu- 
larly in  common  conversation.  It  is 
not  to  men's  lionour ;  it  renders  their 
language  absurd  and  incoherent:  it 
often  marks  their  inward  conscious- 
ness that  thej--  are  liars;  or  why  do 
they  add  an  oath,  Avhen  the  simple 
affirmation  of  any  honest  man  that  re- 
gards truth  and  honour  in  his  words, 


OAT 


C     230     ) 


OAT 


is  sufficient?  It  procures  them  nei- 
ther pleasure  nor  profit,  as  whore- 
dom, drunkenness,  and  theft,  in  some 
sense  do.  What  then  must  profane 
swearers  be  but  vohinteers  of  Satan, 
madly  rushing  on  the  vengeance  of 
him  who  will  not  suffer  them  to  escape 
his  righteous  judgment  ?  Multitudes 
who,  it  seems,  blush  at  the  open  pro- 
fanation of  their  Maker's  name,  at 
once  are  guilty  of  idolatry  and  pro- 
fane swearing,  in  swearing  by  their 
truth,  their  faith,  their  conscience, 
their  soul,  or  the  rlcvil- — It  is  abun- 
dantly plain,  that  such  as  swear  pro- 
fanely, without  any  temptation,  will 
make  no  scruple,  if  they  have  a  strong 
temptcition,  to  sv/ear  falselj'.  Part- 
ly by  means  of  this  profane  swear- 
ing ;  partly  by  the  great  irreverence 
ased  in  taking  oaths;  partly  by 
the  frequent  repetition  of  the  same 
oath,  or  one  of  the  very  same  import; 
partly  by  imposing  oaths,  sinful,  du- 
bious, or  dark  in  their  meaning,  and 
partly  by  the  easy  admission  of  mul- 
titudes to  swear  on  the  occasion  of 
civil  elections,  who  understand  nei- 
ther what  they  swear,  nor  even  the 
general  nature  of  an  oath ;  oaths  in 
our  country  are  almost  become  of  no 
use  with  many,  but  to  ensnare  their 
souls,  and  to  dishonour  God.  Our 
state-oaths  have  plainly  no  ability 
to  mark  the  loyalty  of  the  sub- 
jects. None  are  readier  to  take 
them,  than  such  as  intend  to  break 
them  on  the  first  opportunity.  Shall 
not  God  visit  for  these  things  ?  Shall 
not  his  sou!  be  avenged  on  such  a 
isatioii  as  this  ?  How  can  he  hold  us 
guiltless,  where  the  taking  of  his 
name  in  vain  so  mightily  prevails  ? 
— God's  swearing,  or  giving  his  oath, 
denotes  his  solemn  declaration  of  a 
truth,  threatening,  or  promise,  in  or- 
der to  persuade  us  to  believe  the  in- 
finite importance  and  absolute  cer- 
tainty thereof,  Ezek.  xxxiii.  11. 
Psal.  xcv.  11.  Gen.  xxii.  16,  17. 
Thus  his  making  Christ  Priest  with 
an  oath,  denotes  the  infinite  impor- 
tance, and  the  certainty,  though  won- 
derful nature,  of  that  ofTice  in  ihe  Son 
«>f  God,  Psal.  ex.  4.  Heb.  vli.  20. 


21.  God  swears  by  himself,  as  there 
;  is  none  greater,  Heb.  vi.  13.  Jer.  li. 
14.  by  his  life,  Isa.  xlix.  18.  by  his 
j  great  name  or  perfections,  Jer.  xliv. 
26.  by  his  excellency,  Amos  viii.  7. 
by  his  holiness,  Psal.  Ixxxix.  35.  by 
his  right  hand  or  strength,  Isa.  Ixii. 
8.  Men's  sAvearing  is  either  to  one 
another,  in  order  to  end  controver- 
sies, or  to  secure  the  performance  of 
what  is  engaged,  1  Sam.  xxx.  15. 
or  to  God,  in  engaging  to  forbear 
something  sinful,  or  to  perform  some- 
thing lawful,  Psal  csix.  106.  This 
is  often  called  a  vow ;  and  a  solemn 
promise  to  God,  without  the  forma- 
lity of  an  oath,  is  also  called  a  vow. 
That  we  may  conceive  more  exactly 
of  the  nature  and  importance  oi' pro- 
mises, covenants,  prcmissorij  oaths^ 
and  vows,  it  may  not  be  amiss  to  ob- 
serve, (1.)  That  nil  authority  which 
can  bind  men  to  any  thing  as  their 
duty  is  naturally,  necessarily,  iude- 
pendentl}^  and  originally,  in  God 
himself.  He  alone  as  the  Most  His'h, 
hath  a  most  sovereign  dominion  over 
all,  Avorking  in,  by,  and  upon  them, 
and  disposing  of  them  as  he  pleaseth. 
He  alone  is  Lord  of  men's  consci- 
ences, to  whose  mere  will  declared, 
without  any  other  reason  percei/ed, 
they  ought  to  submit,  under  pain  of 
eternal  damnation ;  and  he  hath  left 
them  free  from  the  doctrines  or  com- 
mandments of  men,  which  are  in 
any  thing  contrary  to  his  word,  in 
matters  of  faith  or  worship,  Psal. 
Ixxxiii.  18.  Dan.  iv.  35.  Rom.  xi. 
36.  Isa.  xxxiii.  22.  and  xlii.  8,  Jam. 
iv.  12.  (2.)  That  while  God  neces- 
sarily retains  the  supreme  authority, 
and  legislation  attending  it  in  his 
own  hand,  he,  for  the  better  {)ro- 
moting  of  obedience  to  his  own  laws, 
and  of  the  order  and  happiness  of 
men  in  this  v/orld,  halh  communi- 
cated to  some  a  deputed  and  subordi- 
nate authority,  whereby  they,  as  hus- 
bands, parents,  masters,  ministers,  or 
magistrates,  may,  in  his  name,  enact 
rules  for  their  inferiors  precisely  an- 
sw"erable  to  their  different  stations 
or  departments,  and  govern  them 
thereby: — and    to  eyery  adult  per- 


OAT 


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OAT 


SOB,  a  power  of  self-Oiovcmment,  to 
rule  their  owa  spirit  and  Lio<ly  ;  and, 
for  that  end,  to  hind,  iim;af!e,  or 
oblis^c  tlieniselves,  l»y  piomiaes,  cove- 
nants^ oaths,  or  vows,  corre^jpondtot 
to  their  stations  and  circunisitaHces, 
Prov.  xvi.  32.  and  xxv.  28.  1  Cor. 
ix.  27.  James  iii.  2.  This  wliole 
authority  takina;  rise  from  the  «ill  of 
Goii,  it  can  in  mitliing  extend  further 
than  liis  grant,  and  must  be  wholly 
subordinate  to  liis  own  authority, 
manifested  in  his  law.  It  can  ex- 
tend no  furtiier  than  the  station  in 
corres[K)ndence  to  which  it  is  grant- 
ed. It  cannot  possibly  interfere  with, 
or  oppose,  God's  authority  in  his  law. 
As  it  contains  no  power  against  the 
truth,  but  for  the  truth,  no  power /ar 
destruction,  but  for  edification,  2  Cor. 
xiii.  8.  and  x.  8.  no  command  re- 
quiring, or  bond  engaging,  to  any 
thing  sinful,  can  include  in  it  any 
real  and  valid  obligation ;  nor  can 
subordinate  authority  bind,  in  oppo- 
sition to  the  supreme  authority  of 
God.  But  if  the  deputed  authority 
be  regularly  exercised.  God's  su- 
preme authority,  manifested  in  his 
law,  necessarily  ratifies  the  com- 
mands and  engagements  thereby 
constituted,  and  enforces  obedience 
&ni\  fulfibncTil,  under  pain  of  damna- 
tion. The  manner  of  exercising  or 
subjecting  ourselves  to  this  subordi- 
nate autJiority,  is  therefore  a  matter 
of  very  high  importance,  that  we 
may  not  act  nnworlhily  as  God"s  de- 
puties, and  may  not  pour  contempt 
on  God  by  undervaluing  his  deputed 
authority,  and  the  obligations  arising 
from  it.  (3.)  As  no  deputed  autho- 
rity  derived  from  God,  can  increase 
that  supreme,  that  infinite  authority 
which  he  hath  in  himself,  so  no  hu- 
man commandment  or  engagement 
caji  increase  that  infinite  obligation 
to  duty  which  his  law  hath  in  itself: 
but,  if  lawful,  they  have  in  them  a 
real  obligation,  distinct,  though  not 
separated,  nor  separable,  from  that 
of  the  obligation  of  God's  law.  To 
pretend  with  Bellarmine  and  other 
Pajdsts,  that  our  promises  or  vows 
do  net  btnd  us  in  moral  duties  com- 


manded by  the  law  of  God,  because 
our  vow  cannot  add  any  obligation 
to  the  law  of  God,  is  manifestly  ab- 
surd. Sclf-biiulin^,  SI  If -obit  Ration., 
self-ens;agiiiu:nt,  is  so  much  the  es- 
sential form  o(  vow«?,  and  of  all  cove- 
nants, i)romises,  or  promissory  oaths, 
whether  of  God  or  man,  that  they 
cannot  exist  at  all,  or  even  be  con- 
ceived of  without  it,  any  more  than 
a  man  without  a  soul,  or  an  angel 
without  an  understanding  and  will. 
Nothing  can  be  more  manifest,  than 
that  we  may  bind  ourselves  to  what 
hjiist  and  lawful,  to  necessary  duties  ; 
and  that  though  a  promise,  oath,  or 
vow,  cannot  hind  to  sin,  yet  in  any 
thing  not  sinful,  being  taken,  it  binds 
to  performance.  Admit  once  tiiis 
Popish  doctrine,  it  must  naturallj'" 
follow,  that  all  human  commands  of 
superiors,  as  well  as  human  promises, 
oaths,  vows,  and  covenants,  are  in 
themselves  destitute  of  all  binding 
force,  except  so  far  as  they  relate  to 
such  trifling  things  as  the  law  of  God 
doth  not  require  of  men  in  such  par- 
ticular circumstances.  Commands  of 
superiors  must  be  mere  declarations 
of  the  will  of  God  in  his  law :  and 
promises,  oaths,  vows,  and  cove- 
nants, must  be  mere  acknoivlcdgnunts 
tiiat  God's  law  requires  such  things 
from  us,  so  far  as  they  relate  to  moral 
duties.  The  authority  which  God 
hath  in  himself,  and  that  which  he 
hath  invested  men  with  as  his  depu- 
ties, must  be  inconsistent  and  mu- 
tually destructive,  that  the  same  thing 
cannot  be  bound  to  by  both.  The 
law  of  God  must  be  held  destructive 
of  the  being  of  an  ordinance  appoint- 
ed by  itself,  so  far  as  that  ordinance 
binds  to  a  conscientious  and  diligent 
obedience  to  that  law.  To  imagine 
that  human  laws  or  engagements 
cannot  bind  to  moral  duties,  is  at. 
once  highly  absurd  in  itself,  and  con- 
trary to  the  common  sense  of  man' 
kind  in  every  age,  who  have  all 
along  considered  men's  promises, 
covenants,  vows,  and  oaths,  as  bind- 
ing them  to  pay  their  just  debt,  per- 
form their  just  duties  of  allegiance, 
and  to  deliver  the  truth,  and  notliing 


OAT 


(232     ) 


OAT 


but  the  truth,  in  cases  of  bearing 
witness,  «fcc.  It  is  contrary  to  scrip- 
ture, which  represents  promises,  co- 
venants, promissory  oaths,  or  vows, 
as  things  which  are  to  be  fulfilled, 
performed,  or  paid,  and  Avhicli  may 
jtossibly  be  transgressed  and  broken, 
Matt.  V.  33.  Deut.xxiii.  21,  22,  23. 
Eccl.  V.  4.  Psal.xxii.  25.  and  1.  14. 
and  Ixi.  8.  and  Ixvi.  13.  and  Ixxvi. 
11.  and  cxv.  13,  to  18.  and  cxix. 
106.  Isa.  xix.  21.  Judg.  xi.  36.  Isa. 
xxiv.  5.  Jer.  xxxiv.  18.  and  wliich, 
in  one  of  the  plainest  and  least  figu- 
rative chapters  of  the  Bible,  repre- 
sents a  vow  as  constituted  by  our 
binding  ourselves,  binding  our  otvn 
smds  ivilh  a  bond,  and  represents  a 
vow  as  a  bo7id  or  obligation.  The 
Hebrew  issar,  means  a  very  fast 
binding  bond  or  obligation,  as  our  own 
bond,  tliat  stands  upon  or  against  us, 
Numb.  XXX.  To  represent  vowing 
as  a  placing  ourselves  more  directly 
under  the  law  of  God,  or  any  com- 
mandment of  it,  or  as  a  placing  our- 
selves in  a  new  relation  to  the  law,  is 
but  an  attempt  to  render  unintelli- 
gible what  the  Holy  Ghost  in  that 
chapter  hath  laboured  to  render  plain, 
if  it  doth  not  also  imj)ort  that  we  can 
place  ourselves  more  directly  under 
the  moral  law  than  God  hath  or  can 
do.  To  pretend  that  men's  com- 
mands or  engagements  derive  their 
whole  obligation  from  the  law  of 
God's  re(juiring  us  to  obey  the  one, 
and  pay,  fulfil,  ot  perform  the  other, 
is  no  less  absurd.  These  divine 
commands  suppose  an  intrinsic  obli- 
gation in  the  human  law  or  engage- 
ment, and  enforce  it.  But  no  law  of 
God  can  require  me  to  obey  a  hu- 
man law,  or  FULFIL  an  engagement 
"which  hath  no  obligation  in  itself, 
any  more  than  the  laws  of  Britain 
can  oblige  me  to  pay  a  bill,  or  fulfil  a 
bond,  consisting  of  nothing  but  mere 
cyphers.  AVhile  intrinsic  obligation 
is  of  the  very  essence  of  every  pro- 
mise, covenant,  vow,  or  promissory 
oath,  as  well  as  of  everyjust  human 
law,  this  obligation  is  totally  and 
manifestly  distinct  from  the  obliga- 
tion of  the  law  of  God.  (l.)Io  this  law, 


God,  by  the  declaration  of  his  will  as 
our  Supreme  Ruler,  binds  us,  Deut. 
xii.  32.  In  promises,  vows,  cove- 
nants, and  promissory  oaths,  Ave, 
as  his  deputy-governors  over  our- 
selves, by  a  declaration  of  our  will , 
bind  ourselves  with  a  bond,  bind  our 
souls  with  our  own  bond,  Numb.  xxx. 
2,  3,  4,  5,  6,  7,  8,9,  10,  11,12,  13. 
14.  Psal.  Ixvi.  13,  14.  and  cxix. 
106,  &c.  and  hence  they  are  gene- 
rally represented  in  scripture,  as  our 
vows,  oaths,  &c.  (2.)  The  obligation 
of  our  proiuises,  vows,  &c.  as  well 
as  of  human  laws,  is  always  subject  to 
and  examination  by  the  standard  of 
God's  law,  both  as  to  its  matter  and 
manner,  1  Thess.  v.  21.  But  it  would 
be  presumption,  blasphemous  pre- 
sumption, to  examine  whether  what 
we  know  to  be  the  law  of  God  be 
right  or  not,  Jam.  iv.  11.  (3.)  The 
law  of  God  binds  all  men  for  ever, 
Psal.  cxi.  7,  8.  No  human  law,  or 
self-engagement  binds  men,  but  in 
this  life,  in  which  they  are  encom- 
passed with  temptations,  to  seduce 
them  from  their  duty.  In  heaven, 
they  have  no  need  of  such  helps  to 
duty  ;  and  in  hell,  they  can  have  no 
profit  by  them.  But  in  heaven  and 
hell,  all  are  for  ever  bound  by  the  au- 
thority of  God  manifested  in  his  law, 
(4.)  The  obligation  of  human  pro- 
mises, covenants,  vows,  and  pro- 
niissory  oaths,  as  Avell  as  of  human 
laws,  relating  to  things  lawful,  is  not 
separable  from,  but  many  ways  con- 
nected with  the  law  of  God,  and  its 
obligation.  In  binding  ourselves,  to 
necessary  duties,  and  to  other  things 
so  long  and  so  far  as  is  conducive 
thereto,  God's  law  is  made  the  rule  of 
our  engagement.  Our  vow  is  no  new 
rule  of  duty,  but  a  new  bond  to  make 
the  law  of  God  our  rule.  It  is  in 
God's  law  that  all  our  deputed  au- 
thorily  to  command  others,  or  bind 
ourselves,  is  allotted  to  us.  The  de- 
mand of  duties  by  the  law  of  God 
requires  the  use  of  all  lawful  means 
to  |)romote  the  performance  of  them, 
and  hence  it  recpiires  haman  laws, 
and  self-engagements,  and  the  ob- 
servance thereof,  as  far  as  conducive 


OAT 


(     233     ) 


OAT 


iliercto.  Nay,  they  are  express!}' 
r<'(|uired  in  his  law,  as  his  ordi- 
nances, lor  means  of  IielpiDi?  and 
hedf!;ing  us  in  to  our  duty.  In 
making  lawful  vows,  as  well  as  hu- 
man laws,  we  exert  I  lie  dtimUil  mt- 
Ihority  of  the  lawnivcr,  granted  to 
us  in  his  law,  in  the  manner  his  law 
prescribes,  and  precisely  in  obedi- 
ence to  its  prescription.  In  the  vow, 
■»ve,  according  to  the  prescription  ol 
his  own  law,  solemnly  constitute  the 
Divine  Lawgiver  the  nilne.sff  o\'  otn* 
engagement,  and  the  sruaranlcc  of  it, 
graciously  to  reward  our  evangelic 
I'ultilnient  of  it,  and  to  punisli  our 
perndious.violation  ofit.  The  more 
punctual  observation  of  God's  law, 
notwithstanding  manifold  infirmites 
and  temptations,  and  of  his  glory 
therein,  is  the  end  of  our  self-en- 
gagements, as  well  as  of  human  law  s ; 
and,  by  a  due  regard  to  their  bind- 
ing force,  is  this  end  promoted,  as 
hereby  the  obligation  of  God's  laws 
is  more  deeply  impressed  on  our 
minds,  and  we  are  shut  up  to  obe- 
dience, and  deterred  from  the  con- 
trary.— On  all  which  accounts,  the 
law  of  God  necessarily  sustains  as 
valid  the  obligations  of  our  self-en- 
gagements, as  well  as  of  human  laws 
which  are  lawful,  and  ratifies  the 
same  in  all  the  solemnities  thereol, 
under  the  most  awful  pains ;  that  the 
human  laws  be  obeyed  as  things 
that  hind  hy  authority,  and  the  self- 
engagements  be  paid  and  fulfilled  as 
having  in  them  a  real  ohligaiion  to 
performance ;  and  whoever  doth  not, 
in  his  attempts  to  observe  them, 
view  these  laws  and  self-engage- 
ments as  having  that  binding  force 
which  the  law  of  God  allows  them, 
he  pours  contempt  on  them  as  ordi- 
nancss  of  God,  and  on  the  law  of 
God  for  allowing  them  a  binding 
force.  Thus,  through  n.aintaining  the 
■superadded^  or  subordinate  obligaticn 
of  human  laws,  and  of  self-engage- 
ments to  moral  dutic?,  we  do  not 
make  void,  but  establish,  the  obliga- 
tion of  God's  Jaws.  (.5.)  In  no  respect 
can  we  disobey  ihe  lawful  command 
of  a  superior,  or  vioJa<e  «  lawful  pro- 
Voi,.  Tt». 


mise,  covenant,  o»th,  or  vow,  with- 
out transgression  of  the  law  of  God. 
in  violating  our  vows,  for  instance, 
we  manifest  a  contempt  of  that  law 
which  regidated  the  rtuitlcr  and  mak- 
ing thereof:  We  rcb(  I  against  that 
divine  authority,  from  which,  through 
iiis  law,  we  derive<l  our  power  to 
bind  ourselves  to  duty,  and  so  strike 
against  the  fouiidation  of  the  whole 
law  :  We  {jroHuie  the  vow,  as  it  is  a 
binding  ordinance  of  God,  appointed 
in  his  law  :  By  trampling  on  a  noted 
mean  of  pronioting  obedience  to  all 
the  commandments,  we  mark  our 
dislike  to  them,  prepare  ourselves 
to  transgress  them,  and  endeavour 
to  remove  the  aAve  of  God's  autho- 
rity, or  terror  of  his  judgments, 
from  our  consciences:  We  represent 
the  divine  Lawgiver,  as  a  willing  wit- 
ness of  treachery  and  fraud :  We 
pour  contempt  on  him  as  the  gua- 
rantee of  the  vow,  as  if  he  did  not 
notice,  or  durst  not  avenge  our  vil- 
lany  :  Contrary  to  the  <n<i/«  required 
in  the  law,  we  plunge  ourselves  into 
the  most  criminal  deceit  and  false- 
hood :  Contrary  to  equity,  we  rob 
God  and  his  church  of  what  Ave  have 
solemnly  devoted  to  their  service : 
Contrary  to  devotion,  we  banish  se- 
rious impressions  of  God's  adorable 
perfections :  Contrary  to  good  neigh- 
bourhood, we  render  ourselves  a 
plague  and  curse,  and  encourage 
others  to  the  most  enormous  wicked- 
ness :  Contrary  to  the  end  of  our 
creation  and  preservation,  we  reject 
the  glory  of  God,  and  obedience  to 
his  law  tVom  being  our  end  :  Mean- 
while, we  trample  under  foot  the  di- 
vine laws,  ratification  of  our  vow,  in 
all  its  awfal  solemnities,  and  manifold 
connexions  Avith  itself,  and  require" 
inents  to;?ff_j/it. 

I^he  voAVs  of  wives  and  childrenj 
with  respect  to  indiJerent  things, 
Avere  not  binding,  except  their  hus- 
bands and  parents  consented  to  them, 
when  they  kneAV  thereof,  as  they 
had  nothing  of  their  OAvn  to  give  to 
the  Lord,  and  he  hates  robbery  for 
bunU-offering,  Numb.  xxx.  W^hen 
VCAV8  or  promissory  oaths  are  once 
2  G 


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made,  the  utmost  care  ought  to  be 
taken  to  fulfil  tlierii,  otherwise  the 
breaker  entails  on  himself  the  ter- 
rible vengeance  of  God,  Psal.  Ixxvi, 
11.  Eccl.  V.  5.  Prov.  XX.  25.  To 
deter  the  Hebrews  from  rash  vows, 
even  in  dedicating  things  to  tlie 
Lord,  nothing  devoted  was  to  be 
returned  but  at  a  tifth  part  more  than 
the  priest  esteemed  it  worth ;  and  if 
it  was  devoted  under  the  form  of  a 
curse,  it  was  not  to  be  redeemed  at 
all ;  nor  was  any  thing  belonging  to 
the  Lord  by  a  former  claim,  as  the 
tithes  of  first-fruits,  to  be  devoted 
by  a  singular  vow,  because  these 
were  not  the  man's  own  to  dispose 
of.  Lev.  xxvii.  Keep  the  king''s 
commandment.,  and  that  in  regard  of 
the  oath  of  God ;  obey  civil  rulers, 
because  God  has  sworn  to  punish 
such  as  are  disobedient,  Eccl.  viii.  2. 
Blen's  swearing  to  God,  or  vowing  to 
him,  denotes  not  onl}'  tlieir  entering 
into  a  covenant  of  duty  to  him,  but 
their  subjection  to,  homage,  worship, 
and  service  of  him  in  general,  2 
Chron.  xv.  14.  Isa.  xix.  18.  andxv. 
23.  Rom.  xiv.  11.  Phil.  ii.  10,  11. 

OBADIAH,  sci'vant  of  the  Lord, 
(1.)  A  godly  man,  who    was  one  of 
the  governors  in  the  family  of  wick- 
ed Ahab.     When  Jezebel  sought  out 
Ihe  Lord's  prophets  to  have  them  all 
murdered,  Obadiah  hid  100  of  them 
in  two  caves,   and  notwithstanding 
the  then  famishing  dearth,  fed  them 
with  bread  and  water.     With  some 
difficulty,  Elijah  persuaded  him    to 
inform  Ahab  that  he  wanted   to  see 
him,  1  Kings  xviii.     (2.)  One  of  the 
lesser  prophets,  and  whose  prophecy 
consists  but   of  one  single  chapter, 
wherein  he  severely  iiiveighs  against 
the  Edomites,  for  their  rejoicing  over 
and  helping  forward,  the  destruction 
of  the  Jews;  he  foretells  their  own 
speedy  and  utter  ruin,  and  the  de- 
liverance of  the   Hebrews  from  all 
the   places  Avhither    they   were,   or 
should  be  scattered.     When  he  lived 
is  not  agreed.     Lightfoot  thinks  his 
prophecy  refers  to  the   behaviour  of 
the  Edomites  at  the  sacking  of  Je- 
ru3alem  by  Slwshak,  yr  by  the   Ara- 


bians in  the  reign  of  Jehoram,  or  by 
the  Syrians,  or  Israelites,  in  the  time 
of  Joash  or  Amaziah  :  and  he  is  ge- 
nerally thought  to  have  been  cotem- 
porary  with  Hosea,  Amos,  and  Joel. 
But  when  we  compare  his  predictions 
with  those  of  Jeremiah,  chap.  xlix. 
of  Ezek.  XXV.  and  of  Psal.  cxxxvii. 
and  find  how  similar  they  are  there- 
to, we  cannot  forbear  thinking  with 
the  great  Usher,  that  he  prophesied 
within  a  year  or  two  after  the  de- 
struction of  Jerusalem  by  the  Chal- 
deans."" 

OBED-EDOM,  the  servant  of 
Edom,  or  labourer  of  the  man,  the  son 
of  Jeduthuu,  a  Levite,  and  father  of 
Shemaiah,  Jozabad,  Joah,  Sacar,  Na- 
thaniel, Aramiel,  Uzza,  and  Peulthai. 
When  Uzza  was  struck  dead  for 
touching  the  ark  of  the  Lord  on  the 
cart,  David  was  so  terrified  that  he  was 
glad  to  defer  bringing  it  to  Jerusalem. 
As  Obed-edom's  house  was  hard  by, 
they  carried  it  thither.  Obed-edom 
kindly  received  it,  and  gave  it  a 
place  in  his  house.  His  family  not 
only  suffered  no  detriment,  but  were 
mightily  increased  in  their  number, 
health,  and  otherwise,  so  that  when 
some  years  after  they  were  ap- 
pointed porters  of  the  temple,  they 
amounted  to  62  able-bodied  men, 
1  Chron.  xvi.  38.  and  xiii.  9 — 14. 
and  XV.  24.  and  xxvi.  4 — 8.  This 
Obed-edom  is  called  a  Gittite,  either 
because  he  was  a  native  of  Gath- 
rimmon,  or  had  sojourned  awhile  in 
Gath,  of  the  Philistines,  2  Sam.  vi. 
10.— 

OBEDIENCE,  the  fulfilment  of 
a  superior's  command,  from  due  re- 
gard to  his  authority.  Christ's  o5e- 
diencc  is  his  perfect  fulfilment  of  the 
precepts,  and  his  satisfaction  of  the 
penalty,  of  the  broken  law  for  us, 
Rom.  V.  19.  Heb.  v.  8.  Angels  oi«/ 
God,  in  cheerfully  and  perfectly  ful- 
filling his  law,  and  executing  what- 
ever he  commands,  Psal.  ciii.  20.  The 
saints'  obediencclies  in  their  believing 
the  truths  of  the  gospel,  and,  in  conse- 
quence thereof,  sincerely  studying  , 
conformity  to  his  will,  and  a  cheer- 
ful fulfilment  of  his  whole  law,  Rom . 


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▼i.  16.  This  is  called  obedience  to 
the  faith,  because  it  begins  in  em- 
bracing the  truths  ol"  the  gospel,  and 
protluces  obedience  to  all  the  divine 
law,  as  revealed  in  the  scripture, 
Rom.  i.  5.  Acts  vi.  7.  It  is  in  obe- 
dience of  faith ;  it  corres[)onds  with 
the  principles  received  by  faith  in  the 
scripture,  and  it  jjroceeds  from,  and 
evidences,  a  living  and  actuating 
principle  of  faith  in  the  heart,  Rom. 
xvi.  2t5.  It  is  an  obedience  cf  Christ ; 
it  flows  from  his  dwelling  in  our 
soul ;  it  corresponds  with  his  law,  is 
influenced  by  hi3  authority  and  love, 
and  tends  to  his  honour,  2  Cor.  x.  5. 
It  is  an  obedience  unto  righteousness  ; 
it  constitutes  a  personal  righteous- 
ness, whereby  we  glorify  God,  and 
profit  ourselves  and  others,  Rom.  vi. 
16.  It  must  proceed  from  gospel- 
principles  in  the  heart,  a  mind  en- 
lightened in  the  knowledge  of  Chris! 
as  our  Saviour,  Portion,  and  Lord; 
a  conscience  sprinkled  with  his 
blood,  and  a  heart  renewed  and  ac- 
tuated by  his  indwelling  Spirit, 
Matt.  vii.  18.  Gal.  i.  16.  Heb.ix. 
14.  1  Tim.  i.  5.  Ezek.  xxxvi.  26,  27. 
It  must  be  influenced  by  gospel-mo- 
tives, the  redeeming  love  of  Christ 
shed  abroad  in  the  heart;  the  au- 
thority of  God,  as  our  God  in  Christ, 
manifested  in  the  law,  as  a  rule  of  du- 
ty;  the  example  of  Christ,  the  relation 
of  God  in  him,  as  our  father  and  friend; 
and  the  well-grounded  hope  of  eternal 
life,  as  the  free  gift  of  God  through 
Christ,  2  Cor.  v.  14,  15.  1  John  iv. 
19.  1  Thess.  V.  4.  Eph.  v.  1,  2.  Heb. 
xii.  2,  3.  1  John  iii.  2,  3.  1  Cor.  xv. 
58.  It  must  be  performed  in  a  gos- 
pel manner,  in  the  exercise  of  faith 
on  Christ  as  our  righteousness  and 
strength  ;  in  the  exercise  of  grateful 
love  to  him,  as  dying  for  us;  and 
with  great  humility,  as  reckoning 
ourselves  infinite  debtors  to  his  grace, 
and  after  all  we  do,  unworthy  the 
least  of  his  mercies,  1  Tim.i.  5.  Phil. 
iv.  13.  Zech.  x.  12.  Psal.  cxvi.  16. 
Mic.  vi.  8.  Luke.  xvii.  10.  It  must 
be  performed  to  a  gospel  end,  to 
render  us  like  God  our  Saviour;  to 
glorify  God  our  Maker  and  Redeem- 


er ;  to  profit  our  neighbour,  and  bring 
him  to  Christ;  and  to  pre|)are  us  for 
the  free  and  full  enjoyment  of  God, 
Luke  vi.  27—36.  1  Cor.  vi.  19,  20. 
1  Pet.  iii.  1.  Isa.  Ixiv.  5.  This 
obeying  of  the  truth  purifies  the 
heart, as  itreceives  thegraceof  Christ 
into  the  soul,  and  destroys  jjride,  ma- 
lice, and  every  other  indwelling  lust, 
1  Pet.  i.  22. 

Obedience  is  feigned,  when  what  is 
commanded  is  done,  or  professed  to 
be  done,  but  not  I'rom  love  to  our 
superior,  or  real  regard  to  his  autho- 
rity ;  but  from  hope  of  some  temporal 
reward,  or  fear  of  punishment,  only  ; 
siich  is  the  obedience  of  hypocrites  to 
Christ,  and  was  of  David's  enemies 
to  him,  2  Sam-  xxii.  45.  Isa.  xxix. 
13.  Sometimes  the  mere  execution 
of  the  will  of  a  superior  is  called  an 
obeying  him :  so  wicked  men,  devils, 
seas,  and  winds,  obct/cd  Christ,  when 
tl>ey  Avere  made  to  do  what  he  pleas- 
ed, Mark  i.  27.  Luke  iv.  36.  Exod. 
xi.  1.  and  xii.  31.  Not  in  this  man- 
ner, but  in  love,  ought  children  to 
obey  parents,  wives  their  husbands, 
servants  their  masters,  subjects  their 
magistrates,  and  people  their  pastors, 
Epii.  vi.  1,5.  Tit.  ii.  6.  Rom.  xiii.  1. 
Heb.  xiii.  17.  Men  obey  the  lusts  o( 
indwelling  corruption,  when  they 
consent  to  and  practise,  the  evil  in- 
clinations of  their  heart,  Rom.  vi.  1 2. 

OBEISANCE,  a  civil  reverence 
to  a  superior,  by  bowing  the  body 
or  knee,  &:c.  Gen.  xxxvii.  7,  9. 

OBJECT,  to  lay  to  one's  charge ; 
say  against  a  thing.  Acts  xxiv.  19. 

OBLATION.     See  Offering. 

OBSCURE,  what  is  rather  dark, 
little  known ;  and  so  obscure  darkness 
may  denote  a  base  condition,  a  loss 
of  name  and  property,  Prov.  xx.  20. 
Obscurity  is  much  the  same  as 
darkness,  and  denotes  what  is  oppo- 
site to  the  light  of  knowledge  or 
prosperity,  viz.  ignorance  and  dis- 
tressing calamities,  Isa.  lix.  9.  The 
blind  see  out  of  obscurity,  and  out  of 
darkness,  when  their  natural  sight  is 
miraculously  given  them,  or  rather, 
when  their  ignorant  minds  are  en- 
lightened in  thesjiiritual  knowledge 


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of  Christ  and  his  truth,  Isa.  xxix.  1 8. 
Lis'it  rises  in  obscurity  and  darkness, 
and  is  made  as  the  noon-day,  when 
great  ignorance  and  distress  are  put 
away,  and  knowledge,  i)rospei'ity, 
and  joy,  come  in  their  room  :  or  when 
the  saints,  amidst  their  most  trying 
circumstances,  have  eminent  fellow- 
ship with,  and  joy  in,  their  God  ; 
and  the  church  thrives  mightily 
amidst  persecution,  Isa.  Iviii.jO. 

OBSERVE,  (1.)  To  take  special 
notice  of,  to  take  good  heed.  Gen. 
xxxvii.  11.  Deut.  xi.  32.  (2.)  To 
put  in  practice;  thus  rules  are  ob- 
served, when  a  man  acts  up  to  them^ 
1  Tim.  V.  21.  To  observe  the  wind, 
is  to  take  notice  whence  and  in  what 
degree  it  blows,  in  order  to  postpone 
business  till  it  answer  our  wish,  Eccl. 
xi.  4.  To  observe  times  sinfully,  is 
to  reckon  some  days  lucky,  and 
others  not,  and  transact  or  forbear 
business  accordingly,  Deut.  xviii.  10, 
14.  But  to  observe  the  ceremonial 
feasts  and  their  times,  was  to  keep 
these  feasts  in  their  proj)er  season, 
and  according  to  all  the  rites  and  or- 
dinances thereof,  Exod.  xii.  7.  Deut. 
xvi.  1. 

OBSTINATE,  stubborn,  and  so 
fixed  in  a  sinful  course,  as  to  regard 
no  reasons  to  the  contrary,  Deut.  ii. 
30.  Isa.xlviii.  4. 

OBTAIN,  (1.)  To  get  the  posses- 
sion of.  Jam.  iv.  2.  (2.)  To  receive 
as  the  free  gift  of  God,  1  Cor.  ix.  24. 

OCCUPY,  (1.)  To  labour,  do 
business  in  merchandise,  «fcc.  Ezek. 
xxvii.  IG — 27.  and  hence  a  trade  is 
called  an  occupation,  Acts  xviii.  3. 
And  we  are  to  occupy  till  Christ 
come  ;  by  a  continued,  a  laborious, 
course  of  glorifying  God,  edifying 
our  neighbour,  and  promoting  our 
own  Scilvalion,  till  Christ  come  to 
judge  us,  Luke  xix.  13.  (2.)  To 
make  use  of,  Exod.  xxxviii.  24. 
And  hence  to  occupy  the  room  of  the 
unlearned,  is  to  be  really  weak  and 
Ignorant,  1  Cor.  xiv.  16. 

OCCASION,  (1.)  A  season,  or 
opportunity,  Gen.  xliii.  18.  Jer.  ii. 
24.  (2.)  A  ground,  or  cause;  what 
directly  or  indirectly    tempts  to  a| 


thing,  Deut.  xxii.  14.  An  occasion 
cf  stumblijig,  is  what  tends  to  make 
one  offend  God,  and  stinnble  out  of 
his  way.  1  John  ii.  10.  Rom.  xiv.  13. 
To  OCCUR,  to  happen.  Occur- 
RENT,  haj)penin2;,  1  Kings  v.  4.. 

ODED,  to  hold,  to  lift  up,  a 
prophet  who,  when  the  Israelites 
under  Pekah  had  slain  120,000  of  the 
Jews,  and  made  two  hundred  thou- 
sand prisoners,showed  them  that  they 
had  done  wickedly  in  so  outrageously 
murdering  their  brethren,  when  for 
their  sin,  delivered  into  their  hand ; 
and  that  their  retaining  their  captives 
for  slaves,  would  effectually  draw 
the  wrath  of  God  upon  themselves. 
Moved  by  his  remonstrances,  the 
princes  were  persuaded  to  send  home 
the  prisoners  in  a  kind  and  affection- 
ate manner,  2  Chron.  xxviii.  See 
Ahaz."" 

ODIOUS,  hateful,  1  Chron.  xix. 
6.  Prov.  XXX.  23. 

ODOUR,  (1.)  The  fragrant  scent 
that  flows  from  spices,  herbs,  or  oint- 
ment, John  xii.  3.  (2.)  The  spices 
and  ointment  f  hat  proiluces  this  scent, 
2  Chron.  xvi.  14.  Jer.  xxxlv.  5.  Dan. 
ii.  46.  The  saints'  prayers  and  prais- 
es, and  their  cheerful  presents  to  mi- 
nisters and  follow-chrititians  in  need, 
are  likened  to  odours,  to  represent 
how  delightful  and  acceptable  they 
are  to  God,  Rev.  v.  8.  Phil.  iv.  18. 
The  odours  ^m\  frankincense  of  An- 
tichrist, may  denote  the  Popish  indul- 
gences, prayers  for  the  dead,  &c. 
which  the  peo|>Ie  hire  their  clergy  to 
say  for  them.  Rev.  xviii.  13. 

OF  denotes,  (1.)  The  matter  of 
which  a  thing  is  made,  1  Kings  xxii. 
n.  (2.)  The  cause.  Malt.  v.  18. 
(3.)  The  object,  Gal.  ii.  16.  (4.) 
The  proprietor  to  which  a  person  or 
thing  belongs,  as  his  property,  pos- 
session, or  partly,  1  Cor.  i.  12.  and 
iii.  4.  Of  God,  and  by  him,  and  to 
him,  are  all  things;  he  made  them, 
by  him  they  are  preserved,  and  to 
his  glorj'^,  as  their  end,  is  their  crea- 
tion, preservation,  and  government, 
directed,  Rom.  xi.  36.  Christ  could 
do  nothing  of  himself,  i.  e.  contrary 
to  his  Father's  will  and  commission. 


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Jolin  V- 19.  The  saints  are  of  God; 
are  redeemed  regenerated,  by  him, 
belong  to  him,  and  aim  to  be  like 
him,  1  John  iv.  4.  They  are  of  faith, 
as  by  his  blessed  truth  applied, 
(heir  state  and  nature  are  changed ; 
and  l)y  a  principle  or  habit  of  faith, 
are  they  actuated  in  the  tenor  of  their 
life.  Gal.  iii.  9.  To  them  is  given 
of  God's  Spirit ;  he  dwells  in  and  di- 
rects them,  1  John  iv.  13.  Wicked 
men  are  of  the  devil;  are  his  chil- 
dren and  slaves,  and  like  him  in  s[)i- 
rit,  John  viii.  44.  They  are  of  the 
world,  as  their  affections  are  sinful 
and  carnal ;  they  take  worldly  things 
to  be  their  portion,  worldly  men  to 
be  their  companions,  and  worldly 
courses  to  be  their  pattern,  1  John 
iv.  5.  Some  professors  are  of  the 
works  of  the  law,  as  they  seek  justi- 
fication and  happiness  by  them,  Gal. 
iii.  10.  Satan  speaks  of  himself,  i.  e. 
■what  proceeds  from  his  own  wicked 
nature,  John  viii.  44. 

To  OFFEND,  to  give  offence,  or 
scandal;  (1.)  To  commit  a  fault; 
break  a  law  of  God  or  men,  James 
iii.  2.  Acts  XXV.  8,  11.  Rom.  iv.  25. 
(2.)  To  displease,  grieve,  Prov.  xviii. 

19.  1  Sam.  XXV.  31.  Eccl.x.  4.  Matt. 
xvi.  23.  (3.)  To  draw  one  to  sin, 
or  hinder  him  from  duty,   Matt.  v. 

20,  30.  and  an  offence,  is  what  causes 
or  occasions  one's  being  led  into  sin, 
or  hindered  from  duty,  whether  by 
seduction,  or  by  grief  and  vexation 
of  mind,  Malt,  xviii.  7,  And  we 
cause  a  brother  to  offend,  when  we  do 
what  leads  him  into  a  disagreeable 
temper,  or  evil  course,  1  Cor.  viii.  13 
To  offend  in  Baal,  is  to  break  God's 
law  by  the  worshipping  of  Baal, 
Hos.  xii.  1,  10.  I  will  not  offend  any 
more ;  through  the  pow  er  of  Christ 
working  in  me,  I  will  watch  and 
strive  against  offending  God  and  men 
as  I  have  done,  Jobxxxiv.  31.  To 
offend  the  generation  of  the  righteous, 
is  to  do  what  tends  to  grieve  their 
spirits,  or  lead  them  into  sin,  Psalm 
Ixxiii.  \5.  Sometimes  offence  is  ta- 
ken, when  none  is  given :  so  men  are 
offended  in,  or  because  of  Christ;  and 
he  is  to  them  a  rock  of  offence,  when 


they  take  occasion,  from  his  deep 
abasement,  or  from  his  doctrines  or 
laws,  to  show  disregard  to,  and  con- 
tempt of  him,  JMatt.  xiii.  57.  and  xi. 
0.  and  XV.  12.  and  xxvi.  31.  Isa.  viii. 
14.  If  Paul  had  preached  circum- 
cision as  necessary  to  salvation,  the 
offincc  of  the  cross  had  ceased;  the 
doctrine  of  redemption,  through  the 
humiliation  and  death  of  the  I\les- 
siah,  at  which  the  Jews  took  of- 
fence, ought  to  have  been  laid  aside, 
and  so  the  Jews'  hatred  and  persecu- 
tion of  him  had  ceased.  Gal.  v.  11. 
and  vi.  12.  The  giving  of  offence^ 
tipeciallj''  to  weak  Christians,  is  for 
wise  ends  permitted  of  God ;  but 
dreadful  is  his  sin  and  punishment, 
who  indulges  himself  in  giving  it, 
even  in  dubious  things,  or  by  things 
in  themselves  law  ful,  but  not  neces- 
sarily required  by  the  divine  law. 
He  is  guilty  of  an  express  breach  of 
that  law,  which  no  command  of  earth- 
ly sovereigns,  no  outward  injur}'  or 
danger  can  possibly  enervate,  1  Cor. 
X.  32.  In  God's  account,  he  sins 
against  Christ,  and  destroys  his  bro- 
ther, for  whom  Christ  died,  Rom. 
xiv.  13,  15,  20,  21.  1  Cor.  viii.  9— - 
13.  He  draws  the  heavy  wo  and 
curse  of  God  upon  himself;  and  it 
had  been  better  for  him  that  a  mill- 
stone had  been  hanged  about  his 
neck,  and  he  cast  into  the  depth  of 
the  sea,  Matt,  xviii.  b,  7.  How  terrible 
this  to  many  professors  of  our  times, 
Avho,  instead  of  always  exercising 
themselves  to  keep  a  conscience  void 
of  offence  to  God  and  men.  Acts  xxiv. 
16.  disdain  to  deny  themselves  the 
most  trifling  gratification  for  the 
sake  of  any  weak  brother!  When 
any  one  receives  a  private  offence,  he 
should,  in  a  serious  and  calm  man- 
ner, reprove  the  offender  by  himself; 
and  if  he  get  not  satisiaction,  he 
ought  to  reprove  him  before  one  or 
two  more;  and  if  he  can  get  no  sa- 
tisfaction in  this  manner,  he  ought 
to  lay  it  before  the  church;  and  if 
the  offender  still  continue  impeni- 
tent, and  the  scandal  be  plainly  sin- 
ful, and  evidently  proved,  he  ought  to 
be  excommunicated  from  the  society 


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of  church-members:  but  all  dealing 
with  offending  brethren  should  be 
managed  with  the  utmost  meekness, 
plainness,  and  tender  affection,  and 
Vfith  the  greatest  care  to  avoid  all 
unnecessary  talking  of  their  faults 
to  other  persons,  Matt,  xriii.  15 — 18. 
Lev.  xix.  17. 

OFFERING,  OBLATION,  chiefly 
denotes  what  is  given  to  God.     Of- 
ferings were  in  general  of  two  kinds, 
viz.  Gifts,  where  no  lile  was  destroy- 
ed; and  Sacrifices,  wherein  ihe  life 
of  the    creature  offered  was   taken 
away,  Heb.  v.  1.     The  design  of  all 
offerings  was  either  to  make  atone- 
ment for  sin,  to  thank  God  for  mercy 
received,  or  to  procure  some  new  fa- 
vour;  and  all  pointed  out  our  Redeem- 
er, who,  by  one  offerings  for  ever  per- 
fected them  that  are  sanctified ;  and 
true    believers    surrendering    them- 
selves and    their   services   to  God 
through  him,  Heb.  x.  1.  Col.  ii.  17. 
Rom.  xii.  1.     It  is  thought  by  some, 
that  imme<liately  after  the  fall,  God 
instructed  Adam  and  Eve  to  offer  sa- 
crifice;   and   that   their  first   robes 
were  the  skins  of  sacrificed  animals. 
Gen.  iii.  21 .     When  Abel  was  grown 
up,  he,    by  faith  in  the  divine  ap- 
pointment,   and    in   tbe    prefigured 
Messiah,  offered  besides  his  viincha  or 
gratitude  offering,    a  victim,    to  be 
slain  for  his  sins;  and  this  he  chose 
out  of  the  first-born  of  his  flock,  Gen. 
iv.  4,  10.  Heb.  xi.  4.     When  Noah 
went  forth  from  his  ark,  he  offered 
an  acceptable  sacrifice  to  God,  Gen. 
viii.  20.     At  different  places,  Abra- 
ham, Isaac,  and  Jacob,  built  altars, 
and  sacrificed  to  the  Lord,  Gen.  xii. 
xiii.  xxvi.  xxviii.  xxxiii.  &c.    Job 
offered  sacrifices  for  his  children  and 
friends,  Job  i.  5.  and  xlii.  8.     From 
the  injunction  of  sacrifices  to  the  an- 
cient patriarchs  before  and  after  the 
flood,    the    custom    of     sacrificing 
spread  into  the    world.     The   very 
Heathens  retained  the  rite,  and  load- 
ed it  with  vain  ceremonies,  but  lost 
the  view  of   its  signification.      As 
their  consciences  dictated  to  them  the 
insufficiency  of  animal  sacrifices  to 
atone  for  the  sins  of  men,  it  is  not 


to  be  wondered  at,  that  the  murder- 
ous oblation  of  human  sacrifi.ces  was 
so  generally  instigated  by  Satan,  and 
practised  by  them. 

Before  the  Hebrew  tabernacle  was 
erected,  there  Avas  no  limitation  as 
to  the  place  of  offering   sacrifices; 
and   w^e    suppose   those  offered    in 
faith  were  generally  consumed    by 
fire  from  heaven ;  and  most  of  them 
seem  to  have  been  of  the  kind  of 
burnt-offerings.  The  ceremonial  law, 
given  by  God  to  Moses,  added  vari- 
ous distinctions    and  rites  of  obla- 
tions. The  sacrifices  properly  so  call- 
ed, wherein  animals  were  slain,  and 
offered  to  God  on  an  altar,  by  j)riest8 
of  his  own  appointment,  were  distin- 
guished into  burnt-offerings,   peace- 
offerings,  sin-offerings,  and  trespass- 
offerings.       (1.)    The  hurnt-offering 
consisted  of  a  bullock,  a  he-lamb,  or 
kid;  or,  if  the  offerer  was  poor,  a 
turtle  or  pigeon.     The  animal  des- 
tined for  sacrifice,    was  led  to  the 
east  end  of   the  tabernacle  or  tem- 
ple :  the  offerer  laid  his  hands  on  its 
head,  confessing  his  guilt,  and  trans- 
ferring his  desert  of  death   to    the 
animal.     The  priest  then  slew  it  on 
the  north   side  of  the  brazen  altar, 
and  sprinkled  its  blood  round  about 
the  altar.      The  skin  was  then  taken 
off,  and    the  priest   had   it   for  his 
share.     The  inwards  aud  legs  were 
washed,  and  the  whole  flesh  salted, 
and  burnt  on  the  altar  with  sacred 
fire.     If  the  offering  was  a  turtle  or 
pigeon,    the  priest   pinched  off   its 
head  with  his  nails:  the  blootl  was 
wrung  out  at  the  side  of  the  altar, 
and  the  body  was   freed   from  the 
garbage  and  feathers;  and  being  al- 
most but  not  wholly  cleft,  was  burnt 
on  the  altar.      The  priest  arrayed 
himself  in  common  apparel,  and  car- 
ried the  ashes  and  excrements  of  the 
bullock,   sheep,    or  goat,    and    the 
ashes,  feathers,  and  garbage  of  the 
fowl,  into  a  clean  place  without  the 
camp.     Ever}'  burnt-offering,  except 
that  of  the  turtle  and  pigeon,  was 
attended  with  a   meat-offering    and 
drink-offering.      The    burnt-offering 
was  the  chief  of  all  the  oblations. 


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O  F  F 


And  besides  what  was  voluntary,  the 
law  required  burnt-oflcriiigs  ou  sta- 
ted occasions,  viz.  at  all  the  daily, 
weekly,  monthly,  or  annual  kkasts  ; 
and  in  the  ditferent  occasional  cashes 
of  consecration  of  priests,  defilement 
of  a  Nazaiite,  or  expiration  of  his 
vow:  and  in  purification  from  child- 
birth, leprosies,  issues,  Sic.  Lev.  i. 
and  ii.  13.  and  vi.  8 — 13,  and  vii. 
8.  and  xxii.  19.  to  24.  Numb.  xv. 
1 — 16.  Exod.  xxviii.  and  xxix. 
Numb,  xxviii.  and  xxix.  Lev.  xii. 
and  xiv.  15. 

Did  not  this  prefigure  the  all-excel- 
lent, patient  Jesus,  as  offered  by 
himself  a  sweet-smelling  sacrifice 
without  spot  to  God,  to  honour  his 
perfections  and  expiate  our  sin  ? 
How  willingly  he  presented  himself; 
how  dolorous  and  painful  his  suffer- 
ings, when,  for  us  poor  criminals,  his 
soul  and  body  were  divided  asun 
der,  but  neither  separated  from  his 
Godhead ! 

2.  By  the  peace-offering,  the  offerer 
thanked  God  for  mercies  received, 
paid  vows,  or  sought  to  obtain  fa- 
vours. At  the  consecration  of  a 
priest,  (for  we  reckon  this  a  peace- 
offering,)  at  the  expiration  of  a  Na- 
zarite's  vow,  it  was  to  be  a  ram. 
At  Pentecost  too,  it  is  thought  the  two 
lambs  were  to  be  males ;  but  in 
other  cases,  the  offered  animals  might 
be  either  male  or  female :  only  here, 
as  in  every  other  oblation,  they  were 
to  be  unblemished;  and  their  num- 
ber might  be  few  or  many,  as  the  of- 
ferer pleased.  Perhaps  it  was  com- 
mon for  almost  every  Hebrew  Avho 
was  the  head  of  a  family,  to  offer 
peace-offerings  at  the  three  solemn 
feasts.  After  the  offerer  had  laid  his 
hands  on  his  victim,  it  was  killed  at 
the  north  side  of  the  altar,  and  its 
blood  sprinkled  round  about  the  al- 
tar; the  fat  that  covered  the  rump, 
and  the  inwards,  the  kidnies,  and 
the  caul  above  the  liver,  were  salt- 
ed, and  burnt  on  the  brazen  altar 
above  the  burnt-offering;  the  right 
breast  and  shoulder,  with  the  cheeks 
and  the  maw,  being  heaved  and 
waved,   togethei"  with  a  porflon  of 


jlhe  attendant  meat-offering,  wec^ 
[given  to  the  priests,  that  they  and 
i  their  sons  and  daughters  might  feed 
I  thereon  in  any  clean  place.  The 
rest  of  the  flesh,  and  the  rest  of  the 
meat-offering,  was  returned  to  the 
offerer,  that  he  and  his  friends  might 
feast  on  it.  If  it  was  a  thank-otler- 
ing,  the  flesh  was  to  he  eaten  that 
very  day  ;  if  it  was  a  vow,  or  volun- 
tary offering,  it  was  to  be  eaten  that 
day  and  the  next;  and  if  aught  re- 
mained after  the  appointed  tijne,  it 
was  to  be  burnt  with  fire,  Lev.  iii. 
and  vii.  11 — 34.  and  xix.  5 — 8.  and 
xxiii.  19,  20.  Deut.  xviii.  3,  Does 
not  this  teach  us  cheerfully  to  devote 
our  whole  man  to  God;  to  mortify 
every  inward  lust,  that  we  might  be 
inflamed  with  love  to  our  dear  Re- 
deemer;  to  be  early  and  active  in  our 
gratitude,  having  every  sinful  delay 
of  duty  prevented  by  the  strength  of 
our  inward  love  to  him  ? 

3.  The  sin-offering  was  diversified 
in  its  matter,  to  point  out  the  different 
degrees  of  the  crime,  or  to  answer 
the  ability  of  the  offerer.  For  th6 
sin  of  a  priest,  or  the  occasional  sin 
of  the  whole  congregation,  or  for 
the  Levites  at  their  consecration,  it 
was  a  bullock,  Exod.  xxix.  10 — 14. 
Lev.  iv.  3 — 21.  and  xiv.  6.  Numb- 
viii.  12.  A  male  kid  was  the  stated 
sin-offering  for  the  whole  nation  at 
their  solemn  feasts,  and  for  the  oc- 
casional sins  of  a  ruler.  Numb.  xv. 
24.  and  xxviii.  29.  and  vii.  Lev.  iv. 
32 — 36.  A  female  kid,  or  Iamb, 
for  the  occasional  sins  of  a  private 
person;  or,  if  a  man  was  so  poor 
that  he  could  not  afford  a  female  kid, 
he  ga:ve  two  turtle-doves,  or  t^vo 
young  pigeons,  the  one  for  a  sin- 
offering,  and  the  other  for  a  burnt-of- 
fering; or,  if  he  could  not  afford 
these,  he  gave  an  omer  of  fine  flour, 
without  either  oil  or  frankincense, 
Lev.  iv.  28—35.  and  v.  9,  10,  11. 
A  ewe-lamb  was  the  sin-offering  for 
a  Nazarite  at  the  expiration  of  his 
vow,  and  for  a  woman's  purification 
after  child-birth,  or  for  a  leper,  and 
for  the  breach  of  a  Nazarite's  vow, 
orfor  a  rufiiling  i^stie :  or  in  case  o{ 


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O  F  F 


iaabjlily  to  offer  a  ewe-lamb  in  the 
tbr.Mier  cases,  it  was  a  pair  of  turtle- 
doves, or  two  young  pigeons,  Numb, 
vi.  Lev.  xii.  and  xiv.  22.  andxv.  14, 
15,  29,  30.  The  animal  sin-offering 
was  brought  before  the  brazen  altar : 
the  offender  transferred  his  guilt  to 
the  victim,  by  laying  his  hands  on 
its  head.  Except  the  blood  of  the 
priests's  bullock,  and  of  the  people's 
goat,  which  was  carried  into  the  sanc- 
tuary, the  blood  of  sin-offerings  was 
poured  out  at  the  side,  or  at  the  bot- 
tom of  the  brazen  altar;  and  the  fat 
being  salted,  was  burnt  on  the  altar 
to  the  Lord;  and  the  rest  of  the  ob- 
lation was  the  priest's,  on  the  flesh  of 
it  he  and  his  sons  feasted  in  the  holy 
place.  The  very  pots  in  which  the 
flesh  was  boiled,  were  rendered  un- 
clean; and  if  of  earth,  were  broken 
to  pieces;  but  if  of  metal,  were  to  be 
rinsed  in  water.  When  the  blood 
was  carried  into  the  sanctuary,  the 
flesh  and  skin  were  carried  into  the 
place  assigned  for  the  ashes  of  the 
burnt-offerings,  and  there  burnt ;  so 
the  priests  had  no  share  at  all  of  their 
own  sin-offerings,  and  he  who  burnt 
the  flesh  and  skin  was  rendered  un- 
clean. As  the  sin-offering  of  fowls 
had  no  fat,  two  were  necessarj^  that 
the  one  might  be  used  instead  of  the 
fat,  in  the  form  of  a  burnt-offering ; 
and  the  other  alter  its  blood  was 
poured  out  at  the  altar,  might,  as  the 
gin-offering,  be  given  to  the  priest. 
No  blood  of  a  sin-offering  was  to  be 
carried  out  of  the  sacred  courts,  so 
much  as  in  a  spot  on  the  priest's  gar- 
ment, but  was  to  be  washed  out  be- 
fore he  went  forth.  If  the  sin-offer- 
ing was  of  meal,  a  handful  of  it 
was  burnt  on  the  altar  instead  of  the 
fat,  and  the  residue  belonged  to  the 
priest,  Lev.  iv.  v.  vi. 

4.  That  the  trespass-offering,  was 
really  different  from  the  sin-offering, 
is  evident  in  the  case  of  the  leper, 
where  both  were  conjoined.  Lev. 
xiv.  10 — 20.  but  it  is  not  easy  to 
state  the  difference  between  them. 
Some  think  sin-offerings  respected 
sins  of  omission;  trespass-offerings, 
sins  of  commission ;  others  think,  the 


former  atoned  for  sins  committed 
through  ignorance  of  the  law,  and 
the  latter  for  sins  which  any  one  com- 
mitted through  inattention  to  his  con- 
duct. Neither  of  these  agrees  with 
Moses^'s  laws.  Probably  Dr.  Owen 
is  right  in  thinking,  that  the  trespass- 
offerings  related  only  to  some  par- 
ticular cases,  not  comprised  in  the 
general  rules  for  sin-offerings.  If  a 
man,  when  called,  did  not  declare  the 
truth  against  a  perjured  person  or 
profane  swearer,  if  he  inadvertently 
defiled  himself  by  touching  unclean 
bodies,  if  he  swore  rashlj^  a  she- 
lamb  or  kid  was  to  be  his  trespass- 
offering,  or  a  pair  of  turtles  or  pi- 
geons if  he  was  poor,  or  an  omer 
of  fine  flour  if  he  was  very  poor: 
Ijut  if  the  trespass  was  sacrilege,  or 
other  dishonesty,  he  was  first  to  make 
restitution  to  the  value  of  what  he 
had  unjustly  taken,  and  a  fifth  part 
more ;  and  then  to  offer  a  ram  for  his 
trespass-offering.  The  leper's  tres- 
pass-offering was  a  he-Iamb.  Ex- 
cept in  the  case  of  the  leper,  the 
trespass-offering  was  ordered  pre- 
cisely in  the  manner  of  the  sin-offer- 
ing, Lev.  V.  Did  not  both  represent 
Jesus  as  bearing  our  sins,  that  he 
might  remove  them  from  us,  as  far 
as  the  east  is  from  the  west  ? 

5.  The  meat-offerings,  and  such  as 
follow,  were  not  sacrifices,  but  gifts. 
Meat-offerings  were  always  to  attend 
burnt-ofterings  and  peace-offerings, 
and  the  sin-offerings  and  trespass-of- 
ferings of  the  leper;  but  whether  they 
attended  other  sin-offerings  and  tres- 
pass-offerings, Ave  can  hardly  deter- 
mine. In  cases  wherein  the  meat- 
offering was  stated,  three  omers  or 
tenth  deals  of  fine  flour  attended  the 
sacrifice  of  a  bullock,  two  that  of  a 
ram,  and  one  that  of  a  lamb  or  kid. 
Half  a  hin  of  oil  attended  the  three 
onierg,  to  fry  it  Avith;  and  one-thinl 
of  a  hin  attended  the  two  omers; 
and  a  fourth  part  attended  the  one 
omer.  Frankincense  was  also  an  in- 
gredient in  this  offering,  and  salt  Avas 
added  to  it.  When  meat-offerings 
were  represented  by  themselves,  and 
voluntary,    the    quantity    Avas  not 


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stated.  Sometimes,  the  materials 
were  baked  into  unlcHveiied  cakes, 
and  at  other  times  were  offered  un- 
baked. In  thank-offerings,  some 
cakes  of  leaveneil  l)read  were  to  he 
offered  witli  them ;  and  to  tliis  tiie 
two  leavened  loaves  offered  at  Pen- 
tecost, may  be  reduced ;  but  no 
leaven  was  laid  on  the  altar.  When 
a  meat-offering  was  presented,  the 
priest  took  |)art  of  the  meal,  or  of  the 
bread  crumbled  down,  and  having 
poured  oil,  salt,  wine,  and  frankin- 
cense on  it,  burnt  it  on  the  altar,  and 
the  priest  had  the  residue  for  himself 
and  his  sons,  to  be  eaten  in  the  sa- 
cred court :  but  a  meat-offering  for 
the  priests  was  whollj'^  burnt.  The 
offering  of  the  sheaf  or  omer  of  bar- 
ley at  the  Passover,  and  of  the  loaves 
at  Pentecost,  and  of  tlie  first-fruits 
of  oil,  barley,  or  flour,  was  akin  to 
the  meat-offering  :  but  the  suspected 
wife's  offering  of  an  omer  of  bar- 
ley, was  akin  to  the  meat  sin-offer- 
ing, Lev.  ii.  and  vi.  15 — 23.  and 
vii.  9,  10,  13,  14.  Numb,  xv,  1— 10. 
and  xviii.  9,  10. 

6.  Drink-offerings  were  never,  that 
I  know  of,  offered  by  themselves, 
but  were  attendants  of  the  meat- 
offerings. The  proportion  of  wine 
Avas  to  be  the  same  with  that  of 
oil.  Part  of  the  wine  ^vas  i)oured 
on  the  meat-offering,  and  that  was 
burnt,  and  the  rest  was  the  priest's,- 
and  if  the  whole  meat-offering 
was  burnt,  no  doubt  the  wine  went 
along  with  it.  Some  think  this 
oblation  represented  the  Holy  Ghost, 
as  plentifully  poured  on  our  Re- 
deemer, and  his  people,  for  their 
support  under  sufferings  and  for 
their  endless  consolation,  Numb. 
XV.  1— IG. 

7.  Thehalfshekelof  money  which 
t'veryJew  when  come  to  manhood  was 
to  give,  it  seems  yearly,  for  the  ransom 
of  his  soul,  was  appropriated  to  the  ser- 
vice of  the  tabernacle  or  temple.  No 
man,  however  rich,  was  to  give  more, 
or,  ])owever  poor,  togiveless.  Did  not 
this  represent  Jesus  laying  down  his 
life  a  ransom,  equally  necessary  for, 
and  suited  tOj  the  case  of  both  ponraii'.' 

Yor>.  Ih 


rich?  Exod.  xxx.  12 — 16.  xxxviii. 

25—28. 

TlTUKS,  FIRST-nORN,  KlRSTlilNGS, 
FIRST-KRI.'ITS,    CO.NSECUATKD    things, 

and  the  sacred  oil  and  incense, 
also  perlained  to  the  offered  gifts. 
See  under  these  articles.  Sometimes 
the  offerings  were  complex,  as  at  the 
FEAST.s,  FAST  of  cxpiation,  and 
purification  of  lepers,  consecration 
of  PRIESTS,  dedication  of  the  ta- 
bernacle or  temple.  See  also 
Bull.  The  heave  and  wave-offer- 
ings were  not  different  in  thefF 
matter  from  what  have  been  already 
mentioned,  but  w^ere  so  called  be- 
because  they  Averc  heaved  or  lifted  up 
toward  heaven,  and  waved  toward  the 
four  quarters  of  the  world,  as  a  token 
they  belonged  to  Him  whose  throne 
is  in  heaven,  and  who  is  the  Creator 
and  Governor  of  all  the  ends  of  the 
earth.  The  Levites  at  their  conse- 
cration, were  such  an  offering,  being 
lifted  up  or  chosen  from  among  the 
congregation,  and  perhaps  walking 
to  and  fro  towards  every  quarter. 
The  fat,  kidnies,  caul,  breast,  and 
right  shoulder,  of  the  priests'  conse- 
cration-offering, together  with  a  loaf 
and  wafer  of  unleavened  bread,  and 
a  cake  of  oiled  bread,  was  heaved 
and  waved,  and  all  burnt  on  the  altar 
except  the  breast,  Lev.  viii.  11 — 19. 
Exod.  xxix.  22—26.  The  breast, 
right  shoulder,  and  perhaps  the  tat 
of  all  peace-offerings,  and  leavened 
cake  of  the  thank-offerings.  Lev.  vii. 
13,  14,  30.  and  x.  10.  The  leper's 
trespass-offering  with  its  log  of  oil, 
Lev.  xiv.  12,  14.  the  jealousy-offer- 
ing, Numb.  vi.  20.  the  sheaf  or 
omer  of  ripe  ears,  Lev.  xxiii.  15. 
the  two  lambs  of  Pentecost,  with 
their  attendant  peace-offering,  Lev. 
xxiji.  19,  20.  the  oblation  of  dough, 
Numb.  XV.  19,  21.  the  tithes  of  the 
Levltcs  and  priests,  Numb,  xviii. 
24,  28,  30.  the  Lord's  tribute  of  the 
spoil  of  Midian,  Numb,  xxxi.29,  41. 
were  waved,  and,  I  suppose,  also 
heaved. 

God  never  required  these  oblations 
as  good  in  themselves,  nor  as  the  ef- 
Ifectiial  meaos  of  the  real  purgation 
2  H 


0  P  K 


i    242    ) 


OIL 


of  aia;  he  uever  required  them,  as 
equally  necessary  with  moral  duties; 
ii,oi"  did  he  regard  them  at  ail,  when 
offered  in  a  wicked  manner;  and  af- 
ter the  death  of  our  Saviour,  he  de 
tested  them,  Psal.  xl.  6.  and  li.    16 
Jer.  vii.  22.  1  Sam.  xv.  15,  22.  lies 
Ti.  6.  Psal.  Isix.  30,  31.  and  !.  9— 
14.  Isa.  i.  11,  12,  13.  and  Isvi.  3, 
Sacrijiccfi  of  righteousness,  are  either 
such  acta  of  justice  and  uprightness 
as  proceed  from  faith  in  Christ,  and  a 
principle  of  divine  grace,  or  spiritual 
sacrifices  of  one's  self,  prayers,  and 
holy  sacrifices,  Psal.  iv.  5.  and  li.  19. 
The  oblation  sacrifice,  and  pure  of- 
fering of    righteousness    olTered    by 
the  Egyptians  and  others  under  the 
New  Testament,  is  their  dedication 
ofthemselves,and  their  broken  hearts, 
prayers,  praises,  holy  services,   and 
ahr.s,  presented  to  God  through  Jesus 
as  their  allar,  for  the  advancement 
of  his  honour  and  glory,   Mai.  i.  11. 
Psal.  ii.  17.  Rom.  xii.  Land  xv.  IG. 
Heb.  xiii.    16.  and  they  are   salted 
with  troubles  and  bitter  repentance, 
Mark  ix.  49.  On  the  decent  mainte- 
nance of  ministers,  Ezek.  xliv.  30. 
The  damned  in  hell  are  represent- 
ed   as  sacrifices    salted   in    the  fire 
of  God's  wrath,  for  ever  tormented 
lor    the  satisfaction  of  his  justice, 
and  punishment  of  their  sin,  Mark 
ix.  40. 

OFFICE,  (1.)  A  relation  to  any 
particular  kind  of  work,  whereby 
a  man  has  a  right  to  perform  it, 
as  he  has  opportunity,  Psal.  cix. 
8.  (2.)  The  work  pertaining  to  an 
oflfice,  Exod.  i.  16.  (3.)  The  jjlace 
where  men  em])loy  themselves  toge- 
ther in  their  w^ork,  2  Chron.  xxiv. 
IL  An  officer  is  one  who  hath  an 
office  under  Christ  in  the  church ;  or 
under  the  king,  or  other  rulers  in  the 
state,  2  Chron.  xix.  11.  Esth.  ix.  3. 
John  vii.  32,  45.  Exod.  v.  6,  10,  15. 
OFFSCOURING,(L)  The  most 
base,  the  refuse  and  dross.  Lam.  iii. 
45.  (2.)  What  as  the  basest  is  ap- 
poiated  to  destruction  for  the  sake 
of  others,  1  Cor.  iv.  13. 

0FFSPRLNG,(1.)  Crop,  product 
oYflie  earth,  Job  xxxh  8.  (2.)  Pos- 


terity, children,  grandchildren, 
&c.  Isa.  xlviii.  19.  In  respect  to 
his  manhood,  Christ  is  the  offspring 
and  descendant  of  David,  Rev.  xxii. 
16.  We  are  God's  offspring ;  in  re- 
spect to  our  natural  and  gracious 
existence,  we  are  produced  bj-^  the 
agency  of  his  power,  wisdom,  and 
goodness,  Acts  xvii.  28. 

OG,  bread  baked  in  the  ashes. 
the  king  of  Eashan;  he  was  one 
of  the  GIANTS.  His  bedstead 
was  of  iron,  and  was  nine  cubits 
long,  and  four  broad,  which,  ac- 
cording to  our  reckoning,  is  1 6  feet 
and  u])ward3  in  length,  and  seven 
feet  and  more  than  three  inches  in 
breadth ;  but  Calmet  makes  it  only  1 5 
feet  and  four  inches  long,  and  six 
feet  and  ten  inches  broad.  WoUiua 
will  have  Og  to  have  been  more  than 
1 3  feet  high.  To  relate  the  rabbinic 
fables  of  his  living  before  the  flood, 
hanging  on  tlie  side  of  the  ark,  and 
receiving  food  from  Noah  during  the 
time  of  it,  is  unworthy  of  this  work: 
but  it  is  certain,  that,  when  he  heard 
of  the  overthrow  of  Sihon  bj'  Moses, 
he  collected  all  his  subjects  able  t& 
bear  arms,  to  attack  the  Hebrews 
atEdrei.  His  host  was  routed,  himself 
killed,  and  his  country  seized  :  but 
the  Ammonites  some  time  after  car- 
ried oiT  his  iroii  bedstead,  and  kept 
it  in  Rabbah  their  capital  as  a  curi- 
osity, Numb.  xxi.  Dent.  iii.  1 — 14. 
Psal.  cxxxv.  20,  21,  33—35. 

OIL,  OINTMENT,  is  now  ex- 
tracted from  the  fat  of  fishes,  from 
linseed,  and  a  multitude  of  other 
materials;  perhaps  the  time  may 
come  when  it  will  be  extracted  frohi 
almost  every  kind  of  vegetable,  mi- 
neral, or  animal.  The  most  ancient 
kind  of  oil,  is  that  extracted  from 
olives.  Oil  is  easily  inflammable, 
burns  fiercely ;  it  is  hurtful  to  the 
growth  of  many  vegetables ;  but  has 
been  very  beneficial  to  mankind,  for 
seasoning  of  food,  for  suppling  of 
weary  joints,  for  liealing  of  wounds, 
for  embalming  of  dead  bodies,  for 
purifying  of  virgins,  and  rendering 
comely  the  countenance ;  for  making 
friendship     by    presents,    and    for 


O  I  L 


(     243     ) 


0  L  1 


sellinj;  a  person  apart  to  the  office  of 
propliet,  priest,  or  kins;.  Oil  was 
exceedingly  iiloiitrous  in  the  country 
of  Jol) ;  hence  we  read  of  rivcis  of  It, 
Job  xxix.  0.  It  was  no  less  plenti- 
ful in  Canaan,  particularly  in  the  lot 
of  Asher,  they  .sucked  oil  out  of  the 
.jllnt}!  rock,  obtained  it  from  olives 
planted  on  rocks,  and,  as  it  were, 
dipt  tlieir  feet  in  the  plenty  of  it, 
Deut.  xxxii.  13.  and  xxxiii.  24.  The 
Urbrcws  Hsed  coannon  oil  in  their 
meaf-otTerings,  in  their  sacred  larnjjs, 
and  in  their  common  use ;  hut  there 
was  an  ointment  very  precious  and 
sacred,  compounded  of  olive-oil, 
sweet  cinnamon,  calamus,  cassia, 
and  pure  myrrh.  There  was  twice  as 
much  of  the  cassia  and  myrrh,  as  of 
the  cinnamon  and  calamus.  This 
was  used  in  the  anointing  of  the 
priests,  and  the  tnbernaclc  and  fur- 
niture. None  of  it  was  to  be  api)li- 
ed  to  any  other  use;  nor  was  any, 
for  common  use,  to  be  made  like  it. 
This  was  probably  designed  to  re- 
present the  Holy  Spirit's  precious 
and  diversified  operations  and  graces, 
whereby  Christ  and  his  peo[;le  are 
anointed  to  the  service  of  God,  Ex- 
odus XXX.  23 — 33.  Persons  receive 
the  oil  of  joy  for  mourning,  Avhen, 
by  the  comforting  gifts  and  graces  of 
the  Holy  Ghost,  their  hearts  are 
Iiealed  and  purified,  Isa.  Ixi.  3.  but 
Jesus  is  anointed  with  the  oil  of  glad- 
ness above  them,  having  an  unmeasu- 
rable  fulness  of  the  graces  and  com- 
forts of  the  Holy  Spirit,  Psal.  xlv.  7. 
The  golden  oil  emptied  out  of  the 
two  olive-trees  Avhich  stand  before 
the  Lord,  is  not  ^hiefly  tlie  comfort 
arising  to  the  Hebrews,  from  the  ma- 
nagement of  Zetubbabel  and  Joshua, 
or  of  Ezra  and  Nehemiah ;  but  is  an 
emblem  of  supernatural  influence; 
and  the  olive-trees  from  whence  it 
flows,  represent  Christ  and  the  Holy 
Spirit,  Zech.iv.  12.  The  oiZ  which 
true  saints  have  in  their  lamps,  is 
grace  which  makes  them  shine  as 
lights  in  the  world,  Matt.  xxv.  4. 
Prosperity,  spiritual  or  temporaV,  is 
likened  to  oil;  it  comforts,  invigo- 
rates, and  renders  men  noted  and  «ise- 


ful,  Psal.  xxiii.  5.  Christian  reproi^f 
is  like  oil ;  it  tends  to  heal  spiritual 
diseases,  restore  the  character,  and 
rentier  men  who  regar<l  it  honoured 
and  agreeable,  Psal.  cxli.  5.  Unity 
among  brethren  is  Vike  ointment ;  it 
procures  delight,  honour,  cheerful- 
ness, and  activity,  to  all  concerned, 
Psal.  cxxxiii.  2.  God  made  the  river 
of  Egypt  run  like  oil,  i.  e.  very 
slowly,  as  in  mourning,  when  it  was 
so  dried  up  that  it  did  not  fructify  the 
country,  Ezek.  xxxii.  14.  The  He- 
brews ivcnt  to  the  king  with  ointments, 
and  increased  their  perfumes  ;  they 
dressed  out  their  affairs  as  well  as 
they  could,  and  sent  presents  to  the 
kings  of  Assyria  or  Egypt,  to  procure 
their  friendship  and  assistance,  Isa. 
Ivii.  0.  Hos.  xii.  1.  A  contentious 
wife  is  like  vintmcnt  in  her  husbamPs 
right  hand;  she  will  rpiickly  dis- 
cover her  naughtiness,  in  siiite  of  all 
he  can  do  to  conceal  it,  Prov.  xxvij. 
16. 

OLD,  (1.)  Far  advanced  in  years, 
Gen.  xviii.  11.  (2.)  AVhat  was 
first  or  before  the  present  time,  Deut. 
ii.  20.  (3.)  What  is  in  a  decaying 
condition,  Isa.  i.  9.  The  Jewish  <iii- 
pensation  is  called  old,  as  it  took 
place  before  the  gospel  dispensation, 
Heb.  viii.  13.  Satan  is  old;  he  hath 
long  existed,  is  much  experienced, 
and  crafty  in  doing  mischief.  Rev. 
xii.  9.  Indwelling  sin  is  old;  was 
in  the  heart  before  grace,  and  is  sub- 
tle and  crafty ;  and  in  the  saints,  if 
not  already  destroyed,  is  in  a  decay- 
ing condition,  Rom.  vi.  6.  And  in 
the  oldness  of  the  letter,  is  according 
to  the  principles  of  corrupt  nature, 
or  in  a  mere  external  performance 
of  ceremonial  and  other  duties,  Rom- 
vii.  6.  Even  unto  old  age  I  am  he: 
when  you  shall  become  weak,  poor, 
and  despised,  I  will  continue  to  you 
such  a  God  and  Saviour  as  ye  have 
experienced  me,  and  Avhat  I  have 
promised,  and  ye  have  hoped  and 
wished  I  would  be,  Isa.  xlvi.  4. 

OLIVES.  Trees  full  of  a  fat  sub- 
stance, which  produces  plenty  of  oil. 
Tournefort  mentions  eighteen  kinds 
of  olives;  but  in  the   scriptute  we 


O  L  I 


(    244    )  0  L  Y 


only  reaJ  of  the  cultivated  and  wild 
olives.  The  cultivated  olive  is  of  a 
moderate  height,  thrives  best  in  a 
sunuy  and  warm  soil.  Its  trunk  is 
knotty  :  its  bark  is  smooth,  and  of 
an  ash  colour :  its  wood  is  solid,  and 
yellowish :  its  leaves  are  oblong,  and 
almost  like  those  of  the  willow,  of  a 
dark  green  colour  on  the  upper  side, 
and  a  whitish  below.  In  the  month 
of  June  it  puts  forth  white  flowers, 
growing  in  bunches,  each  of  one 
piece,  widening  toward  tJie  top,  and 
dividing  into  four  parts.  After  this 
flower  succeeds  the  fruit,  which  is 
o.blong  and  plump.  It  is  first  green, 
then  pale,  and  when  quite  ripe  be- 
comes black.  Within  it  is  inclosed  a 
hard  stone,  filled  with  oblong  seeds. 
The  wild  olives  are  of  a  lesser  kind. 
Canaan  much  abounded  with  olives, 
Deut.  xxviii.  40.  and  vi.  11.  and  viii. 
t  8.  It  seems  almost  every  proprie- 
tor of  land,  kings  or  subjects,  had 
their  olive-yards,  1  Chrbn.  xxvii.  28, 
1  Sam.  viii.  14.  Neh.  v.  11.  Some 
think  that  as  olives  were  emblems  of 
peace,  the  olive-leaf  brought  to  Noah 
by  his  dove,  might  mark  God's  being 
reconciled  to  men,  Gen.  viii.  11. 
Saints  and  ministers  are  like  olive- 
trees ;  liow  full  of  gracious  sap! 
liow  they  thrive  under  the  warming 
influence  of  Jesus's  love !  how  con- 
stant their  gracious  fiourisliing !  how 
sure  a  token  of  God's  reconciliation 
to  men  !  and  how  useful  for  the  soft- 
ening and  healing  of  others.  Judges 
is.  8,  9.  Psal.  lii.  8.  Rev.  xi.  4.  The 
Jews  are  likened  to  green,  jfiourisJi- 
ing,  and  cultivated,  olives:  how 
beautilul  and  prosperous  their  con- 
dition under  the  smiles  of  providence ! 
and  what  glory  to  God,  and  good 
to  men,  they  might  have  promoted, 
had  thcj'^  improved  their  privileges ! 
Jer.  xi.  16.  Hos.  xiv.  6.  The  Gen- 
tiles were  wild  olives,  grafted  upon 
the  root  of  a  cultivated  olive-tree, 
while  the  natural  branches  were 
broken  ofl';  while  the  Jews  were 
ejected  from  the  charch,  tiiey  who 
had  for  many  ages  been  w'icked  and 
useless,  were  brought  into  it,  par- 
took of  the  promises  made  to  Abra- 


ham, Isaac,  and  Jacob,  and  were 
edified  by  the  doctrines  of  the  Jew- 
ish prophets  and  apostles,  Rom.  xi. 
1 7,  24.  Wicked  men  are  like  olives, 
which  cast  their  leaves  before  their 
season,  and  so  bear  no  fruit ;  their 
apparent  piety,  and  their  prosperity, 
come  quickly  to  an  end.  Job  xv. 
32.  Children  are  like  olive-plants ^ 
about  their  parents'  table !  how  quick 
their  growth !  how  delightful  and 
fresh  their  beauty !  and  what  an  ex- 
tensive prospect  of  their  usefulness ! 
Psal.  cxxviii.  3. 

OLIVET,  or  Mount  of  Olives^ 
about  G25  paces  east  of  Jerusalem, 
and  separated  from  it  by  the  valley 
of  Jehoshaphat,  and  brook  Kidron. 
It  had  three  tops;  the  most  northern 
was  the  highest,  and,  as  it  were,  hung 
over  the  city,  and,  it  is  said,  was 
called  Galilee.  The  southern  top, 
which  w^as  called  the  Motint  of  Cor- 
ruption, because  of  Solomon's  idola- 
trous temple  built  thereon,  was  the 
lowest;  and,  it  is  said,  our  Saviour 
ascended  to  heaven  from  the  middle 
top,  Luke  xix.  40 — 44.  Matt.  xxiv. 
3.  Acts  i.  12.  From  the  Mount  of 
Olives,  the  Hebrews  were  furnished 
with  olive-branches  at  the  feast  ot 
tabernacles,  Neh.  viii.  15.  In  the 
time  of  king  Uzziah,  an  earthquake 
rejit  this  mount,  and  rolled  the  one 
half  of  it  to  about  half  a  mile  west- 
ward upon  the  highway,  and  royai 
gardens;  but  its  removing  half  to 
ivards  the  south,  and  half  towards 
the  north,  some  think  may  signify 
the  marvellous  removal  of  all  impe- 
diments of  the  gospel  :  and  the  apos- 
tles after  receiving  their  commission 
in  Mount  Olivet,  separating  into 
different  quarters  of  the  world ;  or 
perhaps,  some  sucli  event  may  take 
place  at  the  siege  of  the  cj(y,  in  the 
beginning  of  the  niillennium,  Zech. 
xiv.  4.  At  present,  travellers  are 
shown,  in  this  mount,  a  great  many 
arched  vaults,  or  grottos,  under 
ground,  which  are  pretended  to  have 
been  the  sepulchre.?  of  the  prophets, 
or  the  cells  of  the  apostle?. 

OLYMPAS,  heavenly,  a  believer 
of  distinguished   virtne  and    merit, 


0  M  N 


(     2-13     ) 


ONE 


whom  Paul  salutes  in  his  epistle  to 
(he  Koman?,  xvi.  15. 

OLVMPIUS  JUPITER,  a  Ho.v 
then  god,  whose  statue  Anti(>(  Iiih 
Epiphanes  caused  to  he  set  np  in  the 
temple  of  Jerusalem,  where  it  re- 
mained for  three  years,  till  removed 
by  Judas  Maccabeus.  This  idol  is 
called,  Dan.  xii.  \\.  the  abominalion 
tfuU  tnakdii  desolate. 

OiAlER,  was  a  measure  of  capacity 
(n  use  among  the  Hebrews,  contain- 
ing six  pints  very  nearly.  It  was  the 
tenth  part  of  an  ephah,  and  was  the 
measure  of  niaiina  which  God  aj)- 
j)ointed  for  every  Israelite,  Exod. 
xvi.  16,  36.     See  Ephah. 

OMNIPOTENCE,  one  of  the 
divine  attributes.  Rev.  xix.  6.  denot- 
ing the  power  of  producing  every 
possible  thing  without  exce[)tion:  for 
as  God  exists  I)}'  an  absolute  necessity 
of  nature,  so  he  contains  in  himself 
a  reason  sutlicient  for  the  existence 
of  all  contingent  things. 

OM^-IPRlESENCE,  that  perfec- 
tion of  God  by  which  lie  perfectly 
knows  all  things,  and  works  all  in 
all ;  or  it  is  his  knowledge  conjoined 
with  his  power,  as  exerted  in  the 
government  of  the  world,  Ps.  cxxxix. 
1,  &c.  Jer.  xxiii.  24.  Acts  xvii.  27, 
23.  Seeing  the  divine  nature  is  per- 
f'fictly  simple,  all  composition  is  to  be 
far  removed  from  it.  It  is  neither 
diffused  nor  extended  through  the 
universe,  nor  blended  with  the  crea- 
ture; but  to  he  considered  as  a  pre- 
sence consistent  with  the  nature  of  a 
spirit,  which  can  only  be  by  means 
of  understanding,  by  which  it  forms 
representations  or  ideas,  and  of 
will,  by  wliich  it  brings  its  ideas  to 
efTect. 

OMNISCIENCE,  that  perfection 
of  God,  by  which  he  knows  distinct- 
ly all  things,  the  manner  how  they 
may  become  actual,  and  their  futuri- 
tion;  his  knowledge  thus  plainly  ex- 
tends to  every  possible  thing,  with- 
out a  possibility  of  knowing  more, 
1  John  iii.  20.  Job  xxviii.  24.  And 
that  he  knows  all  future  things,  ap- 
pears from  Isa.  xli.  26.  and  xiii.  9. 
as  also  that  he  is  intimately  acquaint- 


ed with  the  thoughts  of  men.  Psalm 
cxxxix.  2.  The  thoughts  of  men  de- 
termined both  by  the  objects,  by  the 
law  of  imagination,  and  iiy  the  pre- 
ceding state,  as  so  many  reasons  of 
action,  are  all  known  to  God,  Heb. 
iv.   13. 

OiMRI,  a  ahcaf  of  corn,  a  rebel- 
lions  or  hitler  people,  was  general  of 
the  forces  to  Elah,  king  of  Israel. 
Being  informed,  as  he  besieged  Gib- 
bethon,  that  Zimri  had  murdered 
his  master  and  his  whole  famil}^  and 
usurped  the  throne  at  Tirzah,  he  hast- 
etl  thither,  and  laid  siege  to  the  place. 
When  Zimri  found  himself  unable  to 
defend  the  city  against  Omri,  he,  on 
the  seventh  day  of  his  reign,  burnt 
the  palace  on  himself  and  his  family. 
For  about  four  years  there  ensued  a 
civil  war  between  Omri  and  Tibni, 
the  son  of  Ginath.  At  last,  Tibni,  be- 
ing dead,  Omri  obtained  the  throne, 
and  reigned  about  eight  years  alone, 
and  twelveinall.  Having  purchased 
a  hill  from  one  Shemer,  he  built  a 
tine  city  thereon,  and  called  it  Sama- 
ria, and  made  it  the  capital  of  his 
kingdom.  He  was  more  wicked  than 
Jeroboam,  or  any  of  his  predecessors. 
He  enacted  a  number  of  idolatrous 
laws,  which  were  but  too  well  ob- 
served many  ages  afterward.  He  died 
at  Samaria,  A.  M.  3086,  and  was 
succeeded  by  Ahab,  1  Kings  xvi.  15 
—29.  Mic.  vi.  16. 

ON.     See  AviCN,  Kor.vh. 

ON  AN.     See  Judah. 

ONCE,  not  once  or  twice,  or 
once,  yea  twice ;  i.  e.  frequently',  2 
Kings  vi.  10.  Job  xxxiii.  14.  God'i= 
speaking  once,  yea  twice,  signifies, 
that  he  does  it  often  by  his  Avord, 
his  Spirit,  and  providence,  to  men 
for  their  good,  and  to  convince 
them  thai  power  belongs  to  him,  Psa. 
Ixii.  11. 

ONE,  (1.)  One  only,  besides 
which  there  is  none  other  of  the 
kind ;  so  God  is  one,  and  CJirist  is 
the  one  Meeliator  and  Master :  but 
in  the  i)hrase  God  is  one,  it  may 
denote  one  of  the  parties  to  be  recon- 
ciled, 1  Tim.  ii.  5.  Eccl.  xii.  11. 
Gal.  iii.  20.    (2.)  The  same,  either 


ONE 


(     246     ) 


o  N  y 


in  substance ;  so  the  divine  Persons 
are  one,  1  John  v.  7.  John  x.  30. 
or  in  number  :  thus  all  the  world  had 
one  language  aRer  ihe  flood,  Gen.  xi. 
1 .  or  in  kind ;  thus  one  plague  was  on 
the  Philistines  and  their  lords,  1 
Sam.  vi.  4.  or  in  o(f;ce;  so  Paul  who 
planted  the  churches,  and  Apollos 
who  watered  them,  n;ere  07ie  in  their 
2;eneral  office  and  aim  as  ministers  of 
Christ,  1  Cor.  iii.  8.  (3.)  United 
together;  so  Christ  and  his  people 
arc  one  ;  they  ar*  one  by  his  S[>irit 
dwelling  in  them,  by  their  faith  and 
love  to  him,  1)y  their  intimate  fel- 
lowsliip  with  and  their  likeness  to 
him ;  and  they  are  one  among  them- 
selves. They  are  all  members  of  his 
one  mystical  body;  have  one  Lord, 
one  Spirit,  ojie  Faith,  one  Baptism,  one 
Hope ;  love  one  another,  possess  the 
same  privileges,  aims,  and  works, 
Johnxvii.  21,  23.  Rom.xii.  5.  Eph. 
iv.  3 — 6.  and  thej^  are  of  one  heart, 
and  mind,  and  month,  w  hen  they  ar- 
dently love  one  another  as  Christians, 
have  similar  views  of  divine  truth, 
and  are  nmch  the  same  in  profession 
and  manner  of  speech,  Acts  iv.  32. 
Rom.  XV.  6.  God  made  but  one  wo- 
man, though,  having  the  residue  of 
the  Spirit,  he  had  power  to  create 
multitudes,  that  he  might  seek  a  godly 
seed,  have  children  regularly  produ- 
ced, and  religiously  educated,  Mai. 
ii.  15.  To  have  one  lot,  and  one  purse, 
is  to  be  joined  in  the  closest  fellow- 
ship, Prov.  i.  14. 

ONESIMUS,  profitable,  useful, 
a  Phrygian  by  birth,  and  slave  to  Phi- 
lemon; who,  deserting  the  service  of 
Ixis  master,  robbed  him,  and  fled  to 
Rome,  Avhere  he  was  converted  by 
Paul,  and  sent  back  with  a  letter  to 
his  master  Philemon  ;  which  we  have 
amongst  Paul's  epistles,  and  which  has 
always  ranked  among  the  canonical 
books  of  the  New  Testament,  This 
epistie  had  all  the  good  success  Paul 
could  desire.  Onesimus  became  after- 
wards an  eminent  Christian  ;  and  we 
are  told  that  Paul  made  him  bishop 
of  Berea,  in  Macedonia.  This  epis- 
tle may  pass  for  a  master-piece  of  elo- 
quence in  the  persuasive  kind,  from 


considerations  of  friendship,  religion, 
piety,  and  tenderness. 

ONESIPHORUS,  brmging  profit, 
a  native  of  Asia,  perhaps  of  Ephesus. 
There  he  was  extremely  kind  to  the 
apostle  Paul.  Coming  to  Rome  when 
Paul  was  in  prison,  he  sought  him 
out,  and  to  the  utmost  of  his  power 
comforted  and  assisted  him.  Paul 
prays  that  the  Lord  would  graciously 
^e^vard  him  and  his  family  at  the  last 
day,  2  Tim.  i.  10,  17,  18. 

ONION,  a  well-known  herb,  of 
which  Tournefort  mentions  13  kinds, 
and  to  which  what  we  call  leeks  are 
reducible.  The  Strasburg,  the  red, 
the  Spanish,  and  the  white  onion,  are 
propagated  chiefly  for  their  bulbous 
root.  If  eaten  in  moderation,  they 
are  very  useful  to  thin  the  blood, 
cleanse  the  stomach,  excite  appetite, 
&:c.  but  if  they  be  too  largely  eaten, 
they  affect  the  head  and  disturb  the 
sleep.  Onions,  whether  boiled,  roast- 
ed, or  raw,  are  excellent  for  ripening 
pestilential  boils.  The  peevish  crav- 
ings of  the  Israelites  for  onions, 
such  as  they  had  in  Egypt,  showed 
clearly  the  ingratitude  of  their  hearts, 
their  pride,  self-will,  and  unbelief. 
The  Hebrews  and  other  poor  peo- 
ple in  Egypt,  lived  much  on  leeks 
and  onions.  Numb.  xi.  5. 

ONYCHA.  Jarchi,  the  Jewish 
interpreter,  thinks  it  to  be  the  root  of 
a  certain  spice  ;  others  think  it  is  the 
same  as  laudanum;  and  others  think 
it  to  be  bdellium.  Perhaps  it  was  ra- 
ther the  shell  of  the  onyx  tish,  which 
is  very  odoriferous,  and  is  a  principal 
ingredient  in  the  Indian  perfumes,  as 
aloes  are  in  their  "pills.  The  best 
onyx  fish  were  caught  in  the  Red  Sea, 
from  whence  JMoses  might  easily  ob- 
tain what  onjxha  was  necessary  for 
his  sacred  incense  or  perfume.  Ex- 
odus XXX.  34. 

ONYX,  a  precious  jewel,  some- 
what like  a  human  nail,  and  v.hich 
is  thought  by  modern  naturalists  to 
be  a  kind  of  agate.  It  looks  trans- 
parent, and  has  belts  and  veins  of  a 
different  colour  ;  perhaps  it  is  a  kind 
of  chrystal  mingled  with  earth.  We 
know  of  five  kinds  of  it,  (1.)  The 


OPE 


(     247     ) 


OPE 


bluisli  white,  uith  broaci  Avhite 
streaks  aroiinil  it ;  this  is  very  com- 
mon ill  the  East  Indies,  and  is  found 
in  New  Spain,  Gennany,  and  Italy. 
(2.)  The  onyx  of  a  bhiish  white,  with 
snow-white  veins  scattered  through 
it.  (3.)  The  onyx  with  red  veins, 
called  the  sardonyx,  as  if  it  were  a 
mixture  of  the  sardius  and  onyx.  It 
was  the  5th  foundation  of  the  New 
Jerusalem,  Rev.  xxi.  20.  (4.)  The 
onyx  similar  to  the  jasper.  (5.)  The 
Itrown  onyx  with  bluish  white  veins 
around  it.  The  first  of  these  kinds 
was  the  onyx  of  the  ancients;  but 
whether  the  siioham  of  the  Hebrew? 
signify  that,  or  the  emerald,  we  can 
hardly  determine.  It  is  certain, 
there  was  plenty  of  shokam  in  the 
land  of  Havilah;  and  Pliny  says, 
there  were  c^uarries  of  onyx-marble 
in  Arabia,  Gen.  ii.  12. — It  was  the 
nth  stone  in  the  high  priest's  breast- 
plate, Exod.  xxviii.  20. 

OPEN,  -what  every  one  had  ac- 
cess to  enter  into,  or  to  behold,  Nah. 
iii.  13.  Gen.  i.  20.  And  to  open 
15,  (1.)  To  set  open  a  door,  that 
any  body  may  enter  in,  or  go  out, 
Acts  xvi.  26.  (2.)  To  uncover,  ren- 
der visible  or  manifest,  Exod.  xxi. 
33.  (3.)  To  declare,  unfold,  explain, 
Luke  xxiv.  32.  (4.)  To  cause  to 
bring  forth,  Isa.  xlt.  18.  -God's  eyes 
and  ears  being  open,  denotes  his 
exact  observations  of  men's  conduct, 
his  regard  to  his  people's  ease,  and 
his  readiness  to  answer  their  pray- 
ers, Neh.  i.  t>.  Jer.  xxxii.  19.  1 
Pet.  iii.  12.  His  hands  and  trea- 
sures are  opened,  Avhen,  by  liis  pow- 
er and  goodness,  he  liberally  confers 
his  favours  on  his  creatures,  Fsal. 
civ.  28.  Dent,  xxviii.  12.  God  opens 
hisarmctin/,  when  in  his  providence 
he  raises  armies,  and  furnishes  them 
with  weapons  of  war,  to  execute 
his  just  wrath  on  sinners,  .Jer.  1.  25. 
He  opens  his  lips  against  men, 
wlien,  by  his  word  and  providence, 
he,  in  a  plain  and  powerful  manner, 
convinces  them  of  their  guilt,  Job 
xi.  5.  He  opens  the  heart,  when  he 
enlightens  the  eyes  of  the  under- 
standing to  discern  fevealed  truths. 


and  thereby  persuade  the  will  to 
receive  Jesus  and  his  fulness  into 
the  soul,  Luke  xxiv.  32,  45.  Acts 
xxvi.  18.  and  xvi.  14.  His  opening 
of  Christ's  cars,  may  denote  his  fur- 
nishing him  with  an  obedient  man- 
hood, Psal.  x1.  0.  He  opens  vwi's 
ears,  when  he  inclines  them  to  be  atv 
tentive  to  his  word  and  providences. 
Job  xxxvi.  10,  15.  He  opens  their- 
lips,  when  he  gives  them  encourage- 
ment to  pray,  and  ground  to  praise 
[him;  and  by  his  Spirit  gives  a  holy 
j freedom  therein,  Psal,  11.  15.  God 
\opens  to  men,  when  he  grants  them 
'his  presence  and  blessing.  Malt.  vli. 
7.  He  opened  the  side  of  Moab, 
when  he  gave  tlic  enemy  an  easy 
entrance  into  their  countries  or  cities, 
Ezek.  XXV.  9.  In  tliis  sense  too, 
;the  gates  of  Assyria,  and  of  Nine- 
Iveh,  and  IJabylon,  are  said  to  be 
opened  hy  him,  Nah.  iii.  13.  and  ii. 
0.  Isa.  xlv.  1.  Christ  opens,  and 
none  shuts,  and  shuts,  and  none  opens  ; 
A  master  of  a  family  or  a  prince  has 
one  or  more  keys,  wherewith  he  cart 
open  or  shut  all  the  doors  of  his 
house  or  palace.  So  had  David  a 
key,  (a  token  of  right  and  sovereign- 
ty,) which  was  afterwards  adjudged 
to  Eliakhn,  Isa.  xxii.  22.  Much 
more  has  Christ  the  son  of  Detvid, 
the  key  of  the  spiritual  city  of  Da- 
vid, the  New  JenisaU^n,  the  supreme 
right,  power,  and  authority,  as  in  his 
ovrn  house.  He  opencth  this  to  all 
that  overcome,  and  none  shuttcth — 
he  shuttcth  it  against  all  ike  fearful, 
and  none  opencth.  Likewise  wlieii 
he  opencth  a  door  on  earth  for  his 
works  or  his  servants,  none  can  shut : 
and  when  he  shuttcth  against  Avhat- 
ever  would  hurt  or  defile,  none  can 
open.  Rev.  iii.  7.  Men  open  or  re- 
veal their  cause  to  God,  when  they, 
in  the  prayer  of  faith,  represent  and 
commit  it  to  them  to  redress  their 
wrongs,  Jer.  xi.  20.  and  xx.  12.  To 
opcji  prisons,  is  to  dismiss  prison- 
ers to  their  liberty;  this  the  Chal- 
deans did  not,  but  retained  them  in 
bonds  till  they  died,  Isa.  Ixi.  1.  and 
xiv.  1 7.  Men's  opening  their  doers 
to  travellers,  ira[iorts  their  rheerfrillv 


O  P  H 


(     248     } 


O  P  H 


gtving  an  invitation  to  strangers  to  en- 1  OPHIR,  ashes,  making  fndijul^ 
tertainment  and  lodging,  Job  xxxi.j  the  sonof  Joktan.  Whether  he  gave 
32.  Their  opening  their  hearts,  or;  name  to  the  country  famous  for  gold, 
doors,  to  Christ,  imports  their  ready; or  where  that  country  was,  we  can 
receiving  of  him  by  faith  and  love,  >  hardly  determine.  It  is  certain  that 
Rev.  iii.  20.  Psal.  xxiv.  8,  9,  10. jits  gold  Was  renowned  in  the  time  of 
Heaven,  the  temple,  or  tabernacle,  or  |  Job,  Job  xxii.  24.  andxxviii.  16.  and 
the  church  of  God,  is  open,  it  was' that  from  the  time  of  David  to  the  time 
so  before  the  rise  of  Anticjirist,  and '  of  Jehoshaphat,  the  Hebrews  traded 
is  so  when  there  is  free  access  to  I  with  it ;  and  that  Uzziah  revived 
gospel-worship,  when  gospel-myste-  this  trade  when  he  made  himself 
ries  are  clearly  explained  and  under- j  master  of  Elath,  a  noted  port  on  the 


stood,  and  when  God's  providences 
in  her  favour  are  clear  and  manifest. 
Rev.  iv.  1.  and  xi.  19.  and  xv.  5. 
and  xix.  11.  Perhaps  this  is  the  open 
door  set  before  the  Philadelphian 
church.  Rev.  iii.  8.  Under  the 
gospel,  men  with  open  face  behold 
the  glory  of  the  Lord, — see  divine 
truths  clearly,  and  stripped  of  cere- 
monial vails,  even  as  the  sight  of 
things  in  a  glass  is  much  more  dis- 
tinct and  clear  than  to  see  them  only 
by  their  shadows,  2  Cor.  iii.  13.  It 
is  said,  Numb.  xxiv.  3.  Baalam's 
eyes  were  open.  According  to  the 
Hebrew,  as  noticed  in  the  margin  of 
our  Bible,  the  eyes  of  his  mind  had 
been  shut,  but  were  opened  in  a 
peculiar  and  prophetical  manner; 
whence  prophets  are  called  Seers,  1 
Sam.  ix.  9.  It  implies,  that  before  he 
was  blind  and  stupid,  having  ej^es, 
but  not  seeing  nor  understanding. 

OPERATION,  work.  Psalm 
xxviii.  5. 

OPHEL,  a  lower,  ohsciirity,  a 
little  white  cloud,  a  wall  and 
tower  of  Jerusalem,  which  seems  to 
have  been  near  the  temple,  and  is 
rendered  stronghold,  Mic.  iv.  8.  King 
Jotham  erected  several  structures  on 
the  wall  of  Ophel:  Manasseh  built 
a  well  to  the  west  of  Jerusalem,  and 
the  fountain  of  Gihon  beyond  the 
city  of  David,  from  the  fislx-gate  as 
far  as  Ophel.  After  the  captivity, 
the  Nethinims,  that  they  might  be 
near  their  temple-service,  dwelt  at 
Ophel.  These  things  incline  me  to 
think  it  was  about  the  south-east 
corner  of  Jerusalem,  2  Chron.  xxvii. 
3.  andxxxiii.  14.  Neb.  iii.  20.  and 
\i.  21. 


Red  Sea.  In  Solomon's  time,  the 
Hebrew  fleet  took  up  three  years  in 
their  voj^age  to  Ophir,  and  brought 
home  gold,  apes,  peacocks,  spices, 
ivory,  ebony,  and  almug-trees,  1 
Kings  ix.  28.  and  x.  11.  and  xxii- 
43.  2  Chron.  xxvi.  and  viii.  18.  and 
ix.  10.  Some  have  it  placed  at  Ur- 
phe,  an  island  in  the  Red  Sea ;  others 
justly  reckoning  this  too  near,  have 
placed  it  at  Sophala,  or  in  Zangue- 
bar,  on  the  south-east  of  Africa ; 
others  have  placed  it  about  Guinea, 
on  the  west  of  Africa ;  and  some  at 
Carthage,  on  the  north  of  Africa; 
others  have  still  more  fancifully  re- 
moved it  to  Peru,  or  some  other 
place  in  America.  Reland  and  Cal- 
met  place  it  in  Armenia,  where  P  to- 
lemy  mentions  Oupara  or  Sophara  : 
but  to  what  purpose  the  Jews  should 
carry  on  a  trade  with  Armenia  by 
the  round-about  way  of  the  Red  Sea, 
we  cannot  conceive ;  nor  can  we  be- 
lieve that  ships  fit  for  coursing 
around  Arabia,  could  have  sailed  up 
the  Tigris,  or  Euphrates.  Some  will 
have  Ophir  to  have  been  somewhere 
in  East  India,  either  on  the  west  of 
it  near  Goa,  or  at  the  south-east  part 
of  it,  or  at  Malabar,  &c.  Bochart, 
with  great  industry,  labours  to  fix  it 
at  Taprobane,  or  Cejion,  an  East 
Indian  isle.  Perhaps  there  Avas  an 
Ophir  in  the  south  or  east  of  Arabia 
Felix,  whose  fine  gold  was  known 
to  Job  and  David;  and  another  more 
distant  place  in  the  East  Indies,  in 
Malacca  or  Ceylon,  and  whither  So- 
lomon's mariners  pushed  their  trade, 
and  called  it  Ophir,  because  they 
found  gold  in  it  as  good  as  that  in 
Arabia :   or,  if  there  was  no  other 


0  P  P 


(     249     ) 


0  il  A 


than   that  in  Arabia,    the  East  In 
dians  must  have  brought  thither  their 
apes,  «fcc. 

OPPORTUNITY, (1 .)  A  fit  tirnc, 
Matt.  xxvi.  Iti.  (2.)  Fit  circum- 
stances, Phil.  iv.  10. 

OPPOSE,  RESIST,  to  strive  by 
wonl  or  ilted  against  a  person  or 
thing:,  yien  oppose  themselves,  when 
they  hoU!  opinions  and  follow  courses 
contrary  to  their  own  profession,  or 
contrary  to  (he  scriptures,  which 
they  acknowledge  their  on!}'  stand- 
ard and  rule  of  faith  and  practice. 
2  Tini.ii.  25.  Antichrist  o/;/;06f//t  a// 
that  is  called  God;  sets  up  himself 
against  or  above  the  Heathen  gods; 
above  the  angels  and  magistrates ; 
na}',  above  Jesus  Christ  and  his  Fa- 
ther, by  enacting  contrary  laws,  of- 
fices, &c.  2  Thess.  ii.  4.  Opposi- 
tion of  science,  falsely  so  called,  are  the 
erroneous  principles  of  the  Heathen 
philosophy :  as  that  a  virgin  could 
not  possibl}'  conceive  a  Son ;  or  the 
dead  be  raised;  or  the  vain  notions 
■whereby  the  Gnostics,  under  pre- 
tence of  great  knowledge,  opposed 
the  simplicity  of  the  gospel,  1  Tim. 
vi.  20.  God  resisteth  the  proud,  by 
baffling  their  purposes  and  endea- 
vours, disappointing  their  hopes,  and 
punishing  their  wickedness,  James 
iv.  6.  1  Pet.  V.  5.  Satan  resists  men 
when  he  accuseth  them  to  God,  and  by 
continual  temptations,  strives  to  hin- 
der them  from  doing  good,  Zech.  iii. 
1.  Good  men  resist  not  their  wicked 
persecutors,  by  outrageously  fighting 
against  them,  and  rendering  evil  for 
evil,  James  v.  6.  Matt.  v.  39.  but 
they  resist  unto  blood  striving  against 
sin,  choosing  rather  to  lose  their  life 
than  yield  to  any  wicked  law  or  cus- 
tom, Heb.  xii.  4.  They  resist  Satan, 
by  watching,  praying,  and  striving 
against  his  temjdations,  James  iv.  7. 
1  Pet.  V.  9.  Wicked  men  resist  the 
Holy  Ghost,  when  they  oppose  his 
convictions,  and  contemn  his  mira- 
culous operations,  Acts  vi.  10.  and 
vii.  51 .  They  resist  the  truth,  when 
they  dispute  against  it,  and  act  con- 
trary to  it,  2  Tim.  iii.  8.  They 
resist  magistrates,  when  they  rebel 

Vor,.  U. 


against  their  persons  or  authority, 
and  disobey  or  contemn  their  ju»l 
laws,  Rom.  xiii.  2, 

OPPRESS.  Some  men  oppress 
others,  as  when  Ihey  fraudulently,  Or 
by  force,  take  their  property  from 
them,  Lev.  xxv.  14.  Mai,  iii.  5.  Job 
XX.  19.  1  Thess.  iv,  0.  or  when  they 
grievously  harass  and  enslave  them, 
Deut.  xxviii.  29.  Exod.  iii.  9.  Sa- 
tan oppresseth  men,  when  by  tempta- 
tion or  possession  he  terribly  tor- 
ments them.  Acts  x.  38. 

ORACLE,  (1.)  A  divine  declare^ 
tion  of  God's  a\  ill ;  and  so  the  whole 
of  his  inspired  revelations  are  called, 
2  Sam.  xvi.  23.  1  Pet.  iv.  11.  (2,) 
The  Holy  of  Holies,  from  whence 
God  uttered  his  ceremonial  laws  to 
the  Hebrew  nation  in  the  time  of 
Moses,  and  declared  his  mind  on 
other  occasions,  Exod.  xxv.  22.  1 
Kings  vi.  16,  and  viii.  6.  Psal.  xxviii. 
2.  God  uttered  his  oracles  in  vari- 
ous manners:  (1.)  Sometimes  by 
forming  a  voice,  and  conversing 
with  the  person  who  was  informed  ; 
thus  he  spake  to  Moses,  and  to  Sa  - 
muel,  as  a  man  to  his  friend.  (2.j 
By  predictory  dreams,  as  of  Joseph, 
Pharaoh,  Nebuchadnezzar,  &c.  (3.) 
By  visions,  Avherein  his  declaration 
of  his  mind  was  attended  with  some 
apparition,  as  to  Abraham,  Jacob, 
Solomon.  (4.)  By  the  IJrim  and 
Thummim,  by  means  whereof  the 
high  priest  was  qualified  infallibly  to 
declare  the  will  of  God.  This  was 
a  common  method  from  the  death 
of  Moses  till  alter  the  building  of 
Solomon's  temple.  (5.)  By  prophets, 
to  whom,  either  by  dreams,  visions, 
voices,  or  inspiration,  he  in  an  infalli- 
ble manner  coinmunicated  the  know- 
ledge of  his  will.  On  some  partir 
cular  occasions,  he  made  wicked  men, 
as  Balaam,  Caiaphas,  and  the  false 
prophets  ol"  Bethel,  the  instruments 
of  communicating.his  mind.  (6.)  By 
his  Son  appearing  in  our  nature,  and 
preaching  in  Canaan.  (7.)  By  in- 
spiring his  apostles  and  evangelists 
with  the  knowledge  of  his  mind,  and 
by  them  communicating  it  to  others, 
Heb,  i.  ],  and  ii.  3,  4. 
2  I 


O  R  A 


(     250     ) 


ORG 


The  Jewish  oracle  of  Bathcol,  or 
^ugliter  of  the  voice,  which  they 
boast  to  have  had  after  the  death  of 
Malachi,  seems  to  have  been  a  piece 
of  mere  foolery,  similar  to  that  child- 
ish practice  which  some  have  of  tak- 
ing the  first  word  of  the  Bible  they 
look  upon  f\i  opening,  to  be  suited  to 
their  case.  The  Heathen  oracles 
were  partly  the  illusions  of  Satan ;  he 
inspired  Ahab's  prophets  to  promise 
him  victory  at  Ramoth-gilead,  1 
Kings  xxii.  but  it  is  likely  enough 
that  many  of  the  oracles  among  the 
Heathens  were  merely  the  devices 
of  the  vilJanous  priests  and  priest- 
esses, who  generally  prophesied  as 
they  were  paid,  and  favourable  ora- 
cles made  a  man's  friends  or  armies 
rush  through  every  thing  to  accom- 
plish them.  Boyle,  Yon  Dale,  and 
Fontenelle,  have  strongly  maintained 
that  all  the  Heathen  oracles  were 
but  the  impostures  of  men  ;  and  the 
two  latter  have  pretended  that  they 
did  not  cease  by  the  death  of  Christ, 
or  spread  of  the  gospel,  but  by  means 
of  people's  despising  to  consult  them. 
Mosbius,  a  Protestant  professor  of 
Leipsic,  and  Balthus,  a  learned  Je- 
suit, have  attempted  a  refutation  of 
this  opinion.  We  think  there  was 
both  devihy  and  villany  in  the  affair 
of  these  oracles,  though  perhaps  most 
of  the  latter :  nor  can  we,  with  Eu- 
sebius,  believe  that  these  oracles  en- 
tirely ceased  at  the  death  of  our  Sa- 
viour; for  we  find  them  consulted 
some  ages  after.  But  the  spread  of 
the  gospel  made  multitudes  contemn 
them,  and  the  priests  were  afraid  to 
risk  their  oracles  among  such  as 
were  willing  to  discover  the  cheat. 
No  doubt,  Satan  was  also  divinely' 
restrained.  Whoever  were  the  au- 
thors of  these  oracles,  they  were  ge- 
nerally delivered  in  such  dark  and 
equivocal  expressions  as  might  an- 
swer the  event,  be  what  it  would. 

ORATION,  an  eloquent  speech. 
Acts  xii.  12. — An  orator  was  one 
who  composed  and  pronounced  elo- 
quent speeches,  like  our  advocates, 
Acfs  xxiv.  1.  Where  a  place  was 
'nuUrpopalar  government,  as  Athens, 


&c.  oratory  was  much  studied,  antt 
the  orators  were  often  able  to  carry 
the  populace  to  what  side  they  pleas- 
ed. This  occasioned  their  being  fre- 
quently the  hired  tools  of  such  great 
men  as  were  intent  on  their  selfish 
designs. 

ORCHARD,  a  garden  of  fruit- 
trees,  Eccl.  ii.  5.     See  Garden. 

ORDAIN,  the  same  as  appoint. 
Ordinances  of  God  are,  (1.)  His 
fixed  purposes  and  appointments 
concerning  the  state  and  motions  of 
irrational  creatures,  whether  the  lu- 
minaries of  heaven,  or  others,  Psal. 
cxix.  91.  Job  xxxviii.  33.  Jer.  xxxi, 
33.  (2.)  His  commandments  in  ge- 
neral, Lev.  xviii.  4.  (3.)  His  rules 
and  directions  relative  to  his  wor- 
ship, Heb.  ix.  10.  1  Cor.  xi.  2.  (4.) 
An  office  appointed  by  him,  Rom. 
xiii.  2.  Forms  of  magistracy,  or 
their  laws  for  regulating  the  com- 
mon wealth,  are  called  an  ordinance 
of  man,  1  Pet.  ii.  13.  1  Sam.  xxx. 
25. 

ORDER  (1.)  To  command, 
Judg.  vi.  26.  (2.)  To  rank  every 
person  or  thing  in  proper  order,  Prov. 
iv.  26.  The  various  classes  or  bands 
into  which  the  priests  and  singers 
w^ere  ranked,  were  called  their  or- 
ders, 1  Kings  xxiii.  4.  God  sets 
men's  sins  in  order  before  them ;  he 
presents  them  as  so  many  witnesses, 
or  as  a  well-stated  charge  against 
them,  Psal.  1.  21.  Men  order  their 
cause  before  God,  and  fill  their  mouth 
with  arguments,  when  they  repre- 
sent it  to  him  truly  as  it  is,  and  pro- 
duce and  plead  manifold  reasons  for 
his  showing  them  favour.  Job  xxiii. 
4.  To  walk  orderly,  or  order  one's 
conversation  aright,  is  to  endeavour 
earnestly  to  perform  every  duty  rela- 
tive to  God  or  men,  in  the  proper 
place,  time,  and  manner  thereof, 
Acts  xxi.  24.  Psal.  1.  23. 

ORGAN,  a  wind-instrument  of 
music,  invented  by  Jubal,  the  sixth 
in  descent  from  Cain  ;  but  perhaps 
Jubal's  was  very  different  from  ours, 
which  is  composed  of  various  pipes, 
and  some  of  them  are  30  or  40  feet 
long;   and    whose  form  we  do  no' 


O  R  P 


(     251     ) 


0  S  T 


know  to   be  much  more  than  800 
years  olil,  Gen.  iv.  21.  Psal.  cl.  4. 

ORNAMENT,  embellishuient, 
decoration :  what  tends  to  deck  out 
a  person  in  his  body  or  clothes,  such 
as  jewels,  rings,  bracelets,  ribbands, 
&c.  The  Hebrew  women,  esjieciully 
their  maidens,  were  extremely  I'ond 
of  them ;  and  in  the  days  of  Saul 
they  became  more  so  than  before, 
Jer.  ii.  32.  2  Sam.  i.  24.  In  Isaiah's 
lime  they  were  wickedly  attached 
to  them,  Isa.  iii.  1 6 — 20.  The  laws, 
religion,  and  prosperity,  which  God 
gave  the  Hebrews,  are  called  excel- 
lent ornaments ;  they  rendered  their 
nation  distinguished  from,  and  more 
glorious  than  others,  Ezek.  xvi.  7, 
11.  Jesus's  grace,  implanted,  and 
a  holy  conversation  springing  from 
it,  are  an  ornament  to  the  saints ;  how 
glorious  and  comely  they  render 
them !  how  high  in  favour  with  God, 
good  angels,  and  good  men,  Isaiah 
Ixi.  10.  Prov.  iv.  9.  Useful  in- 
struction, and  faithful  reproof,  are 
an  ornament ;  they  ought  to  be  highly 
prized,  readily  received,  and  careful- 
ly complied  with,  and  so  will  render 
one  truly  honourable  and  respected, 
Prov.  i.  9.  and  xxv.  The  ornament 
of  a  meek  and  quiet  spirit  gives  a 
dignity  to  those  who  possess  it,  and 
is  in  the  sight  of  God  of  great  price, 
1  Pet.  iii.  4. 

ORION,  a  constellation  just  be- 
fore the  sign  Taurus.  It  consists  of 
about  80  stars ;  appears  about  the 
middle  of  November;  and  its  rise  is 
often  accompanied  with  storms,  aud 
its  bands  are  the  cold  and  frost,  which 
only  God  can  remove.  Job  xxxviii. 
1.  and  ix.  9. 

ORNAN.     See  Araunah. 

ORPHANS,  children  who  have 
lost  one  or  both  of  their  parents, 
whereby  they  are  deprived  of  many 
benefits,  and  are  often  left  in  a  most 
destitute  condition.  We  are  orphans, 
otir  mothers  are  rviJows ;  our  gover- 
nors and  fathers  being  almost  wholly 
cut  off  by  the  sword,  Lam.  v,  3. 
Orphans  are  peculiar  objects  of  di- 
vine compassion  and  regard;  the  Lord 
'Executes  judgments  for  them,  Ueut. 


X.  1 8.  is  a  father  to  them,  Psal.  Ixviii. 
5.  and  he  hath  promised  to  preserve 
such  as  are  committed  to  him  by 
their  pious  parents,  Jcr.  xlix.  11. 

OSPREY    and  ossifbage.     See 
Eaglk. 

OSTRICH,  the  tallest  of  all  the 
fowl    kind,  being  7  or  8  feet  high 
when  it  stands  erect.     Its   neck  is 
about  4  or  5  spans  in  length :   it3 
legs  are  long  and  naked;  and  it  has 
only  two  toes  on  a  foot,  both  turned 
forward;    but   its   wings   are   short, 
and  rather  serve  for   sails  than   for 
flight.     Assisted  with  these,  it  will 
outrun  the  swiftest  horse,  and  mean- 
while throw  stones  behind  it  against 
its  pursuers.     Its  feathers  are  goodly, 
and  used  as  ornameata  for  hats,  beds, 
and  canopies :    are  of  different  co- 
lours, and  formed  into  pretty  tufts. 
It  is  very  foolish,  and  easily  deceiv- 
ed.    It  is  said,  that  if  it  can  hide  its 
head  in  a  thicket,  it  imagines  all  is 
quite  safe.     If  a  man  put  on   an  os- 
trich's skin,  and  holds  out  fruits  or 
seeds  to  it,  it  will  receive  them,  and 
so  be  taken.     Ostriches  make  a  most 
doleful  and  hideous  noise,  are  very 
careless  of  their  young,  lay  their  eggs 
in  the  sand,   and  leave  them  there  to 
be  hatched  by  the  sun,  perhaps  for- 
getting where  they  were  laid.    Job 
xxxix.  13 — 18.  Lam.  iv.  3.  Its  eggs, 
of  which  it  lays  from  10  to  20,  or 
even   from    30  to  50,   in   a  course, 
are    so  large,   that  the    Ethio;»ian3 
make  drinking  cups  of  the  shells.     It 
is  said,  that  though  the  ostriches  do 
not  sit  on  their  eggs  to  hatch  them, 
yet  the  male  and  female  wulch  them 
by   turns;   and  when  driven  away, 
(hey   cannot  find   them  out    again; 
and    often   their  young  are    lound 
half-starved.     They    chiefly     h^unt 
desolate  places,  Isa.  xiii.  f  21.  they 
were  rather  common  in  Arania,  and 
mightily  abound  in    Ethio;)ia,   jmuI 
are  used  for  food ;  but  their  flesh  is 
said  to  be  dry.     Some  of  them  are 
so  strong,  that  the  Aralfs  ride  u\ion 
their  backs.  The  Yahhannah,  render- 
ed ostriches  in  Lam.  iv.  3.  is  render- 
ed 07vl  in  Lev.  xi.  16.   Deut.  xiv.  15. 
Job  XXX.  29.  Isa.  xiii.  20.  and  reck- 


0  V  E 


f     252     ) 


O  V  E 


qned  among  unclean  birds.  This  bird 
is  made  the  symbol  ol'  forgetfulness, 
and  cruelty,  Job>{xxix.  13,  14.  Lam. 
iv.  3.  Owls  too  are  cruel;  they  eat 
their  own  eggs,  or  even  their  young, 
as  the  women  did  their  children  in 
the  siege  of  Jetusalem. 

OTHNIEL,  the  time,  or  liour  of 
God,  the  son  of  Kenaz,  of  the  tribe 
of  Judab,  and  first  Judge  of  Israel. 
Jiy  hisjtaking  Debir  from  the  Canaan- 
5tish  giants,  he  purchased  Achsah, 
daughter  of  Caleb  his  uncle  to  wife, 
Josh.  XV.  IG — 19.  AVhen  Cushan- 
rishathaim  had  ojipressed  Israel  eight 
years.  God  stirred  up  Othniel  to  levy 
an  army  against  him.  With  these  he 
routed  the  Mesoi)otamian  troops,  and 
delivered  Israel;  after  which  the  He- 
brews' laud  enjo3  ed  rest  40  years,  or 
till  the  40th  year  of  their  settlement, 
Judg.  iii.  8 — 11. 

OUCHES,  sockets  for  fastening 
the  precious  stones  in  the  shoulder- 
pieces  of  the  high  priest's  ephod. 
These  ouches  with  their  stones,  ser- 
red  for  buttons  to  fasten  the  golden 
chains  whereby  the  breastplate  was 
hung,  Exod.  xxviii.  11,  25. 

OVEN,  a  place  for  baking  bread, 
Lev.  ii.  4.  Nebuchadnezzar's  fiery 
furnace,  into  which  were  cast  Sha- 
drach,  Meshach,  and  Abednego,seems 
to  have  been  of  this  kind,  Dan.  iii. 
21 — 26.  God  makes  his  enemies  a 
fieri/  oven,  and  his  judgments  to  burn 
as  an  oven.  In  what  a  quick  and 
terrible  manner  he  consumed  the 
Jews  after  our  Saviour's  death,  as 
withered  grass,  or  fuel,  in  a  fiery 
oven  !  How  dreadful  will  be  the  case 
of  his  foes,  when  the  earth,  and  the 
works  thereof,  shall  be  burnt  up !  and 
when  they  shall  be  cast  into  the  lake 
that  burns  with  fire  and  brimstone ! 
Psal.  xxi.  9.  Mai.  iv.  1.  Lewd  per- 
f^ons  are  likened  to  an  oven  ;  by  their 
yielding  to  temptations  and  lusts, 
iheir  souls  and  bodies  are  inflamed 
with  unclean  desires,  and  the  disor- 
deri3  that  proceed  therefrom,  as  an 
oven  is  heated  by  a  continued  supply 
of  fuel,  Hos.  vii.  4 — 7. 

OVER,  (1.)  On  the  whole  out- 
v»4e,Gen.  xxv.  25.  (2.)  Above,  Gen. 


xxviii.  29.  Psal.  Ixv.  13.  (3.)  More 
than  measure,  Exod.  xvi.  18.  Psal. 
xxiii.  5.  (4.)  From  one  side,  or 
hand,  or  proprietor,  to  another,  Psal. 
xxvii.  12.andcxviii.  18.  (5.)  Passed 
by.  Song  ii.  11.  (6.)  On  account 
of,  Hos.  X.  5. 

OVERCHARGE,  to  burden  too 
much.  Thus,  excessive  sorrow,  im- 
moderate eating  and  drinking,  or 
anxious  care,  will  overload  men's 
souls,  so  that  they  (;annot  desire  or 
attain  to  heavenly  things,  2  Cor.  ii. 
5.  Luke  xxi.  34. 

OVERFLOW.  Liquor  overflows 
in  a  vessel,  when  it  runs  over  the 
brim :  rivers  overjlow,  Avhen  they 
swell,  and  run  over  their  banks,  Josh, 
iii.  15.  The  inhabitants  of  the  old 
world  had  iheiv  foundation  overflowed 
with  a  flood,  when  the  deluge  co- 
vered them  and  all  their  dwellings, 
Job  xxii.  16.  Armies  and  calamities 
being  compared  to  floods  or  waters, 
are  said  to  overflow,  when  they  bear 
down  all  before  them,  Isa.  viii.  8. 
Jer.  xlvii.  2.  Dan.  xi.  10.  Isa.  x.  22. 
and  xxviii.  15,  17.  and  xliii.  2.  Pros- 
perity and  the  truths  and  blessings  of 
the  gospel,  being  compared  to  wine 
or  oil,  by  the  fats  overflowing  there- 
with, is  meant  great  prosperity,  and 
a  spread  and  prevalence  of  the  truth 
and  grace  of  God  in  the  world,  Joel 
ii.  24.  The/ate  overflowing  v,'\i\\  the 
wine  of  God's  wrath,  imports  his 
spread,  and  making  fearful  havoc 
among  the  nations,  Joel  iii.  13. 

OVERLAY,  (1.)  To  cover,  Exod. 
xxvi.  32.  (2.)  To  cover  too  closely 
or  heavily,  1  Kings  iii.  1 9. 

OVERMUCH.  To  he  overmuch 
righteous,  'if  supposed  to  be  possible, 
must  be  in  practising  things  which  are 
not  commanded  by  the  Lord,  from 
superstitious  motives;  rigorously 
exacting  the  extremity  of  justice; 
and  doing  many  things,  under  pre- 
tence of  piety,  which  God's  law 
doth  not  require. — To  be  overwise, 
is  to  pretend  to  great  degrees  of 
knowledge;  and  to  be  ready  to  quar- 
rel with  the  best  conduct  of  others, 
and  even  of  God  himself;  to  attempt 
knowledge  above  our  reach  and  stjt- 


O  V  E 


(     253     ) 


O  U  T^ 


tion :  this  tends  to  destroy  a  man's 
sell",  ronderine;  hitn  foppish,  stupid, 
or  contemptible. — 'Po  be  orcnnuch 
wicked,  is  to  add  sin  to  sin;  to  Iji- 
tigue  one's  snU  in  doing  evil,  atid  to 
run  into  riot  an<1  wickedness  ot"  every 
sort;  this  (ends  to  hasten  one's  lU-ath. 
It  seems  far  more  prol)al»le  that  So- 
lomon here  speaks  in  the  person  oi' 
an  ungodly  man,  who  takes  occ.  ston 
to  dissuacle  men  from  righleousness, 
because  of  the  danger  w  Jiich  attends  it. 
Therefore,  saith  he,  take  heed  of 
striclness,  zeal,  and  forwardness  in 
religion.  The  next  verse  contains 
an  antidote  to  this  suggestion;  yea,  ra- 
ther, sailh  the  wise  man,  be  not  wicked 
or  foolish  overnmch;  for  that  will  not 
preserve  thee,  as  thou  mayest  ima- 
gine, but  will  occasion  and  hasten 
thy  ruin,  Eccl.  vii.  16,  17. 

OVERPASS.  Professors  of  the 
true  religion,  overpass  the  deeds  of 
the  ivickcd,  when  they  do  Avorse  than 
Heathens  and  profligates;  and  judges 
do  it  when  they  allow  themselves  to 
be  worse  than  the  criminals  they  try 
and  condemn  at  the  bar,   Jer.  v.  28. 

OVERPLUS,  the  difference  of 
value  I)etween  things  exchanged, 
Lev.  XXV.  27. 

OVERSEE,  See  Bishop.  Over- 
sight; (1.)  The  office  of  overseeing 
and  taking  care  that  things  be  rightly 
done;  and  the  discharge  of  this  office, 
by  performing  the  duties  belonging 
to  it,  Numb,  iii.  32.  1  Pet.  v.  2. 
(2.)  A  mistake.  Gen.  xliii.  12. 

OVERSHADOW,  to  cover  with 
a  shadow.  The  cloud  from  which  the 
Father  declared  our  Saviour  to  be  his 
well-beloved  Son,  overshadowed  the 
three  disciples  on  the  Mount,  Matt. 
xvii.  5.  To  mark  the  mysterious 
and  incomprehensible  work  of  the 
Holy  Ghost,  in  forming  our  Saviour's 
manhood  in  the  womb  of  the  Virgin, 
it  is  called  an  overshadowing  of  her, 
Luke  i.  35. 

OVERTAKE,  (1.)  To  come  up 
with  such  as  had  gone  ofT  before, 
Exod.  XV.  9.  (2.)  To  seize  upon, 
Psal.  xviii.  37.  A  man  is  overtaken 
in  a  fault,  when  temptations  come 
up  with  him,  and  draw  ium  iato  some 


sinful  word  or  deed  before  tic  is 
aware.  Gal.  vi.  1.  The  sword  over- 
takes men,  when  th«;  enemy  comes 
upon  (hoiTi,  and  they  are  killed, 
^vnuHiled,  tak»;n  captives,  or  other- 
wise rethiced  to  misery,  .ler.  xlii.  IC. 
Blessings  overtake  men,  when  Ihey 
are  bestowed  on  them;  and  Justice, 
evil,  or  curses,  ovtrlakc  Ihem,  when 
their  due  and  threatened  punishment 
comes  upon  them,  Deut.  xxviii.  2, 
15.  Isa.  lix.  9.  The  day  of  judgment 
overtakes  men,  when  notwithstanding 
all  their  unthoughtfulness  of  it,  or 
their  desire  and  study  to  escape  it,  it 
comes  upon  them,  1  Thess.  v.  4, 
The  battle  in  Gibeah  did  not  overtake 
the  children  of  iniquity.  The  He- 
brews did  not  attack  the  SodomiMral 
Benjamites  at  Gitieah  with  a  di;e  and 
holy  zeal;  nor  took  the  pro|.er  care 
to  cut  otl"  the  criminals  of  that  or  the 
like  sort,  wherever  they  were  found, 
Hos.  X.  9. 

OVERTHROAV,  a  turning  of 
things  upside  down;  an  utter  de- 
struction, Gen.  xix.  29. 

OVERWHELM,  to  swallow  up 
a  person  as  a  drowning  flood.  Job  vi. 
27.  Psal.  cxxiv.  4.  A  man's  spirit  is 
overwhelmed,  when  grief,  lear,  per- 
plexity, and  care,  so  burden  and  af- 
flict him  that  he  knows  not  what  to 
do,  Psal.  Ixi.  2.  and  Ixxvii.  3. 

OUGHT,  imports  necessity  or 
expediency;  thus  Christ  ought  to  suf- 
fer, that  he  might  fulfil  his  engage- 
ments and  save  our  souls,  Luke  xxiv. 
26.  (2.)  Duty;  thus  men  ought  al- 
ways to  pray  without  fainting,  Luke 
xviii.  1.  Ought,  or  ArrmT,  also  sig- 
nifies any  thing  at  all,  Gen.  xxxix.  6, 

OUTCASTS,  such  as  are  driven 
from  their  house  and  country.  The 
outcasts  of  Israel  and  Judah  needed 
shelter  and  pity  in  tlie  land  of  Moah, 
when  they  were  driven  out  of  their 
country  by  the  Assyrian  ravages,  Isa. 
xvi.  3,  4.  The  outcasts  of  the  Per- 
sians wandered  far  and  wide,  when 
they  were  carried  or  driven  from 
their  country  by  the  Chaldeans,  Jer. 
xlix.  36.  God  gatheied  the  outcasts 
of  Israel;  he  gathered  the  Jews  after 
Sennacherib   and   Esarhaddon    had 


OWL 


254    ) 


9  X 


scattered  them;  he  brought  them 
back  from  their  Chaldean  captivity; 
he  will  bring  them  from  their  present 
dispersion;  he  gathers  the  outcast 
Gentiles,  and  joins  them  unto  his 
church,  the  true  Israel  of  God,  Isa. 
Ivi.  8.  and  xi.  12. 

OUTGOINGS,  outmost  borders, 
Josh.  xvii.  9, 1 8.  God  makes  the  out- 
goings of  the  morning  and  evening 
to  rejoice,  when  he  bestows  and  ren- 
ders agreeable  the  earliest  and  latest 
parts  of  the  day;  or  when  he  gives 
heartrcheering  blessings  to  the  inha- 
bitants of  the  remotest  places  east 
and  west,  Psal.  Ixv.  8. 

OUTLANDISH,  pertaining  to 
another  country  or  nation,  Neh.  xiii. 
26. 

OWE,  OWN,  (1.)  To  own,  to  have 
a  right  to.  Lev.  xiv.  35.  Acts  xxi. 
11.  (2.)  To  owe,  to  be  indebted, 
Rom.  xiii.  8.  Matt,  xviii.  28. 

OWL,  a  fowl  of  the  hawk  kind. 
Its  beak  is  hooked,  its  head  and 
claws  are  somewhat  like  those  of  a 
cat:  its  legs  are  hairy  to  the  very 
claws,  its  eyes  are  black,  large,  and 
sparkling,  but  cannot  abide  the  light 
of  the  sun ;  its  voice  is  very  disagreea- 
ble and  mournful.  There  are  a  great 
many  kinds  of  owls,  viz.  the  small 
owl,  the  great  owl,  the  horned  owl, 
&c.  The  large  horned  owl,  is  almost 
as  big  as  an  eagle,  and  has  feathers 
ash-coloured  and  whitish  :  the  small 
horned  owl,  is  of  a  more  dun  and 
rusty  colour:  the  small  unhorned 
owl,  is  about  the  bulk  of  a  pigeon ; 
the  larger  one  has  a  crown  of  fine 
soft  feathers  around  its  whole  face, 
and  has  no  visible  ears;  its  back  is 
of  a  lead  colour,  marked  with  white 


spots ;  its  breast  and  belly  are  \vbi- 
tish,  marked  with  black  spots;  its 
body  is  scarcely  bigger  than  a  chick- 
en, but  its  multitude  of  feathers  rea- 
der it  as  big  in  appearance  as  a  capon. 
All  at  once  it  will  swallow  a  mouse 
or  bird,  and  after  digesting  the  flesh, 
vomit  up  the  hair  and  the  bones. 
Owls  go  little  abroad  in  the  day; 
and  if  they  do,  are  a  gazing-stock 
to  the  rest  of  the  birds.  They  are 
said  to  be  enemies  to  the  crows,  and 
that  they  are  mutual  destroyers  of 
one  another's  eggs.  They  generally 
haunt  desolate  places,  as  ruined  cities 
or  houses,  Isa.  xiii.  21.  and  xxxiv. 
11 — 15.  Jer.  1.  39.  and  make  a  most 
doleful  and  despondent-like  mourn- 
ing, Mic.  i.  8.  Perhaps  Yahhan- 
NAH  denotes  not  the  owl,  but  the 
female  ostrich.  Job  xxx.  29.  Isa.  xiii. 
21.  and  xxxiv.  13.  and  xliii.  20.  Jer. 
1.  39.  Mic.  i.  8.  Lev.  xi.  16.  Deut. 
xiv.  15.  with  Lam.  iv.  3.  and  the 
kippos  a  most  poisonous  serpent,  Isa. 
xxxiv.  15.  Saints  become  like  owlSy 
when  apparently  forsaken  of  God 
and  their  friends,  they  are  left  to 
mourn  in  a  most  forlorn  and  heart- 
less manner.  Job  xxx.  29.  Psal.  cii. 
6.  Wicked  men  are  like  owls ;  how 
unsightly  to  God  and  good  men !  how 
inclined  to  distance  from  him  and  his 
people !  what  haters  of  the  Son  of 
righteousness,  and  of  the  light  of 
God's  word!  and  how  hurtful  to 
others!  xliii.   20. 

OX.  See  BuLi,.  Where  no  oxen 
are,  the  crib  is  clean  ;  there  is  neither 
food  for  men  or  beasts.  But  the 
words,  the  crib,  &c.  might  be  ren» 
dered,  there  is  no  wheat  nor  corn  on 
the  thrcshing-Jloor,  Prov.  xiv.  4. 


P  A  C 


PAH 


PAD  AN- ARAM,  the  field  of  Sy- 
ria.    See  Mesopotamia;   but 
possibly   Padan-aram    was  but   the  I 
north-west  part  of  Mesopotamia.        ] 
PACE,  a  measure  of  five  feet  in 
length ;  or,  as  some  think,  no  more 
han  a  step,  2  Sam.  vi.  13, 


PADDLE,  a  small  iron  instru- 
ment for  digging  holes  in  the  earth, 
Deut.  xxil.  13. 

PAHATH-MOAB,  a  duke  of 
Moab,  I  suppose  was  a  city  built  near 
to  the  place  where  Ehud  routed  the 
Moabites.     Joshua  add  Joab  were 


P  A  I 


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PAL 


tjvo  of  its  ancient  princes;  .2812  be- 
longing to  Pahath-moal),  returned 
from  Babylon  with  Zeruhbabel,  and 
200  more  with  Ezra,  cha|».  ii.  0.  and 
viii.  4.  Some  would  have  Pahath- 
moab  to  be  the  name  of  a  man;  and 
it  i3  certain,  oneoi'  that  name  sealed 
Nehemiah's  covenant  of  reformation, 
Neh.  X.  14. 

PAIN,  or  Pang,  denotes  great 
uneasiness  of  body  or  mind. — 
When  it  is  very  violent,  it  is  called 
TORMENT,  Job  xxxiii.  19.  Psal.xxv. 
18.  and  Iv.  4.  Ezek.  xxx.  4.  Jer. 
xxii.  23.  Matt.  iv.  24.  To  travclin 
pain  all  one's  days,  is  to  live  in  sore 
trouble,  inward  disquiet,  and  terror 
of  mind,  Job  xv.  20.  The  wicked 
man's  Jlcsh  upon  him  hath  pain ;  in 
his  dying  moments,  he  is  in  sore 
trouble;  in  the  grave,  the  worms 
feed  on  him;  in  hell,  he  will  be  for 
ever  tormented,  Job  xiv.  22.  Be  in 
pain,  ami  labour  to  bring  forth  ;  bear 
thy  troubles  with  patience,  hojiingfor 
a  merciful  and  joyful  deliverance;  or. 
Thou  shalt  be  in  sore  trouble  before 
the  deliverance  from  Babylon,  or  the 
greater  deliverance  by  the  Messiah , 
Mic.  iv.  10.  Pains  of  death,  or  hell, 
are  such  violent  torments  as  cut  off 
life,  or  render  a  person  truly  miserable, 
Acts  ii.  24.  Psal.  cxvi.  3.  The  ter- 
rible calamities  of  Antichrist,  when 
ruined,  and  the  inconceivable  mise- 
ries of  the  damned,  are  called  tor- 
mait.  Rev.  xviii.  7,  10.  and  xx.  10. 
Christ's  witnesses  torment  the  Anti- 
christians;  they  preach  the  truths 
which  the  other  detest ;  and  practise 
the  good  works  which  they  abhor; 
and  are  the  innocent  occasions  of 
God's  executing  his  fearful  judgments 
onthem.  Rev.  xi.  10.  The  tormentors 
to  which  God  delivers  the  Avicked, 
are  the  lashes  of  his  wrath,  the  tor- 
tures of  an  awakened  conscience, 
and  malicious  and  enraged  devils 
and  men.  Matt,  xviii.  34. — Pain- 
ful, what  is  very  hard  and  difficult, 
and  cannot  without  great  fatigue  au(l 
pain  be  effected  or  endured,  Psal. 
Ixxii.  16.  Painfulness,  denotes 
labour  joined  Avith  great  care  and 
grief.  2  Cor.  xt.  27. 


PAINT.  Women,  especially  har- 
lots, [tainted  their  faces,  2  Kin-gs  ix. 
30.  The  Jews  painling  of  their  eyes., 
and  rending-  their  faces,  maj'  denote 
their  setting  off  themselves  to  their 
neighbouring  nations  in  all  the  shows 
of  idolatry  and  false  grandeur  they 
could,  Ezek.  xxiii.  40.  Jer.  iv.  SO. 

PAT. ACE,  (1,)  A  royal  dwelling 
or  mansion-house,  tit  for  kings  or 
pilhices  to  dwell  in,  Isa.  xxxix.  7. 
(2.)  The  temple  of  God  at  Jerusa- 
lem, 1  Chron.  xxix.  1,  17.  It  was 
extremely  magnificent  and  grand ; 
and  there  the  Lord  as  King  of  Israel 
dwelt  in  the  symbols  of  his  presence. 
(3.)  The  high  priest's  house,  Matt, 
xxvi.  58.  (4.)  The  church  of  God, 
Psal.  xlviii.  13.  (5.)  Heaven  is  the 
palace  of  God;  how  glorious  ita 
structure !  how  rich  its  furniture ! 
and  there  the  Lord,  angels,  and  re- 
deemed men,  will  for  ever  reside, 
Psal.  xlv.  15. 

PALE.  J ACoh''s face  waxing  pale, 
imports  the  shame,  contempt,  and 
ruin,  of  his  posterity,  Isa.  xxix.  22. 
The  paleness  of  John's  visionary 
horse,  may  denote  the  great  destruc- 
tion of  men,  by  pestilence,  famine^ 
and  other  calamities,  between  A.  D. 
235  and  286,  which,  it  is  thought, 
was  the  fruit  of  spiritual  deadness  of 
ministers  and  others  in  the  church. 

PALESTINE.     SeePiiiMSTiA. 

The  PALM-TREE  is  found  in  a 
variety  of  the  warm  countries  in  the 
north  of  Africa,  and  in  the  south  of 
Asia,  &c.  Many  palms  grew  on  the 
banks  of  Jordan ;  but  the  best  were 
those  about  Jericho  and  Engedi, 
hence  Jericho  is  sometimes  called  the 
city  of  palm-trees,  Deut.  xxxiv.  3. 
Palms  grow  very  tall  and  upright ; 
and  their  leaves  retain  their  green- 
ness through  the  whole  year.  The 
more  they  bask  in  the  sun,  their 
growth  is  the  better;  nor  are  they 
injured  by  burdens  being  hung  on 
them.  They  produce  little  fruit  till 
they  be  about  thirty  years  old;  after 
which,  Avhile  their  juice  continues, 
the  older  they  become,  the  more 
fruitful  they  are,  and  will  bear  three 
or  four  hundred  pounils  of  dates  etery 


PAL 


(     256     ) 


p  A  ip 


year;  but  it  n:-  tiajd  the  female  bears 
no  i'riiit  except  it  be  ^'ianted  along 
with  the  male.  This  tree  produces 
dates,  a  most  sweet  and  luscious  kind 
of  fruit.  They  also  extract  from  it 
a  kind  of  wine,  which  is  much  used  in 
the  eastern  countries,  and  is  proba- 
bly what  the  scripture  calls  strong 
drink.  It  likewise  yields  a  kind 
of  honey. — As  its  sap  is  chiefly  in 
the  top,  when  they  intended  to  ex- 
tract a  liquor  from  it,  they  cut  ofi" 
the  too,  where  there  is  always  a  tuft 
of  sjdring  leaves  about  four  feet  long, 
and  scoop  the  trunk  into  the  shape  of 
a  bason.  Here  the  sap  ascending, 
lodges  itself,  at  the  rate  of  three  or 
four  English  pints  a  day  for  the  first 
week  or  fortnight;  after  which,  it 
gradually  decreases;  and  in  six 
weeks,  or  two  months,  the  whole 
juice  will  be  extracted.  As  palm- 
trees  were  accounted  symbols  of  vic- 
tory, branches  of  palm  were  carried 
before  conquerors  in  their  triumphs  : 
and,  in  allusion  to  this,  the  saints  are 
said  to  have  palm  in  their  hand,  to 
denote  their  victory  over  sin,  Satan, 
the  world,  &c.  Rev.  vii.  9,  To  mark 
their  heavenly  and  upright  disposi- 
tion, their  fellowship  with  Christ, 
their  spiritual  comeliness,  and  fruit- 
fulness  in  good  worj£s,  and  their  vic- 
tory over  all  enemies,  they  are  com- 
pared to  palm-trees,  Psal.  xcii.  12. 
To  represent  them  in  their  connexion 
with  angels  and  ministers,  there  were 
figures  of  palnirtrees  and  cherubim 
alternately  mingled  in  Ezekiel's  vi- 
sionary temple,  Ezek.  xl.  16.  Idols 
were  upright  as  the  palm-tree  ;  they 
could  make  no  motion,  but  merely 
stood  like  so  many  erect  logs  of  wood, 
Jer.  X.  5. 

PALSY,  a  privation  of  motion  or 
feeling,  or  both,  in  one  or  more 
parts  of  the  body.  Of  ail  the  affec- 
tions called  nervous,  this  is  the  most 
suddenly  fatal.  It  is  more  or  less 
dangerous  according  to  the  import- 
ance of  the  part  which  is  affected. 
A  palsy  of  the  heart,  or  lungs,  or 
any  part  necessary  to  life,  is  mortal. 
When  it  affects  the  stomach,  the  in- 
t'fptines,  or  the  bladder,  it  is  highly 


dangerous.  If  the  facie  Be  affected,  ifle 
case  is  bad,  as  it  shows  that  the  dis- 
ease proceeds  from  the  brain.  When 
the  part  affected  feels  cold,  is  in- 
sensible, or  wastes  away,  or  when 
the  judgment  and  memory  begin  to 
fail,  there  is  but  little  hope  of  a  cure; 
unless  in  answer  to  prayer  the  Lord 
be  pleased  to  effect  one,  such  as  Avas 
effected  by  Christ  or  his  apostles, 
Matt.  viii.  6.  Acts  ix.  33. 

PAMFHYLIA,  a  nation  made  up 
of  different  people  or  tribes,  a  province 
of  Lesser  Asia,  having  the  Mediter- 
ranean Sea  on  the  south,  Lycia  on  the 
west,  Pisidia  on  the  north,  and  Ciiicia 
on  the  east.  Attalia  and  Perga  were 
the  principal  cities  of  it.  A  number  of 
the  Jewish  inhabitants  of  this  place 
heard  Peter's  sermon  at  Pentecost,  and 
perhaps  first  carried  the  gospel  thither. 
Paul  and  Barnabas  aiterward  preach- 
ed the  gospel  here,  since  which, 
Christianity  has  never  been  whollj' 
extinct,  though  since  the  ravages  of' 
the  Saracens,  it  has  made  but  a  poor 
appearance.  Acts  ii.  10.  The  coun- 
try  is  at  present  under  the  Turks-, 
and  is  of  little  or  no  importance. 

PANT,  to  gasp  for  breath,  as  one 
dying  or  over-burdened.  It  is  ex- 
pressive of  killing  grief,  Isa.  xxi.  4. 
Psal.  xxxviii.  10.  or  eager  desire, 
ih.  xlii.  1.  and  cxix.  131.  Amos 
ii.  7. 

PANNAG.  Whether  this  signi- 
fies Phenicia,  or  a  place  near  Min- 
nith,  or  whether  it  signifies  oil  or 
balsam,  is  not  determined;  but  ei- 
ther in  Pannao;  or  in  fine  wheat  of 
Pannag,  the  Jews  traded  with  the 
Tyrians,  Ezek.  xxvii.  17. 

PAPER-REEDS,  a  kind  of  bul- 
rushes that  grow  in  Egypt,  along  the 
banks  of  the  Nile,  Isa.  xix.  7.  Of 
these  the  Egyptians  made  baskets, 
shoes,  clothes,  and  small  boats  for 
sailing  on  the  Nile,  Exod.  ii.  3.  Isa. 
xviii.  2.  To  make  paper  of  this  bul- 
rush, they  peeled  off  the  different 
skins  or  films  of  it,  one  after  ano- 
ther; these  they  stretched  on  a  ta- 
ble, to  the  intended  length  or  breadth 
of  the  paper,  and  overlaid  them  with 
a   kind  of  thin  paste,  or  the  mudd"* 


PAR 


(     257     ) 


PAR 


na(cr  of  the  Nile  a  little  Avarmed  : 
above  wliicli  they  S[)read  a  cross  lay- 
er of  other  films  or  leaves,  and  then 
dried  it  in  the  sun.  The  film?  near- 
est the  heart  of  the  plant  made  the 
finest  i)ai)er.  For  ahove  570  years 
back,  paper  of  linen  r;«2;3  hath  been 
in  use,  and  now  also  of  straw. 

PAPIiJS,  7vhichboib,  or  which  is 
rrry  hot.  There  were  two  cities  of 
this  name,  about  7  miles  distant  the 
one  from  the  other,  on  tlve  west  end 
of  the  isle  of  Cyprus;  in  each  of 
whicii,  Venus  the  jjoddess  of  lust,  had 
a  temple.  The  old  Paphos  was  built 
by  A2:apenor,  soon  after  the  destruc- 
tion of  Troy.  At  Paphos,  Paul 
preached  the  gospel,  converted  Ser- 
gius,  the  Roman  «;overnor  of  the 
island,  and  struck  El3^mas  the  sor- 
cerer blind,  Acts  xiii.  16.  The  idol- 
atry of  Venus  contiqued  about  400 
years  after.  Nevertheless,  we  find 
here  a  christian  church  al)out  the 
same  time;  and  Panhos  still  conti- 
nues a  seat  of  one  of  the  bishops  of 
the  Greek  church. 

PARABLE,  a  figurative  repre- 
sentation of  truth.  It  was  anciently 
common  for  the  men  of  wistlom  to 
utter  their  sentiments  in  parables; 
but  it  was  reckoned  very  inconsist- 
ent ior  fools  to  utter  parables,  Prov. 
xxvi.  7.  By  a  parable  of  the  trees 
choosing  a  kins:,  Jotham  showed  the 
Shechemites  their  folly  in  choosing 
his  bastard  brother  Abimelech.  By 
a  kind  of  parables  or  riddles,  Samson 
entertained  his  companions  during 
his  marriage-feast,  Judg.  ix.  and  xiv. 
B;r  a  parable,  Nathan  introduced  his 
reproof  of  David  for  his  adultery  and 
murder,  and  the  widow  of  Tekoah 
persuaded  him  to  recall  Absalom,  2 
Sam.  xii.  and  xiv.  Not  only  did  the 
prophets  often  use  parabolic  lan- 
guage, representing  idolaters  and 
adulterers,  &:c.  but  sometimes  added 
parabolic  actions:  as  when  Isaiah 
walked  almost  naked  and  barefoot 
for  three  years;  Jeremiah  hid  his 
girdle  by  the  Euphrates;  Ezekiel  lay 
before  his  iron  pan,  shaved  and  di- 
vided his  hair,  carried  out  his  house- 
hold   stutf,   £:c.  Isa.  xx.    Jer.    :aiii. 

Vol.  II. 


Ezek.  iv.  v,  and  xii.  A  number  of 
their  visions  were  also  a  kind  of  pa- 
rables; as  Jeremiah's  boiling  pot, 
baskets  of  figs,  &:c.  Jer.  i.  ami  xxiv. 
In  our  Saviour's  time  the  manner  of 
instruction  by  parables  was  quite 
common.  He  carried  it  to  the  height 
of  excellency  and  usefulness.  As  i>a- 
rables  very  often  represent  truth,  as  if 
by  a  kind  of  short  historj' ;  so  ia 
them,  especially  those  of  our  Savi- 
our, there  may  be  often  an  allusion 
to  real  facts,  which  adds  no  small 
decorum  to  the  parable.  His  para- 
ble of  the  travels  of  the  unclean  spi- 
rit, and  of  the  sower,  the  tares,  the 
growth  of  corn,  the  mustard-seed, 
the  leaven,  the  hid  treasure,  the 
pearl,  the  net,  the  two  debtors,  the 
Samaritan,  the  rich  fool,  the  servants 
waiting  for  their  Lord,  the  barren 
fig-tree,  the  lost  sheep,  the  lost  piece 
of  silver,  the  prodigal  son,  the  dis- 
honest steward,  Lazarus  and  the  rich 
man,  the  unjust  judge,  the  Pharisee 
and  publican,  the  two  servants  that 
were  debtors,  the  labourers,  the 
pounds,  the  two  sons,  the  vineyard 
let  out  to  husbandmen,  the  marriage- 
feast,  the  ten  virgins,  the  talents,  the 
sheep  and  goats,  are  drawn  from 
obvious  and  common  things;  and  yet 
how  exalted  the  instruction  they 
convey! — To  understand  parables, 
it  is  proper  to  observe,  (1.)  It  is  not 
necessary  that  the  representation  of 
natural  things  in  a  parable  should  be 
strict'y  matter  of  fact,  because  the 
design  is  not  to  inform  concerning 
these,  but  concerning  some  more 
momentous  truth  :  nor  is  it  neces- 
sary that  all  the  actions  in  a  parable 
be  strictly  just,  2  Sam.  xiv.  Luke 
xvi.  1—8.  (2.)  We  must  chiefly  at- 
tend to  the  scope  of  the  parable, 
which  is  to  be  gathered  from  the 
inspired  explication  thereof;  from 
the  introduction  to  it,  or  the  conclu- 
sion of  it.  (3.)  Hence  it  follows, 
that  we  are  not  to  expect  that 
every  circumstance  in  the  parable 
should  be  answered  by  something  in 
the  explication;  for,  goreral  cirum- 
stances  may  be  added  for  the  sake  of 
decorum,  or  mere  allusion  to  that 
2  K 


PAR 


^ 


2iS     ) 


PAR 


Tvlieuce  the  figure  of  the  parable  is 
taken.  (4.)  Yet  a  parable  may  in- 
form us  of  several  trutiis,  besides  the 
scope  of  it. 

It  has  been  made  a  question  whether 
our  Saviour's  parables  were  intended 
to  render  his  doctrines  clear  to  the 
vulgar,  or  to  conceal  them  from  their 
eyes  ;  because  it  is  said  in  Luke  viii. 
1 0.  "  That  seeing  they  might  not  see, 
and  hearing  they  might  not  under- 
stand." Yet  tlie  former  opinion  seems 
to  be  more  agreeable  to  reason ;  not 
only  because  all  who  have  written 
upon  the  nature  of  a  parable,  do 
agree,  that  it  is  a  plain,  simple  way  of 
speaking,  proportioned  to  the  under- 
standing of  the  meanest  capacity  ; 
but  also,  because  our  Saviour  himself 
says,  Matt.  xiii.  13.  "  He  spake  to 
Ihem  in  parables,  because  they  see- 
ing, see  not;  and  hearins:,  hear 
not;  neither  do  they  understand:" 
That  is,  they  did  not  consider,  nor 
attend  to  ;  and  consequently  did  not 
understand  what  he  had  said  to  them 
in  a  common  way  :  and  therefore  he 
spake  to  them  in  parables;  or  by 
comparisons  borrowed  from  things 
which  the  most  ignorant  did  under- 
stand, to  explain  something  which 
they  did  not;  and  though  some  of 
these  were  not  instantly  compre- 
hended by  tlie  apostles,  at  which  our 
Lord  expresses  some  surprise,  say- 
ing, "Know  j'e  not  (this  easy  and 
iamiliar)  parable  ?  how  then  will  ye 
know  all  parables?"  Mark  iv.  13. 
yet  he  afterwards  explained  them ; 
ver.  34.  and  commanded,  that  what 
he  told  them  in  darkness  they  should 
speak  in  the  light,"  Matt.  x.  27.  But 
although  these  parables  might  be 
clear  to  most  men  of  those  times  ; 
because  our  Saviour  in  them  frequent- 
ly alluded  to  things  immediately  be- 
fore their  eyes  ;  yet  these  objects  be- 
ing removed  from  us,  ever)'^  one  does 
not  now  see  the  force  and  beauty  of 
them ;  or  perha[)s  not  clearly  under- 
stand them,  without  some  little  assist- 
ance. 

PARADISE,  garden  of  plea- 
sure. Vain  minds  have  fancied  it 
-aimQst  every-where.    Their  opinion 


who  place  it  in  Syria,  near  the  head 
of  the  Jordan,  or  rather  farther 
south,  and  theirs  that  place  it  in  Ar- 
menia, whence  run  the  rivers  of  Eu- 
phrates and  Hiddekel,  which  run 
south,  and  of  Araxes,  which  runs  east, 
hath  no  proof  on  its  side.  The  first 
of  these  hath  no  marks  of  the  Mosaic 
Euphrates  at  all ;  no  four  rivers ;  no 
river  parted  into  four  heads.  Nor 
indeed  is  that  in  Armenia  much  bet- 
ter founded ;  the  springs  of  the  Eu- 
phrates, Tigris,  and  Araxes,  are  too 
distant  to  be  said  to  proceed  out  of 
the  same  garden;  and  the  Phasis, 
which  they  call  Pison,  has  its  Iiead 
much  more  distant  in  the  mountain 
Caucasus.  We  suppose  that  para- 
dise stood  in  Eden  in  Chaldea,  at  the 
conflux  of  the  Tigris,  or  HiddekeK 
and  the  Euphrates,  or  a  little  below 
it.  Here  we  find  two  of  Moses's  ri- 
vers by  name ;  and  below,  we  find 
the  stream  was  parted  into  two  large 
divisions,  the  eastern  one  of  which 
may  have  been  the  Gihon,  and  the 
western  the  Pison.  It  may  be  pro- 
per to  observe,  that  when  some  of 
these  rivers  are  said  to  compass  such 
lands,  the  word  may  be  rendered, 
nms  along,  i.  e.  along  the  side  ;  and 
Hiddekel  went  not  to  the  east  of  As- 
syria, but  ran  from  Assyria  cast- 
ward  or  runs  before  Assyria,  that  is, 
between  Moses  and  Assyria,  Gen. 
ii.  11 — 14.  It  is  probable  the  Hea- 
thens derived  their  fancy  of  fortunate 
islands  and  Eiysian  fields,  and  drew 
their  taste  for  gardens  of  perfumes 
from  the  ancient  paradise.  Heaven 
is  called  a  paradise,  because  of  the 
complete  happiness,  manifold  de- 
lights, and  intimate  fellowship  witli 
God,  that  are  there  enjoyed,  Luke 
xxiii.  44.  2  Cor.  xii.  4.  Rev.  ii.  7. 

PARAMOURS,  lewd  men.  The 
Heathen  nations,  oa  whom  the  Jews 
depended  for  relief,  instead  of  their 
God,  and  whose  idolatries  they  fol- 
lowed, are  called  tlieir  paramours. 
Ezek.  xxiii.  20. 

PARAN,  or  El-paran,  hcatity, 
glory,  ornament,  a  track  in  Arabia 
the  Stony,  between  the  south  of 
Canacin    and   the    eastern   gulf  (4. 


PAR 


(     2^9     ) 


PAR 


(he  Red  Sea;  or  rather  it  extended, 
when  taken  at  large,  as  far  as  Sinai, 
Deut.  xxxiii.  2.  Heb.  iii.  3.  It  is 
said,  that  part  of  it  next  to  Sinai 
abounded  with  husheu;  but,  on  the 
main,  it  was,  and  still  is,  a  frightful 
desert.  It  is  said  the  houses  iu  it 
were  generally  holes  dug  in  the 
earth;  hut  there  was  a  city  called 
Paran  in  it,  whence  Hadad  took  his 
guides  to  conduct  him  to  Egypt,  1 
Kings  xi.  18.  Dr.  Shaw  thinks,  its 
extent  from  Kadesh-barnca,  on  the 
nortJi,  to  Sinai,  was  about  110  miles; 
but  it  seems  to  have  extended  to  the 
north-east  of  Kadesh,  as  David  con- 
cealed himself  in  it  when  he  was 
near  Maon  and  south  Carmel,  1  Sam 
XXV.  2.  and  perhaps  it  was  the  in 
habitants  of  this  part  of  it  that  Che- 
dorlaomer  ravaged  before  he  attack 
ed  the  Sodomites,  Geu.  xiv.  6.  In 
the  wilderness  of  Paran,  I  suppose, 
to  the  south-west  of  Bcerslieba,  Ish- 
mael,  and  his  mother  Hagar,  took 
up  their  residence.  Gen.  xxi.  21. 
and  hence  the  Ishmaelites  dispersed 
themselves  into  the  regions  round 
about. — There  seems  to  have  been 
another  place  called  Paran,  on  the 
east  of  Jordan,  Deut.  i.   1. 

PARCHED,  exceedingly  dried; 
so  parched  ground  is  what  is  burnt  up 
with  excessive  drought,  Jer.  xvii.  t). 
Parched  corn  is  what  has  been  roast- 
ed by  the  fire,  that  it  may  be  eaten, 
2  Sam.  xvii.  23.  To  inhabit  parched 
places,  is  to  be  in  a  most  wretched 
and  destitute  condition,  Jer.  xvii.  6. 
The  Gentile  world,  and  unregenerate 
men  are  likened  to  parched  grounds 
how  destitute  of  divine  truth  and 
gracious  influences!  how  barren  of 
good  works  !  how  scorched  with  the 
power  of  temptation,  with  corrupt 
inclinations  and  customs,  and  with 
divine  judgments !  Jer.  xxxv.  7. 

PARCHMENT,  skins  of  sheep, 
calves,  and  goats,  dressed  for  the 
writer ;  so  called  from  the  Pcrgavicmc 
mcmbramc,  or  skins  prepared  at  Per- 
gamum  in  Mysia,  the  kings  of  which 
brought  them  into  use;  because  the 
Ptolemies,  kings  of  Esypt,  prohibited 
the   exportation   of  the   papyrus  or 


common  paper.  The  art  of  dress- 
ing skins  might  be  improved  at 
Pergamum,  but  the  thing  was  known 
and  long  in  use  before  the  Attali, 
kings  of  Pergamum.  Diodorus  Si- 
culus  relates,  that  the  Persians  for- 
merly wrote  their  registers  upoa 
skins;  and  Herodotus  speaks  of  the 
skins  of  sheep  and  goats  made  use  of 
by  the  ancient  lonians  to  write  upon; 
and  the  rolls  mentioned  in  the  pro- 
})hets  were  probably  vellum  or  parch- 
ment. What  were  the  contents  of 
the  parchmeats  mentioned  2  Tim. iv. 
13.  may  be  matter  of  endless  dispute, 
because  it  is  not  possible  to  be  at  this 
day  determined.     See  Paper. 

PARDON.     See  Forgive. 

PARENTS.     See  Father. 

PARLOUR,  a  room  in  houses  on 
the  first  floor,  elegantly  furnished 
for  reception  or  entertainment.  Pro- 
bably that  in  which  Eglon,  king  of 
Moab,  w^as  sitting  when  Ehud  went 
to  him,  was  a  cool  airy  room,  a  little 
remote  from  his  palace,  suited  to  the 
heat  of  the  summer,  over  which  was 
a  chamber  for  him  to  cover  his  feet, 
or  retire  to  rest,  Judg.  iii.  20. 

PART,  (1.)  A  piece,  Ruth  ii. 
3.  (2.)  A  share,  Josh.  xix.  9.  (3.) 
Duty,  business,  Ruth  iii.  13.  1  Sam. 
xxxiii.  20.  (4.)  Side,  party,  Mark 
ix.  40.  The  inward  or  hidden  part^ 
is  the  soul,  Psal.  v.  9,  and  Ii.  6. 
God  smote  the  Philistines  in  the 
hinder  parts,  and  put  them  to  a  per- 
petiial  reproach,  Avhen  he  plagued 
them  w  ith  the  emerods,  Psal.  Ixxviil. 
66.  A  third  or  fourth  part,  is  often 
used  to  signify  a  great  deal,  a  great 
many,  Ezek.  v.  2,  12.  Zech.  xiii.  8, 
9.  Rev.  vi.  8.  iii.  7—12.  and  ix.  18. 

To  PART,  (1.)  To  separate,  go 
asunder,  2  Kings  ii.  11.  (2.)  To  di- 
vide. Gen.  ii,  10.  (3.)  To  determine 
a  controversy,  giving  each  his  share, 
Prov,  xviii.  8. 
PARTAKE, toreceiveashare.  The 
saints  are  partakers  of  Christ,  and  of 
a  heavenly  calling:  by  receiving  Jesus 
Christ  into  our  heart,  we  possess  him, 
his  blessings,  and  influences,  as  our 
own,  and  become  heirs  to  the  heaven- 
ly glory,  Heb.  iii.  1,  14.  atid  vi.  4v 


PAR 


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PAR 


They  arc  partakers  of  God's  promise 
and  benefit;  they  have  an  interest  in 
all  the  promises,  and  shall,  if  faithful, 
receive  every  blessing  therein  con- 
tained, Eph.  iii.  6.  1  Tim.  vi.  2. 
They  are  partakers  of  the  divine  na- 
ture, and  of  Christ's  holiness,  when 
through  union  to  Christ,  and  fellow- 
ship with  him,  their  nature  is  con- 
formed to  God  in  Christ,  2  Pet.  i.  4. 
Tiiey  partake  of  ChrisCs  sufferings, 
and  of  the  afflictions  of  the  gospel, 
when  they  are  persecuted  for  adhe- 
rence to  the  truths  and  ways  of 
Christ,  1  Pet.  iv.  13.  2  Cor.  i.  7. 
2  Tim.  i.  8.  They  partake  of  the 
grace  of  Paul,  and  other  ministers, 
when  they  receive  spiritual  edifica- 
tion from  their  ministry,  Phil.  i.  7. 
They  arepartakers  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
ofthe  witness  and  fruit  of  the  Spirit; 
and  are  strengthened  by  his  might 
in  their  inner  man,  Heb.  vi.  4.  Eph. 
iii.  1 6.  We  are  partakers  of  otlier 
men's  sins,  by  contriving,  consenting, 
inclining  to,  rejoicing  in,  assisting  to 
commit,  sharing  the  profits  or  plea- 
sures of  their  sin;  by  an  evil  exam- 
ple, or  offensive  use  of  things  indif- 
ferent; by  provoking  or  templing 
to,  or  not  doing  all  we  can  to  hinder 
their  sin;  by  commanding,  exciting, 
or  hiring  men  to  sin ;  by  defending, 
extenuating,  or  commending  their 
sin;  by  neglecting  to  reprove  for, 
and  promote  the  proper  punishment 
of  sin;  and  by  not  mourning  over 
and  praying  against  sin.  Rev.  xviii. 
4.  Eph.  V.  II.  1  Tim.  V.  22. 

PARTHIA,  had  Media  on  the 
west,  Hyrcania  on  the  north,  Aria 
or  Ariana  on  the  east,  and  the  desert 
of  Carmania,  now  Kerman,  on  the 
.south.  I  am  inclined  to  believe  the 
Parthians  were  chiefly  the  offspring 
of  those  Gauls  that  broke  into  Asia, 
and  i)art  of  whom  peopled  Galatia; 
but  other*,  perhaps  on  grounds  equal- 
ly strong,  suppose  them  to  have 
been  of  a  Persian  original.  It  is  cer- 
tain, that  about  A.  M.  3754,  Arsaces, 
a  noble  Parthian,  revolted  from  Au- 
tiochus  Theos  of  Syria,  and  erected  a 
kingdom  for  himself.  This,  in  pro- 
cess of  time,  bepame  very  powerful, 


and  a  terror  to  the  Romans  them- 
selves. It  sometimes  extended  from 
the  head  of  the  Euphrates,  nay,  Irom 
the  Hellespont,  to  beyond  the  river 
Indus  in  Asia,  together  with  Egy[(t, 
and  Lybia  in  Africa.  About  A.  D, 
232,  this  monarchy,  at  least  the  fa- 
mily of  Arsaces^  was  ruined  by  Ar- 
taxerxes  the  Persian.  About  A.  D. 
640,  Parthia  was  overrun  by  the 
Saracens.  The  ancient  Parthia  is 
now  the  Persian  Irak,  and  is  in  the 
heart  of  the  Persian  empire.  It  is 
about  600  miles  in  length,  and  450 
broad.  The  country  is  somewhat 
hilly,  but  the  air  is  fine,  and  here  we 
find  Ispahan  the  capital,  with  Ca- 
shan,  Hamdan,  and  other  cities  of 
note.  Probably  some  of  those  Jews 
of  Parthia,  who  were  present  at  Pe- 
ter's sermon,  carried  thither  the  first 
hints  of  the  Christian  faith ;  but  for 
many  ages,  there  have  been  small 
remains  of  Christianity  here,  except 
among  the  Armenians,  who  settled 
in  it  for  the  sake  of  trade.  Acts  ii.  9. 

PARTIAL,  showing  an  unjust  re- 
gard or  disregard  to  some  persons  or 
things,  on  account  of  some  carnal 
motives,  Mai.  ii.  9.  1  Tim.  v.  21. 

PARTICULARLY,  one  by  one, 
Paul  could  not  in  an  epistle  enlarge 
particidarii/  in  explaining  the  sig- 
nification of  every  particular  utensil 
of  the  temple,  Heb.  ix.  5. 

PARTITION,  a  wall  or  hanging 
that  divides  between  two  apartments, 
1  Kings  vi.  21. 

PARTRIDGE,  a  bird  wellknowa 
to  our  sportsmen.  Their  t5esh  is  very 
good  to  eat,  their  flight  is  low,  and 
of  a  small  compass;  but  they  run 
well,  almost  as  soon  as  they  are 
hatched.  The  grey  brown  ])ar- 
tridges,  with  a  naked  scarlet  mark 
behind  their  eyes,  are  the  most  com- 
mon; but  the  red-legged  ones  are 
the  largest.  In  the  Alps,  there  are 
white  partridges,  with  hairy  feet. 
It  is  said,  feniale  partridges  have 
such  inclination  to  hatch,  thatif  their 
own  eggs  be  taken  away,  they  will 
steal  some  of  their  neigiibour's ;  and 
that  the  young  hatched  from  tluse 
egg3  forsake  their   batcher,  and  foi- 


PAS 


(     261     ) 


PAS 


low  the  call  of  (luMr  Irue  dam.  Par- 
Iridixes  iire  t^aicl  to  be  coiitenlious ; 
and  l)y  i)ursuiii^  the  I'uwier'a  tame 
j)artri(ige,  they  will  run  info  hU  net. 
Bochurt,  ami  sume  (»theri«,  think  the 
KORB  is  no(  the  partridt^e,  but  the 
■woodcock  or  snipe,  1  Sam.  xxvi. 
20.  As  the parlndi:e  sittdli  on  cgiis, 
anil  halchilh  thnn  not,  (they  beinii; 
broken  or  carried  away;)  so  is  the 
covetous  fool,  who,  alter  he  has  ta- 
ken every  method  to  amass  wealth, 
lias  it  taken  from  him  amidst  his  de- 
light in  it,  Jer.  xvii.  11. 

PAKVALAi,  either  Parbacia  in 
the  laud  of  Havilah,  or  0|>hir.  It 
is  supposed  to  be  an  island  in 
the  Last  Indies.  From  Parvaim 
Solomon  had  the  gold  wherewith  he 
overlaid  the  inside  of  his  temple,  2 
Chron.  iii.  b. 

PASHUR.     See   .Teremiah. 

A  PASSAGE  of  a  river,  is  a  ford 
or  bridge,  Judj;'.  xii.  16.  In  a  coun- 
try, a  passage  oWen  signifies  a  narrow 
Vidy  between  mountains,  lakes,  Arc. 
such  as  the  passages  of  IMichma:h  and 
Abarim,  that  were  rendered  narrow 
by  the  hills  or  rocks  on  each  side,  1 
Sam.  xiii.  23.  Jer.  xxii.  20. 

PASSION,  (1.)  Suffering  and 
death,  Acts  i.  3.  It  is  used  emphati- 
cally for  tiie  last  sufferings  of  Christ. 
(2.)  Weakness  and  frailty,  being 
liable  to  death,  like  other  men,  Acts 
xiv.  15.  Jam.  v.  17. 

PASSOVER.  See  Feast.  In  the 
time  of  Joshua,  Samuel,  Hezekiah, 
and  Josiah,  and  after  the  return  from 
Babylon,  it  was  kept  with  great  care, 
Josh.  V.  2  Chron.  xxx.  2  Kings  xxiii. 
Ezra  vi.  19.  Probably,  after  the 
blood  of  the  passover-lambs  came  to 
be  sprinkled  on  the  altar,  they  no 
more  sprinkled  it  on  their  doors.  It 
is  certain,  from  the  instance  of  our 
Saviour,  that  they  did  not  that  night 
confine  themselves  to  their  houses. 
He  no  doubt  kept  it  on  the  very  night 
on  which  the  other  Jewa  observed 
it;  otherwise  his  adversaries,  who 
go  eagerly  sought  for  matter  of  accu- 
sation, would  have  fixed  on  this. 
Nor  was  the  day  of  his  death  the 
tlay  oi  preparation  for  paling  the 


[)aschal  lanih,  but  for  the  Sabbath, 
and  the  feast  of  unleavened  bread, 
which  is  al?o  called  the ;;<«iOi'tr.  Ag 
the  blootl  of  (en  lamb^:,  or  more, 
nught  be  in  one  bas*on,  it  is  easy  to 
see  how  the  blood  of  10,000  or 
20,000  such  basons  of  blood  might  in 
one  afternoon  he  sprinkled  by  so 
many  priests.  The  Jews  still  observe 
a  kind  of  [lassover,  mingling  most  of 
the  ancient  rites  with  plenty  of  mo- 
dern inventions. 

PASTORS,  or  siiepiierds;  such 
as  Avatch  over  flocks  of  sheep,  &c. 
directing  them  to  their  right  pasture, 
affording  them  water,  gathering 
them  when  proper  to  their  fold, 
and  protecting  them  from  hurt.  It 
seems  that  their  Hocks  often  followed 
them,  John  x.  1 — 27.  As  cf  old, 
great  men's  wealth  consisted  chiefly 
in  their  flocks  and  herds,  the  oftice 
of  feeding  them  was  accounted  very 
honourable.  Abel,  Abraham,  Isaac, 
Jacob,  Moses,  Uavid,  nay,  the  daugh- 
ters of  Laban  and  Jethro  employed 
themselves  in  this  way.  Why  shep- 
herds were  held  as  an  abomination 
to  the  Egyptians,  we  have  already 
hinted. 

Christ  is  called  a  Shepherd;  with 
what  tender  care  did  he  lead,  pro- 
vide for,  protect,  and  govern  the 
Hebrews,  in  the  desert,  and  in  Ca- 
naan !  With  what  tender  care  he  ga- 
thers, governs,  protects,  heals,  and 
provides  for  the  welfare  of  his  church 
and  people!  Gen.  xlix.  21.  Psal. 
Ixxx.  1.  and  xxiii.  1.  Isa.  xl.  11. 
Christ  is  God's  Shrphcrd,  because  his 
Father  hath  given  him  to  suffer  death 
for  men,  and  appointed  him  to  call 
and  feed  them,  Zech.  xiii.  7.  He  is 
called  the  One  Shepherd,  because  he 
aloue  Oivns  the  sheep;  and  can,  in 
every  respect,  answer  and  supply  all 
their  wants,  Ezek.  xxiv.  23.  John 
X.  10.  He  is  called  the  Great  and 
Chief  Shepherd;  he  is  infinitely  great 
in  himself;  he  is  highly  exalted  as 
our  Mediator;  he  has  the  supreme 
management  of  the  church  in  his 
hand ;  and  ministers  and  magistrates 
are  but  instruments  subject  to  him, 
Heb.  xiii.  20.  1  Pet.  v.  4.    He  is 


PAS 


(     262     ) 


PAS 


the  Good  Shepherd;  in  infinite  kind- 
ness he  redeemed  his  sheep  by  the 
price  of  his  blood :  tenderly  he  sym- 
pathizes with  them,  and  gives  them 
his  own  flesh  and  blood  for  their  pro- 
Tision :  and  nothing  good  will  he 
withhold  from  them,  John  x.  14. 
He  is  the  Shepherd  and  bishop  of 
souls:  it  is  men's  souls  he  leads,  re- 
stores, and  satiates:  and  their  spi- 
ritual and  eternal  interests  are  the 
great  objects  of  his  care,  1  Pet.  ii. 
25.  Psal.  xxiii.  2,  3.  Jer.  xxxi. 
27. — Ministers  are  shepherds;  it  is 
their  w^ork  to  gather,  lead,  watch 
over,  feed  with  sound  doctrine,  and 
every  way  endeavour  to  promote  the 
spiritual  life,  safety,  growth,  health, 
and  comfort  of  their  people,  Jer. 
xvii.  P.  Eph.iv.  11.  IPet.v.  1— 4. 
The  pastoral  or  ministerial  office  and 
Avork  is  described  in  scripture  as 
inexpressibly  important  and  solemn. 
It  is  at  the  infinite  hazard  of  men,  if 
they  rush  into  it  without  being  rege- 
nerated in  the  whole  man  after  the 
image  of  God ;  unless  old  things  be 
passed  away,  and  all  things  become 
new; — without  having  the  Spirit  of 
God  dwelling  in  their  heart,  to  show 
them  the  things  of  Christ,  and  ena- 
ble them  to  know,  win,  and  rejoice 
in  him,  and  worship  God  in  spirit 
and  in  truth,  having  no  confidence 
in  the  flesh; — to  make  them  expe- 
rimentally know  and  believe  what 
they  declare  to  others : — and  to  ren- 
der them  apt  to  teach;  capable  to 
luifold  and  apply  the  mysteries  of 
the  gospel  in  a  plain  and  affecting 
manner.  Gal.  i.  15,  16,  2  Cor.  v.  17. 
John  xiv.  16,  17,  26.  and  xv.  26. 
27.  and  xvi.  13,  14,  15.  and  xx.  22. 
Phil.  iii.  3,  7—14.  1  Cor.  ii.  10—16. 
2  Cor.  iv.  14.  1  John  i.  3.  They 
must  have  a  real  call  and  mission 
from  Jesus  Christ  to  their  work, 
otherwise  they  cannot  expect  to 
have  any  true  success  in  it,  Jer. 
xxiii.  21,  22,  32.  Isa.  vi.  8,  9.  and 
xlix.  1,2.  Jer.  i.  Ezek.  ii.  iii.  xxxiii. 
Mat.  X.  Luke  x.  John  x.  Acts  i. 
and  xxvi.  17,  18.  Rom.  x.  15.  Heb. 
V.  4.  Their  ends  ought  to  be  single 
and  disiulerested,  not  seeking  great 


things  for  themselves ;  coveting  no 
man's  silver,  gold,  or  apparel,  but 
seeking  to  gain  men  to  Christ,  and 
salvation  through  him ; — not  looking 
or  aiming  at  their  own  ease,  profit, 
or  honour,  but  at  the  things  of  Christ 
and  his  people ;  not  seeking  glory  of 
men,  but  the  honour  of  Christ  and  his 
Father  in  the  eternal  salvation  of 
souls,  Jer.  xlv.  5.  1  Sam.  xii.  3. 
Acts  XX.  23.  1  Cor.  ix.  12,  16.  2 
Cor.  vii.  2.  and  xi.  9.  and  xii.  13, 
14.  Phil.  ii.  21.  2  Cor.  vi.  4—10. 
1  Thess.  ii.  4—9.  John  vii.  18.  As 
ambassadors  for  Christ — as  stewards 
of  the  mysteries  and  manifold  grace 
of  God,  it  is  required  of  them  to  be 
faithful; — to  serve  the  Lord  with 
their  spirit,  and  with  much  humility 
in  the  gospel  of  his  Son;  to  testify 
repentance  towards  God,  and  faith 
towards  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  keep- 
ing back  no  j)art  of  the  counsel  ot* 
God, — no  profitable  instruction,  re- 
proof, encouragement,  and  not  mov- 
ed with  any  reproach,  persecution, 
hunger,  or  nakedness,  but  ready  not 
only  to  be  bound,  but  to  die  for  the 
name  of  Jesus,  in  order  to  finish  theis* 
course  Avith  joy  : — They  must  labour 
with  much  fear  and  trembling,  he 
determined  to  know,  to  glory  in,  and 
make  known  nothing  but  Jesus  Christ 
and  him  crucified; — preaching  the 
gospel,  not  with  enticing  words  of 
man's  wisdom,  as  men-pleasers,  but 
with  great  plainness  of  speech,  in 
demonstration  of  the  Spirit  and  with 
power, — speaking  the  things  freely 
given  them  by  God,  not  in  the  words 
which  man's  wisdom  teacheth,  but 
in  words  which  the  Holy  Ghost 
teacheth,  comparing  spiritual  things 
with  spiritual,  as  having  the  mind  of 
Christ; — always  triumphing  in  him, 
and  making  manifest  the  savour  of 
his  knowledge  in  every  p'ace,  that 
they  may  be  to  God  a  sweet  savour 
of  Christ  in  them  that  are  saved,  and 
in  them  that  perish; — as  of  sincerity, 
as  of  God  in  the  sight  of  God  speak- 
ing in  Christ,  and  through  the  mercy 
of  God  not  fainting,  but  renouncing 
the  hidden  things  of  dishonesty  ; — 
not  walking  in  craftiness,  nor  hand* 


PAS 


(     263     ) 


PAS 


Jing  the  Avord  of  God  deceitfully,  but 
manifesting  the  truth  to  every  man's 
conscience  in  the  sight  of  God ; — not 
preaching  themselves,  Itut  Christ  Je- 
sus the  Lord,  and  themselves  servants 
to  the  church,  for  his  sake, — always 
bearing  about  his  tlyiiig,  (hat-hls  life 
may  be  manifested  in  them. — Know- 
ing the  terror  of  the  Lord,  and  deep- 
ly impressed  with  the  account  that 
themselves  and  hearers  shall  give  to 
him  in  the  day  of  judgment,  awed 
Avith  his  autliority,  and  constrained 
by  his  love,  they  must  persuade  men, 
making  themselves  manifest  to  God 
and  to  their  conscience ;  must  change 
their  voice,  and  turn  themselves 
every  way,  and  become  all  things  to 
all  men  in  order  to  bring  them  to 
Christ; — jealous' over  them  "with  a 
godly  jealousy,  in  order  to  espouse 
them  to  him  as  chaste  virgins  ; — tra- 
vailing in  birth,  till  he  be  formed  in 
their  hearts,  they  must  take  heed  to 
their  ministry,  which  they  have  re- 
ceived of  the  Lord,  that  they  noxiy 
fulfil  it ; — giving  themselves  wholly 
to  reading,  exhortation,  and  doctrine 
— taking  heed  to  themselves,  and  to 
what  they  preach,  that  they  may 
save  themselves  and  their  hearers; — 
■watcliing  for  their  souls,  as  expect- 
ing to  give  an  account  of  them ; — 
rightly  dividing  the  word  of  truth, 
and  giving  to  every  man  his  portion 
in  due  season  ; — faithfully  warning 
every  man,  and  teaching  every  man, 
and  labouring  to  present  every  man 
perfect  in  Christ  Jesus; — and  war- 
ing not  after  the  flesh,  nor  with 
carnal  weapons,  but  with  such  as  are 
mighty  through  God,  to  the  pull- 
ing down  of  strong-holds,  and  cast 
ing  down  imagination?,  as  subduing 
every  thought  and  affection  to  the 
obedience  of  Christ.  Having  him  for 
the  end  of  their  conversation,  and 
holding  fast  the  form  of  sound  words  ; 
in  faith  in,  and  love  to  him,  they 
must  go  forth  without  the  camp, 
bearing  his  reproach,  and  be  expos- 
ed as  spectacles  of  sufferings  to  an- 
gels and  men;  must  feed  the  flock 
of  God  purchased  with  his  blood, 
over   which  the   Holv  Ghost   hati: 


made  them  overseois; — preacliing 
sound  doctrine  in  faith  and  verity ; 
— |ireaching  the  word  in  season  and 
out  of  season  ; — reproving,  rebuking, 
and  exhorting,  with  all  long-sulfer- 
ing  and  doctrine  ; — taking  the  over- 
sight of  their  people,  not  by  con- 
straint, but  willingly,  not  for  filthy 
lucre,  worldly  gain,  but  of  a  ready 
mind;  and  not  entangling  them- 
selves with  the  aflairs  of  this  life^ 
neither  as  being  lords  over  God's 
heritage,  but  as  examples  to  the 
flock; — exercised  unto  godliness, 
kindly  alfectioned,  disinterested,  ho- 
h'^,  just,  and  nnblameable; — prudent 
examples  of  the  believers  *n  conver- 
sation, in  charity,  in  faith,  in  purity ; 
— fleeing  youthful  lusts,  and  follow- 
ing after  righteousness,  peace,  faith, 
charity: — not  striving,  but  being 
gentle  unto  all  men  ; — in  meekness 
instructing  them  that  oppose  them- 
selves;— avoiding  foolish  and  un- 
learned questions  ; — fleeing  from  per- 
verse disputings  and  worldly  mind- 
edness,  as  most  dangerous  snares ; 
and  following  after  righteousness, 
godliness,  faith,  love,  patience,  meek- 
ness— fighting  the  good  fight  of 
faith,  and  laying  hold  on  eternal  life; 
— keeping  their  trust  of  gospel-truth 
and  office,  and  without  partiality, 
Sic.  or  precipitancy,  committing  the 
same  to  faitliful  men,  who  may  be 
able  to  teach  others:  and  in  fine,  to 
try  and  confute  false  teachers,  rebuke 
before  all  such  as  sin  openly, — re- 
store such  as  have  been  overtaken  iu 
a  fault,  in  the  spirit  of  meekness ; 
and,  having  compassion  on  them,  to 
pull  them  out  of  the  fire,  hating  the 
garment  spotted  by  the  flesh,  and  ne- 
ver conniving  at,  or  partaking  with, 
any  in  their  sins.  Alas  \  how  few  of 
the  clerical  order  come  up  to  this 
scriptural  account  of  their  cha-. 
racter  and  work !  Ezek.  ii.  7.  and 
iii.  9,  17  to  2L  and  xxxiii.  7  to  9. 
Isa.  Iviii.  1 .  Jer.  i.  1 7,  1 8.  and  xv.  1 9, 
20.  Mic.  iii.  8.  Mai.  ii.  6,  7.  Matt. 
X.  10  to  39.  and  xix.  28,  29.  and 
XX.  25  to  28.  and  xxiii.  3  to  12. 
and  xxiv.  42  to  51.  and  xxviii.  18 
to  20.  Acts  xviii.  and  xx.  18  to  35, 


PAS 


(    264     ) 


PAT 


and  xxir.  IG.  and  xxvi.  16  to  23. 

1  Cor.  ii.  to  iv.  v.  ix.  xii.  xiii.    xiv. 

2  Cor.  ii.  to  vi.  x.  to  xiii.  Rom.  i. 
9,  16.  and  ix.  12.  and  x.  1.  and  xii. 
XV.  Ga[.  i.  8  to  16.  and  iv.  19. 
Eph.  iii.  7,  8,  9.  ami  iv.  11  to  15. 
Col.  iv.7, 17.  1  Thess.  ii.iii.  1  Tim. 
iii.  to  vi.  2  Tim.  ii.  iii.  iv.  Tit.  i.  to 
iii.  Heb.  xiii.  7,  17.  Pet.  iv.  10, 
11.  and  V.  1  to  4.  Rev.  ii.  iii.  and 
xi.  3  to  7.  and  xiv.  6  to  11. 

Political  ruiersin  the  state,  and  cap- 
tains in  the  army,  are  called  padors, 
or  shepherds;  their  ofF.ce  requires 
them  to  gather,  lead,  protect,  and 
provide  lor  the  welfare  of  their  sub- 
jects and  armies,  which  are  their 
llocks;  but  how  often  do  they  act  the 
contrary!  Isa.  xliv.  28.  and  Ixiii.  14. 
Jer.  xii.  10.  and  xxv.  34.  Nah.  iii. 
18.  Jer.  xxiii.  Ezek.  xxxiv.  .Jo- 
seph, through  much  opposition  from 
his  brethren  and  others,  v;ho,  like 
archers,  shot  at  hiu),  came  by  the 
peculiar  providence  of  God  to  be 
the  shepherd  and  stone,  the  feeder 
and  supporter,  of  Israel,  Jacob  and 
his  famil3%  Herein  Joseph  was  a 
type  of  Clirist:  he  was  shot  at,  and 
hated,  but  borne  up  under  his  suffer- 
ings, and  was  afterwards  advanced 
to  be  the  shepherd  and  stone  of  Israel. 
And  also  of  the  church  in  general, 
hell  shoots  its  arrows  against  her, 
but  heaven  protects  and  strengthens 
her,  Gen.  xlix.  24.  The  Chaldean 
princes,  and  their  armies,  were  the 
shepherds  andjiocks  tliat  ruined  Ju- 
dah,  Jer.  x'l.  3.  and  xii.  10.  Calniet 
thinks,  trte  seven  shepherds,  and  eight 
principal  men  raised  up  to  waste  the 
land  of  Assyria  and  Nimrod,  to  be 
Darius  and  Hystaspis,  and  his  fel- 
lows, who  cut  off  the  Magi  from  the 
Persian  thione;  but  we  ratlier  un- 
derstand them  of  the  inspired  wri- 
ters, and  other  apostles  of  Christ  un- 
der the  New  Testament,  by  whom 
God  marvellously  brought  down  the 
kingdom  of  Satan  in  the  world,  Mic. 
y.  5,  6.  God's  cutting-  off  three  shep- 
herds in  one  month,  may  <lenote  his 
frequently  displacing  from  their  sta- 
tion the  Jewish  rulers  of  church  and 
state,  lor  a  consideriible  time  before 


tlie  last  destruction  of  Jerusalem, 
Zech.  xi.  8.  Thefoolish,  or  idle  shep- 
herd, set  over  the  Jews,  may  denote 
a  sluggish,  negligent,  covetous,  riot- 
ous, oppressive,  and  cruel,  govern- 
ment, Zech.  xi.  15,  16,  17. 

PASTURE,  a  place  for  feeding  of 
flocks,  1  Chron.  iv.  40.  Job  xxxix. 
8.  When  men  are  likened  to  flocks 
or  herds,  their  country,  or  what  they 
enjoy  in  it,  is  called  their/?a.vf{/re,  Hos, 
xiii.  6.  When  saints  are  likened  to 
flocks,  the  ordinances,  and  Avord  of 
God,  and  the  blessings  thereby  con- 
veyed, are  their  good,  green,  fresh, 
and  flourishing  pasture,  Psal.  Ixxiv. 
1.  and  xxiii.  2.  Ezek.  xxxiv.  14. 

PATE,  the  crown  of  the  head, 
Psal.  vii.  16. 

PATARA,  trodden  under  foot, 
bringing  death,  a  seaport  of  Lycia. 
Here  v.as  a  famous  temple  of  Apollo, 
Avhere  oracles,  equal  in  repute  to  those 
of  Delphos,  were  given  for  six  months 
of  the  year.  Paul  touched  here  in 
his  way  from  Macedonia  to  Jerusalem : 
!)ut  we  hear  nothing  of  Christianity 
settled  till  (he  4thceutur3%  and  it  con- 
tinued till  the  9th,  when  the  Sara- 
cens wasted  the  countr}',  Acts  xxi.  1. 

PATH.     See  Way. 

P  ATHROS,  a  mouthful  of  dew,  or 
persuasion  of  decay,  a  cit}'^  or  canton 
of  Egypt.  Some  will  have  it  to  be  tl;e 
PhaturisofPtolemy  and  Pliny.  Wells 
makes  it  a  city  in  Upper  Egy[)t,  on 
the  west  of  the  Nile.  Some  will  have 
it  the  Thebais  in  Uj>per  Egypt.  It 
iio  doubt  had  its  name  from  Pathrusim 
the  5th  son  of  Mizraim,  who  built  or 
peopled  it,  Gen.  x.  14.  When  I  con- 
sider that  the  Jews  under  Johanan 
the  son  of  Kareah  fled  thither  from 
Judea,  and  that  the  desolation  of 
Egypt  by  Nebuchadnezzar  and  Cam- 
byses  began  with  Pathros,  Jer.  xliv. 
1,  13.  Ezek.  xxix.  14.  and  xxx.  14. 
I  am  strongly  inclined  to  think  it 
was  somewhere  about  the  north-east 
of  Egypt.  From  Pathros,  God  will  re- 
call the  Jews  to  their  own  land  ;  and 
will  gather  many  to  the  gospel  church, 
Isa.  xi.  11. 

PATIENCE,  or  Long-suffer- 
iNG.     God's  patience,  is  his  bearing 


PAT 


(     205     ) 


P  A  U 


long  with  ofTtTiders,  wiHinut  piinish- 
ins;  tlicin,  Rom.  ii.  I.  Malt,  xviii. 
2t),  29.  The  patience  of  the  saint*, 
is  that  grace  \vlierel)y  they  meekly 
endure  injuries,  and,  with  a  eontinu- 
ed  calmness  of  tenipor,  and  submis- 
sion of  si>irit  lo  the  will  of  Liod,  hear 
atflictions,  and  also  humbly  wait  for 
the  accomplishment  of  ids  promises, 
Rom.  V.  3.  and  viii.  25.  It  is  called 
the  patience  of  Jesus  Christ,  as  he 
exemplified  it,  and  bestows  it :  it 
is  exercised  in  the  way  of  waiting 
and  honouring  him,  and  in  a  patient 
waiting  for  his  coming  in  the  power 
of  his  Si)irit,  and  to  judge  the  world, 
2  Thess.  iii,  4.  Rev,  i.  9.  and  the 
ward  of  his  patience,  means  those 
truths  which  areoi)posed,  and  we  are 
called  to  maintain  and  suffer  for, 
Rev.  iii.  10.  Herein  is  the  patience 
and  faith  of  the  saints  ;  in  enduring 
Antichristian  persecution,  and  wait- 
ing for  the  revenging  judgments  of 
God,  will  their  patience  and  faith  be 
exceedingly  exercised  and  tried,  Rev. 
xiii.  10. 

PATMOS,  mortal,  deadly,  an 
island  of  the  Archipelago,  now  call- 
ed Patino,  situated  on  the  coast  of 
Natalia,  between  the  isles  of  Samos 
and  Nicaria.  It  is  about  20  miles  in 
circumference,  and  one  of  the  most 
barren  heaps  of  rocks  in  the  Archi- 
pelago. Hither  John  the  apostle 
was  banished,  and  here  he  had  his 
revelations.  Rev.  i.  9.  and  here 
you  are  still  siiowed  his  cell,  and 
a  number  of  other  superstitious 
fooleries.  During  the  Crctian  or 
Candian  war,  above  a  hundred  years 
ago,  most  of  the  Venetian  fleet  win- 
tered in  the  harbours  of  this  island. 
At  present  it  is  inhabited  only  by 
Christians  of  the  Greek  church, 
subject  to  the  Turks.  The  males 
are  reckoned  about  300,  but  the 
tiemales  are  much  more  nume- 
rous. 

VATRlkKCYl,  ahead  of  a  family, 
one  of  the  principal  fathers  of  man- 
kind, particularly  of  the  Jews  :  so 
Abraham,  Jacob,  and  his  sons,  nnd 
David,  are  called,  Heb.  rii.  4.  Acts 
Tii.  8,  9.  and  ii.  29, 

Voi».  II. 


PATRIMONY,  the  goods,  or  in- 
heritance  left  by  a  father  to  bis  child, 
Dent,  xviii.  8. 

PA'I"1'ERN,(1.)  An  example,  op 
model,  E\od.  xxv.  9.  Tit.  ii.  7.  (2.) 
A  tvpe,  He)),  ix.  23. 

P'aVEMENT,  the  floor  of  a  court 
or  street,  lahl  with  polished  rmd  pre- 
cious stones,  2  Kings  xvi.  17.2 
Chron.  vii.  3.  The  pavement  o^  {he 
courts  in  Ezekiefs  visionary  temple, 
some  think,  may  denote  the  gospel- 
truths  which  are  the  foundation  of 
the  saints'  holy  and  beautiful  gosjjel- 
walk,  Ezek.  xl.  17,  18.  and  xlii.  3. 
See  Gabbatiia, 

PAVILION,  a  tent,  chiefly  one 
for  a  king,  general,  or  prince,  1  Kings 
XX.  12.  Jer.  xliii.  10.  God  made 
darkness  his  pavilion ;  he  displaj'^ed 
his  peculiar  presence  in  the  cloudy 
pillar  that  directed  the  Hebrews;  he 
often  performs  his  greatest  works 
by  dark  and  mysterious  providences, 
Psal.  xviii.  11.  God  hides  his  peo- 
ple in  his  pavilion  ;  in  intimate  fel- 
lowship with  him,  they  are  most  safe, 
as  prisoners  are  in  the  conquering 
general's  tent ;  and  by  his  provi- 
dence he  safely,  but  mysteriously, 
protects  them,  Psal.  xxvii.  5.  and 
xxxi.  20. 

PAUL,  a  worlccr,  or  Saul,  a 
sepulchre,  a  destroyer,  was  of  the 
tribe  of  Benjamin,  and  both  his  pa- 
rents were  Hebrews.  He  was  bora 
at  Tarsus  in  Cilicia,  and  hence  was 
by  birth  a  free  citizen  of  Rome. 
He  was  at  first  called  Saul,  and  ne- 
ver Paid  till  the  conversion  of  Ser- 
gius  Paulus.  Perhaps  Sergius  ho- 
noured him  with  his  surname.  Kiis 
parents  sent  him  early  to  Jerusalem, 
to  study  the  Jewish  law  under  the 
direction  of  Gamaliel,  the  most 
famed  doctor  of  that  age.  He 
made  great  progress  in  his  studies, 
and  lived  a  very  blameless  life. 
He  was  of  the  sect  of  the  Pha- 
risees, and  was  beyond  many  a 
strict  observer  of  the  law  of  Moses. 
He  thought  it  his  duty,  by  every 
way  he  could  devise,  to  affront  the 
name,  and  oppose  the  religion  and  fol- 
owers  of  Jesiis Christ:  hewas zealous 


P  A  U 


(     266    ) 


P  A  U 


even  to  madness  against  them.  When 
Stei)heu  was  murdered  by  the  mob, 
he  was  a  hearty  consenter,  and  took 
care  of  their  clothes  who  stoned  him 
to  death.  He  was  most  active  in  the 
persecution  that  followed.  He  en- 
tered the  houses  of  the  Christians, 
and  hauled  them  to  prison,  both  men 
and  women.  He  entered  the  syna- 
gogues where  the  Christians  at  any 
time  were,  and  cfuised  them  to  be 
beaten  with  nxls ;  and  required 
them  to  blaspheme  our  Saviour  as 
the  condition  of  their  escape.  Not 
satisfied  with  the  mischief  he  could 
do  them  at  .Jerusalem,  he  obtained 
credentials  from  Caiaphas  the  Itigh 
priest,  and  the  elders  of  the  .lews, 
to  the  principal  persons  of  Damas- 
cus, with  power  to  bring  to  Jerusa- 
lem such  believing  Jews  as  had  fled 
thither,  that  they  might  be  punished. 
He  went  oft',  breathing  and  threaten- 
ing nothing  less  than  cruelty  and 
<leath  against  them.  When  he  and 
his  attendants  had  almost  tiuislied 
their  journey  to  Damascus,  they 
were  all  of  a  sudden  siurounded  by 
a  surprising  light  from  iieaven.  Ter- 
rified almost  out  of  their  senses,  they 
threw  themselves  on  the  ground. 
Saul  alone  heard  our  Saviour's  voice, 
which  in  a  majestic  manner  said  to 
him,  Saul,  Saul,  rvhy  pcrsecutest 
thou  me  ?  Saul  trembling,  asked  him. 
Who  art  thou,  Lord?  He  replied, 
that  he  was  Jesus,  whom  he  had  per- 
secuted; and  intiraatedthatitwas  very 
dangerous  to  strive  against  his  pow- 
er. In  the  utmost  consternation, 
Saul  asked  him  what  he  would  have 
him  to  do  ?  Jesus  bid  him  rise  and 
stand  on  his  feet ;  for  he  had  chosen 
him  to  be  a  noted  minister  and  apos- 
tle, to  preach  his  doctrines  among 
the  Gentiles,  for  their  conversion 
and  salvation.  He  bid  him  go  to 
Damascus,  and  there  he  should  be 
farther  inibrmed  of  his  will.  As 
Saul  was  struck  blind,  his  compani- 
ons had  to  lead  him  by  the  way. 
He  liad  formerly  accounted  himself 
one  of  the  best  of  men,  and  a  certain 
heir  of  eternal  life;  now  the  law  of 
G©d,  being  applied  to  his  conscience, 


convinced  him  that  he  was  a  distin- 
guished transgressor,  dead  in  trespass- 
es and  sins,  and  condemned  to  endless 
ruin.  After  he  had  lodged  three 
daj^s  in  the  house  of  one  Judas, 
without  either  sight  or  food,  Ana- 
nias, a  Christian  preacher,  was  di- 
rected by  God  to  go  and  ask  for  him, 
and  by  laying  on  of  hands,  he  reco- 
vered him  to  his  sight.  Saul  had  no 
sooner  recovered  his  sight,  than  he 
made  a  solemn  profession  of  his  faith, 
was  baptized,  and  afterwards  tilled 
with  the  Holy  Ghost,  Phil.  iii.  5 — 8. 
Gal.  i.  31 — 36.  Acts  viii.  i.  and  ix. 
18,19.  xxii.  1— 16.  andxxvi.  9— 11. 
and  Romans  vii.  8 — 13.  After  eat- 
ing, and  recovering  his  strength,  he, 
regardless  of  whatever  poverty,  re- 
proach, or  persecution,  might  await 
him,  began  to  preach  the  gospel  at 
Damascus,  and  many  were  convert- 
ed. Such  Jews  as  were  not,  were 
confounded,  and  knew  not  what  to 
think  or  say.  To  stifle  the  account 
of  his  conversion,  and  stop  his  use- 
fulness, they  resolved  to  murder  him ; 
obtained  the  governor's  leave  to  do 
so,  and  watched  the  gates  night  and 
day  to  accomplish  their  purpose,  and 
prevent  his  escajie.  His  friends 
knowing  this,  let  him  down  in  a  bas- 
ket from  a  window  in  a  house  built 
on  the  wall  of  the  city.  After  he  had 
preached  some  time  in  Arabia,  south 
of  Damascus,  he  returned  to  that 
city.  In  the  third  year  of  his  con- 
version, he  went  up  to  Jerusalem  to 
see  Peter,  who  had  begun  the  con- 
version of  the  Gentiles.  It  was  not 
till  Barnabas  related  the  manner  and 
consequences  of  his  conversion,  that 
the  disciples  at  Jerusalem  admitted 
him  into  their  society  :  he  saw  none 
of  the  apostles  at  that  time,  but  Pe- 
ter and  James  the  Less,  the  rest,  it 
seems,  being  in  the  country  preach- 
ing the  gospel ;  nor  did  he  receive 
any  instruction  from  them.  At  Je- 
rusalem lie  preached  the  Christian 
doctrine  with  such  evidence  and 
zeal  as  the  Jews  could  not  resist ; 
but  they  resolved  to  kill  him.  As  he 
was  praying  in  the  temple,  he  fell  into 
a  trance,  wherein  he  was  caught  up 


P  A  U 


'(     207      ^ 


P  A  U 


into  tlie  lliird  lieaven,  and  hoard  things 
jinitiO))er  to  be  inentionod  on  oaith. 
The  Lord  warned  him  lo  leave  Je- 
rusalem, as  tlie  Jews  liad  laid  snares 
for  his  life,  and  to  go  and  |)reach 
among  tlie  Gentiles.  Attended  with 
some  Christian  brethren,  he  went 
down  to  Cesarea,  and  there  took  shii) 
for  Tarsus,  Acts  ix.  19—31.  and 
xxii.  17—21.  2  Cor.  xi.  31—33. 
and  xii.  Gal.  i.  15-21. 

After  he  had  jtreached  about  Cili- 
cia  near  five  years,  Barnabas  brought 
him  south  to  Antioch  in  Syria,  where 
the  converts  to  Christianity  exceed- 
ingly increased.  Alter  he  had  preach- 
ed here  about  a  whole  year,  he  and 
Barnabas  carried  up  the  collection  for 
the  poor  saints  at  Jerusalem.     They 
had  not  long  returned  to  Antioch, 
when  Simeon,  who  was  called  N  iger, 
Lucius,   IManaen,  and  other  preach- 
ers, directed  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  sent 
them  oCf  to  preach  the  gospel  in  other 
places,    recommending  them  to  the 
Lord  by  solemn  fasting  and  prayer. 
They   went    to  Cj'prus,    and   there 
preached  evcry-where  in  the  Jewish 
synagogues.    Sergius  Paulus,  the  Ro- 
man  governor  of   the   island,    and 
many    others,     were   converted    to 
Christ;  and  Bar-jesus  the  magician, 
who    withstood    them,    Avas  struck 
blind.     From  Cyprus  they  came  to 
Perga  in    Pamphylia,    wlicre  John 
Mark,  hearing  of  their  intended  pro- 
gress  to  the  northward,  left  them, 
and   returned  to  Antioch  in  Syria, 
Paul  and  Barnabas  went  into  Pisidia. 
Here,  as  they  on  the  Sabbath  were 
in  a  Jewish   synagogue,  the  ruler  of 
it  desired  them  to  give  a  word  of  ex- 
hortation aftcrthe  readingof  thelaw. 
In   a  long  oration,    Paul  rehearsed 
the  marvellous  providences  of  God 
towards   the    Hebrew    nation,    and 
evincetl,    that    Jesus    Avas  the  true 
Messiah,    whom   the    prophets  and 
Baptist  had  foretold,  and  called  them 
to  believe   on  his  name.     He  was 
heard  with  great  attention,  and  en- 
treated to   discourse  the  next  Sab- 
bath on  the  same   subject.     When 
the  day  came,   almost  all  the  peo[)le 
of  the  city  assembled  to  Iiear  him. 


OflVnded  at    this   concourse  of   tliR 
Gentiles,  many  of  ilie  .levfs  outrage- 
ously (•ontradiclod    and   blasphemed 
what  was  spoken.     Paul  and  IJarna- 
bas  told  them,  it  was  lu-cessury  that 
the  gospel  should   be  first   preaciied 
to  them  ;  iiut  since  they  had  rrject- 
ed  it,  they  would   now  preach  it  to 
the   Gentiles.     The   Gentiles    were 
extremely   glad    to  hear    this;    and 
multitudes    believed.       But    as    the 
Jews  stirred  up  some  honourable  de- 
votees of  the  heathenish  part}',  and 
raised  a  persecution   against  them, 
Paul  and  Barnabas  were  driven  out, 
and  shook  otTthe  dust  of  their  feet  as 
a  testimony  against  them.  Acts  xiii. 
They  came  to  Iconium,  and  preach- 
ed in  the  sjMiagogues.     Many  mira- 
cles Avere  wrought,  and  multitudes 
Avere  turned    to  the  Lord;  but  the 
JcAVs  stirred  up  the  Heathens  against 
them.  Being  in  danger  of  being  ston- 
ed, they  retired  to  Lystra  and  Der- 
be,  cities  of  Lycaonia.     Having  at 
Lystra  healed  a  man  Avith  aAvord,  Avho 
had  i)een  lame  from  his  birth,  the  peo: 
pie  took  them  for  gods  in  the  likeness 
of  men;  Barnabas  for   Jupiter,  and 
Paul  for  Mercury.     The  priest  of  Ju- 
piter brought    oxen    adorned    Avith 
garlands,  for  a  sacrifice  to  them.  Paul 
and     liarnabas    thrust      themselves 
among  the  mob ;  and  told  them  they 
were  but  men  like  themselves,  and 
begged  them  to  turn  from  these  vani- 
ties, to  serve  the  only  true  God.  With 
no  small  difricully  they  prevented  the 
sacrifice.     Soon   after,    some    Jcavs 
of  Antioch  in  Pisidia,  and  of  Iconi- 
um came  hither,  and  stirred  uj)  the 
people  against  the  apostles.  Paul  Avas 
stoned  and  dragged  out  of  the  cit}"-, 
apparently  dead  :  but  as  the  Christians 
gathered  about  him,  and  no   doubt 
prayed  over  him,  he  recovered ;  and 
liaving  lodged  that  night  in  the  city, 
he  set  off  the  next  morning  for  Derbe. 
After  preaching  there  some  time,  they 
returned  to  Iconium  and  Antioch  in 
Pisidia.     In  all   these  places,  they, 
with  jirayer  and  fasting,  and  laying 
on  of  hands,    ordained  such    to  be 
presbyters    or   elders    as    had   been. 
chosen  to  that  office  by  the  churchi 


P  A  U 


(     268     ) 


P  A  U 


After  preaching  some  time  iii  Perga 
and   Attalia,    cities  of   Pamphylia, 
they  returned  to  Antioch  in   Syria, 
where  they  rehearsed  what  God  had 
wrought    by     their    means — When 
they  had  continued  here  a  considera- 
ble time,  the  churches  of  Syria  and 
Cilicia   were   exceedingly   pestered 
with  false  teachers,  who,  pretending 
a  commission  from  the  apostles  and 
elders  at  Jerusalem,  taught  that  cir- 
cumcision and  the  observance  of  the 
ceremonial  law   were  necessary   to 
salvation.     After  much  disputing,  it 
was  resolved  to  refer  this  matter  to 
a  general  decision  of  the  apostles  and 
elders  at  Jerusalem.     Paul  and  Bar- 
nabas were  sent  commissioners  from 
Antioch.     After  the  apostles  and  el- 
ders had    met   together,    with    the 
deputies  from  Syria  and  Cilicia,  Paul 
and    Barnabas    rehearsed    to   them, 
and  to  the  private  Christians  j.»resent, 
what  things  the  Lord  had  done  by 
their   means.     The  cause  was  then 
reasoned  on,    and  decided.     It  was 
determined,    that  the  Gentile  con- 
verts were  under  no  moral  obligation 
to  observe  the  ceremonial  law ;  but 
were  required  to  abstain  from  blood, 
and  from  things  strangled,  and  meats 
offered  to  idols,  as  well  as  from  for- 
nication.    Paul,  Barnabas,  Barsabas, 
and  Silas,  Avere  sent  to  Antioch,  and 
the  churches  adjacent,  with  the  letter 
and  decree  of    the   council.      The 
churches  were  exceedingly  pleased 
with  the  decree,  as  at  once  it  secured 
to  the  Gentiles  their  liberty,  and  bore 
with  the  weakness  of  the  .lewish  con- 
verts.   When  Paul  was  at  Jerusalem, 
he  both  publicly  and  privately  declar- 
ed   Avhat  doctrines  he    had   taught. 
Neither  Peter,  nor  James,  nor  John, 
nor  any  other  apostle  found  the  least 
fault   therewith,    but   cordially   ac- 
knowledged him  the  apostle  of  the 
Gentiles,  and  desired  him  to  make 
collections  for  the  poor,  as  he  himself 
was  inclined  to  do,  Acts  xiv.  and  xv. 
Gal.  ii.  1—10. 

When  Paul  and  Barnabas  had  con- 
tinued some  lime  at  Antioch  of  Syria, 
Peter  came  thither;  at  the  first  he 
cheerfullj'^  ate  wilb    the   believing  I 


Gentiles;   but   when  some    Jewish 
converts  soon  followed  him,  he  for- 
bore eating  Avith  the  Gentiles,  and 
Barnabas  was  like  to  have  been  drawn 
by  him  into  the  same  course.     Pau! 
sharply  rebuked  Peter  for  this  dissi- 
mulation, as  a  thing  quite  contrary 
to    Christian    liberty,    and  also  to 
the  late  decision  of  their  council  at 
Jerusalem.     Paul  afterwards  propo- 
sed to  Barnabas,  that  they  should  vi- 
sit the  churches  they  had  planted. 
Barnabas  readily  agreed  to  it;  but  as 
he  insisted  on  having  Mark  his  cousin 
with  them,  and  Paul  as  strongly  in- 
sisted on  the  contrary,  they  parted, 
and  Barnabas  and  Mark  went  to  Cy- 
prus, while  Paul  and  Silas  took  their 
rout  northward  through  Syria  and  Ci- 
licia.    The3'  came  to  Derbe  and  Lys- 
tra.     Here  Paul  found  Timothy;  and 
intending  to  take  him  for  his  compar 
nion,  he  caused  him  to  be  circumcis- 
ed, in  order  to  render  him  the  more 
acceptable  to  the  Jews.     They  tra- 
velled through  Lycaonia,   Phrygia, 
and    Galatia;  but  the    Holy   Ghost 
prohibited  them  to  preach  in    pro- 
consular Asia.     They  went  to  My- 
sia,  and  came  to  Troas.     Here  an 
angel,  in  the  form  and  dress  of  a  man 
of  Macedonia,  appeared  in  a  vision 
to  Paul,  and  desired  him  to  come  and 
help  their  country  by  preaching  the 
gosfiel  to  them.     They  took  ship  at 
Troas,  sailed  to  the  isle  of  Samothra- 
cla,  and  thence  to  Neapolis.     They 
soon  after  travelled  thence  to  Philippi. 
Here  they  resorted  to  the  river-side, 
where  was  a  place  of  Jewish  devo- 
tion.    Lydia,   and  her  family,  and 
many   others,  were    turned    to   the 
Lord.      As    they   went   from   their 
lodging  in  the   house  of  Lydia,   a 
maid,  possessed  of  a  spirit  of  divina- 
tion,   followed  them    several   days, 
crying  out,  that  they  were  the  ser^ 
vants  of  the  Most  High  (Jod,  who 
showed  to  men  the  way  of  salvation. 
Detesting  an  attestation  which  tend- 
ed to  render  them  suspected  as  divi- 
ners, Paul,  in  the   name  of    Jesus, 
ordered   the  evil  spirit  to  leave  her. 
Enraged  hereat,    her  masters,   who 
had  Djade  much  gain  by  her  sooth» 


P  A  U 


(     -'60     ) 


P  A  U 


saying,  carried  Paul  and  Silas  before 
the  niajii^trates,  as  introducers  of  a 
neu'  religion.  They  were  Avljipped 
■with  rods,  and  coinujitted  to  prison. 
As  about  niiibiiiiht,  Paul  and  Sila.-= 
sung  praises  to  (lod,  an  earth(|uaUe 
f^hook  the  |)rison;  all  tlie  doors  burst 
open,  and  the  chains  of  the  prisoners 
fell  ofl'  them.  Awakened  with  tlie 
uoise,  the  jailor,  seeing  the  doors 
open,  suj)posed  the  prisoners  had 
been  fled,  and  Avas  just  going  to 
murder  himself,  to  prevent  what  he 
apprehended  would  be  worse.  Paul, 
with  a  loud  voice,  begged  him  to 
do  himself  no  hurt,  as  all  the  prison- 
ers were  in  their  places.  Having  got 
a  light,  he  sprang  in  trembling,  and 
sincerely  asked  Paul  and  Silas  con- 
cerning the  way  of  salvation.  Paul 
having  informed  him  of  the  Christian 
principles,  and  that  the  sole  way  of 
salvation  was  by  believing  in  Jesus 
as  the  only  Saviour,  he  and  his  w^hole 
family  were  baptized.  He  brought 
■water,  and  washed  the  wounds  of 
Paul  aud  Silas,  and  gave  thenj  some 
food.  On  the  •  morrow,  the  magis- 
trates, by  their  Serjeants  or  messen- 
gers, ordered  him  to  give  Paul  and 
bilas  their  libert}'.  Paul  returned 
answer,  that  since  the  magistrates 
had  beaten  and  imprisoned  Roman 
citizens  uncondemned,  it  ■\vas  proper 
they  should  come  and  dismiss  them 
themselves.  On  heaving  of  their  be- 
ing citizens  of  Rome,  the  magistrates 
were  not  a  little  affrighted,  and  came 
and  begged  their  pardon,  and  bring- 
ing them  out  from  the  prison,  desir- 
ed them  to  leave  the  place;  w'hich 
they  did,  after  they  had  comforted 
the  disciples  in  the  house  of  Lydia, 
Acts  xvi. 

Having  passed  southward  through 
Amphipolis  and  Appolonia,  cities  of 
Macedonia,  they  came  to  Thessalo- 
nica  the  capital.  Here  Paul  preach- 
ed three  Sabbaths  in  the  Jewish  sy- 
nagogue, and  many  believed;  but 
the  Jews  raising  a  mob,  beset  the 
house  of  Jason,  ^vhere  Paul  lodged  ; 
but  as  neither  Paul  nor  his  brethren 
were  found  there,  they  dragged  Ja- 
son before  the  magistrates,  and  ac- 


cused him  as  a  liarl)0uref  of  rebel,« 
agiiinst  the  enipt'iur,  and  preachers 
of  one  King  Jesus.  After  Jason  had 
found  security'  for  his  loyalty,  he  was 
dismissed.  That  very  night,  the 
Christians  conducted  Paul  and  Silas 
out  of  the  place.  Notwithstanding 
the  wealth  of  Thessalonica,  Paul  was 
here  in  considerable  straits  for  his 
daily  bread.  He  and  Silas  went  next 
to  Berea,  where  both  Jews  and  Gen- 
tiles heard  the  gospel  with  great  rea- 
diness of  mind,  and  carefully  cora- 
[)ared  what  they  heard  with  the  writ- 
ings of  the  pro[diets;  and  not  a  few 
persons  of  note  believe<l  It  was  not 
long,  when  the  malicious  Jews  of 
Thessalonica  came  and  raised  the 
mob  against  them.  Paul  was  oblig- 
ed to  withdraw  ;  but  Silas  and  Ti- 
mothy abode  behind,  to  instruct  the 
new  converts.  Paul's  guides  brought 
him  to  Athens,  wiience  be  sent  back 
word  to  his  two  companions  to  fol- 
low him.  The  excessive  idolatry  and 
vanity  of  this  place,  so  famed  for 
wisdom,  was  extremely  grievous  to 
Paul.  He  preached  in  the  Jewish 
synagogues;  aud,  on  various  occa- 
sions, he  disputed  with.the  Epicurean 
and  Stoic  philosophers.  After  no 
small  derision,  they  accused  him  to 
the  court  of  Areopagus,  as  an  in- 
troducer of  a  new  religion.  I\Iulti- 
tudes  of  vain  persons  attended  his 
trial.  In  his  defence,  he  observed, 
that  among  their  too  numerous  su- 
perstitious, he  had  observed  an  altar 
to  the  unknown  God;  and  that  this 
xmknomi  God,  whom  they  ignorantly 
worshipped,  was  the  Jesus  whom  he 
preached  to  them.  He  hinted,  how 
absurd  it  was  for  men  that  believed 
themselves  the  offspring  or  children 
of  God,  to  imagine  that  the  deity 
resembled  silver,  gold,  or  any  pic- 
tures or  statues  made  by  men ;  and 
that  God  had  appointed  a  day  for 
judging  the  world  by  Jesus  Christ, 
whom  he  had  raised  from  the  dead. 
He  had  scarcely  mentioned  the  re- 
surrection, when  some  mocked,  and 
others  said,  they  would  hear  him  af- 
terwards of  that  matter  Dionysius, 
hovy-ever,  one  of  thejudges,  and  Da- 


r  A  u 


(     270     ) 


P  A  U 


niarias,  perhaps  his  wife,  and  some 
others,  believed. — Timothy  having 
come  up  to  him,  and  informed  him 
of  the  suffering  state  of  the  Chris- 
tians of  Thessalonica,  he  sent  him 
back  to  comfort  them,  Acts  xvii.  1 
Thess.  ii.  Leaving  Athens,  Paul 
preached  at  Corinth  with  considera- 
ble success.  That  he  might  show 
how  averse  he  was  to  occasion  the 
least  insinuation  of  his  seeking 
•wealth,  he  lodged  with  Aquila  and 
Priscilla,  and  wrought  at  their  busi- 
ness of  tent-making,  wiiich  it  seems 
he  had  learned  in  his  youth.  Everj' 
day,  or  at  least  every  Sabbath,  he 
preached  in  the  Jewish  sj^nagogues. 
Numbers  were  converted,  particu- 
larly Stephanas  and  his  family,  with 
Crispus  and  Gaius.  He  had  not  been 
long  here,  when  Silas  and  Timothy 
came  up,  and  informed  him  of  the 
flourishing  state  of  the  Christians  at 
Thessalonica.  Hereon  he  wrote  to 
them  his  first  epistle.  As  some  took 
occasion  iVom  it  to  disturb  their  minds 
as  if  the  day  of  judgment  were  at 
hand,  be  soon  after  wrote  to  them  the 
second,  to  correct  their  mistakes. — 
Assisted  I  y  Silas  and  Timothy,  he 
"went  on  with  his  work  at  Corinth. 
The  .Jews  opposed  him  with  rage 
and  blasphemy  :  he  shook  his  lap  at 
them,  and  told  them,  that  their  blood 
\\'6%  on  their  own  head,  and  that 
now  he  would  turn  to  the  Gentiles. 
He  removed  his  lodging  to  the  house 
of  one  Justus,  a  person  of  some  note  ; 
and  being  encouraged  by  a  vision, 
showing  that  the  Lord  would  support 
and  mightily  succeed  him  in  Jiis 
work,  he  continued  here  about  18 
montlis.  The  Jews  prosecutd|[  him 
before  Gallio  the  deputy,  as  an  ene- 
my to  the  Roman  governor;  but  the 
deputy  was  too  wise  to  give  them 
any  encouragement.  Nay,  Soslhenes, 
the  ruler  of  their  sjnagogue,  Avas 
beaten  by  (he  mob  before  the  tribunal. 
At  last,  Paul  set  out  for  Jerusalem, 
intending  to  be  there  against  Pente- 
cost, when  there  would  be  a  muiti- 
tude  assembled;  but  before  he  took 
ship  at  Cenchrea,  a  sea-port  belong- 
ing to  Corinth,  he  cut  his  hair,  and 


having  finished  his  NTazaritio  vow, 
Aquila  and  Priscilla  attended  him  to 
Ephesus,  whence  he  sailed  to  Cesarea, 
and  then  went  up  to  Jerusalem,  Acts 
xviii.  I  Cor.  xvi. 
Returning  northward,  he  visited  the 
churches  of  Syria,  Galatia,  Phrygia, 
and  other  places  of  Asia,  confirming 
the  disciples.  Arriving  at  Ephesus, 
he  found  some  Avho  had  been  initiat- 
ed into  the  Christian  faith  by  A])ol- 
los,  and  baptized  with  the  baptism 
of  John.  These,  to  the  number 
of  12,  he  instructed  in  the  truths 
of  the  gospel ;  and  by  laying  on  of 
his  hands,  conferred  on  them  the 
miraculous  influence  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  the  gift  of  prophecy,  and  of 
speaking  with  tongues.  For  three 
months,  Paul  preached  to  the  Jews 
in  their  synagogues;  but  finding 
them  obstinate,  he  separated  from 
them,  and  taught  daily  in  the  school 
of  one  Tyrannus,  a  Gentile.  Many 
miracles  were  wrought ;  when  the 
linen  that  had  touched  his  body  was 
applied  to  the  distressed,  their  mala- 
dies were  cured,  and  the  devils  dis- 
lodged. Multitudes,  too,  who  had 
used  divination  and  other  black  arts, 
believed  the  gospel,  and  burnt  their 
magical  books.  During  the  three 
years  Paul  preached  at  E|)hesus,  he 
was  either  cast  to  the  wild  beasts  in 
the  theatre,  or  had  to  do  with  men 
as  outrageous  as  wild  beasts,  when 
Demetrius  the  silversmith  raised  the 
mob  against  him.  Some  time  before 
he  left  Ejjhesus,  he  was  informed  of 
the  sad  disorders  of  the  church  of 
Corinth,  by  them  of  the  family  of 
Chloe,  and  perhaps  more  fully  by 
Stephanas,  Fortunatus,  and  Achai- 
cus,  who  it  seems  brought  him  some 
suppl}'.  He  wrote  to  them  his  first 
epistle,  and  therein  sends  them  the 
salutation  of  the  Christians  in  Asia. 
Calmet  thinks  it  was  from  hence  too 
that  he  wrote  his  epistle  to  the  Ga- 
latians.  He  had  sent  Timotheus  to 
Greece  :  but  it  seems  he  was  return- 
ed, and  was  left  at  Ephesus  to  settle 
the  affairs  of  that  church.  Paul, 
meanwhile,  went  off  for  Greece.  His 
not  meeting    with  Titus  at  Troas, 


P  A  U 


(     27,1     ) 


P  A  U 


T\liom  he  expected  from  Corinlh, 
gave  him  great  uneasiness;  but  at 
last  he  round  him  in  Macedonia,  and 
W&3  by  him  intonned  ol'  the  good  ef- 
fect of  his  first  epistle  to  the  Corin- 
thlanti.  He  then  wrote  his  second 
letter  to  that  church,  for  their  com- 
fort, establishment,  and  furtlier  di- 
rection; and  iiiiitcd  what  danger  he 
had  often  l)een  in,  from  Jews,  pre- 
tended Christians,  robbers,  or  the 
sea;  and  what  hunger,  (hirst,  naked- 
ness, cold,  fasting,  and  watching,  he 
had  sutfered;  how,  five  times,  the 
Jews  hiui  beaten  him  to  the  utmost 
rigour  of  their  law;  twice  the  Hea- 
then magisirates  had  caused  him  to 
be  beaU'H  Avith  rods;  thrice  he  had 
sutieied  shipwreck,  and  it  seems  had 
once,  for  a  whole  night  and  day, 
struggled  with  the  waves  in  the  open 
sea.  About  this  time,  it  is  probable, 
he  wrote  his  first  epistle  to  Timothy. 
It  seems  he  went  westward  from  Ma- 
cedonia, and  preached  the  gospel  in 
Hlyricum.  Returning  southward,  he 
visited  the  faithful  at  Corinth,  and 
wrote  his  epistle  to  the  Romans. — 
Having  received  the  collection  Avhich 
those  of  Macedonia  and  Achaia  had 
made  for  the  poor  Christians  of  Ju- 
dea,  he  took  his  rout  for  Jerusalem 
through  Macedonia,  whence,  either 
from  Phiiippi  or  Nicopolis,  he  seems 
to  have  written  his  epistle  to  Titus. 
Departing  from  Macedonia,  he  land- 
ed at  Troas  in  five  days.  There  So- 
pater  of  Berea,  Arlstarchus  and  Se- 
cundus  of  Thessalonica,  Timothy 
and  Gaius  of  Derbe,  with  Tyjhicus 
and  Trophimus,  who  were  probably 
ef  Ephesus,  waited  till  he  came  up. 
After  resting  a  whole  week,  he,  on 
the  Lord's  day,  dispensed  the  Lord's 
supper  to  the  Christians  there,  and 
preached  till  midnight.  One  Euty- 
chus,  who  satin  a  window,  did,  what 
many  shamelully  do  in  our  times, 
and  without  the  half  of  his  temp- 
tation, fall  asleep  under  the  sermon, 
and  falling  from  the  third  story,  was 
taken  up  dead  ;  but  Paul,  by  a  mira- 
cle restored  him  to  life.  He  taught 
the  disciples  till  breiik  of  day,  and 
then  set  off  on  his  journey.     Paul'? 


companions  took  ship;  hut  he  travQl- 
led  on  foot  to  Assos,  and  embarked 
with  them  at  Mitylene.  Thence  ho 
came  to  Miletus,  and  sending  for  the 
elders  of  the  church  of  Ephesu?, 
warned  them  of  his  own  suflcrings  at 
Jerusalem,  and  of  their  danger  from 
false  teachers;  and  having  exhorted 
them  to  patience  and  faithfulness,  he 
prayed  with  them,  and,  to  their  great 
grief,  took  his  last  farewell  of  them 
in  time.  Acts  xix.  and  xx.  1  Cor.  xv. 
32.  and  xvi.  8,  9, 19.  2  Cor.  vii.  5,  6. 
and  xi.  23—28.  Rom.  xv.  19— 2G. 
From  Miletus  Paul  sailed  to  Coos; 
thence  to  Rhodes,  thence  to  Patara, 
and  thence  to  Tyre.  After  stopping 
here  a  week,  he  and  his  companions 
proceeded  to  Ptolemais,  and  thence 
to  Cesarea.  Here  they  found  Philip 
the  deacon  and  evangelist.  Here  toQ 
Agabus  met  them,  and  binding  his 
hands  and  feet  with  Paul's  girdle, 
signified  that  Paul  should  be  bound 
by  the  Jews  at  Jerusalem,  and  deli- 
vered up  to  the  Gentiles.  Paul's 
IViends  laboured  to  dissuade  him  from 
going  up  to  Jerusalem,  but  could  not 
jjrevail,  as  he  told  them  his  life  was 
not  dear  to  him,  if  he  might  but  fi- 
nish liis  course  with  joj^  and  that  he 
was  ready  to  suffer  imprisonment  and 
death  for  the  honour  of  Jesus.  When 
he  came  to  Jerusalem,  the  Christians 
joyfully  welcomed  him  thither;  and 
the  elders  of  the  church  meeting  at 
the  house  of  James  the  apostle,  did, 
with  great  pleasure,  hear  him  repoK 
his  travels  and  success.  James  re- 
presented to  him,  that  as  many  of 
the  myriads  of  believers  at  Jerusa- 
lem had  believed  the  report,  that  hb 
had  taught  the  Jews  an)ong  the  Gen- 
tiles to  undervalue  circumcision  and 
other  ceremonies,  it  would  he  proper 
for  the  removal  of  the  offence  which 
they  had  conceived,  to  inform  them 
of  the  contrary;  and  to  confirm  their 
belief  of  his  due  regard  to  the  cere- 
monies, it  would  be  fit  he  should  join 
himself  to  the  four  men  who  were 
to  oiler  their  oblations  for  their  finisji- 
ed  Nazariteship.  Paul,  perhaps  too 
complaisant  in  this  particular,  w  ent 
up  to  the  temple,  and  signified  to 


P  A  U 


P  A  U 


the  priest,  that  he  and  these  Naza- 
rites  would  in  seven  days  be  ready 
with  their  offerings.  He  had  scarcely 
appeared  in  the  court  of  the  temple 
with  his  offering,  when  some  Jews 
of  Lesser  Asia  cried  tor  help  to  ap- 
prehend him,  as  one  who  had  every- 
where taught  the  abolishment  of  the 
ceremonial  law,  and  had  brought 
Greeks  into  the  temple  to  pollute  it. 
He  was  directly  seized,  and  the  gates 
of  the  sacred  court  were  shut.  He 
had  been  beaten  to  death,  had  not 
Lysias  the  tribune  come  with  his 
Roman  guard  to  rescue  him.  All 
along  to  the  castle  Antonio,  the 
enraged  mob  followed  him.  As  he 
entered  the  castle,  he  begged  the 
captain  to  hear  him  a  word.  L3  sias 
asked  him,  if  he  could  speak  Greek  ? 
and  whether  he  was  the  Egyptian 
who  had  infested  the  country  with 
4,000  assassins?  Paul  replied,  that  he 
was  a  Jew,  born  in  the  famous  city 
of  Tarsus.  He  was  then  allowed  to 
apeak  to  the  mob.  Upon  his  affec- 
tionately addressing  them  in  the  He- 
brew language,  they  listened  the 
more  quietly.  He  rehearsed  to  them 
his  former  rage  against  the  Chris- 
tians, his  manner  of  conversion,  and 
his  mission  to  preach  among  the 
Gentiles.  He  had  scarcely  mention- 
ed this  last,  when  the  Jews,  in  the 
most  outrageous  manner,  cried  out 
that  he  ought  not  to  live.  To  pre- 
vent a  general  insurrection,  Lysias 
ordered  Paul  into  the  castle,  and 
groundlessly  supposing  that  he  was 
certainly  guilty  of  some  horrible 
crime,  he  ordered  him  to  be  scourg- 
ed till  he  confessed  it.  As  they 
bound  him  to  the  pillar  to  be  scourg- 
ed, Paul  asked  the  centurion,  if  it 
was  according  to  the  law  to  scourge 
a  citizen  of  Rome  without  hearing 
his  defence  1  The  centurion  ran  to 
the  tribune  and  begged  him  to  take 
heed,  as  Paul  was  a  freeman  of 
Rome.  Lysias  finding  he  had  been 
born  such,  gave  orders  to  loose  liim. 
Next  day  Lysias  called  a  council  of 
the  Jewish  priests  and  elders,  to 
have  Paul  deliberately  tried.  He 
had  scarcely    begun  his  s|lccch^  af- 


firming, that  he  had  always  studied 
to  live  blameless  before  God  and 
men,  when  Ananias  ordered  such  as 
j  stood  next  him  to  smite  him  on  the 
;  mouth.  Paul,  directing  his  speech 
I  to  Ananias,  said,  God  would  smite 
i  him,  who  hypocritically  pretended  to 
judge  him  according  to  law,  and  yet 
ordered  him  to  be  smitten  contrary 
to  it.  Some  present  asked  him,  how 
he  durst  revile  God's  high  priest? 
Paul  replied  that  he  did  not  know, 
at  least  did  not  recollect  him  to  be 
high  priest.  Looking  around  on  the 
assembly,  and  observing,  by  their 
badges,  that  they  consisted  of  almost 
an  equal  number  of  Pharisees  and 
Sadducees,  he  cried  out,  that  he  was 
a  Pharisee,  and  was  called  in  question 
touching  the  resurrection  of  the  dead. 
Hereon  the  Pharisees  took  his  part, 
and  fell  into  a  dissention  with  the 
Sadducees.  Lysias  fearing  that  he 
should  be  torn  to  pieces  between  the 
two  parties  ;  ordered  him  back  to  the 
castle.  That  very  night,  God  en- 
couraged Paul,  and  assured  him  that 
he  should  live,  and  bear  witness  to 
his  truth  also  at  Rome.  Next  day, 
above  40  of  the  Jews  bound  them- 
selves under  a  terrible  curse,  that 
they  would  neither  eat  nor  drink  til! 
they  had  killed  Paul ;  and  that  they 
might  have  an  opportunity,  the  Jew- 
ish priests  and  rulers  agreed  to  desire 
L3fsias  to  bring  him  back  to  the 
council,  to  be  further  examined.  In- 
formed of  this  plot  by  his  sister's  son, 
who  perhaps  was  no  Christian,  Paul 
procured  him  access  to  relate  the 
matter  to  Lysias;  who  thereon,  next 
night,  sent  off  Paul  to  Felix  the  go- 
vernor at  Cesarea,  with  an  account 
of  his  case,  attended  with  a  strong 
guard.  Acts  xxi.  and  xxii.  andxxiii. 
— Within  five  days  after,  Ananias 
the  high  priest,  and  others  of  the 
Jewish  rulers,  went  down  to  Cesarea 
to  carry  on  a  prosecution  against 
Paul.  Tcrtullus  their  orator,  after 
a  flattering  address  to  Felix,  one  of 
the  basest  of  men,  accused  Paul  as  a 
notorious  disturber  of  the  public 
peace,  and  a  profaner  of  the  temple. 
When  Paid  had  liberty  to  speak,  he 


P  A  li 


(      273     ) 


P  A  U 


.efuted  Ihe  charge,  and  defkd  them  I 
to  prove  any  thine;  acainst  him,  ex-| 
cept  that  he  prolVssetl  his  laith  in  the 
resurrection  of  I  ho  dead,  and  wor- 
shipped God  in  (he  Christian  manner, 
believinjx  every  thinij  said  hy  tlie  pro- 
phets. Felix  put  oiT  further  trial, 
till  Lysias  slionid  come  and  give  him 
more  full  information;— and  mean- 
while made  Paul's  imprisonment  to- 
lerably easy,  giving  him  full  liberty 
to  receive  the  visits  of  his  friends. 
Some  days  after,  Felix  and  Drusilla 
his  wife  sent  for  Paul.  He  discours- 
ed to  them  of  righteousness,  temper- 
ance, and  judgment,  till  Felix,  who 
Avas  extremely  guilt}^  in  these  points, 
fell  a  trembling  and  dismissed  him. 
As  Felix  expected  PauPs  friends 
w'f>uld  ransom  him,  he  often  sent  for 
him,  and  talked  with  him.  Having 
received  nothing  for  his  liberty,  Fe- 
lix, to  please  the  Jews  at  the  last, 
whom  he  had  so  offended  with 
his  oppressive  methods,  left  Paul 
bound.  Scarcely  had  Festus  entered 
on  his  government,  when  the  .Jewish 
rulers  accused  Paul,  (who  had  now 
been  a  prisoner  two  j'^ears,)  to  him, 
and  intending  to  have  liim  murdered 
by  the  way,  requested  that  he  would 
bring  him  up  to  Jerusalem  for  trial. 
Festus  ordered  them  to  come  to  Ce- 
sarea.  They  came,  but  could  prove 
nothing  which  the  Roman  law  made 
criminal.  To  gratify  them  as  far  as 
possible.  Festus  asked  Paul,  if  he 
would  go  up  and  be  tried  at  Jerusa- 
lem ?  Convinced  of  the  murderous 
designs  of  t]^e  Jews,  Paul,  to  prevent 
them,  appealed  to  Nero  the  emper- 
or, who  as  yet  behaved  with  some 
moderation.  After  conferring  with 
his  council,  Festus  told  Paul,  that 
he  admitted  his  aj)peal,  and  would 
send  him  to  Rome.  Not  long  after 
king  Agrippa  and  his  sister  Bernice 
(^arae  to  pay  Festus  a  visit.  Festus 
told  them  the  affair  of  Paul.  Agrip- 
,)a  desired  to  hear  Iiim.  Paul  being 
required  to  speak  for  liim^elf,  he, 
after  a  fine  address  to  Agrii)pa,  re- 
hearsed his  case,  his  conversion,  and 
call  to  the  ministry.  When  Festus, 
quite  ignorant  of  these  matters,  paid. 
Vol.  II. 


much  learning  had  mPide  him  maU; 
Paid,  with  the  most  grnteel  address, 
told  ^im  he  was  not  mad,  but  spake 
the  words  of  truth  and  sobernees. 
When  Agrippa  said  he  had  almost 
persuaded  hint  to  be  a  Christian,  Paul, 
in  the  handsomest  manner,  expressed 
his  Avish  that  Agrippa,  and  all  pre- 
sent, were  such  as  himself,  except  as 
to  his  bonds.  Agripi)a  gave  his  oj)i- 
nion,  that  Paul  might  have  been  set 
at  liberty  had  he  not  appeale<l  to 
Cesar,  Acts  xxiv.  xxv.  xxvi.  Paul 
and  other  prisoners  were  shii>ped  ofl" 
for  Rome,  in  a  ship  of  Adramyttium 
under  the  care  of  Julius,  a  centurion 
of  the  Augustan  band  of  soldiers. 
Julius  was  very  kind  to  Paul,  and  at 
Sidon  allowed  him  to  go  ashore  and 
visit  his  friends.  After  they  had 
sailed  along  the  coast  of  Phenicia,  a 
contrary  wind  obliged  them  to  sail 
by  the  east  end  of  Cyprus.  When 
they  came  to  Myra,  a  sea-port  ol 
L3^cia,  they  were  |)ut  into  a  ship  of 
Alexandria,  that  was  bound  for  Rome. 
As  the  Jewish  fast  of  exjjiation  was 
past,  and  the  winter  beginning,  the 
weather  began  to  be  stormy;  and  it 
was  with  no  small  difficulty  they  ar- 
rived at  the  fair  havens  on  the  east 
of  Crete.  Paul  advised  them  to  Avin- 
ter  there;  but  others  insisted  they 
should  go  to  Phenice,  on  the  west  of 
that  island,  where  tlicy  would  have 
a  more  commodious  harbour.  For 
some  time  they  sailed  slowly,  but  safe- 
ly, along  the  south  side  of  Crete ;  but 
at  last  a  terrible  storm  from  the  east 
drove  them  on  a  small  island  called 
Clauda.  To  i)revent  their  being 
dashed  on  the  rock,  the  mariners 
lowered  their  sails,  and  committed 
themselves  to  the  sea.  After  three 
days,  they  cast  out  part  of  their  car- 
go. For  fourteen  daj's,  they  neither 
saw  sun,  moon,  nor  stars.  Paul,  by  a 
divine  influence,  assured  Ihcm,  that 
none  of  their  lives  should  be  lost,  but 
only  the  ship.  The  mariners  finding 
by  their  line,  that  the  water  was  not 
very  <leep,  judged  thcj'  drew  near  (o 
some  land  a;id  let  down  their  boat, 
(hat  they  might  escape  in  it.  Paul 
directed  by  fJod,  desirrd  the  renti:- 


P  A  U 


(     274     ) 


P  A  0 


rion  to  retaia  them,  as  the  passen- 
gers could  not  otherwise  be  preserved. 
The  soldiers  cut  off  the  boat,  and 
let  her  drive  by  the  sea.  After  they 
had  fasted  almost  14  days,  Paul  beg- 
ged they  would  take  some  meat,  as 
they  might  assure  themselves  they 
should  not  be  lost,  but  be  cast  on 
some  island.  Observing  land,  the 
mariners  attempted  to  thrust  the  ship 
into  a  creek.  She  struck  aground 
upon  a  neck  of  land,  and  was  broken 
to  pieces.  The  soldiers  advised  to 
kill  the  prisoners,  that  they  might 
not  escape  ;  but  Julius,  from  a  regard 
to  Paul,  would  not  consent  to  it.  All 
that  were  in  the  ship,  to  the  number 
of  276,  some  by  swimming,  and 
others  on  planks  and  broken  boards, 
got  safe  to  land  on  the  isle  of  Malta. 
Here  the  heathens  showed  them  the 
utmost  kindness.  Here  a  viper  from 
among  a  bundle  of  sticks,  which  they 
had  gathered  to  warm  them  with, 
fastened  on  Paul's  hand.  The  Bar- 
barians seeing  it,  concluded  tbat  cer- 
tainly he  had  been  a  murderer,  and 
that  though  he  had  escaped  the  sea, 
yet  divine  vengeance  suffered  him 
not  to  live ;  but  when  they  saw  Paul 
shake  off  the  viper  into  the  fire,  and 
receive  no  harm  from  it,  they  chan- 
ged their  mind,  and  thought  him  a 
god.  Here  Paul  miraculously  heal- 
ed the  father  of  Publius  the  gover- 
nor of  his  bloody  flux,  and  the  oth- 
er diseased  people  that  w^ere  in  the 
island.  At  the  end  of  three  months 
they  re-embarked,  and  arrived  first  at 
Syracuse,  in  the  south-east  of  Sicily, 
then  at  Rhegiura,  on  the  south  of 
Italy.  They  coasted  to  the  north- 
ward, till  they  came  to  Puteoli,  where 
they  landed.  After  Paul  had  conti- 
nued here  seven  days  with  his  Chris- 
tian friends,  he  set  out  for  Rome. 
The  Christians  of  that  city  met  him 
at  Appii-forum,  and  the  Three  Ta- 
verns ;  this  mightily  encour;iged  him. 
Whether  the  Jews  did  not  prosecute 
their  ap[)ea!,  or  whether  it  was  at 
this  time  thai  nobody  assisted  the 
apostle  lo  plead  his  cause,  we  know 
not.  It  is  certain,  he  was  permitted 
to  live   two  years  in  his  own  hired 


house,  with  a  soldier  that  kept  hiiu, 
and  to  preach  the  gospel  to  them 
that  pleased  to  hear  him.  He  sent 
for  the  principal  Jews  of  the  place, 
and  related  his  case  to  them,  to  pre- 
vent their  being  imposed  on  by  their 
brethren  of  Judea.  They  told  him 
they  had  received  no  particular  in- 
formation concerning  him ;  only  they 
knew  the  Christians  were  every- 
where spoken  against,  and  they  would 
be  glad  to  hear  an  account  of  their 
doctrines  from  himself.  From  morn- 
ing to  night  he  explained  to  them 
the  things  concerning  Jesus  out  of 
Moses  and  the  pro{>hets.  Observing 
that  many  of  them  believed  not,  he 
hinted,  that  according  to  Isaiah's  pre- 
diction, they  had  beared  the  gospel, 
and  hardened  themselves  by  means 
thereof;  and  therefore  it  was  sent  to 
the  Gentiles,  who  were  willing  to 
receive  it.  Whether  after  this  two 
years  of  imprisonment  at  large,  he 
was  dismissed,  and  went  to  Spain  or 
Macedonia,  and  afterwards  returned 
to  Rome ;  or  whether  he  was  made 
a  close  prisoner,  we  know  not,  but  it 
is  certain  his  imprisonment  turned 
out  lo  the  glory  of  Christ,  and  the 
spread  of  the  gospel.  Several  of 
Nero's  own  family  were  converted. 
And  although  many  of  the  Christians 
in  Lesser  Asia  were  much  alienated 
from  him  by  means  of  their  false 
teachers,  Phygellus,  Hermogenes, 
&;c.  yet  some  out  of  mere  spite  at  Paul 
became  more  diligent  in  preaching 
the  gospel.  Providence  stirred  him 
up  friends.  Onesiphorus  sought 
him  out,  and  ministered  to  him. 
Onesimus,  a  runaway  thief  and  slave 
from  Philemon,  was  converted,  and 
very  useful  to  him.  The  Philippians 
sent  Epaphroditus  to  comfort  him, 
and  with  some  money  to  supply  his 
wants.  About  this  time  he  wrote 
his  epistles  to  the  Colossiaus  and  to 
Philemon;  both  which,  it  seems, 
he  sent  bj'  Onesimus.  Sooji  after, 
Demas  forsook  him,  and  he  wrote 
his  epistle  to  the  Philipjiians,  pro- 
bably by  Epaphroditu?;  that  to  the 
Galatians,  by  Crescens ;  and  tliat  to 
the  Ephesians,  by  Tychicus.     Much 


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about  the  same  time  lie  wrote  his 
second  to  Timothy,  wherein  he  de- 
sires him  to  come  to  Rome.  After 
Timothy  liad  come  to  Rome,  and 
had  been  imprisoned  and  liberated, 
he  wrote  his  epistle  lo  the  Hebrews. 
At  last,  it  is  said  his  preaohine;  con- 
verted one  of  Nero's  favourite  con- 
cubines. Enraj!;ed  for  the  lossof  his 
harlot,  Nero  caused  Paul  to  be  be- 
Ijeaded.  There  are  manj'  accounts  of 
his  death,  but  none  that  can  be  de- 
pended uj»on,  further  than  tluit  it  is 
()i-obal)le  he  suflVre<l  a  violent  death 
at  Rome,  Acts  xxvii.  xxviii.  Phil, 
i.  lii— 19.  andiv.  22.  2  Tim.  i.  15 
—18.  Phil.  10—14.  Col.  iv.  14.  2 
Tim.  iv.  9,  21. 

As  before  his  conversion,  he  was  an 
outrageous  enemy  of  Christ;  after 
it,  he  was  one  of  the  most  holy  and 
humble  of  men,  and  laborious  preach- 
ers that  ever  tireathed:  nor  is  his 
magnifying  of  his  office  and  labour, 
in  opposition  to  the  false  teachers,  any 
evidence  to  the  contrary,  as  he  there- 
in confutes  them  U()on  their  own  pre- 
tences, and  at  every  jtroper  turn  as- 
cribes all  he  was  and  had  done  in  the 
service  of  Christ,  to  the  grace  of  God, 
Gal.  i.  and  ii.   2  Cor.  x.  xi.  xii.  and 

1  Cor.  XV.  8  to  10. 

PAW,  the  fore-foot  of  lions,  bears, 
or  such  wild  beasts,  by  which  they 
catch  and  hold  their  prey,  1  Sam. 
xvii.  37.  The  horse  payvcth  in  the 
valley,  when  he  stamps,  and,  as  it 
were,  tears  up  the  ground  with  his 
fore  feet,  Job  xxxix.  21. 

PAY,  (1.)  To  give  a  price  for  a 
thing,  Exod.  xxii.  7.  (2.)  To  give 
what  a  superior  requires  as  his  due, 

2  Chron.  viii.  8.  Heb.  vii.  8,  9.  (3.) 
To  perform  fully  what  one  has  vow- 
ed or  promised,  Eccl.  v.  4.  Deut. 
xxiii.  21,  23.  Psal.  I.  14.  and  Ixi.  9. 
and  Ixxvi.  11.  Psal.  xxxvii.  21.  (4.) 
To  give  full  satisfaction  for  every  of- 
fence;  which  is  to  pay  the  utmost 

farihinsr.   Matt.  v.  26. 

PEACE,  sometimes  signify  pros- 
perit}'  of  every  kind,  Gen.  xli.  16. 
Num.  vi.  26.  Particularly,  there  is, 
(1.)  Peace  with  God,  or  that  happy 
privilege  whereby  he,  in  Christ,  is 


our  reconcile*!  Father  and  Friend, 
dis[»osed  to  do  us  good  in  time  and 
eternity.  This  is  fuuiided  on  our 
union  to  Christ,  as  the  Lord  our  right- 
eousness ;  but  the  roniforlalde  en- 
joyment of  it  is  continued  in  the  way 
of  sane tificat ion  by  his  Spirit,  Eph. 
ii.  14.  1  John  iii.  19,  20.  (2.)  Peace 
of  conscience,  which  is  not  that  sleep 
and  stupidity  of  conscience  which 
wicked  men  have  ;  Init  a  holy 
quiet  of  mind,  arising  from  the  faith 
and  sense  of  our  reconciliation  to 
God,  and  of  our  being,  by  his  grace, 
enabled  to  walk  in  a  universal  gos- 
pel holiness,  Rom.  iv.  14,  17.  Phil, 
iv.  7.  2  Cor.  i.  12.  (3.)  Peace  or 
mutual  agreement  among  men, 
whereby  they  forbear  warring 
against,  and  hurting,  one  another, 
Psal.  xxxiv.  14.  andcxxii,  6.  and  vi. 
4.  2  Kings  xx.  10.  Prov.  xvi.  7. 
The  state  of  heavenly  blessedness  is 
called  peace ;  there  is  the  most  per- 
fect rest  and  felicity  ;  there  is  the 
most  perfect  friendship  between  God, 
angels,  and  men,  and  no  enemj'^  haa 
access  to  disturb  or  molest,  Isa.  Ivii. 
2.  God  speaks  peace,  when  he  pro- 
mises, proclaims,  intimates,  and 
works  it  for  his  people,  Isa.  Ivii.  19. 
Psal.  Ixxxv.  8.  The  peace  of  God, 
which  rules  in  the  saints,  is  peace 
with  God,  Avith  our  conscience, 
and  with  one  another,  that  disposes 
them  to  live  holily  and  peaceably, 
Col.  iii.  15.  The  peace  that  Paul 
wishes  to  the  churches,  comprehends 
the  friendshij)  of  God  discovered  to 
their  souls;  an  inward  quiet  of  con- 
science, as  sprinkled  with  Jesus's 
blood  and  directed  by  his  law;  mu- 
tual harmony  with  one  another;  and 
ireedom  from  the  molestation  of  the 
world,  as  far  as  can  tend  to  the  glory 
of  God,  Rom.  1.7.  1  Cor,  i.  3.— 
Peace-makers,  are  such  as  from 
love  to  God,  are  active  in  reconcil- 
ing men  one  to  another,  and  in  j)ro- 
moting  i)eace,  holiness,  and  every 
good  thing.  Matt.  v.  9. 

PEACOCKS  are  of  various  kinds. 
They  have  their  head  ornamented 
with  a  crest  of  feathers.  The  male 
peacock  of  the  common  kind,  is  per- 


PEA 


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P  E  K 


liaps  the  gaudiest  fowl  in  nature. 
His  tail,  in  its  various  colours,  and 
the  forms  into  which  he  spreads  it, 
is  sufficiently  known  and  admired. 
He  is  extremely  proud;  but  hath  a  dis- 
agreeable voice,  ugly  feet,  and  soft 
pace.  They  cast  their  feathers  as  the 
trees  cast  their  leaves;  but  their  flesh 
can  hardly  either  rot,  or  be  boiled. 
Peacocks  are  numerous  in  the  East  in- 
dies. There  Alexander  prohibited  his 
army  to  kill  them.  Our  translation  of 
Job  mentions //frtcocA;*;  but  probably 
the  word  ought  to  be  rendered  os- 
triches, as  the  feathers  of  their  wings 
are  more  valuable  than  those  of  the 
wings  of  peacocks,  and  what  is  men- 
tioned in  the  conlext  best  agrees  with 
the  conduct  of  the  ostrich  towards 
her  young,  Job  xxxix.  13.  1  Kings 
X.  22.  There  is  also  a  fish  with 
most  beautiful  fius,  called  the  pea- 
cock-fish 

PEARL,  a  hard  white  sinning 
body,  found  in  some  shell-fishes.  It 
proceeds  from  a  disease  in  the  fish. 
The  matter  proper  (o  enlarge  the 
shell,  bursting  from  the  vessels  that 
convey  it  to  the  outside,  forms  into  a 
pearl.  Common  oysters,  the  pinna 
marina,  and  several  other  fish,  form 
pearl 
East 


laces,  were  ordinarily  but  false  pearls, 
made  of  fish-scales,  bruised,  and  in- 
closed in  glass.  What  is  very  excel- 
lent, as  Christ,  and  the  blessings  of  the 
gospel,  is  likened  topearls :  how  pre- 
cious !  how  hard  to  be  come  at  in  a  pro- 
per manner !  how  truly  ornamental ! 
and  how  apt  are  men  to  form  base 
counterfeits  of  them  !  Matt.  xiii.  4(>. 
Rev.  xxi.  21,  22.  To  cast  pearls 
before  swine,  is  to  preach  the  gospel  to 
persecutors;  to  speak  of  Christian  ex- 
perience to  sinners ;  to  a{)ply  the  pro- 
mises and  privileges  proper  to  saints, 
to  men  really  wicked ;  to  dispense  the 
sacraments  to  persons  notoriously 
profane ;  or  to  administer  reprools 
to  obstinate  scoffers.  Matt.  vii.  6. 

PECULIAR,  what  is  separated  to 
one's  special  use.  God's  people  are 
called  peculiar ;  they  are  separated 
from  the  rest  of  the  world,  to  his  ho- 
nour and  service;  they  share  of  spe- 
cial privileges,  are  carefully  preserv- 
ed, and  highly  regarded  hy  liim, 
Exod.  xix.  5.  1  Pet.  ii.  9. 

PEDIGREE,  descent  by  parent- 
age, Numb.  i.  18. 

PEELED,  stripped  of  bark,  skin, 
clothes,  or  hair.     The  shotilders  of 


the     Chaldean    besiegers  of    Tyrk 

but  the  pearl-oj'-sters  of  {he\\v eve  peeled ;  the   clothes,  hair,  and 

Indies,   and  of   the    Gulf    of  even  the  skin,  were   worn  off  them 


Mexico  in  America,  generally  pro- 1  by  bearing  so  many  burdens,  Ezek. 
duce  the  best.  The  chief  fisheries  for  jxxix.  18.  The  Ethiopians  were  a 
pearl  are  at  Bahrein  in  the  Persian 'people  peeled ;  the  scorching  heai: 
Gulf,  and  near  the  isle  of  Ceylon  hindered  the  hair  of  their  head  or 
in  the  East  Indies.  The  next  to  these!  body  from  growing,  and  the  Assyri- 
are  the  five  pearl-fisheries  in  the  ans  stripped  them  of  their  wealth; 
Gulf  of  Mexico.  The  pearls  fished  ;Isa.  xviii.  2,  7. 
on  the  coasts  of  Japan  and  Tartary  I  PEEP,  to  look  slily  or  curiously,  or 
are  far  less  valuable.  The  finest  Eu-  to  speak  softly  with  a  hollow  voice, 
ropean  pearls  are  chiefly  fished  up  and,  as  it  were,  out  of  the  belly,  with- 
ou  the  coasts  of  Scotland,  or  in  the  out  opening  of  the  lips,  Isa.  viii.  IQ. 
rivers  of  Bavaria  in  Germany.  In  PEKAH,  he  that  opens,  the  eye, 
50  years  pearls  generally  lose  their  or  is  at  liberty,  the  son  of  Rema- 
beauty,  and  in  100  they  are  scarcely  jliah,  was  general  of  Pekaiah  king 
worth  any  thing  at  all.  Cleopatra,  of  Israel's  arm3\  Together  with 
queen  of  Egypt,  had  a  pearl  valued  |  Argob  and  Arieh,  and  50  Gilead- 
at  80,000/.  sterling.  The  Persian  i  ites,  he  murdered  his  master  in  the 
emperor  had  one  worth  11 0,000Z.  i  second  year  of  his  reign,  and  reigned 
sterling;  and  Philip  II.  of  Spain  j  20  years  in  his  stead.  Enteringino 
had  one  as  big  as  a  i)igeon's  egg,  j  a  league  with  Rezin  king  of  Sy- 
and  valued  at  1 44,000  ducats.  What '  ria,  they  intended  to  dethrone  Aiiaz, 
ladies  formerly  wore  in  their  neck- 'and  cut  off  the  whole  family  of  Da- 


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P  E  0 


vid,  and  set  up  the  son  of  one  Tabeel 
to  govern  .Tudea  as  their  tributary. 
To  the  DO  small  otTonce  of  God,  Pe- 
kah's  army  cut  ofV  12(),U0O  ol"  .ludah, 
and  took2()0,00()  prisoners;  hut  they 
soon  returned  the  latter  with  2;reat 
humanity.  Instiscated  hy  Ahaz,  Tig- 
lath-pileser  kinii;  of  Assyria  invaded 
the  kingtlom  of  Pekali,  and  murder- 
ed, and  tarried  otf  into  captivity  a 
great  part  of  the  Naphthalites,  East- 
ern Manassife.-i,  Ileubenites,  and 
Gadiles.  At  last  Hoshea  murdered 
Pekah,  anil  reiu;ned  in  his  stead,  Isa. 
vii.  1—7.  2  kings  xv.  25—30.  2 
Chron.  xxviii.  6 — 10. 

PECOD.     See  Merothaim. 

PELATIAU.     See  Zf.dekiaii. 

PELEG,  or  Phat.eg,  a  division, 
the  son  of  Eber,  and  brother  of  Jok- 
tan.  He  bad  Ibis  name  given  him, 
because  in  his  days  the  language  of 
men  was  conlouuded,  and  they  were 
divided.  As  he  was  born  but  a 
hundred  years  after  the  flood,  some 
can  hardly  believe  the  division  of 
men  at  Babel  could  be  so  early  as  his 
birth;  but  as  it  is  certain  men  might 
increase  so  fast  as  to  afford  a  sufficient 
number  to  build  the  tower  of  Babel 
at  the  time  of  his  birth,  so  it  is  possi- 
ble his  father  might  give  him  this 
name  by  the  spirit  of  prophecj^  be- 
cause the  earth  would  be  divided  just 
before  his  death,  which  was  239  years 
later,  Gen.  x.  25.  Luke  iii.  35. 

PELICAN,  a  fowl  of  the  goose 
kind,  with  a  long  crooked  beak,  and 
the  fore-part  oi'  the  head  (towards 
the  throat)  naked.  Cormorants  and 
shags  are  of  the  pelican  kind;  but 
pelicans,  properly  so  called,  are 
about  twice  as  big  as  a  swan,  and 
have  a  bag  at  their  throat  sufficient 
to  hold  two  human  heads.  They 
haunt  deserts,  and  are  extremely 
careful  of  their  young.  It  is  said 
they  sometimes  feed  them  with  their 
own  blood,  and  will  flap  their  wings 
over  their  kindled  nest,  to  blow  out 
the  fire,  till  themselves  be  burnt, 
Deut.  xiv.  17.  David  in  his  distress 
was  like  a  pelican  or  biUcrn  of  the 
wilderness,  in  a  very  lonely  and 
moiunful  condition.  Psal.  cii.  6. 


PEN,  an  instrument  for  writing 
will).  Isaiah  wrote  with  a  man's 
pen  ;  in  characters  easy  to  t)e  read, 
not  like  those  written  by  the  angel  on 
lielsha/.zar's  wall,  Isa.  viii.  1.  The 
saints'  tongue  is  like  the  pen  of  a  ready 
writer,  when  their  heart  |)romptly 
conceives,  and  their  mouth  in  an 
agreeable  manner  proclaims  the 
praises  of  Jesus  Christ,  Psal.  xlv.  L 
Men's  sins  are  written  with  a  pen  of 
iron  and  point  of  a  diamond,  when 
they  are  so  fixed  in  their  heart,  that 
they  still  remember,  hold  fast,  and 
practise  them,  Jer.  xvii.  1. 

PENIEL,  or  Pexuel,  the  face  oj 
God,  a  place  on  the  east  of  Jordan, 
near  the  brook  Jabbok;  so  called, 
because  here  Jacob,  in  his  wrestling, 
saw  the  face  of  God,  or  enjoyed  fa- 
miliar fellowship  with  him,  Gen. 
xxxii.  24—28.  Here  the  Gadite^^ 
built  a  city;  but  because  the  inhabi- 
tants refused  refreshment  to  Gideon's 
troops,  many  of  them  were  killed, 
and  their  tower  demolished.  Judges 
viii.  8,  9,  15,  17.  Jeroboam  the 
son  of  Nebat  rebuilt  it,  and  perhaps 
reared  a  palace  for  himself  in  it,  i 
Kings  xii.  25. 

PENINNAH.     See  Hannah. 

PENTECOST.     See  Feast. 

PENNY,  a  Roman  coin  equal 
to  seven-pence  three-farthings  ster 
ling.  It  was  the  hire  of  a  labourer  foi 
a  day's  work;  and  hence  the  reward 
of  eternal  life,  which  we  prepare  for 
in  our  day  of  life,  is  likened  to  a 
penny.  Matt.  xx.  1 — 1 5. 

PEOPLE,      NATION,      FOI.K,     (1.; 

The   fathers  of   particular  nations, 
Gen.  XXV.  13.  and  so  one  is  made 
a  great  nation,   when   his  seed  art 
multiplied  into  one,  Exod.  xxxii.  10. 
(2.)    The  persons    that  compose   a 
kingdom  or  nation,  whether  poor  or 
rich,  1  Sam.  xv.  30.     (3.)  The  vul- 
gar or  common  people  in  a  city  or 
nation,  Luke  xxiii.    14.     (4.)  Th(- 
Gcntiles,  Psal.  cxvii.   1.  Gen.  xlix. 
10.     (5.)  Both  Jews  and  Gentiles 
j  Luke  ii.  10.     (G.)  A  kind  of  animal>- 
j  and  insects,  Prov.  xxx.  25,  20.     Is- 
I  rael  and  the  church  are  called  God's 
[people :  the  Hebrews  were  separate*' 


PER 


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PER 


froiti  other  nations,  to  enter  into  his 
covenant,  enjoy  his  favours,  and  ob- 
serve his  laws.  Church-members  in 
general,  are  his  by  outward  profes- 
sion ;  and  real  saints  are  his  by  being 
united  to  him  by  his  Spirit,  enriched 
with  his  blessings,  and  employed  in 
his  service,  Exod.  vi.  7.  Matt.  i.  21, 
And  they  are  the  people  of  his  holi- 
ness, or  holy  people,  or  nation ;  sepa- 
rated by  God  to  himself,  sanctified 
by  his  Spirit,  and  qualified  for  his 
holy  service,  Isa.  Ixiii.  18.  and  Isii. 
12.  1  Pet.  ii.  9.  Those  who  ate  not 
thus  God's  people,  are  represented 
as  no  pco])le,  Hos.  i.  10.  and  ii.  23. 
Rom.  X.  19.  1  Pet.  ii.  10.  The 
Jews  were  the  rebellious  people  that 
imagined  a  vain  thing  against  Christ, 
and  refused  the  offers  of  his  grace, 
Psal.  ii.  1.  Isa.  Ixv.  2.  The  people 
of  Chemosh  are  the  Moabites,  who 
worshipped  that  idol,  Numb.  xxi. 
25.  The  Syrians,  Moabites,  Am- 
monites, &c.  were  the  unknown  peo- 
ple that  served  David,  2  Sam.  xxii. 
52.  The  people  of  the  prince  that  de- 
stroyed .ferusalem,  were  the  Roman 
army,  directed  by  Titus  the  empe- 
ror's son,  Dan.  ix.  26.  The  people 
inhabiting  the  wilderness,  who  had  the 
heads  of  Pharaoh  and  his  army, 
drowned  in  the  Red  Sea,  for  food, 
were  either  the  wild  beasts  about  the 
shores,  who  fed  on  their  carcases,  or 
the  Hebrews,  who  mightily  rejoiced 
at  their  overthrow,  Psa.  Ixxiv.  13, 
14. 
PEOR.       See     Abarim,     Baai,- 

PEOR. 

PERCEIVE,  (].)  To  take  notice, 
have  sure  knowledge  of,  Gen.  xix. 
33.  Acts  X.  34.  (2.)  To  discover, 
find  out,  2  Sam.  xiv.  1.  Jer.  xxxviii. 
27.  (3.)  Spiritually  to  consider  things 
in  order  to  a  right  improvement  of 
tliem,  Deut.  xxix.  4.  He  passeth 
on,  and  I  perceive  him  not ;  God 
proceeds  on  in  his  course  of  provi- 
dence towards  me ;  but  I  cannot  un- 
derstand the  ground,  manner,  or  end, 
of  his  work,  Job  ix.  11. 

PERDITION,  destruction,  .ludas 
xvas  a  S071  of  perdition,  i.  e,  one  that 
richly  deserved  it,  and  was  punished 


with  it,  John,  vii.  12.  Antichrist  id 
a  son  of  perdition,  a  noted  destroyer 
of  others;  and  he  and  his  agents  are 
divinely  destined  to  endless  ruin. 
2  Thess.  ii.  3. 

To  PERPECT,is  to  finish  a  work, 
and  render  it  full  and  complete,  Psal. 
cxxxviii.  8. 

Perfect,  (1.)  That  which  is 
complete,  and  wants  nothing,  Deut. 
XXV.  16.  (2.)  That  which  is  fully 
manifested  in  its  perfection,  so 
Christ's  strength  is  made  perfect,  by 
the  occasion  of  his  people's  weak- 
ness, 2  Cor.  xii.  9.  and  faith  is  iriade 
perfect  by  works.  Jam.  ii.  22. — God 
is  perfect;  he  possesseth  every  possi- 
ble excellency  in  an  unbounded  de- 
gree. Matt.  V.  48.  His  work  isperfect  ; 
it  is  altogether  righteous  and  holy, 
and  leaves  nothing  that  is  necessary 
undone,  Deut.  xxxii.  4.  Christ  is 
perfected,  or  t7iade  perfect,  Avhen  his 
course  of  service  is  finished,  Luke 
xiii.  Heb.  ii,  10.  and  v.  9.  Christ, 
by  one  offering,  hath  perfected  for 
ever  them  that  are  sanctified;  he 
hath  done  every  thing  that  Avas  ne- 
cessary in  order  to  their  full  reconci- 
liation to  God,  Heb.  x.  14.  God's 
law  is  perfect  ;  enjoins  every  duty  by 
the  highest  authority,  and  is  enforced 
with  the  strongest  motives,  Psal.  xix. 
7.  Ministers  are  perfect,  when  they 
are  thoroughly  instructed,  and  fitted 
foi  their  office,  2  Tim.  iii.  17.  The 
saints  are  perfect,  when  fully  sancti- 
fied, and  no  remains  of  sin  are  left 
in  them.  Col.  i.  28.  they  have  every 
particular  grace,  and  aim  at  the  high- 
est degree  of  each ;  they  have  no  more 
excellent  dispositions  and  behaviour 
than  their  neighbours,  and  ai-e  blame- 
less in  their  holy  conversation,  Job 
viii.  20.  Gen.  vi.  9.  2  Cor.  xiii.  11. 
The  love  of  God  i?,  perfected  in  their 
loving  one  another ;  God's  love  to 
them  is  manifested  in  drawing  their 
heart  to  this,  and  theirs  to  God  is 
manifested  in  loving  others  for  his 
sake,  1  Johnii.  5.  and  iv.  12.  The 
Jewish  teachers  were  perfect,  i.  e. 
blameless,  and  almost  without  error 
or  sin  in  their  own  conceit,  Isa.  xiii. 
19.  Though  I  were  perfect,  yet  would 


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740/  ktioio  my  soul,  I  wotUd  despise 
my  life ;  ill  should  think  mysflf  per- 
fect, yet  I  woukl  not  trust  to  the  in- 
tegrity of  my  heart  or  lile,  so  as  to 
justify  myself  before  God,  Job  ix.  21. 
Perfection  is,  (1.)  The  full  ripe- 
ness of  fruit,  Luke  viii.  14.  (2.) 
The  most  excellent  things  on  earth, 
as  honour,  ueulth,  pleasure,  learn- 
ing ;  and  to  see  an  end  of  this,  is  to 
see  how  insxtficieut  it,  or  any  thing 
but  God  himself  is  to  satisjy  an  im- 
mortal soul,  Psal.  cxix.  96.  (3.) 
The  more  mysterious  princi|)les  of 
the  Christian  faith,  and  height  of 
Christian  experience,  Heb.  vi.  1. 
(4.)  The  full  measure  and  degree  of 
excellency,  holiness,  or  happiness, 
2  Cor.  xiii.  9.  To  find  out  the  Al- 
mighty to  perfection^  is  fully  to  know 
and  comprehend  all  his  unnumbered 
and  unbounded  excellencies,  Job  xi. 
7,  U perfection  had  been  by  the  Levit- 
ical  priesthood ;  if  sin  had  been  tru- 
ly and  fully  expiated,  and  the  endless 
holiness  and  happiness  of  men  secu- 
red, by  the  sacrifices  and  other  cere- 
moniesof  the  Old  Testament,  Christ's 
coming  was  needless,  Heb.  vii.  11. 
The  perfecting  of  the  saints,  is  the 
rendering  their  graces  strong  and  ac- 
tive, till  they  become  perfectly  holy, 
without  the  least  remains  of  sinful 
imperfection,  Eph.  iv.  11. 

PERFORM,  much  the  same  as 
to  Fi  LFiL  a  promise,  request,  law, 
or  work,  Jer.  xxviii.  6.  Esth.-  v.  8. 
Jer.  xxxiv.  18.  Phil.  i.  6.  God  pcr- 
forms  all  things  for  his  people ;  what- 
ever tends  to  their  real  good,  what- 
ever he  hath  promised,  whatever  they 
ask  in  faith,  he  does  for  and  in  them ; 
and  enables  them  to  every  good 
v»ord  and  work,  Psal.  Ivii.  2.  Job 
xxiii.  14.  God  performs  the  counsel 
of  his  messengers,  when  he  executes 
those  purposes  declared  by  the  pro- 
phets, in  ])romises  and  threatening?, 
Isa.  xliv.  26. 

PERFUME,  whatever  emits  a  fra- 
grant smell,  whether  spontaneously 
or  by  means  of  fire,  l)y  being  thrown 
on  live  coals.  There  are  two  per- 
fumes mentioned  by  Moses;  one 
Exod.  XXX.  25.  an  oil  for  anointing 


the  priests  and  vessels  of  the  taberna- 
cle :  the  other  a  perfume  to  be  olTered 
on  the  golden  altar,  ver.  34,  <i.'c.  The 
Hebrews  dealt  much  in  perfuming 
dead  bodies,  clothes,  beds,  &c.  Gen. 
xxvii.  27.  Prov.  vii.  17.  Psal.  xlv. 
2.     See  Embalming,  Spicks. 

PERGA,  very  earthy,  an  inland 
city  of  Pamphylia,  on  the  river  Cay- 
strus,  near  to  which,  on  an  eminence, 
stood  a  temple  of  Diana.  It  was 
famed  for  the  birth  of  ApoUonius, 
the  renowned  geometrician.  Here 
Paul  and  Barnabas  preached  oftener 
than  once.  Acts  xiii.  14.  and  xiv.  25. 
and  to  the  end  of  the  eighth  century 
we  find  a  Christian  church  here, 
sometimes  not  a  little  eminent.  It 
is  at  present  of  little  or  no  import- 
ance.— There  was  another  Perga  in 
Epirus. 

PERGAMOS,  height,  elevation, 
a  city  of  Proconsular  Asia,  on  the  ri- 
ver Caicus,  about 40  miles  north-west 
of  Thyatira,  and  64  northward  of 
Smyrna,  and  in  a  country  very  fertile 
in  grain.  The  place  was  famed  for  a 
temple  to  Esculapius  the  god  of  phy- 
sic, and  more  so  for  the  famed  libra- 
ry of  200,000  volumes  collected  by 
Attalus,  one  of  its  kings.  For  about 
150  years,  from  A.  M.  3721,  to 
3870,  Pergamos  was  the  capital  of 
a  considerable  kingdom,  which  was 
generally  in  friendship  with  the  Ro- 
mans, and  was  bequeathed  by  the 
last  king  to  them :  but  perhaps  the 
Romans  forged  this  testament,  at 
least  they  explained  it  as  they  pleas- 
ed. A  Christian  church  was  very 
early  planted  at  Pergamos :  but  they 
quickly  degenerated  from  their  pu- 
rity, and  tolerated  the  Nicolaitans, 
and  such  as  taught  them  to  commit 
fornication,  and  eat  things  sacrificed 
to  idols.  For  these  things,  Jesus 
sharply  reproves  them  in  a  letter  by 
John.  It  may  be  hoped  this  pro- 
duced their  reformation.  Rev.  ii.  12 
to  1 7.  For  seven  or  eight,  hundred 
years,  the  church  here  was  of  consi- 
derable note,  but  at  the  present,  the 
Christians  are  reduced  to  al>out  15 
very  poor  families,  and  the  Turk* 
are  but  about  2,000  or  3,000. 


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PERILOUS,  full  of  danger,  2 
Tim.  iii.  1. 

PERISH,  (1.)  To  lose  natural  life, 
Jon.  i.  6.  (2.)  To  be  rooted  out  of 
honour,  happiness,  or  life,  2  Kings 
ix.  8.  Mic.  vii.  2.  (3.)  To  be  ren- 
dered useless,  Jer.  ix.  12.  (4.)  To 
cease  to  be.  Jam.  i.  11.  (5.)  To 
be  ready  to  die  of  want,  Luke  xv.  1 7. 
(6.)  To  be  turned  out  of  the  way  of 
truth  and  holiness,  and  to  be  lost  for 
ever,  1  Cor.  viii.  11.  2  Pet.  ii.  12. 

PERJURED,  one  that  swears 
falsehood,  or  breaks  a  lawful  oath, 
1  Tim.  i.  10. 

PERRIZZITES,  dwelling  inun- 
rvalled  villages^  a  tribe  of  the  ancient 
Canaanites,  so  called,  because  they 
dwelt  in  unwalled  villages.  They 
seem  to  have  been  dispersed  among 
the  other  tribes,  as  near  Bethel, 
Gen.  xiii.  7.  and  in  mount  Ephraim, 
Joshua  xvii.  15.  Judges  iii.  5. 
The  tribe  of  Judah  expelled  such  as 
dwelt  in  their  bounds,  Judg.  i.  4. 
Solomon  laid  the  remains  of  them 
under  tribute,  2  Chron.  viii.  7. 
Some  of  them  remained  after  the 
captivity,  and  intermarried  with  the 
Hebrew?,  Ezraix.  1. 

PERMIT,  (1.)  To  cease  hinder- 
ing, 1  Cor.  vii.  6.  (2.)  To  allow, 
I  Cor.  xiv.  34. 

PERNICIOUS,  extremely  hurt- 
ful and  ruinous,    2  Pet.  ii.  2. 

PERPETUAL,  (1.)  Continual, 
uninterrupted,  Ezek.  xxxv.  5.  The 
incense  was  perpetual,  i.  e.  offered 
every  evening  and  morning,  Exod. 
XXX.  8.  (2.)  What  continues  for  a 
long  time,  as,  till  the  death  of  Christ: 
sio  the  ceremonial  laws  were  perpe- 
tual, Exod.  xxix.  9.  (3.)  To  the  end 
of  the  world,  Jer.  xxv.  9. 

PERPLEXED,  in  such  fear  or 
distress  as  not  to  kuow  what  to  do, 
Esth.  iii.  15. 

PERSECUTE,  to  seek  after  and 
improve  occasions  of  doing  a  man 
hurt,  especially  on  account  of  his 
steadfastl}'^  cleaving  to  the  truths  and 
waysofC4od,  Jobxix.  22.  Mall.  v.  11. 
Ishmael  persecuted  Isaac,  by  mock- 
ing and  reproaching  him,  Gal.  iv. 
29.     God  persecutes  men,  when  he 


pursues  them  with  his  judgments  in 
every  place  and  condition  they  are 
in.  Lam.  iii.  66.  Psal.  xxxv.  6. 
Christ  h persecuted,  when  his  people, 
who  are  peculiarly  dear  to  him, 
are  for  his  cause  reproached,  ha- 
rassed, and  murdered,  Acts  ix.  4. 
Though  persecution  for  conscience 
sake  is  contrary  to  the  genius  of 
Christianity,  yet  pretenders  to  it 
have  very  often,  for  their  own  car- 
nal ends,  persecuted  their  fellow- 
professors. 

PERSEVERANCE,  the  conti- 
nuance in  a  course  of  action,  not- 
withstanding much  opposition,  Eph. 
vi.  18.  Although  the  word  perse- 
verance is  only  once  used  in  the  sa- 
cred writings,  it  has  been  a  favourite 
word  with  many  authors,  who,  like 
the  worthy  Mr.  Brown  of  Haddington, 
have  laboured  to  prove  the  absolute- 
ly certain  perseverance  of  the  saints. 
That  the  grace  of  God  is  every  way 
sufficient  to  enable  them  to  perse- 
vere, is  not  questioned,  any  more 
than  the  ability  of  Adam  in  a  state  of 
innocence,  or  of  angels  in  heaven, 
to  have  kept  their  first  estate.  But 
that  the  doctrine  of  the  absolute  final 
perseverance  of  the  saints,  is  inconsis- 
tent with  the  Bible,  is  evident,  the 
Editor  thinks,  from  the  following 
passages  of  scripture,  Ezf^k.  xviii. 
24.  John  XV.  1,  &c.  Rom.  xi.  17, 
&c.  1  Tim.  i.  18, 19.  Heb.  vi.  6.  and 
x.  38.  2  Pet.  ii.  20,  21.  Matt.  v.  13. 
xii.  45.  and  xxiv.  10,  4b,  &iG.  Luke 
xxi.  34.  John  viii.  31,  32.  1  Cor.  ix. 
27.  x.  3,  &c.  2  Cor.  vi.  1.  Gal.  iv. 
4.  and  vi.  9.  Heb.  iii.  4.  2  Pet.  iii, 
17.  2  John  8.  Rev.  iii.  11.  These 
are  but  a  specimen  of  the  innumera- 
ble scriptures  which  might  be  brought 
to  set  aside  absolute  final  perseve- 
rance: but  even  these  are  sufficient, 
if  taken  in  their  plain  and  obvious 
sense.  But  if  believers  stand  by 
faith,  and  are  surrounded  with  allure- 
ments on  every  hand,  they  certainly 
ouQ;ht  to  watch  and  pray ;  and  to  fear 
with  a  fear  of  caution,  lest  a  promise 
being  left  them  of  entering  into  rest, 
any  of  them  should  seem  to  come 
short  of  it. 


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PERSIA,  Elam,  that  atts,  or  di- 
vides, a  horscviaii,  an  ancient  kinji;- 
doni  in  Middle  Asia,  on  the  soutli  of 
Media,  and  southeast  of  Assyria  and 
Chaldea.  The  Persianswore  anciently 
<;alled  Elamites,  and  sprunsj  IVoni 
Elani,  the  eldest  sou  of  Shein,  andtlieir 
original  residence  was  called  Elymais. 
Chedorlaonier,  one  of  their  tirst  kings, 
was  a  noted  conqueror,  Gen.  xiv. 
About  the  time  of  Jehoshaphat,  one 
IMeninon,  the  son  of  Aurora,  seems 
to  have  been  their  king.  The  ori- 
ental histories  lead  me  to  suppose 
that  their  kingdom  still  continued, 
with  perhaps  some  small  interrup- 
tions. The  Assyrians  extended  their 
conquests  over  the  Persians ;  but  un- 
der Acmenides,  they  revolted  about 
the  same  time  with  the  Medes.  The 
government  continued  in  his  family 
till  the  Chaldeans  ravaged  their  coun- 
tr}',  Jer.  xxv.  25,  27.  and  xlix.  35 
— 39.  After  this,  the  country  was 
in  a  wretched  condition  till  Cyrus 
appeared  on  the  stage.  He  connect- 
ed it  with  the  kingdom  of  Media, 
and  subdued  the  kingdoms  of  Assy- 
ria, Egypt,  and  Lybia:  and  by  his 
great  wisdom,  settled  the  empire  on 
so  very  solid  a  foundation,  that  not- 
withstanding the  folly  of  many  of 
his  successors,  it  continued  about  208 
years.  His  son  Cambyses,  during 
the  seven  years  of  his  reign,  was  fa- 
mous for  very  little,  besides  mur- 
ders, and  the  furious  ravage  of 
Egypt.  Darius  Hystaspes  soon  killed 
the  pretended  Smerdis,  and  reigned 
36  years.  He  took  and  demolished 
part  of  the  walls  of  Babylon,  but 
supplied  the  inhabitants  who  survived 
his  cruelties  with  50,000  womea, 
instead  of  their  wives,  which  them- 
selves had  murdered  during  the  siege. 
To  revenge  the  Scythian  invasion  of 
Upper  Asia  about  120  years  before, 
he  invaded  Scythia.  He  conquered 
Thrace  in  Europe.,  and  part  of  East 
India;  reduced  the  religious  loni- 
ans  in  Asia ;  but  his  expedition  into 
Greece  cast  him  the  ruin  of  a  great 
part  of  his  army.  Xerxes  his  son  hav- 
ing fallen  heir  to  the  kingdom,  and 
excessive  wealth  of  his  covetous  fa- 

Vf.L.    If. 


ther,  reduced  the  rebellious  Egypti 
ans;  stirred  u|)  the  Carthagenians  to 
attack  the  Greeks  in  Sicily,  while 
himself  with  an  army  of  about  five 
millions  283,000  pers>ons,  but  not 
halfof  them  warrior:?,  invaded  Greece. 
These  were  mostly  cut  otf  by  the 
Greeks  at  Thermopylae  Platea,  Sa- 
lamis,  and  Mycale.  After  12  years, 
he  was  succeeded  by  Artaxerxes 
Longimanus  his  son,  who  sent  Ezra 
and  NehejTiiali  to  promote  the  wel- 
fare of  the  Jews.  He  reduced  the 
Egyptians  to  a  still  more  grievous 
servitude.  After  a  reign  of  4 1  years, 
he  was  succeeded  by  Xerxes  his  son. 
He,  after  one  year,  was  murdered 
by  Sogdianus,  his  bastard  brother ; 
and  he,  in  other  seven  months,  by 
Darius  Nothos,  or  Ochus,  another 
bastard  brother.  After  a  reign  of 
1 8  years,  he  was  succeeded  by  his 
son  Artaxerxes  Memnon.  His  de- 
feating his  brother  Cyrus,  his  vic- 
tory over  the  Lacedemonians,  his 
difficult  reduction  of  Cyprus,  and  his 
struggles  with  the  Egyptians  are  the 
most  noted  events  of  his  long  reign 
of  about  45  j'ears.  Artaxerxes 
Ochus  his  son,  after  murdering  his  two 
elder  brethren,  succeeded  him.  Af- 
ter a  cruel  reign  of  23  years,  in 
which  he  ravaged  Egypt,  Phenicia, 
and  part  of  Judea,  he,  and  soon  after 
Arses  his  son,  were  murdered  by 
Bagoas  a  eunuch;  and  Darius  Ca- 
domanus,  a  very  distant  relation,  was 
placed  on  the  throne,  in  whose  time 
the  Persian  empire  was  quite  over- 
turned by  Alexander  and  the  Greeks. 
Isa.  xlvi.  11.  and  xli.  2,  3,  25.  and 
xlv.  1—5,  13.  and  xliv.  28.  Dan.  ii. 
32.  and  viii.  4,  5,  12.  and  x.  13,  20. 
and  viii.  2—7,  20,  21.  and  xi.  2,  3. 
Numb.  xxiv.  24. 

From^.  M.  3675  to  3754,  F^  "a 
was  wholly  under  the  dominion  of 
the  Greeks;  and  Elymais,  and  other 
of  the  western  parts,  were  so  long 
afterwards ;  but  the  Parthians  gra- 
dually rendered  themselves  masters 
of  the  whole  of  it.  About  A.  M. 
4236,  J.  D.  232,  x\rtaxerxes,  a 
noble  prince  of  the  Persians,  seized 
the  kingdom.  Twenty-eight  Kings 
2  N 


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o(  his  family  reigned  in  succession 
above  400  years.  Some  of  them  were 
noted  persecutors  of  the  Christians. 
Many  of  them  had  violent  struggles 
of  war  with  the  Roman  emperors. 

Hitherto  a  liind  of  Deism  had  been 
the  established  religion  of  Persia. 
They  had  neither  temples,  nor  sta- 
tues, nor  altars,  nor  did  they  believe 
there  was  need  of  any,  as  God  was 
every-where.  They  sacrificed  to  the 
elements  and  heavenly  luminaries, 
as  symbols  of  him.  They  learned 
not  a  little  of  idolatry  from  the  As- 
syrians and  Chaldeans;  but  Zoroaster 
or  Zerdush,  who  some  think,  was 
an  aj)ostate  disci plef  of 'the  prophet 
Ezekiel,  about  the  time  of  Darius  Hys- 
tas|)es,  mightily  reformed  their  reli- 
gious system.  His  scheme  continued 
as  long  as  their  kingdom :  nay,  those 
who  call  themselves  Persees,  and  pre- 
tend to  be  the  true  Persians,  still  re- 
tain it.  They  hold  one  eternal  God, 
and  a  good  and  evil  principle  under 
him  :  light  they  reckoned  the  symbol 
of  the  good,  and  darkness  of  the  bad 
one.  They  maintain  that  the  world 
was  created  in  six  days,  and  one  man 
and  one  woman  made  for  the  parents 
of  mankind;  and  that  the  good  prin- 
ciple of  light  withdrawing  himself, 
the  child  of  darkness  will  at  the  last 
day  produce  a  dissolution  of  nature. 
About  A.  D.  634,  the  Saracens  spread 
tiiemselves  into  Persia,  and  establish- 
ed their  Mahometan  delusion;  but 
tor  the  most  part,  the  Persians,  have 
been  of  the  sect  of  Ali,  the  son-in- 
law  of  Mahomet ;  and  are  heartily 
despised  by  the  Turks,  and  others  of 
the  sect  of  Omar.  After  the  Saracen 
Caliphs  had  governed  Persia  by 
their  sultans  420  years,  the  Turks, 
who  for  some  ages  before  had  pour- 
ed themselves  into  it  while  it  was 
under  the  government  of  the  Buides, 
seized  the  sovereignty,  A.  D.  1055. 
Tangrolipix,  and  his  Seljukian  suc- 
cessors, ruled  i(  till  about  A.  D.  1260. 
when  Halon  the  son  of  Jeughis-khan, 
the  famed  Tartar,  wrested  it  from 
them.  After  he,  and  eight  of  his  de- 
.scendants,  had  swayed  the  sceptre, 
Tamerlane,another  Tartarian  prince, 


seized  it  about  A.  D.   1400,  and  left 
it  to  Mirza  his  son.  Contention  rag- 
ed in  the  family  till  they  were  all 
driven  from  the  throne,  and  Usum- 
cassan,  the  Turkman  king  of  Arme- 
nia, seized  on  it,  A.  D.  1472.     His 
male    line  quickly    failed,  but  Ish- 
mael,  his  grandson  by  his  daughter, 
whom  he  had  married  to  Sheik  Eidar 
the  famed  preacher,  after   his  father 
had    been  murdered,  struggled  into 
the  throne,  A.  D.  1499.     The  sove- 
reignty continued  in  his  family  for 
eleven    generations.     Some   of   his 
successors  were  absolute  infernals  in 
cruelty  and  murder.     Husseyn,  the 
last,  and  one  of  the    best  of  them, 
was  wickedly    dethroned    in  1723, 
and   afterwards     murdered  by    the 
wretch  Myr-weis.  Not  long  after  his 
death,  the  famous  Kuli-khan  mount- 
ed the  throne,  subdued  the   Moguls, 
chastised  the  Turks,  and  attempted 
to  change  the  religion  of  his  country 
into  a  conformity  with  that  of  other 
Mahometans;  but  he  was  murdered. 
With  terrible  struggling,   it  is  said, 
Kerim-khan   got  himself  enthroned 
about  1763,  after  the  countrj'^  had  for 
almost  forty  years  been   a  shocking 
scene  of  treachery  and  murder.    Mil- 
lions had  perished  in  ways  the  most 
wretched.     At  present,  the  Persian 
empire  is  very  large,  bounded  with 
the  Turkish  on  the  west,  with  the 
Russian  on  the  north,  and  with  that 
of  the  Mogul  on  the  south,  and  with 
Tartary  on  the  east.     I  know  of  few 
Christians   in  it,  except  the    Arme- 
nians, who  have  fifteen  or   sixteen 
churches  at  Zulpha,  the  famed  sub- 
urb of    Ispahan    the    capital;    and 
some  others  on  the  south  and  west  of 
the  Caspian  Sea,  who  scarcely  de- 
serve the  name. 

PERSON,  (1.)  A  particular  man. 
Gen.  xi.  21.  Job  xxii.  29.  (2.j 
When  joined  with  accept,  person^  or 
face.,  it  denotes  external  qualities, 
conditions,  country,  friends,  wealth, 
povert)'^,  or  the  like,  Luke  xx.  21. 
Acts  X.  34.  By  the  person  of  Christ. 
is  ordinately  meant  the  Son  of  God 
as  our  Mediator,  clothed  with  our 
nature  ;  and  to  forgive  a  thing  in  the 


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person  of  Christ,  is  to  absolve  from  , 
censure  in  his  name  and  autliorify; 
as  he  who  act? in  the  stead  or  aullio- 
rity  of  another  acts  in  liis  person  in 
a  law  sense,  2  Cor.  ii.  10. 

PERSUADE,  (1.)  To  convince, 
to  induce  to  lielievc,  Luke  xvi.  31. 
(2.)  To  advi?e  or  excite  to  the  per- 
forinance  of  a  thing,  2  Chron.  xxii. 
11.  1  Kings  xxxii.  20.  Prov.  xxii. 
15.  Actsxiv.  19.  Go{\ persuades  J a- 
pheth,  when  he  brings  multitudes  of 
his  offspring  to  believe  the  gospel, 
and  become  members  of  his  church, 
Gen.  ix.  t  27.  Men  are  persuaded, 
when  they  are  truly  and  satisfactorily 
assured  of  a  thing,  Hel).  vi.  9.  and 
xi.  13.  Rom.  viii.  38.  and  xiv.  5. 
Do  1  persuade  men  or  God?  Do  I 
preach  the  things  of  men,  or  of  God  ? 
Is  it  for  the  sake  of  men,  or  of  God, 
that  I  excite  men  to  believe  and  obey 
the  gospel  ?  Gal.  i.  10. 

PERVERSENESS,  fhoward- 
NEss,  petulance,  peevishness,  a  tem- 
per ready  to  oppose  what  is  reasona- 
ble and  good,  Prov.  xi.  33.  Men  go 
on  frowardly,  Avhen,  contrary  to  the 
commands,  invitations,  threatenings, 
promises,  corrections  of  God,  and 
their  own  interest  and  conscience, 
they  rush  on  in  evil  courses,  Isa.  Ivii. 
17.  With  the /ro?var</ God  shows 
himself /rowarrf;  with  such  as  rebel 
against  his  word  and  providence,  he 
shows  himself  their  firm  opposer,  who 
will  register  and  punish  their  wick- 
edness, 2  Sam.  xxii.  27. 

PERVERT,  to  put  out  of  order, 
turn  things  upside  down.  To  per- 
vert persons,  is  to  seduce  them  into 
sinful  courses,  Isa.  xlvii.  10.  Luke 
xxiii.  2.  To  pervert  one'^s  way,  is 
frowardly  to  do  wickedness,  Jer.  iii. 
21 .  Prov.  xix.  3,  To  pervert  the  right 
ways  of  the  Lord,  is  falsely  to  re- 
proach and  misrepresent  the  truths 
and  ordinances  of  Jesus  Christ,  and 
his  people's  obedience  to  them.  Acts 
xiii.  10.  To  pervert  the  gospel,  or 
words  of  the  living  God,  is  to  mix 
them  with  error,  or  prostitute  them 
to  the  support  of  wickedness,  Gal.  i.  7. 
Jer.  xxiii.  36.  l^o  pervert  judgment, 
is    to  dispense  it   unjustly,  for  the 


sake  of  gain,  favour,  or  some  other 
wicked  end,  Deut.  xxvii.  19. 

PESTILENCE,  an  acute,  highly 
dangerous,  and  infectious  fever, 
which  kills  fjuicker  than  any  other, 
unless  carbuncles  and  buboes  speedily 
break  out  and  run.  This  disease  is 
not  endemial  to  Europe,  but  brought 
from  some  other  jiart  of  the  world, 
ordinarily  taking  its  rise  in  Egypt, 
whence  it  is  conveyed  to  Constanti- 
nople, and  thence  diffused  over  Eu- 
rope. The  Nile,  overflowing  its 
banks  every  year,  leaves  behind  a 
great  deal  of  slime,  and  a  variety  of 
animals,  which,  in  great  heats,  pu- 
trify  and  corrupt  the  air  with  noxious 
va[)ours;  and  as  this  overflowing 
happens  yearly,  the  plague  is  com- 
mon in  Egypt,  as  also  among  the 
Turks,  who,  from  their  notion  of 
fate,  take  no  care  to  guard  against 
infection;  the  cause  of  which  must 
therefore  be  a  putrid  exhajation  in  the 
air.  But  as  cold  resists  corruption, 
it  is  not  to  be  wondered  that  the 
plague  is  so  seldom  in  northern  cli- 
mates, and  at  the  same  time  less 
destructive  than  in  hotter  ones.  This 
is  one  of  the  three  scourges  of  Pro- 
vidence, the  other  two  being  sword 
and  famine,  2  Sam.  xxiv.  12,  &c. 
See  PLAGUE. 

PETER,  a  stone,  or  rock,  the  son 
of  Jonas,  and  brother  of  Andrew,  was 
a  native  of  Bethsaida;  his  original 
name  was  Simon;  but  Jesus  called  him 
Cephas,  or  Peter,  i.  e.  a  stone,  or  rock, 
to  mark  his  need  of  steadiness  in  his 
faith  and  practice.  He  married  a 
woman  of  Capernaum ;  whose  mo- 
ther was  cured  of  a  fever  by  our 
Saviour,  Mark  i.  29.  Invited  by 
Andrew  his  brother,  he  went  and 
saw  Jesus,  and  staid  with  him  a 
night.  About  a  year  after,  Jesus 
found  them  washing  their  nets,  as 
they  left  off  fishing  on  the  sea  of 
Galilee.  He  desired  the  use  of  their 
boat  to  sit  in  and  teach  the  people. 
Alter  he  had  done  so,  to  reward 
their  kindness,  and  manifest  his  own 
power,  he  ordered  them  to  cast  their 
net  into  the  sea  for  a  draught.  They 
had  fished  the  whole  night   before^ 


P  E  T 


(     284     ) 


PET 


and  caught  nothing;  but  being  obedi- 
ent to  our  Saviour,  they  now  caught 
such  a  multitude  of  fishes  as  loaded 
their  own  boat,  and  also  that  of  James 
and  John.  Astonished  at  the  draught, 
Peter  entreated  our  Saviour  to  depart, 
as  he  was  too  holy  and  great  to  stay 
in  the  company  of  one  so  sinful.  In- 
stead of  fulfilling  his  stupid  request, 
Jesus  called  Peter  and  Andrew, 
James  and  John,  to  be  his  disciples, 
John  i.  40,  41,  43.  Luke  t.  1—11. 
Matt.  iv.  Peter  and  Andrew  were 
the  two  first  sent  forth  of  the  apos- 
tles, probably  because  they  were 
the  eldest,  Luke  vi.  14.  Matt.  x.  2. 
Peter  being  extremely  forward  in 
his  temper,  when  he  saw  our  Sa- 
viour coming,  walking  on  the  sea,  he 
desired  his  orders  to  meet  him  on  the 
water.  He  had  scarcely  descended 
on  the  water,  when,  doubting  of  his 
safe  preservation,  he  cried  earnestly 
for  help.  Christ  preserved  him,  and 
rebuked  him  for  the  weakness  of  his 
faith,  Matt.  xix.  28—3 1 .  When  af- 
terward, Jesus  asked  his  disciples,  if 
they  would  leave  him,  as  many  others 
had  just  done  ?  Peter  replied,  they 
could  go  safely  no-where  else,  as  he 
alone  had  the  words  of,  and  power 
to  give  eternal  life,  John  vi.  66,  67, 
68.  When  at  Cesarea  Philippi, 
Jesus  asked  his  disciples,  whom  they 
believed  him  to  be  ?  Peter  replied, 
that  they  were  firmly  persuaded  he 
was  Christ  the  Son  of  the  Living  God. 
Jesus  blessed  him,  and  hinted,  that 
buch  knowledge  and  faith  had  been 
given  him  by  the  Spirit  of  God;  and 
assured  him,  that  as  certainly  as  he 
was  Peter,  he  would  so  build  his 
church  by  his  means,  upon  that  per- 
son and  truth  he  had  confessed,  that 
all  the  gates  or  powers  of  hell  should 
not  overthrow  it.  He  added,  that 
to  him  and  his  fellow-ai)Ostle3,  and 
their  successors  in  the  ministry,  he 
would  give  the  power  of  founding, 
instructing,  or  governing  his  church ; 
and  that  whatever  condemnafion  or 
absolution,  they  should,  according  to 
his  word  give,  eitner  in  doctrine  or 
discipline,  should  be  ralificd  in  hea- 
ven.    When  Jesus,  almost  immedi- 


ately after  foretold  his  sufferings, 
Peter  rebuked  him,  and  bid  him 
spare  himself.  Jesus  sharply  repro- 
ved him,  and  informed  him,  that  his 
speech  savoured  not  of  God,  but  of 
carnal  indulgence.  It  was  scarcely 
eight  days  after,  when  Peter  was  ad- 
mitted to  witness  our  Saviour's  trans- 
figuration. He,  on  the  sight  of  Mo- 
ses and  Elias,  foolishly  asked  leave  to 
erect  three  tabernacles,  one  for  his 
Master,  and  one  for  each  of  the  pro- 
phets, Matth.  xvi.  13 — 23.  and  xvii. 
1—4. 

As  Peter  and  his  Master,  some 
time  after,  entered  into  Capernaum, 
Avhere  it  seems  they  were  enrolled  as 
residents,  the  collectors  of  the  Ro- 
man tribute  asked  him  if  his  Master 
paid  tribute  ?  Jesus  knowing  it,  or- 
dered Peter  to  cast  a  line  into  the  sea, 
and  open  the  mouth  of  the  fish  that 
came  first  up,  and  he  would  find  a 
shekel  of  silver  to  give  as  tribute 
for  them  two,  Matt,  xxvii.  24 — 27. 
When  Jesus  afterward  discoursed  of 
forgiveness  of  injuries,  Peter  asked 
him,  if  it  was  proper  to  forgive  any 
oftener  than  seven  times  ?  Jesus  told 
him  he  must  forgive  as  often  as  was 
necessary,  though  it  were  to  seventy 
times  seven,  or  490  times,  Matt, 
xviii.  21,  22.  When  our  Saviour 
discoursed  of  riches  as  keeping  men 
from  an  entrance  intolhe  kingdom 
of  God,  Peter  asked  him,  what  re- 
ward he  and  his  felloAV-disciples 
should  have,  who  had  left  their  boats, 
nets,  and  all  they  had  in  the  world, 
to  follow  him?  Jesus  replied,  that 
such  as  in  the  commencement  of 
his  gospel  church,  truly  followed  him 
from  an  inward  principle  of  grace, 
should  have  distinguished  honour  in 
the  church,  and  at  the  last  day;  and 
that  every  one  who  truly  followed 
him  in  the  midst  of  persecutions, 
should  enjoj^  fellowship  with  him  an 
hundred  times  more  excellent  than  all 
they  could  have  in  this  world.  Matt, 
xix.  27 — 30.  On  the  Tuesday  be- 
fore our  Saviour's  passion,  Peter 
pointed  out  to  him  how  the  fig-tree 
he  had  cursed  was  so  quickly  wi- 
thered; and  was  advised  to  improve 


PET 


(     285     ) 


PET 


the  event,  as  an  excitement  to  faith 
and  fervent  [irayer,  ftlatt.  xxi.  17  to 
22.  Mark  xi.  11  to  21.  Either  on 
that,  or  the  Thursday  evening,  Peter 
refused  to  allow  Jesus  to  wash  his 
feet;  but  being  told  that  unless  he 
washed  him,  he  could  have  no  part 
in  him,  begged  to  have  not  only  his 
feet,  but  also  his  bands  and  his  head 
washed.  Jesus  assured  him,  that  such 
as  had  once  been  washed  needed  not 
repeat  it,  John  xiii.  1  to  17.  At  the 
one  or  other  of  these  times,  Peter 
requested  John  to  beg  that  Jesus 
would  point  out  which  of  them  was 
to  be  the  traitor,  John  xiii.  24,  25, 
26.  He,  together  with  Andrew, 
James,  and  John,  asked  Jesus,  when 
the  temple  should  be  destroyed,  and 
he  would  return  to  judge  the  world? 
Matt.  xxiv.  1,2,  3.  On  Thursday, 
he  and  John,  by  their  Master's  order, 
found  out  an  upper  room,  and  there 
prepared  every  thing  necessary  for 
the  passover  feast,  Luke  xxii.  8  to 
12. 

When,  after  the  sacred  supper,  Je- 
sus warned  his  apostles  of  their  be- 
ing oflended  because  of  him  that 
night,  Peter,  w'ith  his  ordinary  rash- 
ness, promised,  that  though  every 
body  should  forsake  his  Master,  he 
never  would,  but  would  follow  him, 
and  rather  die  with  him,  than  in  the 
least  deny  him.  Jesus  assured  him, 
that  before  the  cock  should  crow 
twice,  he  Avould  deny  him  thrice; 
and  that  Satan  had  desired  to  have 
permission  to  sift  and  tempt  him  and 
his  fellow-disciples,  but  he  had 
prayed  for  him,  that  his  faith  might 
not  faiJ  ;  and  he  admonished  him  to 
comfort  and  encourage  his  brethren, 
as  soon  as  himself  was  recovered, 
John  xiii.  36  to  38.  Matt.  xxvi.  31 
to  35.  Luke  xxii.  31  to  34.  When 
Peter,  James,  and  John,  were  permit- 
ted to  attend  our  Saviour  into  the  gar- 
den, to  witness  his  dreadful  agony, 
they  quickly  fell  asleep.  Jesus,  after 
his  three  different  prayer5,roused  them 
from  their  slumbers,  and  asked  them 
if  they  could  not  watch  with  him  one 
hour?  He  kindly  hinted  that  their  spi- 
rit was  willing,  but  their  flesh  was 


[weak.  When  he  last  came  to  them> 
'as  Judas  approached,  he  ironically 
Ibid  them  slee[>  on.  When  Judas 
'came  with  his  band,  Peter,  being 
one  of  the  two  disciples  (hat  had 
[swords,  drew  his,  and  cut  oft"  the  ear 
|0fMalchus,  the  high  jiriest's  servant. 
Jesus,  with  a  just  rebuke,  ordered 
him  to  put  up  his  sword,  other- 
wise it  might  occasion  his  death. 
Peter,  at  a  distance,  followed  our  Sa- 
viour to  the  palace  of  Caiaphas ;  and 
by  means  of  another  disciple  got  en- 
trance into  the  hall,  and  waited  among 
the  high  priest's  servants  to  see  the  is- 
sue. A  maid  looked  at  him,  and  said, 
she  had  certainly  seen  him  with  Jesus 
of  Nazareth.  He  denied  that  he  so 
much  as  knew  him.  Peter  went  out 
to  the  porch,  and  the  cock  crew  for 
the  first  time.  Soon  after,  another 
maid  said  to  those  that  stood  by, 
that  certainly  he  was  one  of  Je- 
sus's  followers.  He  denied  it  with  an 
oath.  About  an  hour  after,  one  of 
the  company  affirmed  he  was  a  dis- 
ciple of  Jesus;  and  others  insisted, 
that  he  certainly  was,  and  that  his 
very  speech  marked  him  to  be  a  Ga- 
lilean ;  and  finally  a  kinsman  of  Mal- 
chus  said.  Did  I  not  see  thee  in  the 
garden  with  him  ?  To  give  them 
what  he  thought  full  evidence  that  he 
Avas  no  follower  of  Jesus,  he  began 
to  curse  and  to  swear  that  he  did  not 
so  much  as  know  him.  At  that  very 
instant  the  cock  crew  for  the  second 
time,  and  Jesus  gave  Peter  a  look. 
He  remembered  his  Master's  predic- 
tion of  his  treachery,  and  went  out 
and  wept  bitterly,  and,  it  is  proba- 
ble, continued  his  mourning  till  he 
heard  our  Saviour  was  risen  from 
the  dead.  Matt.  xxvi.  40—47,  69 
to  75.  John  xvii.  10,  11,  15  to  27. 
On  the  morning  of  the  resurrection- 
day,  Peter  and  John  hearing  that 
their  Master's  corpse  was  removed 
from  the  grave,  ran  to  see  if  it  was 
so.  Peter  went  down  into  the  se- 
pulchre, and  saw  the  grave-clothes 
laid  in  good  order,  but  the  body  was 
gone.  Filled  with  perplexity,  they 
returned  to  the  rest.  When  Jesus 
appeared  to  the  women,  he  orderetl 


P  E  T 


C     286     ) 


P  E  T 


them  in  a  particular  manner  to  in- 
form disconsolate  Peter,  that  he  was 
risen  from  the  deed.  It  was  not 
?ong  ^ter  Avhen  Peter  had  the  plea- 
sure tq'feee  his  Master  once  and  again 
at  Jerusalem,  along  with  the  other 
apostles.  When,  some  time  after, 
Peter  and  sundry  other  a|)08tles  were 
fishing  on  the  Sea  of  Tiberias,  Jesus 
appeared  on  the  shore.  No  sooner 
had  Peter  heard  that  it  was  their 
Lord,  than  from  strong  affection,  he 
flung  himself  into  theSsBa,,  and  swam 
to  the  shore.  After  theyratl  4]ned, 
Jesus  thrice  asked  him,  if  he  ]qV]r(1 
him  above  every  other  thing  ?  Peter 
as  often,  and  at  the  third  time  with 
some  vehemence  and  grief,  appealed 
to  him,  that  he  knew  he  did  :  Jesus 
as  often  charged  him  to  feed  his 
people,  sheep,  or  lambs.  Much 
about  the  same  time,  Jesus  told  him 
that  he  must  endure  bonds  and  im- 
prisonment for  his  sake,  in  his  old 
age.  He  asked  Jesus,  what  then 
should  become  of  John  the  beloved 
disciple  ?  He  was  directed  to  follow 
the  example  of  Christ,  and  cleave 
to  his  cause,  and  leave  the  fate  of 
John  to  the  government  of  provi- 
dence, Mark  xvi.  6,  7.  John  xx.  1 
— 8.  and  xxi.  Ver}'  soon  after  our  Sa- 
viour's ascension,  Peter  proposed  to 
the  Christians  at  Jerusalem,  to  elect 
another  to  fill  up  the  room  of  Judas; 
and  Matthias  was  chosen.  On  the 
1 0th  day  after  the  ascension,  when  the 
Hebrews,  from  every  quarter,  were, 
gathered  together  to  celebrate  the  feast 
of  Pentecost,  Peter  and  his  fellow 
apostles  endowed  with  the  Holy 
Ghost,  spake  in  a  diversity  of  langua- 
ges to  the  assembly.  The  Jews  from 
Parthia,  Media,  Persia,  Mesopotamia, 
Judea,  Cappadocia,  Pontus,  Procon- 
sular Asia,  Phrygia,  Pamphylia, 
Egj'^pt,  Lybia,  Rome,  Crete,  and  Ara 
bia,  heard  them  in  the  respective  Ian 
guages  of  their  country.  The  peo- 
ple were  astonished,  but  some  pro- 
fane scoffers  said  they  were  drunk. 
Peter,  standing  up  with  the  other 
eleven,  shoAved,  that  not  wine,  but 
the  Holy  Ghost,  Avhich,  according  to 
the  ancient  i)romise3,  had  descended 


on  them,  enabled  them  thus  to  speak 
with  tongues,  and  that  it  was  a  de- 
monstrative proof  that  Jesus  was  ri- 
sen from  the  dead,  and  gone  to  his 
Father's  right  hand,  and  was  con- 
stituted the  Sovereign  and  only  Sa- 
viour of  men.  Multitudes  were 
deeply  convicted  of  sin,  and  be- 
sought the  apostles  to  inform  them 
how  they  might  be  saved.  Peter, 
as  the  mouth  of  the  rest,  directed 
them  to  believe  the  promises  to  them 
and  to  their  seed,  and  to  repent  and 
be  baptized,  for  the  remission  of  their 
sins,  through  Jesus's  blood.  That 
very  day  3,000  believed,  and  were 
added  to  the  Christian  church.  Acts 
i.  and  ii.  When,  some  days  after, 
Peter  and  John  went  up  to  the  tem- 
ple about  nine  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing, which  was  the  hour  of  prayer, 
a  man  who  had  been  a  cripple  from 
his  birth,  sitting  at  the  beautiful  gate 
of  the  temple,  asked  alms  of  them. 
Peter  told  him  he  had  neither  silver 
nor  gold  to  give  him ;  but  in  the 
name  of  Jesus,  charged  him  to  rise 
and  walk.  The  man  was  directly 
cured,  and  went  with  them  through 
the  court  of  the  temple,  leaping  and 
praising  God.  He  held  Peter  and 
John,  and  told  the  assembling  multi- 
tude how  he  had  been  healed.  Peter 
assured  them  that  he  and  John  had 
not  made  this  man  to  walk  by  their 
own  power,  but  by  the  influence 
of  Jesus  Christ,  whom  they  had 
lately  murdered,  and  who  had  risen 
from  the  dead,  and  ascended  to  glo- 
ry. He  showed  them  that  Jesus  was 
the  promised  Messiah,  which  whoso- 
ever rejected,  should  certainly  pe- 
rish :  and  that  God  having  raised  him 
from  the  dead,  had  sent  him  to  them 
first,  in  the  offer  of  the  gospel, 
and  power  of  his  Spirit,  to  bless 
them,  in  turning  them  from  their  ini- 
quities. This  sermon,  it  is  thought 
by  some,  was  blessed  to  the  conver- 
sion of  5,000  ;  but  it  seems  more  pro- 
bable that  the  whole  number  of  men 
besides  women  and  children,  who 
believed,  now  amounted  to  that  num- 
ber. About  even-tide,  the  priests 
and  Sadducees  apprehended   Peter 


PET 


(     287     ) 


PET 


and  John,  and  put  them  in  prison. 
Next  day  they  were  brought  bclbrc 
the  council,  and  interrogated   how 
they  had  cured  the  lame  man.    They 
replied  it  was  done  by  the  authority 
and  power  of  Christ,  whom  the  coun- 
cil  had   lately   crucified,   but    God 
had  raised  from  the  dead.     As  the 
council  knew  that  Peter  and  John 
were  men  of  no  education,  they  were 
surprised  at  their  answers.       They 
charged  them    to   [)reach  no  more 
concerning  Jesus,  or  as  authorised  by 
him.       After    further  threatenings, 
they  went  to  their  brethren  the  apos- 
tles and  believers,  and  related  what 
had  happened.  They  all  praised  God, 
and    solemnly    prayed    for    fuitber 
strength  for  his  work.     The  house 
shook,  and  the  Holy  Ghost  fell  upon 
them  in  a  further  degree,  Acts  iii. 
and  iv.     Many  of  these  Christians, 
having   lands,  sold  them,  and  gave 
the  apostles  the  money,  to  be  laid 
out  for  pious  uses.     Ananias,  and 
Sapphira  his  wife,  sold  theirs;    but 
deceitfully  kept  a  part  of  the  price 
for  their  own  use.     Peter  detected 
their  fraud.     Both  of  them  were  di- 
vinely cut  off  by  a  sudden  death. 
This  tended  to  increase  the  awe  and 
character  of  the  apostles.  Multitudes 
believed  the  gospel,  and  vast  num- 
bers of  diseased  persons  were  mira- 
culously   healed.      Peter    and    the 
other  apostles  were  imprisoned;  but 
an   angel  released   them,  and  they 
returned  directly  to  preach  in  the 
courts  of  the  temple.     Their  escape 
surprised  the  council;  but  they  re- 
apprehended    them,    and   reminded 
them  of  their  fovmer  charge.     Peter 
replied,    that    they   ought  to  obey 
God   rather   than    men ;    and    told 
them,  that  God  had  highly  exalted 
Jesus,  whom  they  had  murdered,  to 
be  a  Prince  and  a  Saviour;  and  had 
testified  this  by  the  gifts  and  mira- 
cles of  the  Holy  G  host.     Provoked 
at  this,   the  council  were  for   mur- 
dering them  directly,  had  not  Gama- 
liel prevented  them  with  his   more 
sober   speech.  Acts   v.     After    the 
deacons  were  chosen,  and  Stephen, 
one  of  them^  wa»  murdered,  and  a 


persecution  had  scattered  the  Chrirf- 
lian  preachers,  and  the  Samaritails 
received  the  gospel  by  Philip  the  dea- 
con, Peter  and  John  went  thither  to 
confer  the  Holy  Ghost,  by  laying  on 
of  their  hands.     Simon  the  sorcerer, 
who  had  been  lately  baptized,  offer- 
ed them  a  sum  of  money  for  a  share 
of  their  miraculous  power?.  Peter  bid 
him  and  his  money  perish  together, 
as  he  had  imagined  the  gilts  of  God 
could  be  purchased  with  money;  and 
told  him,  that  he  had  no  title  to  the 
ministerial    work,    but  was  in   the 
gall  of  bitterness  and  the  bond  of 
iniquity,  under  the  reigning  power  of 
his  corrupt  lusts;  and  directed  him  to 
pray  God,  if  perhaps  the  wickedness 
of  his  heart  might  be  forgiven  him. 
After  preaching  through  most  of  Sa- 
maria, Peter  and  John   returned  to 
Jerusalem.    The  conversion  of  Paul, 
having  stopped,  or  at  least  abated, 
the  Jewish  persecution,  Peter  went  to 
visit  the  believers  in  Judea,  Samaria, 
and  Galilee.  At  Lydda,  he  recovered 
Eneas,  who  had  been  ill  of  a  palsy 
eight  years.     At  Joppa,  he  restored 
Tabitha  to  life.  Acts  viii.  1 — 25.  and 
ix.     32—43.      While  he  lodged  at 
Joppa,    with    one  Simon  a  tanner, 
Cornelius,    a    Gentile    centurion, 
directed  by  God,  sent  messengers  for 
him  to  instruct  him  and  his  friends 
in  the  way  of  the  Lord.   Meanwhile 
God   prepared  Peter  by    a    vision. 
About  mid-day,  as  he  was  by  him- 
self on  the  top  of  the  house,  the  roof 
being  flat,  and  was  very  hungry,  he 
fell  into  a  trance,   wherein  he  saw 
the  resemblance  of  a  great  sheet  full 
of  animals  clean  and  unclean  let  down 
from  heaven;  and  heard  a  voice  call- 
ing him  to  rise,  kill,  and  eat.     He 
replied,  that  he  had  never  eaten  of 
any  unclean  animals;  the  voice  re- 
plied, that  it  was  improper  he  should 
think  that  unclean  which  God  had 
cleansed.     All  this    was   thrice  re- 
peated ;  and  then  the  sheet  was  ap- 
parently carried  up  into  heaven.  He 
had    scarcely    awaked    out  of    his 
trance,  when  Cornelius's  messengers 
were  come  to  invite  him  to  preach 
to  these    Gentiles.     After    hearing 


P  E  T 


(     288 


P  E  T 


what  had  moved  their  master  to  call 
him,  and  considering  the  import  of 
his  vision,  he  readily  went  with  them, 
and  instructed  and  baptized  Corne- 
lius and  liis  friends.     The  Jewish 
converts  at  Jerusalem  were  at  the 
first  offended  with  his  going  to  the 
Gentiles ;  but  when  they  heard  how 
Cornelius  was  directed  to  call  him, 
how  he  was  by  his  vision  taught  to 
iHKiervalue  none  whom  God  had  re- 
garded, and  how  the  miraculous  influ- 
ences of  the  Holy  Ghost  fell  on  Cor- 
nelius and  his  friends,  as  he  preach- 
ed to  them,  they  were  satisfied,  and 
blessed  God  for  granting  unto  the 
Gentiles  repentance  unto  life,  Acts 
X.  and  xi.  1 — 18.     While  he  conti- 
nued at  Jerusalem,  Paul  lodged  with 
him  two    weeks,    Gal.  i.  18.      To 
gratify   the   Jews,    Herod    Agrijjpa 
imprisoned    him,    intending  to  kill 
him,   as   he   had   done   James    the 
brother  of  John.     The  very  night 
before  his  intended  execution,  and 
while  his  Christian  friends  ^vere  met 
in  the  house  of  one  Mary,  to  pray 
for  his  deliverance,  an  angel  came 
to  him  in  the  prison,  as  he  slept  be- 
tween  two   soldiers,    awaked   him, 
took  off  his  chains,  opened  the  pri- 
son, and  conducted  him  to  the  street, 
called  Straight.    He  went  directly  to 
the  house  of  Mary,  and  knocked  at 
the   door.     Rhoda,   a   damsel    who 
came  to  open  the  door,  hearing  his 
voice,  ran  back  in  a  transport  of  joy, 
and  told  the  Christians  that  it  was 
Peter.     They  believed  her  not;  but 
imagining  every  good  man  had  his 
attendant  angel,  they  said  it  was  Pe- 
ter's angel  that  had  knocked.    Peter 
continuing  to  knock,  Avas  at  last  ad- 
niiited,  and  to   their  great  joy  in- 
formed them   of  what  had  befallen 
him.     Whether,  after  this,  he  went 
to  Pontus,  Galatia,  Capftadocia,  Pro- 
consular 4sia,  and  Bithynia,  to  the 
scattered  Jews  of  which  places  he 
wrote   his  epistles,   we   know   not. 
It  is  certain,  that  about  eight  years 
after,  he  was  at  Jerusalem,  at  the 
council,  and  there  related,  hoAV  God 
by  hiui  had  first  granted  the  gospel 
to  the  Gentiles ;  and  suggested,  that 


since  God  had  made  no  difference 
between   Jews   and  Gentiles  in  his 
gifts,  th6y  ought  to  impose  on  them 
no  yoke  of  ceremonial  rights.  About 
this  time,  he,  and  James,  and  John, 
gave  Paul  the  right  hand  of  fellow- 
ship, and  agreed  that  he  should  chief- 
ly preach  to  the  Gentiles.  When  Pe- 
ter was  travelling  northward,  per- 
haps to  the  places  above-mentioned, 
he  came  to  Antioch.     At  first  he 
joined  in  the  utmost  familiarity  with 
the    Gentile    converts;    but    when 
some  contenders  for  Judaism  came 
down  from  Jerusalem,  he  forbore  it, 
and  was  like  to  have  seduced  Bar- 
nabas into  the  same  course.    Know- 
ing that  this  encouraged  the  imposi- 
tion of  the  ceremonies  upon  the  new 
converts,  Paul  sharply  expostulated 
with  Peter  for  his  dissimulation,  and 
practically   contradicting  the   very 
si)eech  he  had  uttered  in  the  council. 
Peter,  it  seems,  received  this  rebuke 
with  an  humble  concern.    In  his  old 
age,  it  is  said,  Peter  travelled  from 
the  south  coasts  of  the  Black  Sea,  into 
Mesopotamia  and  Chaldea ;  for  from 
Babylon,  not  the  city,  but  the  pro- 
vince, where  there  were  a  multitude 
of  Jews,  he  wrote  his  first  epistle. 
After  manifold  sufferings  for  his  Mas- 
ter, he  died ;  but  whether  by  cruci- 
fixion, with  his  head  downwards,  or 
not,  we  cannot  determine.  It  is  said, 
he  could  never  hear  a  cock  crow,  but 
it  revived  his  grief  for  the  denial  of 
his  Master,  Acts  xii.  and  xv.    Gal. 
ii.  1  Pet.  i.  Land  v.  13. 

Of  the  two  inspired  epistles  which 
he  wrote  to  the  dispersed  Jews,  the 
first  was  designed  to  comfort  and 
confirm  them  in  the  truth,  amidst  the 
fiery  trials  and  temptations  to  which 
they  were  exposed ;  and  to  direct 
them  in  their  hearing  of  God's  word ; 
in  their  diversified  stations,  civil  or 
religious;  and  to  caution  them 
against  the  insurrections  then  foment- 
ed by  their  countrymen  against  the 
Roman  government.  In  the  second, 
which  was  written  a  little  before  his 
death,  perhaps  about  A.  D.  66  or  68, 
he  inculcated  their  abounding  in 
Christian    virtues;    their  watching 


PET 


(     289     ) 


P  H  A 


against  false  teachers,  and  apostacy 
from  the  truth;  and  to  live  in  the 
holiest  manner,  as  in  the  immediate 
views  of  the  ruin  of  their  nation,  and 
of  the  last  judgment.  A  noble  ma- 
jesty and  ra|)idity  of  style,  with  a 
becoming  freedom,  is  visible  in  his 
epistles.  A  devout  and  judioioua 
person  can  scarcely  read  them  with- 
out solemn  attention  and  awful  con- 
cern. The  conflagration  of  the  earth, 
and  tlie  future  judgment,  are  so  de- 
scribed, that  we  almost  see  the  flames 
ascending  into  the  midst  of  heaven, 
feel  the  elements  melting  with  fervent 
heat,  and  hear  the  groans  of  an  ex- 
piring world,  and  the  crashes  of  na- 
ture, tumbling  into  universal  ruin. 
Grotius  pretends,  this  second  epis- 
tle was  the  work  of  one  Simon,  bi- 
shop of  Jerusalem ;  but  where  w^ere 
his  eyes,  that  he  did  not  see  that  this 
was  the  second  epistle  to  the  Jews, 
by  one  who  had  been  with  Christ  in 
the  holy  mount  of  transfiguration? 
2  Pet.  i.  18.  and  iii.  1.  nor  is  the 
style  so  diflerent  from  that  of  the  first 
as  is  pretended,  except  where  the 
subject  requires  it. 

A  number  of  spurious  tracts,  as 
a  gospel.  Acts,  Revelation,  with  a 
Treatise  on  preaching,  and  another 
on  the  last  judgment,  have  been  false- 
ly ascribed  to  Peter.  The  Papists 
pretend  he  was  about  24  or  25 
years  bishop  of  Rome,  and  thence 
wrote  his  epistles,  and  was  there  cru- 
cified under  Nero;  and  they  pre 
tend  also  that  he  was  possessed  of  a 
supremacy  over  all  the  other  apostles, 
which  from  him  has  been  conveyed 
to  all  their  popes.  But  it  is  cer- 
tain, that  three  years  after  Paul's 
conversion,  he  was  at  Jerusalem, 
and  also  when  Herod  died;  and 
was  there  at  the  council;  and  was 
at  Antioch  in  Syria  some  time  after, 
about  A.  D.  52.  Never  a  word  is 
said  of  his  being  at  Rome,  when  Paul 
wrote  his  epistle  to  the  church  there, 
and  sends  his  salutations  to  many 
of  her  members.  Nor  when  Paul 
came  thither ;  for,  at  his  first  answer, 
yio  man  stood  hy  him.  Nor  a  word  is 
said  of  him  in  all  the  epistles  which 

Vol.  II. 


Paul  wrote  from  Rome,  though  per- 
sons of  a  far  inferior  character  are 
often  mentioned.  How  possibly  then 
could  he  be  bishoj)  of  Rome,  unless 
he  exercised  his  power  below  ground, 
where  nobody  perceived  him  ?  Or, 
suppose  he  /jflt/been  at  Roine ;  that 
no  more  establishes  the  supremacy 
there  than  at  Jerusalem,  Joppa,  and 
Antioch,  where  we  are  sure  he  was 
for  a  time.  Or  suppose  he  had  lived 
1000  years  at  Rome,  liow  does  that 
infer  that  he  left  his  office  to  their 
popes,  atheists,  adulterers,  Sodom- 
ites, murderers,  blasphemers,  and  in- 
carnate devils  not  excepted  ?  And 
in  fine,  what  proof  have  we  that  he 
had  a  supremacy  over  the  other 
apostles  ?  None  at  all,  exce[)t  that  he 
was  perhaps  oldest,  most  forward  in 
his  temper,  and  more  compassed 
with  failings  than  any  of  his  brethren, 
Judas  excepted. 

PETHOR,  Pathoka,  Syr.  a  tabic, 
the  native  place  of  Balaam,  situated 
in  Mesopotamia,  about  the  east  bank 
of  the  Euphrates,  and  not  far  from 
Thapsacus,  Numb.  xxii.  5. 

PHALLU,  marvellous,  or  hidden, 
second  son  of  Reuben,  head  of  the 
family  of  the  Phalluites,  Gen.  xlvi. 
9.     Numb.  xxvi.  5. 

PHALTI,  or  PHALTIEL,  deli- 
verance, flight,  lanishment,  son  of 
Laish;  he  married  Michal,  after  Saul 
had  taken  her  from  David;  but  David 
afterwards  retook  her  from  Phalti,  1 
Sam.  x\v.  44. 

PHANUEL,  the  vision,  or  face  of 
God,  of  the  tribe  of  Asher,  father 
of  a  holy  widow,  or  prophetess,  call- 
ed Anna,  who  was  in  the  temple 
when  our  Saviour  was  carried  thither 
by  his  parents,  Luke  ii.  3G,  Sec. 

PHARAOH,  was  long  a  common 
name  of  the  kings  of  Egypt,  and  is  of- 
ten added  to  other  names.  Josephus 
says,  that  in  the  old  Egyptian  lan- 
guage, it  signified  Icing.  In  the  Arabic 
language,it  signifies  one  thtit  excels  all 
the  rest;  and  in  the  Hebrew  one  that 
disperses,  that  spoils,  that  discovers. 
It  is  said  the  Egyptians  had  t50  kings 
of  the  name  of  Pharaoh,  from  Mis- 
raim.  or  Menes,  to  the  ruin  of  their 
2  O 


P  H  A 


(     290     ) 


P  H  E 


kingdoui  by  Cambyses  or  Alexan 
der.  In  scripture,  we  have  mention 
ed,  (1.)  That  Pharaoh,  who  had 
his  family  smitten  with  plagues,  for 
taking  Sarah  the  wife  of  Abraham 
into  it,  Gen.  xii.  (2.)  Pharaoh,  who 
had  the  dream  portending  the  noted 
plenty  and  famine  of  Egypt;  Avho 
exalted  Joseph,  and  Idndly  settled 
Jacob's  family  in  Goshen,  Gen.  xli 
— xlvii.  (3.)  Pharaoh,  who  began 
to  oppress  the  Hebrews  with  hard  la- 
bour; and  finding  that  ineffectual  to 
stop  their  increase  of  number,  order- 
ed the  midwives  to  Icill  everj^  male- 
child  of  theiis  at  their  birth;  and 
finding  that  they  disobeyed  him,  or- 
dered all  his  subjects  to  destroy  the 
Hebrew  male  infants  wherever  they 
could  find  them.  His  daughter  saved 
and  educated  ]^oses,  the  Hebrew 
deliverer.  Whether  it  was  this  Pha- 
raoh, or  his  son,  who  sought  to  slay 
Moses  after  he  had  slain  the  Egyp- 
tian, we  know  not,  Exod.  i.  and  ii. 
(4.)  Pharaoh,  from  whom  Moses 
demanded  for  the  Hebrews  their  li- 
berty to  go  and  serve  their  God; 
and  who,  after  ten  plagues  on  his 
kingdom,  and  frequent  changes  in 
his  resolution,  was  obliged  to  let 
them  go,  and  afterwards  following 
them,  was  drowned  with  his  host  in 
the  Red  Sea,  Exod.  v — xiv.  (5.) 
Pharaoh,  who  protected,  and  gave 
his  sister  in  marriage  to  Hadad  the 
fugitive  Edomite.  Whether  he  was 
the  father-in-law  of  Solomon,  who 
took  Gezer  from  the  Canaanites,  and 
gave  it  as  a  portion  with  his  daugh- 
ter, is  uncertain,  1  Kings  xi.  and 
iii.  1.  and  ix.  16.  (6.)  Pharaoii-ne- 
cho,  the  son  of  Psammiticus,  who 
fitted  out  great  fleets  in  the  Medi- 
terranean Sea,  marched  a  prodigious 
army  to  the  Euphrates,  took  Car- 
chemish,  defeated  Josiah  in  his  way 
thither,  and  made  Jehoahaz  his  pri- 
soner, and  set  up  Jehoiakim  for  king 
of  Judea  in  his  return  hoose.  In 
about  four  j^ears  after,  his  army  at 
Carchemish  were  entirely  routed,  the 
city  taken,  and  the  garrison  put  to 
the  sword,  and  the  fugitives  pursued 
to  the  border  of  Egypt  by  the  Chal- 


deans, 2  Kings  xxiii.  and  xxiv.  2 
Chron.  xxv.  Jer.  xlvi.  (7.)  Pha- 
raoh-hophra,  the  grandson  of  the 
former,  reigned  25  years,  and  was 
for  a  while  reckoned  one  of  the  hap- 
piest of  princes.  He  invaded  C}'- 
prus,  and  made  himself  master  of  all 
Phenicia.  Depending  on  his  assist- 
ance, Zedekiah  rebelled  against  the 
king  of  Babylon.  Pharaoh  sent  an 
array  to  assist  him  against  the  Chal- 
deans, who  were  besieging  bis  capi- 
tal ;  but  when  the  Chaldeans  march- 
ed to  attack  them,  the  Egyptians 
retreated  home  with  precipitation, 
xlbout  16  3'ears  after,  the  Chaldeans 
furiously  invaded  his  country,  mur- 
dered the  inhabitants,  and  carried  off" 
their  wealth.  Just  before,  Pharaoh 
had  invaded  Cyrene  both  by  sea  and 
land,  and  lost  the  bulk  of  his  army  in 
that  attempt.  His  subjects  enraged 
with  his  ill  success,  took  arms  against 
him,  alleging  tliat  he  had  ruined 
his  army  in  order  that  he  might  rule 
in  a  tyrannical  manner.  He  sent 
Amasis,  one  of  his  generals,  to  crush 
this  rebellion.  Wheir  this  Amasis 
began  to  expostulate  with  the  rebels, 
they  clapped  a  helmet  for  a  crown 
upon  his  head,  and  proclaimed  him 
their  king.  Amasis  then  headed  the 
rebels;  and  after  various  battles, 
took  king  Pharaoh  prisoner.  He 
would  have  treated  him  with  kind- 
ness, but  the  people  forced  him  out 
of  his  hands  and  strangled  him,  Jer. 
xliii.  9—13.  and  xliv.'so. 

PHARISEES.     See  Sect. 

PHENICE,  red,  purple,  or  palm- 
tree,  a  harbour  on  the  south-west 
of  the  isle  of  Crete.  It  lay  chiefly 
to  the  south-west,  but  had  a  winding 
to  the  north-west,  and  so  was  a  very 
safe  harbour,  Actsxxvii.  12. 

PHENICIA,  red,  purple,  or  pahn- 
Iree,  a  country  on  the  shore  of  the 
Mediterranean  sea,  on  the  north-west 
of  Canaan,  and  south-west  of  Syria, 
whose  principal  cities  were  Tripoli, 
Botyrs,  Byblus,  Beryptus,  Ecdij)pa, 
Ptolemais,  Dora,  Tyre,  and  Zidon. 
This  country  was  anciently  stocked 
with  inhabitants  descended  from  Ca- 
naan.     The  Zidonians,  Arvadites, 


P  H  K 


(     291     ) 


P  H  E 


Arkites,  and  perhaps  the  Zcmaritca 
and  Siniles,  dwelt  here.  No  doubt, 
in  the  time  of  Joshua  and  Barak, 
others  of  tlieir  Caiiaanitish  brethren 
poured  in  upon  tiieni.  The  overptoek- 
iug  of  their  country  made  them  apply 
to  navigation  and  trade.  They,  espe- 
cially the  'I'yrians  and  Zidonians, 
had  almoi^t  all  the  trade  of  the  then 
known  world.  There  is  scarcely 
a  shore  or  isle  of  the  IMediterranean 
sea,  where  they  diil  not  plant  colo- 
nies. The  most  noted  of  which  was 
that  of  the  Carthagenians,  who  once 
long  contended  with  Rome.  It  is 
thought  the  Phenicians  pushed  their 
trade  as  far  as  Britain.  It  appears 
that  they  had  settlements  on  the  Red 
Sea  and  Persian  gulf.  Sir  Isaac 
Newton  think?,  vast  nundjers  of 
Edomites  tied  hither  in  the  days  of 
David,  and  carried  their  arts  alone 
with  them. 

The  ancient  Phenicians  were  famed 
for  learning,  and  are  said  to  have  been 
the  inventors  of  letters.  Sanchonia- 
thon,  the  most  ancient  historian,  ex- 
cept the  inspired,  was  a  Phenician; 
but  liis  work  is  a  heap  of  disorder 
and  fable.  The  Phenicians  were  very 
noted  for  their  idolatries,  worhip- 
ping  Baal,  Ashtoreth,  Hercules, 
Apollo,  Tammuz,  »S:c.  Herodotus  ex- 
tends the  boundaries  of  Phenicia 
along  tlie  sea-coast,  from  tlie  border 
of  Egypt,  to  almost  the  north  of  Sy- 
ria. Some  Greek  writers  call  the 
whole  of  Canaan,  Phenicia;  and  the 
notitias  of  the  church  include  in  it  a 
great  i)art  of  the  south  of  Syria. — 
The  chief  cities  of  Phenicia  were 
Sidon  and  Tyre.  Sidon,  or  Zidon, 
was  built  on  the  east  shore  of  the 
Mediterranean  Sea,  perhaps  not  long 
after  the  flood,  by  Zidon  the  eldest 
son  of  Canaan ;  and  the  inhabitants 
thereof,  some  ages  after,  built  old 
Tyre,  on  a  high  hill  on  the  same 
shore,  about  25  miles  to  the  south. 
The  cii-cumference  of  this  old  city 
was  about  three  miles,  but  in  pro- 
cess of  time,  they  built  another  on 
the  adjacent  island,  and  joining  the 
two  by  an  isthmus,  or  neck  of  land, 
the  whole  city  in  its  chief  splendour  | 


is   said  to  have  been  about  19  miles 
in  cireumlerence,    which  I  sujipose 
included    the  sulmrl»s.     Both  'Yyve 
an<l  Sidon  pertained  to  the  tribe  of 
Asher,  but    were  never    taken  from 
the  Canaanites.  The  Zidonians  very 
early  oppressed  the  Israelites,  Jutlg. 
X.  1,2.  Sometimes  Tyre  and  Sidon 
had    distinct  kings    and    sometimes 
they  had  but  one  over  both,     INlany 
of  them  make  little   or  no  figure   in 
history.     About  the  time  of  David, 
Cilix  and  Cadmus,  the  sons  of  Age- 
nor,  king  of  Zidon,  it  seems,  alTright- 
ed    by  David's   victories,  left  their 
country,  and  sought  out  new    seats 
for  (hemselves.  Hiram,  king  of  Tyre, 
who  appears  to  have  had   the   Bido- 
uians  under  him,  assisted  Solomon 
in  building  the  temple,  and  his  other 
structures;  and  it  seems   there  had 
been  a  brotherly  covenant  of  amity 
established  between  the  two  nations. 
Ethbaal,  the  father  of  Jezebel,  was 
one  of  his   successors  but   he  pro- 
bably lived  at  Zidon.     Perhaps  Pha- 
lis,  who  reigned  in  the  time  of  the 
Trojan  war,  was  his  son.  During  the 
reign  of  Pygmalion,  the  great-grand- 
son of  Ethbaal,  Dido,  or  Elisa  his 
sister,  Avilh  a  multitude  of  others,  fled 
from  his  oppression,   and  built   Car- 
thage, on  the  north  of  Africa,  to  the 
south-west  of  Sicily.     The  Tyrians, 
and  probably  other  Phenicians,  w  ere 
in  the  league  against  the  Israelites  in 
thetimeof  Jch6shaphat,Psal.lxxxiii. 
7.     About  the  time  of  Jotham,  they 
seem  to  have  been  masters  of  at  least 
a  part  of  the  country  of  the   Philis- 
tines ;  and  it  seems,  in  the  days  of 
Ahaz,  tliey  carried  otT  numbers    of 
the  Jews,  and  sold  them  to  the  G'  reeks 
for  slaves,  Joel   iii.   4.     Soon  after, 
Eula^us  their  king,  attempting  to  re- 
duce the  revolted  inhabitants  of  Gath, 
these  supplicated  the    protection  of 
Shalmaneser,  king  of   Assyria.     He 
turned  his  arms    against  the   Pheni- 
cians.    The  Zidonians    quickly  re- 
volted  from  Tyre,  and  proclaimed 
him    their    king   and   assisted   him 
against  the  Tyrians.     Five  years  he 
besieged  'J'yre  ;  but  twelve  of  their 
ships  beating   60  of  his,  and  death 


P  H  E 


(     292     ) 


P  H  E 


Cutting  bim  off,  the  siege  ^\''as  raised. 
The  gloij  of  Tyre  quickly  increased 
and  the  most  of  Phenicia  was  sub- 
ject to  the  Tyrians.  They  traded  with 
the  Egptiaus,Eolians,  Cilicians,  Spa- 
niards, Greeks,  Cappadocians,  Ara- 
bians, Syrians,  Hebrews,  Mesopota- 
luians,  Medes,  Persians,  Lydians, 
Africans,  and  islanders  of  the  Medi- 
terranean Sea.  Provoked  with  the 
Phenicians,  for  entering  into  a 
league  with  Zedekiah,  king  of  Ju- 
dah,  and  assisting  him  in  his  rebel- 
lion, Nebuchadnezzar  invaded  the 
country.  Zidon  quickly  surrender- 
ed. Tyre  was  besieged  for  1 3  years 
during  which  time  it  seems  Ethbaal 
their  proud  and  politic  prince,  was 
slain.  In  A.  M.  3432,  Tyre  was 
taken ;  but  during  the  siege,  the  in- 
habitants had  transported  themselves 
and  their  effects  to  the  nighbouring 
island,  about  70  paces  from  the  shore. 
Missing  their  expected  booty,  the 
Chaldeans  vented  their  rage  on  the 
few  they  found,  burnt  the  city,  and 
cast  the  rubbish  into  tlve  sea.  The 
Tyrians,  now  pretty  safe  in  their 
island,  afterwards  sent  ther  submis- 
sion to  the  Chaldeans,  under  whom, 
and  their  Persian  successors,  the  ci- 
ties of  Tyre  and  Zidon  had  still  kings 
of  their  own.  Tetramnestes,  or  Zi- 
don, assisted  Xerxes  of  Persia  with 
300  gallies,  in  his  mad  expedition 
against  Greece.  Provoked  with  the 
tyranny  of  Darius  Ochus  of  Persia, 
they  entered  into  a  league  against 
him,  with  Nectanebus  of  Egypt. 
Ochus  laid  siege  to  their  city ;  Ten- 
nes  their  king,  and  Mentor  a  Greek 
general,  betrayed  it  into  his  hands. 
Irritated  at  this,  and  their  ships 
being  formerly  burnt,  that  none 
might  leave  the  place,  they,  in  despe- 
ration burnt  the  city  on  themselves, 
and  perished,  to  the  number  of  forty 
thousand.  Ochus  got  a  considera- 
ble sum  for  the  rubbish,  as  there  wat: 
much  gold  and  silver  among  it.  The 
rest  of  the  country  readily  submitted 
to  him.  Much  about  this  time,  it 
is  said,  the  slaves  of  Tyre,  in  one 
night,  murdered  all  their  masters, 
except  one  Strabo,  who  was   made 


king.  About  the  same  time,  cue 
Strato  was  king  of  Zidon,  which  was 
now  rebuilt.  Him  Alexander  the 
Great  deposed,  to  make  way  for  one 
Ballonymus,  a  very  poor  man,  but 
of  the  ancient  blood  royal.  When 
Alexander  approached  towards  Tyre, 
the  governors  sent  him  presents  but 
trusting  to  their  wall  of  150  feet,  built 
round  their  island,  they  refused  to 
admit  him  into  their  city,  to  sacri- 
fice to  Hercules.  After  a  costly  and 
terrible  siege  of  seven  months,  he 
took  the  city  by  force,  put  8,000  of 
the  inhabitants  to  the  sword,  cruci- 
fied 2,000,  and  sold  30,000  for  slaves 
the  Jews  and  others.  The  city  he 
re-peopled  from  the  continent,  and 
made  Azelmic  the  king  of  it,  who  had 
been  abroad  during  the  siege,  gover- 
nor thereof.  During  the  siege,  the 
Tyrians  had  sent  off  their  wives  and 
children  to  Carthage;  and  about 
1 5,000  others  were  secretly  carried 
off  in  the  Zidonian  ships.  About  19 
years  after,  Antigonus  again  took  it 
after  a  siege  of  15  months.  Never 
after  Alexander  did  Phenicia  recover 
its  ancient  glory,  a  great  part  of  their 
trade  being  removed  to  Alexandria, 
and  themselves  so  often  changing 
their  Syro-Grecian  and  Egypto-Gre- 
cian  masters.  Haviiig  falling  into  the 
hand  of  the  Romans,  Augustus,  to 
punish  their  frequent  riots,  and  their 
siding  with  Cassius,  deprived  Tyre 
and  Zidon  of  their  liberties.  About 
A.  D.  194,  Niger  the  usurping  em- 
peror, burnt  Tyre,  and  killed  most  of 
its  inhabitants.  In  A.  D.  636,  the 
Saracens  took  Tyre  and  Zidon.  Af- 
ter they  and  the  Seljukian  Turks  had 
possessed  it  494  years,  the  Christian 
croisades  seized  the  country ;  but  in 
A.  D.  1289,  Alphix,  sultan  of  Egypt 
took  it,  and  utterly  destroyed  Tyre 
and  Zidon,  and  other  strong  places 
adjacent,  that  they  might  never  more 
afford  any  shelter  to  the  Christians. 
In  1516,  Phenicia  was  taken  by  the 
Ottoman  Turks;  but  the  Druses  of 
Lebanon  put  in  for  a  share  of  it ;  and 
the  famed  Feccardin  blocked  up  the 
harbour  of  Zidon,  that  the  Turkish 
gallies  might    not  visit  his    coasts. 


P  H  I 


(     293     ) 


P  H  I 


The  Phenicians  in  part  became  pro- 
selytes to  the  Jewish  ielis;ion  :  many 
of  them  attemled  our  Saviour's  in- 
structions, and  received  his  cures,  A 
Syro-Phenician  woina'i  he  extolled 
for  her  faith,  IMark  iii.  8.  and  vii.  24 
to  31.  The  gos[)el  was  early  preach- 
ed here,  Acts  xi.  19.  Paul  tarried 
awhile  with  the  Christians  at  Tyre 
and  Sidon,  Acts  xxi.  4.  and  xxvii.  3. 
and  for  many  ages  there  were  noted 
churches  in  these  places.  For  a 
long  time  past,  Tyre  has  been  a  mere 
heap  of  ruins,  inhabited  by  a  few 
wretched  fishermen;  but  Zidon  is  still 
of  some  note,  having  about  1(3,000 
inhabitants.  Christians  and  others, 
not  absolutel}'^  wretched.  Gen.  ix.  25, 
26,27.  Amosi.  9, 10.  Joel  iii.  4— 8. 
Isa.  xxiii.  Ezek.  xxvi.  xxvii.  xxviii. 
Jer.  XXV.  11,  22.  and  xxvii.  3 — 7. 
Zech.  ix.  1—5.  Psal.  xlv.  12.  and 
Ixxii.  10.  and  Ixxxiv.  4. 

PHILADELPHIA,  the  love  of  a 
brother,  a  city  of  Mysia,  or  Lydia,  at 
the  north  foot  of  mount  Tmolus,  was 
so  called  either  from  Attains  Phila- 
delphus,  Avho  at  least  mightily  adorn- 
ed, if  he  did  not  build  it ;  or,  because 
there  the  Asian  Greeks  held  their 
kind  and  brotherly  feast.  It  stood 
about  24  miles  east  of  Sardis,  and 
72  from  Smyrna.  Here  was  a  Chris- 
tian church  very  early  planted,  to 
which  John  was  directed  to  write  a 
consolatory  and  directive  epistle, 
Rev.  iii.  7 — 13.  This  was  the  last 
city  in  these  quarters  that  submitted 
to  the  Turks,  after  a  terrible  siege  of 
six  years.  We  can  trace  the  history 
of  Christianitj'^  in  this  country  for 
about  800  years:  nay,  at  present, 
there  are  in  it  about  2000  Christians. 

PHILEMON,  who  kisses,  or  is 
affectionate,  a  rich  citizen  of  Colosse. 
He  and  his  wife  were  very  early  con- 
verted to  the  Christian  faith  by  Paul 
or  Epaphras,  and  the  Christians  held 
their  meetings  in  his  house.  His 
bond-slave,  Onesimus,  having  made 
an  elopement  from  him,  and  come  to 
Rome,  was  converted  by  Paul's  mi- 
nistry, and  was  very  useful  to  him  in 
his  imprisonment.  Paul  sent  him 
back  with  a  recommendatory  letter, 


requesting  that  Philemon  would  for- 
give him,  and  charge  what  he  might 
have  wronged  him  to  Paul's  own 
account.  Some  say  he  suffered  mar- 
tyrdom, together  with  Apjiia  his  wife, 
in  the  time  of  Nero.  The  epistle  to 
Philemon,  by  Paul,  is  a  master-piece 
of  natural,  lively,  and  pathetic  elo- 
quence. 

PHI  LET  US,  beloved,  amiable, 
mentioned  by  Paul  in  his  second 
e()istle  to  Timothy,  (ii.  10.  <S:c.)  as 
erring  concerning  the  truth,  affirming 
that  the  resurrection  is  past.  See 
Gnostics. 

PHILIP,  warlike,  a  lover  of  horses, 
the  apostle,  and  brother  of  Andrew, 
was  a  native  of  Bethsaida.  Having 
been  by  his  brother  introduced  to 
Jesus,  and  invited  by  him  to  his 
lodging,  he  afterward  brought  Na- 
thanael  to  him,  John  i.  43 — 51.  To 
try  him,  Jesus  asked  him  how  they 
could  procure  bread  for  the  5000 
men,  besides  women  and  children  ? 
Philip  replied,  that  200  penny- 
worth, or  01.  9s.  sterling  worth  of 
bread,  would  not  give  each  person  a 
scanty  morsel,  John  vi.  5,  6,  7.  He 
and  his  brother  introduced  the  Greeks 
to  Jesus,  John  xii.  21,  22.  He,  at 
our  Saviour's  last  supi)er,  requested 
a  sight  of  the  Father's  glory,  as  what 
would  suffice  them.  Jesus  told  him, 
that  as  he  and  his  Father  were  mu- 
tually in  one  another,  he  that  by  faith 
had  seen  him,  had  seen  the  Father 
also,  John  xiv.  8,  9,  lo.  It  is  said 
that  Philij)  preached  the  gospel  in 
Upper  Asia,  south  of  the  Hellespont 
and  Euxine  Sea,  and  died  a  martyr  at 

HiEUAPOLIS. 

PniMP,  the  2d  of  the  seven  dea- 
cons. Acts  vi.  5.  He  seems  to  have 
resided  at  Cesarea,  on  the  west  of 
Canaan.  Endowed  with  the  Holy 
Ghost  for  preaching  the  Gospel,  he, 
after  the  death  of  Stephen,  went  and 
preached  in  the  country  of  Samaria, 
where  he  wrought  miracles,  and  bap- 
tized not  a  few.  Directed  by  an  an- 
gel, he  repaired  to  the  south-west  of 
Canaan,  near  Gaza.  Here  he  met 
with  a  eunuch,  treasurer  to  Candace 
the  queen  of  Ethiopia,  who  being  a 


P  H  I 


(     294     ) 


P  H  I 


Jewish  proselyte,  had  come  to  at- 
tend at  one  of  the  sacred  feasts.  Di- 
rected by  God,  he  went  close  to  the 
eunuch's  chariot.  He  was  reading  in 
the  53d  of  Isaiah,  a  passage  relative 
to  our  Saviour's  sufferings,  and  his 
meek  submission  under  them.  Philip 
asked  him  if  he  understood  what  he 
was  reading?  The  eunuch  replied, 
that  he  could  not,  without  a  teacher. 
At  his  desire,  Philip  entered  his  cha- 
riot, and  rode  with  him,  and  from  that 
passage  instructed  him  concerning 
Jesus  and  the  Christian  faith.  The 
eunuch  received  his  instructions  with 
the  utmost  readiness  and  affection  ; 
and  seeing  water  by  the  wayside,  ask- 
ed if  he  might  not  be  baptized  ?  Philip 
told  him  he  might,  if  he  believed  with 
his  heart.  He  replied,  that  he  believed 
Jesus  Christ  to  be  the  Son  of  God. 
Philip  and  he  went  out  of  the  chariot 
to  the  water.  Immediately  after  the 
baptism,  the  Lord  carried  Philip  to 
Azotus,  where  he  preached  the  gos- 
pel. He  had  four  daughters,  which 
prophesied,  Acts  viii.  and  xxi.  8,  9. 
Whether  Philip  afterward  repaired  to 
Trailleis,  and  Lesser  Asia,  and  there 
founded  a  church,  we  know  not. 

Philip.     See  Herod. 

PHILIPPI,  lovers  of  horses,  war- 
riors, a  city  of  Macedonia,  anciently 
called  Datos;  but  being  repaired  by 
Philip  the  father  of  Alexander  the 
Great,  it  received  its  name  from  him. 
It  stood  to  the  north-\vest  of  Nea- 
polis,  and  about  70  miles  north-east 
of  Thessalonica,  and  is  about  190 
west  of  Constantinople.  It  was  ren- 
dered famous  by  the  defeat  of  Brutus 
and  Cassius  two  noble  Roman  strug- 
clers  for  liberty,  in  the  neighbour- 
hood. Here  there  was  a  Roman  co- 
lony. Here  Paul  preached  about 
A.  D.  52,  and  Lydia  and  many  others 
were  converted.  A  persecution  soon 
obliged  Paul  to  leave  the  place ;  but 
a  notable  church  was  founded  in  it. 
None  so  readily  supplied  the  apos- 
Jle's  wants,  even  after  he  was  gone 
from  them,  as  they.  At  Thessalonica, 
they  oftener  than  once  supplied  his 
necessity.  They  sent  him  a  supply 
when  prisoner  at  Rome,  by  Bpaph- 


roditus,  one  of  their  preachers.  Acts 
xvi.  Phil.  iv.  15 — 18.  He  returned 
them  a  most  affectionate  epistle, 
wherein  he  declares  his  tender  love 
of  them,  his  care  to  prevent  their 
stumbling  at  his  sufferings,  and  his 
readiness  to  glorify  God  either  by  life 
or  death.  He  exhorts  them  to  a 
strict  holiness  of  life,  to  constancy  in 
well-doing,  to  an  imitation  of  Christ 
in  humility,  to  activity  and  serious- 
ness in  their  Christian  course,  to 
adorji  their  profession  with  suitable 
and  mutual  Christian  graces.  He  re- 
commends to  them  Timothy  and 
Epaphroditus;  warns  them  against 
false  teachers,  and  fellowship  with 
wicked  persons;  and  proposes  his 
own  example  as  their  pattern. 

PHILISTIA,  or  Palestine,  the 
country  of  the  Philistines,  is  vi^ith 
some  writers,  a  name  of  the  whole 
of  Canaan ;  but  in  scripture,  it 
means  only  a  narrow  strip  of  land 
along  the  sea-coast,  in  the  south- 
west of  Canaan,  about  40  miles 
long,  and  except  at  the  south  part, 
scarcely  ever  above  15  miles  broad. 
Its  cities  were  Gerar,  Gaza,  Ma- 
juma,  Askelon,  Ekron,  Ashdod, 
and  Gath.  The  Philistines  and 
the  Caphtorim,  descended  from 
Cashihim,  the  son  of  Mizraim,  who 
peopled  Egypt;  and  their  country 
is  perhaps  called  the  isle  or  country 
of  Caphtor,  Jer.  xlvii.  4.  When 
they  returned  from  Egypt,  and 
settled  in  Canaan,  we  know  not. 
It  is  certain  their  kingdom  of  Gerar. 
was  erected  and  governed  by  the 
Abimilechs,  in  the  days  ofAcu/v- 
HAM  and  Isaac.  Their  territory 
was  divided  to  the  Hebrews;  but 
they  neglecting  to  take  possession 
of  it,  the  Philistines  Avere  made  a 
severe  and  lasting  scourge  to  them, 
Josh.  xiii.  2,  3.  and  xv.  45,  46,  47. 
Judg.  iii.  «1,  2,  3.  In  the  days  of 
Shamgar,  they  ravaged  the  adjacent 
territories;  but  he  killed  GOO  of  them 
at  once,  with  an  ox-goad,  Judg.  iii. 
25.  In  the  days  of  Jephthah,  they 
also  ravaged  the  Hebrew  territories, 
but  perhaps  the  terror  of  his  arms 
made  them  desist,  Judg.  x.  0.     In 


P  H  I 


(     205     ) 


P  H  I 


ihe  days  of  Sam?on  and  Eli,  lliej', 
under  (heir  five  lords,  or  kiiii;?,  lor 
40  years  terribly  (yrannized  over  the 
Hebrews.  tSanison  rej)eafed!y  hum- 
bled Iheni;  but  by  fraud  tliey  jrot 
him  made  their  jirisoner,  thouj:;h  not 
so  much  to  their  profit  at  last.  At 
the  time  of  Kli's  death,  by  defeating 
the  Hebrews  in  sundry  battles,  anvl 
takins  captive  the  ark,  they  had  re- 
duced them  to  tlie  very  brink  of  ruio, 
Tlie  maiming  of  their  idol  Dagon, 
and  a  plague  of  emerods,  if  not  also 
of  mice,  attended  the  captive  ark, 
and  obliged  them  to  send  it  back, 
with  a  present  of  the  images  of  the 
emerods  and  mice  in  gold.  Some 
time  after,  Samuel  defeated  them  at 
E!>enezer,  the  Lord  assisting  the 
Hebrews  with  thunder,  1  Sam.  iv. 
fovii.  Is'ot  k)ng  after  the  corona- 
lion  of  Saul,  the  Philistines,  with  a 
terrible  host  of,  it  is  said,  300,000 
footmen,  and  6000  horsemen,  and 
30,000  chariots  for  war  or  baggage, 
invaded  the  country  of  Israel.  New- 
ton thinks,  this  host  was  exceedingly 
swelled,  especially  in  carriages,  by 
the  return  of  the  Phenician  shepherds 
from  Egypt  at  that  time.  Thi?.  huge 
army  quite  terrified  the-  Hebrews; 
and  at  the  same  time  they  had  car- 
ried off  all  the  smiths  from  the  land 
of  Israel,  that  no  arms  might  be 
made;  but  by  Jonathan,  and  his 
armour-bearer,  was  the  rout  of  this 
mighty  host  begun,  and  the  Hebrews 
pursued  them  to  the  very  borders  of 
their  country.  Not  long  after,  the 
Philistines,  withGoliah  their  champi- 
on, invaded  the  Hebrew  territories; 
but  he  being  slain,  the  rest  fled  home 
with  the  utmost  precipitation,  1  Sam. 
xiii.  and  xiv.  and  xvii.  As  they  con- 
tinue'' the  enemies  of  Saul,  and  made 
inroa-  into  his  kingdom,  David,  af- 
ter giving  them  several  checks,  for 
some  time  sheltered  himself  among 
them,  1  Sam.  xviii.  xxiii.  xxvii.  anil 
xxix.  About  the  end  of  SauP?  reign, 
they  invaded  the  Hel)rew  territorials, 
to  the  very  heart  of  the  country, 
killed  Saul  and  his  sons,  and  sjtread 
such  terror  among  the  Heijrev.s  on 
the  west  of  Jordan,  that  many  of  lliem 


left  their  dwellings,  and  took  up  their 
residence  in  (lilcad,  1  Sam.  xxix  and 
xxxi.  David  having  tauirht  his  sub- 
jects the  use  of  the  bow,  allacke*!  the 
Philistines,  and  in  sundry  battles  cut 
oti"  their  giants,  and  rendcritl  them 
tril)utaries,  2  Sam.  v.  and  viii.  1. 
12.  and  xxi.  and  xxiii.  10,  12,  ItJ. 
For  about  150  years,  they  continued 
subject  to  the  Jews.  Nadabthe  son 
of  Jeroboam,  and  some  of  his  suc- 
cessors carried  on  a  war  with  the 
Philistines  for  the  city  of  Gibbethon, 

1  Kings  XV.  and  xvi.  They  formed 
a  party  in  the  combination  against 
Jehoshaphat,  Psal.  Ixxxiii.  7.  In 
the  reign  of  Jehoram,  they  formally 
revolted ;  nor,  though  harassed  l\v 
the  Syrians  under  Hazael,  were  they 
reduced  by  the  Jews,  till  the  reign 
of  Uz/iah,  2  Kings  xii.  17.  2  Chron. 
viii.  and  xxvi.  In  the  days  of  Ahaz, 
they  again  revolted,  invaded  the 
low  or  west  country  of  Judah,  and 
took  Eelhshemesh,  Aijalon,  Gede- 
roth,  Shocho,  and  Gimzo,  and  sold 
the  Jews  to  the  Tyrians  for  slaves, 

2  Chron  xxviii.  13.  Isa.  ix.  12.  Joel 
iii.  6.  Hezekiah  reduced  them  to 
the  low-est  ebb,  and  took  all  their 
countr}'  to  Gaza ;  and  by  sword  and 
famine,  vast  numbers  of  tliem  were 
ruined,  2  Kings  xviii.  8.  Isa.  xiv.  29. 
30.  Their  country  was  sei/ed  by 
the  Assyrians,  and  was  on  that  ac- 
count invaded  by  Psammiticus,  king 
of  Egypt,  Is.  XX.  It  was  afterwa!"ds 
seized  by  the  Chaldeans,  the  Per- 
sians, and  Greeks,  in  (heir  turn. 
Tryi)hon,  the  Greek  usur|)er  of  Sj'- 
ria,  gave  it  to  Jonathan  the  Macca- 
bee.  Alexander  Janneus  reduced  it 
entirely,  and  obliged  the  inhabitants 
to  submit  to  the  Jewish  religion  ;  and 
about  140  years  after  many  of  them 
became  Christians,  Amos  i.  0,  7,  8. 
Isa.  xiv.  27—31.  Jer.  xxv.  20,  27. 
and  xlvii.  Ezek.  xxv.  15,  10,  17. 
Zei)h.  ii.  1—7.  Zech.  ix.  5,  G,  7. 
Obad.  in.  Isa.  xi.  1-1.  Psa.  Ixxxvii.  4. 

PlIILOSOPH  V,  denotes  properly 
a  love  ofwisdcm  ;  it  is  the  knowledge 
of  things  founded  on  reason  and  ex- 
perience. At  [iresent,  philosophy 
might  be  divided  into  logic,  or  the 


P  H  I 


(     296     ) 


P  H  I 


science  of  perception,  judgment, 
reasoning,  and  method;  ontology,  or 
the  knowledge  of  the  general  pro- 
perties and  relations  of  beings  ;  na- 
tural philosophy,  or  the  knowledge  of 
material  substances,  earth,  sea,  air, 
fire,  celestial  luminaries,  &c.  to  which 
mathematics,  optics,  hydrostatics, 
medicine,  astronomy,  &c.  may  be  re- 
duced ;  pneumatics,  or  the  knowledge 
of  spirits;  woraZ  philosophy,  which  di- 
rects men  to  act  to  a  right  end,  and 
in  a  right  manner,  as  rational  beings 
subject  to  God ;  but  from  the  begin- 
ning, philosophy  was  not  so  formal 
and  distinct.  Solomon  indeed  was 
probably  the  greatest  philosopher  thaj 
ever  existed ;  but  his  works  of  that 
kind  are  long  ago  lost.  The  most 
ancient  philosophers  of  the  Greeks 
called  their  science,  Sophia,  wisdom. 
Pythagoras  waa  more  modest,  and 
would  have  his  only  called  Philoso- 
phia,  love  of  wisdom.  The  Greek 
philosophers,  partly  through  igno- 
rance, and  partly  through  vanity, 
soon  split  into  a  vast  number  of  sects, 
of  which  the  Epicureans,  Stoics,  and 
Academics,  were  the  most  noted, 
and  to  which  the  Jewish  sects  of 
Sadducees,  Pharisees,  and  Essenes, 
were  somewhat  similar.  Till  within 
these  200  years  past,  (that  men  have 
more  attended  to  experience  and 
common  sense,)  most  of  that  philoso- 
phy that  was  for  many  ages  in  vogue, 
was  but  unmeaning  jargon  and  non- 
sense. Then,  it  was  imagined  al- 
most every  thing  was  understood : 
now,  repeated  discoveries  manifest 
the  wonderful  and  unsearchable  na- 
ture of  God's  works;  and  how  much 
more  of  himself. 

That  tlie  works  of  creation  and  pro- 
vidence really  manifest  the  being, 
and  part  of  the  perfections,  of  God, 
and  of  our  duty  to  him,  or  to  one 
auother;  or  th:it  the  human  mind, 
under  the  intiuence  of  grace,  is  caj)a- 
ble  of  a|)prehending  these  matters; 
cannot  jut'Uy  be  denied.  But  it  is  no 
less  evident,  that  through  the  preva- 
lence of  men's  lusts  over  their  reason, 
there  is  little  actual  knowledge  in  the 
earth  but  what  owes  its  origin  one  way 


or  other  to  revelation.  Clemens  Alex'^ 
andrinus,  .Tustin  Martyr,  Augustine, 
and  most  of  the  Christian  fathers,  be- 
lieved the  Heathens  derived  their 
proper  sentiments  from  the  oracles  of 
God ;  and  Celsus,  the  Heathen  philo- 
sopher, acknowledges  the  similarity 
of  Plato  to  Moses  and  the  prophets. 
Theophilus  Gale,  in  his  Court  of  the 
Gentiles,  has  with  great  labour  shown 
the  derivation  of  ihe  sensible  notions 
of  the  Heathen,  from  the  oracles  of 
God.  Nothing  is  more  plain,  than 
that  the  nations  which  have  had  no 
access  to  revelation,  are  almost  simi- 
lar to  brutes  in  ignorance  and  bar- 
barity. Let  the  south  of  Africa,  the 
east  of  Tartary,  and  various  parts  of 
America,  bear  witness.  It  is  easy  to 
trace  their  access  to  revelation, 
wherever  any  sensible  philosophy, 
especially  respecting  morals  or  wor- 
ship, was  found.  Might  not  a  great 
deal  of  traditional  knowledge  be  de- 
rived from  Noah  ?  Who  knows  how 
little  real  wisdom  the  Egyptians 
might  have,  except  what  they  owed 
to  Joseph,  Moses,  Solomon,  or  other 
Hebrews  they  were  conversant  with 
and  highly  regarded  ?  What  hindered 
the  Chaldeans  from  learning  much 
from  Abraham  their  countryman,  or 
from  Jewish  captives  carried  thither 
by  the  Assyrians  or  Nebuchadnez- 
zar, or  from  their  countrymen  the 
most  ancient  Samaritans  ?  What 
know  we,  but  any  thing  sensible  in 
the  ancient  Persian  religion  is  ow- 
ing to  Zoroaster,  who  had  learned 
it  from  the  Jews,  if  he  was  not,  as 
some  think,  a  renegade  oae  himself? 
It  is  certain,  that  neither  the  ancient 
Chinese  philosophy  of  Confucius,  nor 
their  modern,  had  half  the  sense  in 
it  that  some  pretend;  but  though  it 
had,  how  easy  to  derive  it  from  le- 
velation?  If  Noah  went  thither,  and 
settled  their  constitutions,  they  must 
have  been  originally  good.  Proba- 
bly thousands  of  Jews  removed  east- 
ward, when  Oguz-khan  the  Tartar 
made  his  irruption  into  western  Asia, 
and  about  the  same  time  foundeil  a 
kingdom  on  the  north-west  of  Chi- 
na ;  and  from  their  apprehensions  of 


P  H  I 


(     297     ) 


P  H  I 


\iie  incarnation  of  Go  J,  and  otlier 
thine;?,    >ve    cannot   hut   think   lliat 
some  such  thine;  happened.     1  fuul 
no  evidence  oC any  sen-ible  plnlo<o- 
phy    in  the   East    Indies,    till  alter 
tlie  time  in  which  it  is  said  Nebu- 
chadnc/zar  transported  tliither  a  co- 
lony of. Jew? ;  nay,  nor  till  after  they 
had  access  to  converse  with  Jews  in 
the  em|)ire  of  Darius,  (he  husband 
of  Esther,  and  to  whom  IMordecai, 
a  Jew,  was  for  a  while  chief  minis- 
ter of  state;   and   till  after  most  of 
the  East  sounded  with  the  wisdom 
of  Daniel  the  Jew\    To  turn  our  eyes 
towards    Europe,    where    was    the 
learning  of  Greece,  before  Cadmus, 
a  fujiitive  from  the  country  of  Israel, 
carried  letters  thither?     How  proba- 
ble, that    Orpheus   the   reformer   ol 
their  reli;^ion,  or  his  father,  was  a 
Phenician,  and  his  mother  Calliope, 
perhaps  a   Jewish   minstrel,  carried 
northward  by   the  conquering    Shi- 
shak,  kinic  of  Egypt  ?  What  know  I 
but  the  Colcliians  on  the  east  of  the 
Euxine  Sea,  with  whom  the  Greeks 
had  the  earliest  intercourse,  and  who 
used  circumcision,   and  had  a  Ian 
guage  not  a  little  similar  to  the  He- 
brew, were   a  colony  of  Jews  and 
Egyptians,  left  there  by  Shishak  as  he 
hasted  home  to  check  his  rebellious 
brother  ?     Who  has  not  heard  of  the 
early  intercourse  between  Egypt  and 
Greece  ?  Who  knows  not,  that  the 
Phenicians,  who  in  a  manner  lived 
among  the  Hebrew^s,  or  at  their  side, 
by  their  extensive  sea  trade,  and  their 


visiting  the  Jewish  valley  of  vision, 
which  lay  in  their  way  from  the  oiw 
to  the  other?     Did  not  the  Romans 
derive   their    philosophy     from    the 
(Jreeks?  and   had    tliey  not    plenty 
of  access   to  the   oracles  of  God  in 
(he  Grecian  language  ?     Since   it  is 
so    extremely    probable  that  almost 
every  thing  sensible  in  the  Pagan 
learning  derives  its  original  from  re- 
velation, how  superlatively  base  and 
unmanly   must   it  be  for  our  modern 
infidels  to  boast  of  their  own,  or  the 
Heathen   science,  in    op[K)sition  to 
the  gospel  of  Christ !     Let  us  have  a 
sensible   system  of  natural   religion 
from  the  Caffrees,  Hottentots,  or  Sol- 
danians,  in  the  south  of   Africa;  or 
from  the  Kamschatkans,  in  the  east 
corner  of  Tartary,  or  Patagonians, 
in  the  south  of  America;  or  from  the 
islanders,    in  the  most    southern  or 
northern   i)arts  of  the  ocean,  whom 
we  allow  to  owe  very  little  of  their 
knowledge   to  revelation;  and  then 
we  shall   esteem    the   religion  and 
light  of  nature,  so  called,  more  than 
at  present  we  can;  though  after  all, 
the  case  of  ancient  Greece  and  Rome, 
and  of  modern  Europe,  would  effect- 
ually prove  that  philosophy  is  inca- 
pable to  reform  the    world.      The 
apostle  decries  not  true,  but  vain  phi- 
losophy/, i.  e.  the  vain  fancies  which 
the  Heathens  blended  with  truth,  Col. 
ii.  8.     Scripture  mysteries  transcend 
true  philosophy,  but  never  oppose  it. 
Nay,    philosophy,   when  used  as  a 
handmaid,  is  of  great  use  to  promote 


numerous  colonies,  might  propagate  the  knowledge  of  the  scripture;  and 
hints  borrowed  from  revelation,  far  indeed,  in  the  boohs  of  Job,  Proverbs, 
and  wide,  even  to  the  Celta?  of  Bri-iand  Ecclesiastes,  there  is  more  true 
tain?  Who  may  not  observe  in  the  [philosophy  than  in  all  the  writings 
Etruscan  lucomonies  of  Italy,  not  a 'of  the  Heathen, 
little  resemblance  to  the  early  order!  PHINEHAS,  a  bold  coimlcnancCy 
of  the   Hebrew   tribes?     Were    aot  ova  face  of  tni  si,  the  son  of  Eleazar, 


Pherecydes  the  Syrian,  and  Thales 
the  Milesian,  the  most  ancient  philoso- 
phers of  the  Greeks?  and  were  they 
not  born,  especially  the  first,  at  no 
great  distance  from  Israel  ?  Did  not 
Pythagoras,  Solon,  Plato,  and  other 
renowned  philosophers,  travel  into 
Egypt  and  Chahlea  to  collect  wis- 
dom ?  and  could  thev  do  so  wilhout 
Vol.  II. 


and  third  high  priest  of  the  Jews.  His 
zeal  for  the  honour  of  God  was  very 
remarkable.  When  the  Midianitish 
women  came  into  the  Hebrew  camp, 
to  seduce  them  to  uncleanness  and 
idolatry,  Phinehasseeingone  Zimri,  a 
prince  of  the  Simeonites,  lead  Cnz.bi, 
the  daughter  of  Zur  a  prince  of  I\Iidi- 
aa.  into  his  tent,  followed  them  soon 
2    P 


P  H  R 


(     298     ) 


PHY 


alter,  and  with  a  javelin  thrust  them 
both  through  the  body  in  the  very 
act  of  whoredom.  To  reward  his 
zeal,  God  immediately  stopped  the 
plague  which  then  raged  among  the 
Israelites,  assigned  the  high  priest- 
hood to  him  and  his  family  for  many 
generations,  and  appointed  him  to 
attend  the  12,000  Israelites  who 
punished  the  Midianites,  Num.  xxv 
andxxxi.  Psal.  cvi.  30,  31.  He  and 
sever.;l  princes  were  sent  to  expostu- 
late Avith  the  Reubenites  and  their 
brethren  of  Gilead,  concerning  their 
erection  of  the  altar  of  Ed,  who,  on 
hearing  their  reasons,  were  entirely 
satisfied,  Josh.  xxii.  He  attended  the 
army  that  cut  off  the  Benjamites  in 
the  affair  of  Gibeah,  Judg.  xx.  28. 
He  died  about  A.  M.  2390,  and  was 
succeeded  by  Abishua,  or  Abiezer, 
his  son.     See  Priests,  and  Eli. 

PHLEGON,  Jiaggon,  sealozis, 
burning,  a  freedman  of  the  em- 
peror Adrian,  who  composed  a 
history,  digested  by  olympiads,  down 
to  the  year  of  Christ  140.  In  it 
he  takes  notice,  that  in  the  fourth 
year  of  the  202d  olympiad,  which 
determines  about  the  middle  of  the 
year  of  Christ  33,  there  happened 
the  greatest  eclipse  of  the  sun  that 
ever  was  seen,  the  stars  being  ob- 
served in  tlie  heavens  at  noon-day ; 
and  that  afterwards  there  was  a 
great  earthquake  in  Bithyuia.  Se- 
veral critics  suppose  that  this  was 
the  darkness  which  happened  at  the 
death  of  our  Saviour,  (2.)  Phle- 
GON,  mentioned  by  Paul  in  his  epis- 
tle to  the  Romnns,  (xvi.  14.)  was 
made,  according  to  the  Greeks,  bishop 
of  Marathon,  in  Attica. 

PHRYGIA,  %,  barren,  a 
country  of  Lesser  Asia,  liaving  the 
Mediterranean  Sea  and  Hellespont 
on  the  north-west,  Galatia  on  the 
east,  and  Lydia  on  the  south.  It 
was  divided  into  two  parts,  the 
Lesser  Phrygia  on  the  west,  and 
Hie  Greater  on  the  east.  The  prin- 
cipal cities  of  the  Western  were 
Troaz,  Cyzicus,  Lampsacus,  Abydos, 
Autandros,  &c.  Those  of  the  Great- 
er were  Hierapolis,  Colosse,  Gordi- 


um,  Lysias.  Some  Greek  authors 
would  have  the  Phrygians  to  have 
sprung  from  the  Byrges,  a  tribe  of 
Macedonians;  but  it  is  more  proba- 
ble they  were  the  descendants  of 
GoMER  by  his  son  Askenaz,  or  To- 
garmah.  The  Phrygians  had  anci- 
ently sovereigns  of  their  own.  Those 
of  Troy  are  not  a  little  famous  in  the 
ancient  fables.  For  about  2500  years 
past,  they  have  been  subject  to  the 
Lydians,  Persians,  Greeks,  Romans, 
and  Turks,  in  their  turn.  The  gos- 
pel was  very  early  preached  in  Phry- 
gia, and  a  church  settled,  which  for 
many  ages  made  a  considerable  ap- 
pearance. Acts  xvi.  6.  and  xviii. 
23.  Nor  is  Christianity  yet  quite 
abolished  in  that  country. 

PHUT,  the  third  son  of  Ham.— 
Calmet  will  have  his  posterity  to 
have  settled  in  the  canton  of  Ptem- 
phis  in  Lower  Egypt,  or  in  Phthe- 
uotis,  whose  capital  was  Buthus  ? 
but  if  they  did  so,  we  are  persuaded 
they  in  after  times  removed  west- 
ward to  Mauritania,  where  we  find 
the  region  Phute ;  and  probably  the 
Pythian  Apollo  is  no  other  than 
Phut,  deified  by  his  posterity.  We 
suppose  Shishak  conquered  all  Mau- 
ritania, as  far  as  the  Straits  of  Gib- 
raltar, and  gave  to  his  brother  Atlas 
the  government  thereof.  It  is  cer- 
tain the  Phuteans  were  in  league 
with,  or  subject  to,  the  Egyptians, 
about  the  time  of  Hezekiah,  Gen. 
X.  6.  Nah.  iii.  6. 

PHYGELLUS,  fugitive,  and 
HERMOGENES,  generation  of 
lucre,  were  professed  Christians  of 
Asia.  It  is  said  they  were  originally 
magicians;  but  it  is  more  certain  that 
they  forsook  Paul  in  the  time  of  hife  dis- 
tress and  imprisonment,  2Tim.i.  15. 

PHYLACTERIES.  See  Front- 

LETS. 

PHYSICIAN,  (1.)  Onewhoprac- 
tises  the  art  of  medicine,  Mark  v. 
26.  (2.)  An  embalmer  of  dead  bo- 
dies. Gen.  I.  2.  (3.)  Such  as  com- 
fort and  relieve  from  distress  by  their 
advice  and  counsel,  are  termed  phy- 
sicians. Job  xiii.  4. 
Jesus  Christ  is  caUeA a.  Physician ^  by 


P  I  c 


(     209     ) 


PON 


ilie  application  of  his  word,  his 
blood,  and  Spirit,  he  removes  the 
guiltnnd  the  filth  of  sin,  Matt.ix.  12. 
Pro[)het9,  teachers,  and  <leliverers  of 
nations,  are  physicians;  liy  their  in- 
structions and  examples,  or  liy  Ihi-ir 
wisdom  and  activity,  they  are  useful 
for  lenioviniT  tlie  corruptions  of  |)er- 
sons  and  churches,  and  redressing;  the 
grievances  of  states,  Jer.  viii.  22. 

As  anciently  diseases  were  often 
supposed  to  be  the  immediate  strokes 
of  divine  vengeance,  scarcely  any 
use  was  made  of  medicine,  except 
in  outward  sores,  fractures,  wounds, 
and  the  like  :  but  when  Asa  was  dis- 
eased in  his  feet,  he  depended  too 
much  on  tlie  skill  of  the  physicians, 
2  Chron.  xvi.  12.  Among  the  Assy- 
rians, Chaldeans,  Egyptians,  Lybians, 
and  Greeks,  we  have  boasting  hints 
of  skilful  physicians;  but  till  Hip|)0- 
crates  the  Coan,  about  A.  M.  3540, 
digested  medicine  into  a  kind  of 
system,  it  was  very  little  considered. 
Aretfeus  the  Cappadocian,  long  af- 
ter, further  reformed  it.  Galen,  who 
lived  in  the  second  century  of  the 
Christian  era,  put  the  art  into  a  still 
clearer  order;  but  by  pretending  to 
found  every  thing  on  the  four  ele- 
ments, and  the  humours,  and  by  his 
cardinal  qualities,  and  the  like,  he 
embarrassed  it  with  plenty  of  unintel- 
ligible jargon.  Between  the  6th  and 
9th  centuries  of  Christianity,  the  art 
of  medicine  was  in  a  manner  lost; 
but  from  that  to  the  13th,  the  Arabs 
cultivated  it  with  a  great  deal  of 
pomp.  It  was  not,  however,  till 
within  these  two  centuries  past,  that 
it  was  applied  in  a  proper  manner ; 
nor  is  it  so  even  now  except  among 
the  Europeans  of  the  Christian  name. 
Perhaps  it  never  was  carried  to  high- 
er perfection  than  it  is  at  i)resent  in 
the  united  kingdom  of  Great  Britain. 

PICTURE.  The  Hebrews  were 
required  to  destroy  every  picture  or 
image  of  the  Canaanites'  false  gods, 
Numb,  xxxiii.  52.  Deut.  vii.  5. 
The  day  of  the  Lord  is  on  diU  pleasant 
pictures,  when  he  brings  to  ruin 
Heathenish  or  Roman  idolaters,  with 
their  idols  and  images,  and  destroys 


their  sumptuous  and  gaudy  furniture 
Isa.  ii.  1(). 

A  PIECE  of  money,  is  a  shekel 
of  gold  or  SILVER,  2  Kings  v.  5.  and 
vi.  25.  For  a  piece  of  bread,  i.  e.  a 
very  small  advantage,  that  man  will 
transgress,  ¥rov.  xxviii.  21.  To  he 
reduced  to  a  piece  of  bread,  is  to  he 
in  extreme  poverty,  glad  to  eat  any 
thing,  Prov.  vi.  26.  1  Hani.  ii.  30. 

PIERCE,  (1.)  To  bore  through, 
.Tudg.  V.  20.  (2.)  To  pain  exceed- 
ingly, Job  XXX.  17.  1  Tim.  vi.  10. 
Christ's  hands  and  feet  were  pierced 
when,  by  nails  driven  through  them, 
he  was  fixed  to  the  cross;  and  he  is 
pierced,  when  he  is  grieved  and  of- 
fended by  our  unbelief,  Psa.  xxii. 
10.  Zech.  xii.  10.  Rev.  i.  7.  One 
speaketh  like  the  piercirigs  of  a  sivord, 
when  by  passionate  and  reproachl\iI 
speeches,  or  by  false  accusations,  he 
wounds  the  character,  hurts  the  out- 
ward estate,  or  endangers  the  life  of 
his  neighbour,  Prov.  xii.  18. 

PIETY,  or  GODiiiNESS,  is  true  re. 
ligion  in  principle  and  practice,  in 
heart  and  life.  To  show  piett/  at 
home,  is  to  discharge  steadily  and 
conscientiously,  those  relative  duties 
which  the  precepts  of  Christ  enjoin, 
1  Tim.  V.  4. 

PIHAHIROTH,  the  pass  through 
which  the  Hebrews  marched  to  the 
west  bank  of  the  Red  Sea.  Whether 
the  rocks  on  either  hand  were  called 
Hiroth,  and  so  the  name  signifies  the 
gidlet  or  pass  of  Hiroth  ;  or  whether 
the  name  signifies  the  vxouthov gullet 
of  liberty,  because  here  the  Hebrews 
were  delivered  by  the  opening  of  the 
sea  before  them,  is  not  easy  to  de- 
termine. Probably  the  city  Heroun 
or  Hero-opolis,  stood  near  to  this 
place,  Exod.  xiv.  2. 

PONTIUS  PlLATE,w/iowflm- 
ed  with  a  dart,  was  j)robai)ly  an  Ita- 
lian, and  was  the  successor  of  Gratus 
in  the  government  of  Judea,  A.  D.  26, 
or  27.  He  was  a  most  obstinate, 
passionate,  covetous,  cruel,  and 
bloody  wretch,  tormenting  even  the 
innocent,  and  putting  people  to 
death  without  so  much  as  a  form  of 
process.      Taking  offence  at  some 


PON 


(     300     ) 


P  I  L 


Galileans,  he  murdered  them  in  the 
court  of  the  temple,  as  they  offered 
their  sacrifices.  This,  as  our  Saviour 
Jiinted,  was  a  prelude  of  the  Jews 
being  shut  up  in  their  city  and  mur 
dered  when  they  assembled  to  eat 
the  passot^er,  Luke  xiii.  1,  2.  Yet 
wicked  as  he  was,  his  conviction  of 
our  Saviour's  innocency  caused  him 
to  try  several  methods  to  preserve 
his  life.  His  wife  likewise,  sent  him 
word  to  have  nothing  to  do  in  con- 
demning him,  as  she  had  suffered 
much  in  a  dream  concerning  him.  He 
was  the  more  intent,  therefore,  to 
preserve  him.  When  the  Jews  ac- 
cused our  Saviour  of  calling  himself 
the  Son  of  God,  Pilate  was  the  more 
afraid,  as  he  suspected  he  juight  be  so. 
They  then  cried  out  he  would  be  a 
traitor  to  Cesar  if  he  dismissed  Jesus. 
Dreading  a  charge  of  this  nature,  he 
washed  his  hands,  and  protested,  that 
he  was  innocent  of  Jesus's  death,  and 
then  condemned  hiin  to  be  crucified. 
Guided  by  Providence,  he,  instead 
of  an  abstract  of  the  causes  of  con- 
dejnnation,  caused  them  to  write  on 
our  Saviour's  cross,  This  is  Jesus  of 
Nasarclh,  the  King  of  the  Jews. 
which  at  once  declared  his  innocence, 
royalty,  and  Messiahship :  nor  could 
all  the  entreaties  of  the  Jews  cause 
him  in  the  least  to  alter  the  inscrip- 
tion. He  readily  allowed  Joseph 
the  dead  bod}-,  to  give  it  a  decent 
interment.  He  as  readily  allowed 
the  Jews  tu  seal  and  guard  the  sa 
cred  tomb;  and  so  our  Saviour's  re- 
surrection became  the  more  evident 
About  three  years  after,  Pilate,  for 
his  cruehy  and  oj)()ression,  was  de- 
posed bj/^  Vifellius,  governor  of  Syria, 
and  sent  to  Rome  to  give  an  account 
of  his  conducl.  Caligula  the  empe- 
ror, soon  after  banished  him  to  Vien- 
na in  Gaul,  where  exttcme  poverty 
and  distress  influenced  him  (o  put  a 
wretched  end  to  his  own  life. 

To  avoid  the  displeasure  of  Cesar, 
he  unjustly  condemned  the  Saviour 
to  an  ignominious  death,  contrary  to 
the  dictates  of  his  own  conscience : 
but  see  the  fruit  of  cowardice,  injus- 
tice, and  cruelty,  in  the  f  overly^  ex- 


le,  disgrace,  and  death,  oi  this  wick 
ed  goverjior.  Justin  Martyr,  Ter- 
tullian,  and  Eusebius,  and  alter  them 
many  others,  inform  us,  that  it  was 
the  custom  of  the  Roman  governors 
in  the  different  provinces,  to  send 
copies  of  all  their  judicial  acts  to  the 
emperor ;  and  that  Pilate  wrote  such 
an  account  of  our  Saviour's  miracles 
and  death  to  the  emperor  Tiberius, 
that  he  inclined  to  have  him  wor- 
shipped as  a  god ;  but  the  senate 
being  against  it,  the  matter  was 
dropped.  We  can  scarcely  believe 
these  authors  would  have  published 
this  in  the  midst  of  the  Heathens,  if 
it  had  not  been  true;  and  yet  we 
know  of  no  author  who  pretends  to 
have  seen  the  real  acts  of  Pilate. 
See  Christ. 

PILE,  a  heap  of  wood  for  burn- 
ing dead  corpses  in.  In  allusion 
to  this,  God  is  said  to  have  made  the 
pile  for  the  fire  great  in  Jerusalem, 
when  multitudes  were  there  cast  as 
fuel  into  the  fire  of  bis  wrath,  and  a 
poAverful  army  of  Chaldeans  execu- 
ted his  indignation,  Ezek.  xxiv.  9, 
See  TopHET. 

PILGRIM,  A  traveller;  a  wan- 
derer from  place  to  place  ;  and  pil- 
grimage is  a  wandering  or  travelling 
from  one  place  to  another,  Gen. 
xlvii.  9,     See  Travel. 

PILLAR,  (1.)  A  prop  to  support 
a  house  or  building,  Judg.  xvi.  25, 
26,  29.  (2.)  A  monument  raised  to 
commemorate  a  person  or  deed,  Gen. 
XXXV.  20.  2  Sam.  xviii.  13.  The 
pillars  of  the  earth,  and  the  pillars  of 
heaven,  are  metaphorical  expressions, 
that  suppose  the  heavens  and  the 
earth  to  be  as  an  edifice  raised  by  the 
hand  of  God,  and  founded  upon  its 
basis  or  foundation;  which  appears 
from  those  words;  Where  wast  thou 
when  J  laid  the  foundation  ofthcearth? 
The  ancients  imagined  the  earth  to 
lie  upon  a  flat,  and  that  the  heavens 
rested  upon  its  extremities.  Job  ix. 
6.  and  xxvi.  11.  and  xxxviii.  4. 
The  church  is  called  the  pillar  and 
ground  of  truth :  in  ami  by  her  are 
exhibited  and  maintained  the  truths 
of  God,  as  the  edicts  of  civil  rulers 


P  I  N 


(     301     ) 


P  I  S 


A  ore  wont  to  be  hehl  up  to  public  view 
on  tlie  pillars  to  which  they  were  af- 
tixeil;  or  the  pillar  and  ground  of 
truth,  may  be  the  mystery  of  godli- 
ness, mentioueil  verso  1 6.  1  Tim.  iii. 
15.  Saints  and  ministers,  especially 
more  noted  ones,  are  like  pillars  : 
they  are  fixed  on  the  foundation  of 
divine  truth;  they  have  their  afl'ec- 
tions  bent  heavenward ;  and  they 
greatly  support  the  churches  and  na- 
tions where  they  live,  Gal.  ii.  9. 
Tliey  are  as  pillars  in  the  temple  of 
God:  to  the  honour  of  his  grace,  they 
are  fixed  in  his  church,  and  if  found 
faithful  till  death,  shall  at  last  be  un- 
alterably fixed  in  their  celestial  hap- 
piness. Rev.  iii.  12.  Magistrates, 
and  fundamental  rules  of  govern- 
ment, are  pillars  which  connect  and 
support  the  structure  of  a  state ;  and 
which,  when  removed,  the  ruin  of 
the  kingdom  or  nation  quickly  en- 
sues, Psal.  Ixxv.  3. 

PILLOW,  a  cushion  for  one's 
head  to  rest  on  in  sleep.  The  peace 
and  {)rosperity  which  false  prophets 
or  prophetesses  promise  their  hear- 
ers, to  sooth  their  spirits  into  car- 
nal security,  are  likened  to  pillows 
saved  to  Ihcir  arm-holes,  that  they 
may  be  ever  at  hand,  Ezek.  xiii. 
18,  20. 

PILOT,  one  that  directs  a  ship;  he 
that  steers  the  helm,  Ezek.  xxvii.  8. 

ThePL\NACLE  of  the  temple 
can  hardly  be  supposed  to  have  been 
a  spire  on  the  top  of  it,  as  the  top 
was  set  thick  with  golden  pikes,  that 
no  birds  might  light  thereon,  and  de- 
file it;  but  rather  some  battlement 
that  surrounded  part,  if  not  the  whole, 
of  the  roof,  especially  that  towards 
the  east,  the  height  of  which  was 
very  great.  Matt.  iv.  5. 

PINE,  to  waste  gradually  as  in  a 
consumption.  Lam.  iv.  9.  A  people 
pine  away  in  their  iniquity,  when  for 
the  punishment  of  it  their  number, 
wealth,  power,  and  honour,  gradual- 
ly decrease,  Lev.  xxvi.  39.  Ezek. 
xxiv.  3. 

PINE-TREE,  is  somewhat  akin 
to  the  fir.  It  yields  a  rosin  and  pitch, 
and  the  heart  of  it  when  fully  light- 


ed, will  burn  as  a  torch.  It  thrives 
best  in  mountains  and  sandy  places; 
and  if  its  undor-branches  be  cut,  it 
grows  the  higher.  It  is  the  better  if 
it  be  often  watered  while  young.  It 
bears  its  fruit  in  the  winter.  Unless 
the  bark  be  pulled  off,  its  abundant 
moisture  induces  worms  to  lurk  be- 
tween the  bark  and  the  wood.  Some- 
times its  excess  of  fatness  hinders  its 
growth.  If  laid  under  water,  or  kept 
perfectly  dry,  the  wood  of  it  will  last 
a  long  time.  The  Hebrews  used 
branches  of  it  to  form  their  booths  at 
the  feast  of  tabernacles.  Saints  are 
likened  to  pine-trees;  they,  when 
planted  in  the  soil  of  a  moderate  out- 
ward condition,  and  watered  by  the 
Holy  Ghost,  bring  forth  fruit  even  in 
winters  of  affliction ;  and  being  full 
of  the  grace  of  God,  it  makes  them 
shine  as  lights  in  the  world,  Isa.  xli. 
19.  and  Ix.  13. 

PIPE,  (1.)  A  wind  instrument  of 
the  musical  kind,  1  Sam.  x.  5.  (2.) 
An  instrument  somewhat  of  the  same 
form,  for  the  conveyance  of  liquids. 
The  golden  pipes,  which  conveyed 
oil  to  the  seven  lamps,  mentioned  by 
the  prophet,  were  emblems  of  the 
instituted  ordinances  of  the  gospel, 
whereby  influences  are  conveyed 
from  Jesus  to  his  ministers  and  peoi 
pie,  for  their  spiritual  illumination, 
Zech.iv.  2,  12.  The  Jews  were  like 
children  in  the  streets,  that  would  not 
dance  when  their  fellows  piped,  nor 
lament  when  they  mourned.  Christ, 
and  his  faithful  projjhets  and  apos- 
tles, could  neither,  by  soft  nor  severe 
metho<ls,  gain  their  attention  to  eter- 
nal things:  neither  John  with  his 
mournful,  nor  Jesus  with  his  winning 
airs  and  speeches,  could  make  any 
impression  on  them.  Matt.  xi.  1 7. 

PISGAH,  a  hill,  the  highest  top 
of  that  chain  of  mountains  called 
Abarim,  and  a  part  of  mount  Nebo; 
and  so  Moses  is  sometimes  said  to 
view  Canaan  from  Nebo,  and  some- 
times from  Pisgah,  DeuL  iii.  27.  and 
xxxiv.  There  were  fine  springs  of 
water  at  the  bottom  of  it,  called  Ash- 
dothpisgah,  Deut.  iii.  17.  iv.  49. 

PISIDIA,  a  pitch  tree,  pitchy,  a 


P  I  T 


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P  I  T 


province  of  Lesser  Asia^  at  the  west 
end  of  mount  Taurus,  and  on  the 
south-west  of  Lycaonia,  north  of 
Paniphylia,  and  east  of  Caria  and 
Ionia.  It  was  anciently  a  populous 
country.  Ptolemy  mentions  18  cities 
in  it,  viz.  Antioch,  Seleucia,  Tel- 
messus,  &c.  Here  Paul  and  Barnabas, 
amidst  no  small  persecution,  planted 
a  Christian  church,  which,  we  are 
told,  increased  till  they  had  20  Epis- 
copal Sees.  This  continued  for  7  or  8 
centuries.  Now,  the  country  is  in  a 
most  wretched  condition;  and  any 
remains  of  Christians,  so  called,  are 
oppressed  by  their  cruel  Turkish  mas- 
ters, Acts  xiii.  14 — 49.  and  xiv.  24. 

PI  SON,  changing,  doubling,  or 
extension  of  the  month,  the  name  of 
the  first  branch  of  the  river  of  Eden. 
This  Calmet  and  Reland  will  have 
to  be  the  Phasis,  which  they  say  runs 
northward  through  Colchis  (with 
them  Havilah,)  from  near  the  head  of 
the  Euphrates,  till  at  last  it  falls  into 
the  Euxine  Sea ;  but  these  great  men 
are  egregiously  mistaken ;  for  Phasis, 
instead  of  taking  its  rise  near  the  head 
of  the  Euphrates,  and  running  north- 
west, has  its  spring-head  about  300 
or  400  miles  north  of  the  head  of  the 
Euphrates,  and  runs  south-west  into 
the  Euxine  Sea.  We,  with  Bochart 
and  many  others,  take  Pison  to  be 
the  western  branch  of  the  divided 
stream  of  the  Tigris  and  Euphrates, 
which  runs  along  the  side  of  Havilah 
in  Arabia,  and  in  the  best  maps  may 
he  seen  to  compass  a  considerable 
territory.  Gen.  ii.  12,  13. 

PISS.  The  phrase,  every  onethat 
pisscth  against  the  wall,  might  every- 
where be  read,  every  male,  1  Sam. 
XXV.  22,  34.  1  Kings  xiv.  10.  and 
xvi.  11.  and  xxi.  21.    2  Kings  ix.  8. 

PIT,  (1.)  A  natural  or  artificial 
hole  in  the  ground,  of  some  consider- 
able extent.  Where  pits  are  nume- 
rous, one  is  in  danger  of  falling  into 
them ;  it  is  hard  to  get  out  of  them,  and 
miserable  to  be  in  them.  The  Asiatic 
nations  used  to  shut  up  their  captives 
in  pits  all  night,  and  the  Africans 
serve  their  slaves  so  still,  Isa.  xxiv. 
22.    (2.)  The  grave,  which  is  dig- 


ged like  a  pit,  Psal.  xxx.  3.  (3.)  HeU, 
where  the  damned  for  ever  sink  in 
despair,  perplexity,  and  ruin.  Rev. 
XX.  1.  (4.)  Great  distress  and  mi- 
sery, spiritual,  temporal,  or  eternal, 
Isa.  xxxviii.  17.  Matt.  xv.  14.  and 
hence  sufferings  are  called  a  horrible 
pit ;  how  dark,  dismal,  and  difficult 
to  escape !  Psal.  xl.  2.  (5.)  What- 
ever ensnares  men,  and  tends  to  ren- 
der them  miserable,  and  from  which 
it  is  hard  to  escape :  so  a  harlot  and 
her  enticing  language  are  called  a 
deepnnd  narrow  pit,  Prov.  xxii.  14. 
and  xxiii.  27. 

PITCH,  a  kind  of  rosin  used  for 
various  purposes,  especially  for  pre- 
serving ships,  and  securing  them 
against  drawing  water.  That  which 
Noah  overlaid  his  ark  with  was  pro- 
bably the  same  as  slime  ;  it  has  the 
same  Hebrew  name  as  propitiation. 
Gen.  vi.  14. 

PITCHER,  a  vessel  commonly  of 
earth,  for  carrying  liquids.  Gen.  xxiv. 
14.  To  mark  the  weakness  and 
wretchedness  of  the  Jews  and  their 
priests,  these  sons  of  Zion,  they  are 
likened  to  earthen  pitchers.  Lam.  iv. 
2.  It  is  supposed  by  eminent  writers, 
that  the  circulation  of  the  blood,  al- 
though hid  for  many  generations,  was 
well  known  to  Solomon.  According 
to  this  notion,  the  pitcher  is  the  veins 
which  convey  the  blood  from  the 
right  ventricle  of  the  heart  to  other 
parts,  and  especially  that  arterious 
vein,  by  which  it  is  transmitted  to 
the  lungs,  and  thence  to  the  left  ven- 
tricle, where  it  is  better  elaborated, 
and  then  thrust  out  into  the  great 
artery,  called  the  Aorta,  and  by  its 
branches  to  all  parts  of  the  body. 
The  pitcher  may  be  said  to  be  broken 
at  the  fountain,  when  the  veins  do  not 
return  the  blood  to  the  heart,  but 
suffer  it  to  stand  still  and  cool,  whence 
comes  that  coldness  of  the  extreme 
parts,  which  is  a  near  forerunner  of 
of  death,  Eccl.  xii.  6. 

PIT  HO  M,  a  mouthful,  a  persuasion, 
ov  gift  of  the  mouth,  and  R  AMESES, 
were  the  two  cities,  for  the  building 
of  which  the  Hebrews  made  brick. 
Whether  they  were  erected  for  trea- 


P  L  A 


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P  L  A 


snre-citiee,  or  for  frontier-citie?,  for 
securing  against  the  tleparture  of  the 
Hebrews,  and  against  the  inroads  ol 
the  Amalekites  and  Philistines,  is 
not  agreed.  Nor  is  it  certain  where 
these  cities  stood.  Some  would  have 
Pithom  to  be  Pelusium;  but  it  is 
more  probable  it  was  Pathunios, 
which  stood  almost  straight  west  of 
the  north  end  of  the  Red  Sea;  and 
Dr.  Shaw  thinks  Rameses  stood 
where  Cairo  is  now  built,  Gen.  xlvii. 
11.  Exod.  i.  11. 

PITY,  sympathy  with  misery  ; 
tenderness  for  pain  or  uneasiness ;  or, 
that  aftection  which  arises  when  we 
see  a  fellow-creature  heavily  afflicted, 
Job  xvi.  14.  Applied  to  God,  it 
is  his  undeserved  love  or  favour  for 
the  wretched,  Psal.  ciii.  13.  arising 
from  his  mercy  in  Christ,  as  the 
only  channel  through  whicli  relief 
can  possibly  be  derived  to  the  mis- 
erable, consistently  with  the  divine 
I)erfections,  Acts  iv.  12. 

PLACE,  (!•)  A  s[)ace  or  room 
where  a  person  is,  Gen.  xl.  3.  (2.) 
A  city  or  dwelling.  Gen.  xviii.  26, 
33.  (3.)  A  state  or  condition,  Eccl.  x. 
4.  (4.)  An  employment.  Gen.  xl.  13. 
(5.)  A  text  of  scripture,  Acts  viii. 
32.  To  have  place,  is  to  receive 
welcome,  room,  or  proper  enter- 
tainment, John  viii.  37.  To  give 
place,  is  to  make  way  or  room  for 
a  person,  Lukexiv.  9.  We  give  place 
to  the  devil  when  we  encourage  or 
listen  to  his  temptations,  Eph.  i.  27. 
We  give  place  to  wrath,  when  we 
overlook  the  passionate  injuries  done 
us,  and  render  good  for  evil,  Rom. 
xii.  19.  The  Romans  took  away 
the  Jews' place,  when  they  destroyed 
their  cities  and  country,  John  xi.  48. 
To  be  in  the  place  of  another,  is  to 
be  his  deputy,  acting  for,  and  ac- 
counting to  him.  Joseph  was  in  the 
place  of  God;  as  his  deputy,  he 
showed  kindness  to  his  brethren, 
Gen.  1.  19.  The  place  of  the  holy, 
and  the  place  where  God's  honour 
dwellcth,  is  the  temple  and  ordi- 
nances of  his  grace,  were  he  is  re- 
presented to,  and  found  by  his  peo- 
ple. Ec«l.  v.iii.    10.  Psal.    xxyi.  8. 


God  returns  to  his  place,  speaking  af- 
ter the  manner  of  men,  when  he 
withdraws  his  gracious  presence  and 
protection  from  a  peojjle,  Hos.  v.  15. 
or  when  he,  as  it  were,  steps  into  hia 
judgment-seat,  and  according  to 
equity  delivers  his  friends,  and  pu- 
nishes his  foes,  Psal.  vii.  7.  He 
comes  out  of  his  place  when  he  ma- 
nifests his  perfections  in  the  just  dis- 
play of  his  wrath,  Isa.  xxvi.  21. 
High  places  denote,  (1.)  Tops  of 
mountains,  or  any  thing  high  and 
elevated,  Amos  iv.  1.  (2.)  Places 
where  the  true  God,  or  idols,  were 
worshipped,  1  Kings  iii.  2.  and  xii. 
31.  The  high  places  th'dt  God  sets 
his  people  on,  are  a  high  station  in 
church  or  state,  or  a  prosperous  and 
comfortable  condition,  2  Sam.  xxii. 
34.  Hab.  iii.  19.  The  high  places 
where  spiritual  wickednesses  are  sta- 
tioned, are  thought  to  be  the  air 
where  evil  spirits  roam,  the  powers 
of  the  soul,  where  inward  corruptions 
prevail,  and  the  outward  supports  of 
heathenish  idolatry  and  wickedness, 
Eph.  vi.  12. 

PLAGUE,  any  great  distress  or 
calamity,  Psal.  xci.  10.  But  the 
plague  of  the  heart,  is  the  corruptions 
of  it,  1  Kings  viii.  38.  The  seven 
last  plagites,  are  those  that  shall  come 
on  the  Autichristians  to  effect  their 
ruin.  Rev.  xxi.  9.  Christ  is  the  plagve 
of  death  and  destruction  of  the  grave  ; 
as  by  his  death  and  interment  he 
removed  the  curse  and  sting  of  death 
and  the  grave  from  his  people,  and 
rendered  them  noted  blessings  to 
them,  Hos.  xii.  14.  But  the  plague 
is  often  taken  for  the  pestilence, 
Numb.  xiv.  37.  AVhat  is  the  cause 
of  this  terrible  distemper,  is  not  uni- 
versally agreed.  Some  suppose  that 
a  kind  of  vermin  carried  through  the 
air  is  the  cause  of  it.  Boyle  and  others 
attribute  it  to  the  poisonous  exhala- 
tions from  minerals,  as  orpiment,  san- 
darac,  white  arsenic,  &c.  which,  in 
some  placee,  lying  near  the  surface, 
yield  their  exhalations  every  summer, 
as  in  Egypt,  where  they  are  also  sud- 
denly checked  by  the  rise  of  the 
Nile  :  and  in  other  places,  lie  deeper 


FLA 


(     304 


P  L  A 


in  the  earth,  and  so  cannot  emit 
their  effluvia,  except  ^vhen  the  earth 
is  shaken  by  an  earthquake.  The 
poisoning  of  the  air  Avith  the  stench 
of  unburied  carcasses,  at  the  siege 
of  cities,  if  in  warm  weather,  tends 
to  promote  a  pestilence.  There 
have  been  plagues  which  preyed  on- 
ly on  young  men,  or  on  young  wo- 
men, or  which  attacked  only  such 
persons  as  were  of  a  particular  na- 
tion. According  to  Sydenham,  the 
plague  usually  begins  with  a  chilness 
and  shivering;  then  follows  a  vehe- 
ment inclination  to  vomit,  intense 
pain  about  the  heart,  and  a  burning 
fever,  which  preys  on  the  person  till 
he  dies,  or  the  putrid  matter  dis- 
charges itself  by  some  bursting  boils. 
Sometimes  too  it  begins  Avithout  anj' 
fever,  and  is  marked  by  swellings  in 
the  flesh.  When  purple  spots  sud- 
denly appear,  it  is  a  sign  of  death 
being  at  hand.  Juice  ot  lenions, 
camphire,  and  smoking  of  tobacco, 
are  said  to  be  excellent  medicines  in 
the  plague.  It  would  be  endless  to 
narrate  the  plagues  of  particular  na- 
tions. In  A.  D.  543,  one  arose  in 
Egypt,  and  spread  over  the  world; 
in  558,  it  revived,  and  continued  50 
years ;  another  in  Asia  and  Europe 
of  three  years,  in  1006.  In  589 
1010,  1062,  1125,  1239,  1315,  and 
1348,  there  happened  most  terrible 
plagues,  which  spread  far  and  wide. 
The  plague  of  Italy  in  1359,  and 
which  in  some  places  scarcely  10 
of  a  1000  survived,  and  innumera- 
ble others,  were  terrible.  In  1362, 
the  plague  was  very  dreadful  in  Pa- 
ris and  in  London;  again,  in  1379, 
and  in  1407,  30,000  persons  died  in 
London;  again  in  1477,  when  more 
were  destroyed  by  it  than  by  1 5  years 
war  before  that  period;  another 
broke  out  in  1499,  which  took  off 
30,000  persons  in  London ;  and 
again,  in  1594,  which  carried  off  a 
fourth  part  of  its  inhabitants;  also  in 
1604;  at  Constantinople,  in  1611, 
when  200,000  persons  dieil";  at  Lon- 
don, in  1625,  and  1631,  u|)wards 
of  35,000  persona  died ;  at  Lyons 
in  France,  in  1632,  60,000  persons 


died;  and  in  London,  in  1665, 
68,000  persons  were  taken  off  by 
this  dreadful  scourge;  at  Messina,  in 
1743;  at  Algiers,  in  1755;  and  at 
Bassora,  in  1771,  80,000  persons 
perished;  at  Smyrna,  20,000;  and 
at  Tunis,  32,000  persons  were  car- 
ried off  in  1784;  in  the  Levant, 
1786;  at  Alexandria,  Smyrna,  &c. 
1791;  in  Egypt,  1792,  where  near 
300,000  died.  What  a  mercy  that 
this  scourge  has  not  been  brought  on 
England  for  nearly  150  j^ears  past. 
But  the  most  dreadful  pestilence  that 
I  read  to  have  happened,  was  that 
which  began  A.  D.  250,  and  conti- 
nued 15  years,  spreading  through 
the  whole  Roman  empire,  from  Ethi- 
opia on  the  south,  where  it  began,  to 
Britain  on  the  north,  Rev.  vi.  8. 

Pestilences  were,  and  still  are,  very 
common  in  Asia  and  Africa.  By 
a  kind  of  pestilence  were  the  first- 
born of  Egypt  cut  off,  Psal.  Ixxviii. 
50.  By  it  were  the  Hebrew  lusters 
for  flesh,  the  murmurers  at  Korah 
and  his  party's  destruction,  and  those 
who  joined  themselves  to  Baal-peor, 
punished.  Numb.  xi.  and  xvi.  and 
XXV.  By  it  were  multitudes  of  the  Ca- 
naanites  cut  off,  to  prepare  the  coun- 
try for  Israel,  Hab.  iii.  5.  By  a  kind 
of  pestilence  were  70,000  of  David's 
subjects  destroyed  in  perhaps  a  few 
hours,  and  185,000  of  the  Assyrians 
cut  off  in  one  night,  2  Sam.  xxiv.  15. 
Isa.  xxxvii. — 36,  A  pestilent  fel- 
low, is  one  sufficient  to  corrupt  and 
ruin  a  multitude.  Acts  xxiv.  5. 

PLAIN.  A  plain,  or  plain  place, 
is  what  is  smooth  and  even,  without 
hills,  Gen.  xi.  2.  Plain  words  or 
speeches  are  such  as  are  easily  un- 
derstood, Mark  vii.  35.  A  plain 
path  or  way,  is  one  without  hindran- 
ces, stumbling,  or  inconsistency,  Psal. 
xxvii.  11.  Prov.  XV.  19.  A  plain 
man,  is  one  who  is  sincere,  honest, 
candid,  and  kind,  Gen.  xxv.  27. 

PLANETS.     See  Stau. 

PLANT,  an  herb  or  tree,  chiefly 
when  young.  Gen.  ii.  5.  1  Chron.  iv. 
23.  Jesus  Christ,  in  his  humiliation, 
was  a  tender  plant :  his  condition  ivas 
low;   he  was  compassed  with  infir- 


P  L  A 


(     306     ) 


P  L  E 


mity,  and  exposed  to  manifold  suf- 
ferings, Isa.  liii.  2.  He  is  a  plant  of 
renown;  great  is  hh  excellency  and 
fame,  as  our  Mediator  and  elder 
brother,  Ezek.  xxxiv.  29.  To  note 
their  pleasant  growth  and  proniising 
usefulness,  children,  and  the  inhabit- 
ants of  a  coHn(rj%  are  called /)/<TH/i-, 
Psal.  cxiiv.  12.  Jer.  xlviii.  32.  The 
Jews  were  God's  pleasant  plants ;  he 
placed  them  in  the  vineyard  of  his 
church,  that  they  might  increase  and 
bring  forth  fruits  of  holy  obedience, 
Isa.  V.  7.  They  became  degenerate 
plants  of  a  strange  vine,  when  they 
apostatized  from  God  and  his  way, 
aud  became  fruitful  in  idolatry  and 
wickedness,  Jer.  ii.  21.  They  plant- 
ed strange  slips  and  plants;  intro- 
duced foreign  trees  and  herbs,  and 
false  doctrines  and  customs,  such  as 
idolatry,  superstition,  profaneness, 
&:c.  Isa.  xvii.  10,  11.  The  plants 
which  are  not  of  God's  planting,  that 
shall  be  j)lucked  up,  are  wicked  pro- 
fessors, their  errors,  and  evil  courses, 
Matt.  XV.  13. 

To  Plant,  (1.)  To  fix  trees  or 
herbs  in  the  ground,  that  they  may 
grow,  Gen.  xxi.  33.  (2.)  To  bring 
a  people  from  one  j)lace  to  settle  them 
in  another,  that  they  may  increase 
in  number,  honour,  or  wealth,  Psal. 
xliv.  2.  and  Ixxx.  8.  (3.)  To  grant 
to  a  people  an  increase  of  number, 
peace,  and  prosperity,  Jer.  xxxi.  28. 
and  Kviii.  9.  (4.)  To  foretell  the  set- 
tlement and  prosperity  of  a  nation, 
Jer.  i.  10.  (5.)  To  found  churches, 
preach  the  gospel  to  such  as  never 
before  heard  it,  aud  be  useful  in  con- 
verting men  to  Christ,  1  Cor.  iii.  6. 
(6.)  To  unite  men  to  Jesus  Christ, 
and  fix  them  in  a  state  of  fellowship 
with  him,  that  they  may  be  useful 
members  of  his  church,  Psa.  xcii.  13, 

PLATTER,  a  large  vessel  in 
which  meat  is  laid,  for  bringing  it  to 
the  table,  Matt,  xxiii.  5. 

PLAY,  (1.)  To  sport,  dance, 
shout,  sing :  thus  the  Hebrews  play- 
ed around  the  golden  calf,  Exod. 
xxxii.  6.  (2.)  To  tight  for  the  di- 
version of  spectators:  thus  Abner 
tmd  Joab  caused  24  men  to  play  till 


they  were  all  unnaturally  murdered, 
2  Sam.  ii.  14.  (:{.)  To  make  melo- 
dy on  a  musical  instrumenf,  Psalm 
xxxiii.  3.  To  play  Ihi  man,  the  fool, 
or  llu  whore,  is  to  act  the  i)art  of  such 
a  one,  2  Sam.  x.  12.  ETxk.  xvi.  28. 
1  Sam.  xxi.  15. 

PLEA,  plead;  dispute,  what  is 
said  for  or  against  a  cause,  Dcut. 
xvii.  18.  ami  to  tlead,  is  to  debate 
a  contested  point.  Job  xvi.  21.  God 
pleads  with  men,  when,  by  his  word, 
Si)irit,  and  providence,  he  convinces 
them  of,  and  reproves  them  for  their 
sin,  or  when  he  humbles  and  punishes 
them  by  his  judgments,  Isa.  yliii. 
and  iii.  13.  He  pleads  the  cause  o( 
his  people,  when  he  manifests  their 
righteousness,  redresses  their  griev- 
ances, and  punishes  their  enemies, 
Psal.  XXXV.  i.  and  xliii.  1.  Lam.  iii. 
33.  Professors  plead  with  their  mo- 
ther,  when  they  lay  out  themselves 
by  all  humble  and  gaining  methods 
to  reform  their  church  or  nation, 
Hos.  ii.  2. 

To  PLEASE  one,  is  to  do  what 
is  agreeable  to  him.  It  pleased  Go«l 
to  bruise  Christ;  he  did  it  of  his  oAvn 
will,  and  with  a  delight  in  the  tend- 
ency of  it,  to  protnote  our  salva- 
tion, Isa.  liii.  10.  He  is  well  pleased 
with  Christ,  and  for  his  righteous- 
ness sake;  he  delights  in  him  as  his 
own  Son,  and  as  our  Mediator;  he 
accepts  his  obedience  and  suffering, 
and  by  them  is  reconciled  to,  and 
ready  to  bless  such  as  believe,  Matt, 
iii.  1 7.  John  viii.  29.  Isa.  xlii.  21 .  He 
is  pleased  with  men,  and  their  works, 
when  he  accepts  tJieir  persons, 
approves  of  their  conduct  as  good, 
and  rewards  it  for  Christ'-s  sake, 
Heb.  xi.  5.  and  xiii.  16.  Christ  and 
his  peo[)le  please  not  themselves,  when 
(hey  forego  their  own  ease  or  ho- 
nour, in  order  to  do  good  to  others, 
and  bear  with  their  infirmities,  Rom. 
XV.  1,  2.  The  pleasing  of  men  is  ei- 
ther lawful,  when  we  comply  with 
their  humour  in  things  indifierent,  or 
in  doing  what  tends  to  promote  the 
real  advantage  of  their  souls,  1  Cor. 
X.  33.  Thus  Paul  became  all  things 
to  all  men,  in  order  to  gain  them  to 
2  (^ 


P  L  E 


(     306     ) 


P  L  U 


n 


Christ,  1  Cor.  ix.  19  to  23.  Or,  it  is 
sinful,  when  we  flatter  them,  suit  our 
conduct  or  doctrine  to  their  carnal 
inclinations,  and  study  to  please, 
without  profiting  them,  Gal.  i.  10. 
Eph.  vi.  6. 

PLEASURE,  (1.)  Delight,  joy, 
Psal.  cii.  14.  (2.)  What  tends  to 
give  or  occasion  delight  and  joy, 
Eccl.  ii.  1.  Acts  XXV.  9.  (3.)  Pur- 
pose, resolution,  Ezra  v.  17.  (4.) 
The  command  of  a  superior,  Psalm 
ciii.  2 1 .  (5.)  Sensual  delights  or  the 
pleasures  of  sin,  Isa.  xlvii.  8.  Luke 
viii.  14.  1  Tim.  v.  6.  Heb.  xi.  25. 

PLEDGE,  a  pawn  which  a  lender 
takes  from  a  borrower,  to  secure  the 
payment  of  his  money.  No  millstone 
was  ever  to  be  taken  iu  pledge ;  the 
widow's  ox,  or  a  person's  clothing 
for  body  or  bed,  was  not  at  all  to  be 
taken,  or  at  least  was  to  be  restored 
that  very  night.  No  Hebrew  was  to 
take  a  pledge  from  a  poor  man  of  their 
own  nation,  or  to  go  into  the  bor- 
rower's house,  to  take  a  pledge  for 
himself;  but  the  borrower  was  to 
bring  out  to  him  what  could  be  best 
spared,  Exod.  xxii.  26.  Deut.  xxiv. 
10—17.  Ezek.  xviii.  7—12,  16.  but 
in  direct  contradiction  to  these  laws, 
we  find  the  Hebrews  in  the  time  of 
Amos,  lying  beside  their  altars  on 
pledged  clothes,  in  order,  it  is  said, 
to  obtain  lucky  dreams,  Amos  ii.  8. 
To  take  a  pledge  for  a  strange  wo- 
man, imports,  tliat  nobody  is  safe  in 
depending  on  the  honesty  of  a  har- 
lot, Prov.  XX.  1 6. 

PLEIADES,  that  cluster  of  stars 
which  we  call  the  seven  stars,  and 
which  are  in  the  neck  of  the  con- 
s;te!lation  Taurus.  They  appear 
about  the  end  of  March.  Canst  thou 
bind  the  sweet  influence  of  Pleiades, 
or  CHiMA  ?  Canst  thou  hinder  their 
rise  in  their  season  ?  or  canst  thou 
restrain  the  fresh  wind  and  warmth 
which  attend  their  rise,  and  render 
the  earth  open,  fruitful,  and  fra- 
grant? Job  xxxviii.  31. 

PLENTEOUS,  PLENTIFUL,  ve- 
ry large  and  fruitful,  Gen.  xli.  34. 
God  is  plenteous  in  mercy,  able  and 
ready  to  exercise  it,  in  saving  men 


from  great  misery  to  great  happines?, 
notwithstanding  their  great  and  long 
provocations.  Psalm  Ixxxvi.  5,  15. 
His  re(lem|)tion  is  plenteous,  it  con- 
tains a  sufficiency  of  pardon,  deliver- 
ance, and  happiness,  for  the  greatest 
transgressors,  Psalm  cxxx.  7.  The 
harvest  for  preachers is/;/enteoMswhen 
multitudes  are  ready  to  hear  and  re- 
ceive the  gospel.  Matt.  ix.  37.  The 
rain  of  gospel  doctrines  and  influences 
is  plentiful,  when  frequently  bestow- 
ed on  many  persons,  and  in  diflerent 
places,  Psal.  Ixviii.  9. 

PLOT,  to  form  devices,  especially 
to  hurt  others,  Psal.  xxxvii.  12. 

PLOUGH,  a  well-known  instru- 
ment for  tilling  of  ground.  To  put 
one^s  hand  lo  the  plough  and  look  back, 
signifies,  to  engage  in  Christ's  ser- 
vice, particularly  that  of  the  minis- 
try, and  afterwards  turn  away  to  a 
worldly  or  wicked  course,  Luke  ix. 
26.  The  ploughshare  is  that  part  of 
the  plough  which  cuts  and  turns  up 
the  tilled  ground,  Isaiah  ii.  4.  To 
plough,  (1.)  To  till  the  ground.  (2.) 
To  labour  in  a  calling  or  work,  1  Cor. 
ix.  10.  Prov.  XX.  4.  Judah  shall  plough 
and  Jacob  shall  break  his  clods ;  the 
Hebrews  were  obliged  to  hard  and  ser- 
vile, though  useful  labour,  in  their  As- 
syrian or  Chaldean  captivity,  or  shall 
he  made  active  in  the  performance 
of  good  works,  Hos.  x.  11. — Samp- 
son's companions  ploughed  with  his 
heifer,  when  they  constantly  im[>or- 
taned  his  wife  to  get  the  meaning  of 
his  riddle,  Judg.  xiv.  1 8.  To  plough 
wickedness  and  reap  it,  is  to  devise 
and  practise  it,  and  at  last  to  suffer  the 
punishment  of  it.  Job  iv.  8.  Hos.  x. 
13.  To  plough  on  the  back,  is  to 
scourge  severely,  till  the  lashes  make 
as  it  were  furrows  in  the  flesh ;  to  per- 
secute and  torment  grievouslj',  Psal. 
cxxix.  3.  Zionwas,  ploughed  as  a  fieldy 
when  the  temple  and  city  were  de- 
stroyed by  Titus  the  Roman  General, 
who  caused  the  foundations  of  it  to 
be  ploughed  up,  Jer.  xxvi.  18.  Mic. 
iii.  12. 

PLUCK,  to  tear  or  draw  away 
with  some  force.  Lev.  i.  1 6.  Mic.  iii. 
2.    To  pluck  up,  or  pluck  dowuy  is  to 


P  O  E 


(     307     ) 


P  O  M 


♦IpnioHsh,  destroy,  Ezok.  xvii.  9. 
Prov.  xiv.  l.orto  forrfell  and  threat- 
en the  destruction  of,  Jer.  i.  10. 

PLUMB-LINE,  that  on  w  hich  the 
plummet   of  masons  and  carpenters 


equalled  fire,  and  bold  strokes  ot 
iniaijery,  in  siripture-iioeins,  ihcir 
principal  excellency  is  their  being 
calculated  to  promote  the  honour 
of  God   and   the  everlastinji  happi- 


hanj^s,  for  discovering  the  exactness  ness  of  mankind;  whereas  many 
of  their  work.  The  Lon\  scis  n  plumh-  other  poems  only  serve  to  dress  up 
line  in  the  mitlst  of  his  people,  and  lolly  and  vice,  and  render  monsters 
layi  juds^iiunt  to  the  line,  and  ri!s;htc-  of  lii?l,  or  other  wickedness,  appareut- 
ousmss    lo    the  pluinmdy   when    he  ly  amiable. 

manifests  how  retriote  their  conduct  POINT,  (1.)  The  sharp  top  of  any 
is  from  the  rule  of  his  word,  and  ex-  thing,  Jer.  xvii.  1.  and  so  when  any 
ecutes  just  judgment  upon  them,  thing  is  near  to  another,  it  is  said  to 
Amos  vii.  7,  8.  Isa.  xxviii.  17.  The  be  at  the  point  of  it,  John  iv.  47.  (2.) 
.lews  saw  the  plummet  in  the  hand  of  A  particular  part  or  article,  however 
Zcrubbabcl,  when  they  beheld  the  small,  James  ii.  lo. 
second  temple  founded  and  built  by  POISO>f,  or  venom.  That  there 
his  direction,  Zech.  iv.  10.  But  the  is  a  variety  of  vegetable  and  mineral 
plummet  of  the  house  of  Ahah  is  ter-  poisons,  as  hemlock,  arseuic,  &c.  is 
rible  and  almost  universal  ruin,  like  sufficiently  known;  but  what  the 
that  of  the  family  of  Ahab,  2  Kings  scri|»ture  calls  poison,  is  that  venom 
xxi.  13.  i  which  asps,  serpents,  dragons,  vipers, 

POETS,  such  as  compose  songs  «&:c.  convey  by  their  sting  or  bite,  for 
or  verses  in  metre.  Acts  xiv.  28.  The  the  killing  of  other  animals.  What 
art  of  composing  verses  has  been  es-  is  destructive  and  poisonous  to  some 
teemed  in  all  the  civilized  nations  we  i  animals,  is  harmless  and  medicinal 
know  of.  Homer,  Pindar,  Anacreon,lto  others. — Wickedness  in  false  doc- 
and  Sappho,  excelled  herein  among  j  trine,  wicked  languageor  evil  courses, 
the    Greeks;    Virgil     and    Horace; are   often   likened   to  poison;    how 


among  the  Latins;  Tasso,  among 
the  Italians;  Corneille,  Moleire,  and 
Boileau,  among  the  French  ;  Milton, 
Cowley,  Dryden,  Addison,  Watts, 
Pope,  Young,  Thomson,  Wesley, 
&c.  among  the  English;  and  Ossian, 
among  the  Gaels,  or  anient  Scots. 
It  is  said,  the  Arabs  have  more  j)o- 
ems  in  their  lansuage  than  all   the 


hurtful  and  deadly  to  the  souls  and 
bodies  of  men!  how  sinners  delight 
in  them,  and  are  fond  of  infecting 
others  with  their  notions ;  they  have 
them  in  or  under  their  lips  or  tongue, 
in  their  hearty  and  are  ever  ready  to 
be  vented  !  Deut.  xxxii.  33.  Psal. 
Iviii.  4.  Rom.  iii.  13.  James  iii.  8. 
The  destructive  judgments  of  God 


world  beside.  The  songs  of  Moses,  are  likened  to  poison;  how  often  they 
Deborah,  and  Hannah,  the  prayer  of  come  insensibly  on  men !  how  they 
Hezekiah  and  Habakkuk,  if  not  also 


of  Mary  and  Zecharias,  Exod.  xv. 
Judg.  V.  1  Sam.  ii.  Isa.  xxxviii. 
Hab.  iii.  Luke  i.  and  the  Psalms, 
most  of  Job,  Proverbs,  Ecclesiastes, 
Song  of  Solomon,  and  Lamentations, 
appear  to  be  of  the  poetic  kind. 
But  after  all  the  pains  of  the  learned, 
we  cannot  understand  the  rules  of 
their  metre ;  nor  can  we  say  if  they 
attended  to  any  fixed  rules  :  and  the 
truth  is,  no  rules  in  the  world  will 
render  a  man  a  true  poet,  who  has 
not  a  proper  stock  of  imagery  and  fire 
in  his  own  mind.     Besides  the  un- 


spread,  torment,  and  destroy  them  '• 
Job  vi.  4.  and  xx.  IG. 

A  POLL,  a  HEAD,  Numb.  i.  12, 
Ezekiel's  visionary  priests  pollins^  or 
cutting  short  the  hair  of  their  heads, 
but  not  shaving-  them,  imports  their 
avoiding  every  mark  of  effeminacj'^ 
on  the  one  hand,  and  every  Heathen- 
ish custom  of  superstition  on  the 
other,  Ezek.  xliv.  20. 

POLLUTE,  to  defile.  See  Pro- 
fan  k. 

The  POMEGRANATE-TREE 
is  of  the  apple  kind.  Its  breadth  is 
greater  than  its  height.     Its  wood 


PON 


(     308     ) 


F  O  O 


is  hard  and  knotty;  its  bark  is  red- 
dish; its  leaves  are  greenish,  inclin- 
ing to  red,  and  somewhat  like  those 
of  myrrh.  Its  blossoms  are  large, 
comely,  and  reddish ;  and  the  cup 
formed  by  them  is  of  the  form  of  a 
bell.  When  the  flowers  are  double, 
no  fruit  follows.  Wild  pomegranate- 
trees  are  more  prickly  than  the  culti- 
vated kind.  The  pomegranate-apple 
is  extremely  beautiful,  reddish  both 
ivithin  and  without  Its  juice  is 
like  wine,  mixed  with  little  kernels ; 
nay,  wine  is  frequently  made  of  it, 
Song  viii.  2.  The  rind  or  shell  is 
considerably  large  and  hard;  and  it 
seems  in  Peru,  is  sometimes  used 
for  a  barrel.  The  high  priest's  long 
robe  was  hung  round  the  lower  hem 
Avith  bells  and  pomegranates  alter- 
nately, Exod.  xxviii.  33,  34.  and  on 
the  net- work  which  covered  the  two 
pillars  of  the  temple,  Jachin  and 
Boaz,  there  were  200  figures  of  pome- 
granates, 96  of  which  were  seen  on 
a  side,  1  Kings  xvii.  18,  42.  2  Kings 
XXV.  17. 

POMMEL,  a  kind  of  bowl,  or 
roundish  knob,  2  Chron.  iv.  12. 

POMP,  noisy  or  gaudy  appearance, 
Isa.  V.  14.  Acts  XXV.  23. 

PONDER,  (1.)  To  consider  a 
thing,  Luke  ii.  19.  (2.)  To  observe 
exactly,  Prov.  v.  21.  and  iv.  26. 

POND,  or  Fooii.  The  Egyptians 
had  many  of  them,  partly  for  detain- 
ing the  fish  when  the  Nile  decreased, 
and  partly  for  keeping  them  fresh, 
Exod.  vii.  16.  Isa.  xix.  10.  The 
fish-pools  of  Heshbon  were  very 
noted,  Song  vii.  4.  The  upper  pool 
of  Jerusalem,  was  that  of  Gihon  on 
the  west  of  the  city,  and  the  lower, 
ii  is  thought,  Avas  that  of  Siloam  or 
Bethesda,  Isa.  vii.  3.  2  Kings  xviii. 
17.  Isa.  xxii.  9.  Nineveh  Avas  of  old 
like  npool  of  water ;  her  bustling  in- 
habitants sAvarmed  in  her,  like  mul- 
titude of  fish  ;  nor,  for  a  long  time, 
Avas  she  troubled  Avith  distress  and 
commotions,  Nah.  ii.  3.  God  dried 
up  the  herbs  and  pools,  and  made  the 
rivers  islands,  when  Cyrus  diverted 
the  stream  of  the  Euphrates,  and 
marching  his  army  along  the  channel, 


entered  Babylon ;  or  Avhcn  he  cut  off 
the  common  people,  and  those  Avho 
supported  them ;  or  when  he  remov- 
ed every  hindrance  of  the  Jews'  re- 
turn to  their  own  country,  Isa.  xlii. 
15.  Jer.  1.  38.  Babylon  is  made  like 
a,  pool  of  water,  Avhen  tbe  very  place 
where  the  city  stood,  is  partly  turned 
into  a  fen,  Isa.  xiv.  23.  He  makes  the 
parched  ground,  or  Avilderness,  pools 
of  wafer,  when  the  Gentile  Avorld,  so 
long  barren  of  goodness,  is  abundant- 
ly blessed  Avith  the  doctrines  and 
influences  of  the  gospel,  Isa.  xxxa'.  7. 
and  xli.  18. 

PONTUS,  the  sea,  a  ])rovince 
of  Asia  Minor.  To  the  faithful  ol 
this  province,  and  to  those  of  the 
neighbouring  provinces,  Peter  ad- 
dresses his  first  epistle,  1  Pet.  i.  1. 
Pontus  is  bounded  on  the  north  by 
the  Euxine,  by  Cappadocia  to  the 
south,  Paphlagonia  and  Galatia  to 
the  Avest,  and  Armenia  the  Less  to 
the  east. 

POOR.    Men  are  poor,  either,  (1 .) 
in  outward  condition,  having  scarce- 
ly sufficient  to  keep  them  alive.    As 
these  are  ready  to   be  overlooked, 
despised,  and  injured  by  men,  God 
claims  the  peculiar  inspection  and  care 
of  them,  Prov.  xiv.  31.     Under  the 
JeAvish   dispensation,   he  accommo- 
dated almost  cA'ery  kind  of  offer- 
ing to  the  ability  of  the  poor;  he 
charged  the  rich  to  take  special  no-  • 
ticeofthera;  he  appointed  the  glean- 
ings of  fields  and  vineyards,  and  the 
increase  of  the   seventh   year,  and 
part  of  the  third  tithe  to  be  theirs. 
Lev.   XXV.    25 — 47.    and    xix.    10. 
Christians  are  also  charged  tc  pro- 
vide for  them,  and  a  blessing  is  pro- 
mised to   such   as   Avisely  consider 
their  case,  and  help  them,  Gal.  ii, 
10.    Psal.  xli.  1,  2,  3.   Prov.  xix.  7. 
Judges  are  charged  to  do  them  jus- 
tice, but  not  unjustly  to  favour  them 
for  their  poverty,   Psal.  Ixxxii.  4. 
Exod.  xxiii.  3.    Lev.  xix.  15.     (2.) 
Poor  in  spiritual  estate,  Avhen,  how- 
ever full  they  may  be  of  self-conceit,_. 
and   abounding  in   outward  Avealth 
and  honour,  they  are  destitute  of  an 
interest  in  the  favour  of  God,  and 


FOR 


309     ) 


P  0  S 


are  contemned  of  him,  and  oKposed 
to  everlasline;  iiiisery,  Kev.  iii.  17. 
(3.)  Poor  ill  spirit,  who  are  sensible 
oftheirown  siiil'idncps  and  emptiness, 
and  humbly  supplicate  every  graci- 
ous supply  from  our  all-liluTa!  Ke- 
deemer,  Matt.  v.  3,  A  .lew  was 
poorer  than  the  priest's  estimation, 
when  he  could  not  pay  the  |»rice  at 
which  the  priest  valued  his  redemp- 
tion, Lev.  xxvii.  8.  "JMie  poor  and 
rich,  and  ti)e  poor  and  deceitful  cre- 
ditor, meet  together  ?  God  is  eijually 
their  former,  preserver,  andjudc;f; 
they  will  quickly  be  in  the  grave, 
and  in  the  eternal  slate,  where  their 
poverty  or  wealth  will  be  of  no  con- 
sequence, Prov.  xxii.  2.  and  xxix. 
13. 

The  POPLAR-TREE  is  some- 
what akin  to  the  willows,  takes  root 
in  the  same  easy  manner,  and  will 
grow  1 2  or  14  feet  in  a  year,  and  in 
four  or  five  become  a  large  tree. — 
There  are  four  kinds  of  poplar;  two 
whitish  kinds,  the  black  kind,  and 
the  aspen  with  trembling  leaves. — 
Sometimes  the  Hebrews  made  groves 
of  it,  where  they  burnt  incense  to 
their  idols,  Hos.  iv.  13. 

POPULOUS,  full  of  people,  Deut. 
xxvi-  5. 

PORCH,  an  entrance  to  a  lodging, 
Judg.  iii.  23. 

PORTERS,  such  as  keep  the 
gates  of  a  city  or  house,  and  shut  or 
open  the  same  when  it  is  proper. 
David  a|)pointed  4000  of  the  Levit.es 
to  be  porters  in  the  temple,  each  in 
their  respective  places,  1  Chron. 
xxiii.  5.  and  xxvi.  They  resided 
at  Jerusalem,  and  its  environs,  and 
were  a  kind  of  military  guard  to  the 
temple,  Neh.  vii.  73.  It  seems  the 
Jews  had  sometimes  porters  to  watch 
the  doors  of  their  sheep-fold ;  but  the 
porter  that  opened  to  Jesus,  as  our 
Shepherd,  is  his  Father,  who  ad- 
mitted him  to  his  office;  the  Holy 
Ghost,  who,  by  the  preaching  of 
the  gospel,  introduces  him  into  coun- 
tries, and  the  hearts  of  his  people; 
or  the  Prophets  and  Baptist,  who 
foretold  his  coming  info  the  world. 
John  x.  3. 


PORTION,  the  share  which  be- 
huvjietb  to  H  person,  Gen.  xiv.  24. 
(Mid  is  {\\v  portion  of  his  people;  he 
freely  gives  himself  (o  them  to  supply 
all  their  need,  and  enriches  them  with 
every  thing  great  and  useful,  Psal. 
Ixxiii.  21).  Jer.  x.  10.  The  Jewish 
nation,  the  church,  and  her  true 
members,  are  Goifs  jiortion ;  he 
claimed  or  claims  a  special  right  to 
them,  ami  did,  or  doth  show  a  pecu- 
liar regaril  to  them,  Deut.  xxxii. 
0.  Psai.  cxx.w.  4.  Christ  hath  a 
portion  ^vith  the  great,  and  divide?, 
the  spoil  with  the  strong,  Avhen,  not- 
withstanding all  opposition  froni  sin, 
Satan,  and  the  world,  he  obtains  a 
glorious  church,  and  great  honour 
among  men,  Isa.  liii.  12.  The  por- 
tion of  adulterers,  and  other  sinners, 
from  God  is,  fearful  plagues  here, 
and  endless  destruction  hereafter, 
Jobxxxi.  2.  and  xx.  29.  Psal.  xi.  0. 
The  portion  of  goods  given  to  pro- 
digal sinners,  is  their  natural  abili- 
ties, worldly  enjoyments,  and  gra- 
cious influences,  w  hich  they  consume 
in  the  service  of  sin,  Luke  xv.  12. 
Men  give  a  portion  to  seven,  and  also 
to  eight,  Avhen  they  abound  more 
and  more  in  relieving  the  necessities 
of  the  poor,  Eccl.  xi.  2.  They  have 
their  portion  among  smooth  stones, 
when  they  are  wholly  taken  with 
idols  formed  out  of  stones,  or  metal, 
or  the  like,  and  the  worshipping 
of  them,  Isa.  Ivii.  G,  God's  portion 
of  the  lawgiver,  was  an  inheritance 
assigned  to  that  tribe  by  Moses, 
Deut.  xxxili.  21. 

POSSESS,  to  hold,  or  enjoy,  as 
one's  own  property,    Lev.  xx.    24. 

One  possessclh  his  soul  in  patience, 
Avhen,  to  the  saving  of  his  soul,  he 
exerciseth  it  in  a  calm  and  constant 
enduring  of  sufferings,  and  in  wait- 
ing in  faith  the  accomplishment  of 
l)romises,  Luke  xxi.  20.  To  possess 
our  vessel  in  sanctification  and  Jio- 
nour,  is  to  keep  from  fornication,  and 
exercise  our  body,  or  w  hole  man,  in 
what  is  holy  and  pure,  1  Thess.  iv. 
4.  HvAnis  possess  all  things;  they 
have  an  interest  in  all  the  fulness  of 
God;  they  have  whatever  is  for  their 


P  o  s 


(     310     ) 


P  O  T 


real  advantage;  all  things  work  to- 
gether tor  their  good;  and  they  are, 
or  ought  to  be,  content  with  such 
things  as  they  have,  2  Cor.  vi.  10. 
The  Jews  possessed  the  Chaldeans, 
Edomites,  Moabites,  and  Ammon- 
ites; perhaps  many  Chaldeans  came 
to  Judea  with  them  as  their  servants : 
the  Maccabees  subdued  the  three 
last  of  these  nations;  and  under  the 
gospel  they  were  joined  to  the  true 
church,  Isa.  xiv.  2.  Obad.  17  to  20. 
Zeph.  ii  9. 

Possession,  is  either,  (1.)  The 
actual  enjoyment  of  things,  1  Kings 
xxi.  1 9.  or,  (2.)  The  thing  enjoyed, 
whether  lands,  houses,  goods,  ser- 
vants, &c.  Eccl.  ii.  7.  Matt.  xix.  22. 
God  is  the  possession  of  Ezekiel's 
priests;  saints  have  a  right  to,  and 
derive  their  help  and  comfort  from 
God ;  and  on  wliat  is  devoted  to  him, 
ought  ministers  to  live,  Ezek.  xliv. 
28.  The  church,  or  heaven,  is  a 
purchased  possession  ;  the  saints  are 
redeemed  by  the  blood  of  Christ,  and 
God  is  united  to,  and  delights  in 
them ;  and  the  heavenly  glory  which 
the  saints  for  ever  enjoy,  is  the  re- 
ward given  to  persevering  saints  for 
the  sake  of  Christ's  obedience  and 
suffering,  Eph.  i.  14.  The  pos- 
sessors, who  show  the  Jews,  and 
held  themselves  not  guilty,  were 
their  rulers,  scribes,  and  Pharisees, 
who  ruined  the  common  people  by 
their  erroneous  doctrines,  wicked 
laws,  and  bad  example,  Zech.  xi.  5. 
See  Demoniac. 

POSSIBLE,  (1.)  What  may  be 
effected,  Rom.  xii.  18.  (2.)  What  is 
profitable  and  necessary.  Gal.  iv.  15. 
(3.)  What  is  agreeable  to  the  will  of 
God,  and  consistent  with  his  pur- 
pose, Matt.  xxvi.  39.  Acts  xx.  16. 

POST,  (1.)  A  pillar,  such  as  those 
which  support  the  upper  lintels  of 
doors  or  gates,  Exod.  xii.  7.  Jiulg. 
xvi.  3.  The  Jews  set  up  their  posts 
hi/  God's  posts,  when  they  valued  and 
observed  their  idolatries  and 'tradi- 
tions as  equal  in  authority  to  his  sta- 
tutes and  worship,  Ezek.  xliil.  8.  (2.) 
A  courier  or  swift  messenger,  for  rid- 
ing or  running  with  letters  or  other 


intelligence.  To  convey  intelligence 
quickly,  the  Persian  kings  had  cen- 
tinels  placed  at  proper  distances, 
who,  by  crying  one  to  another,  gave 
notice  of  public  occurrences.  This 
method,  however,  was  quite  im- 
proper for  secrets.  Cyrus  therefore 
settled  posts  that  rode  night  and  day, 
in  the  manner  of  ours,  Esth.  iii.  13. 
The  Asians  and  others  had  also  pi- 
geons who  carried  letters,  especially 
from  besieged  cities.  They  had  posts 
in  Babylon  that  ran  from  one  part 
of  the  city  to  another,  Jer.  Ii.  31, 
Man's  life  is  swilter  than  a  post ;  it  is 
continually  hastening  to  amend,  Job 
ix.  25. 

POSTERITY.     See  Offspring. 

POT.  To  lie  among  the  pots,  is  to 
be  exceedingly  defiled,  enslaved,  and 
distressed,  Psal.  Ixviii.  13.  The  He- 
brews were  freed  from  pots  and  bur- 
dens, when  delivered  from  their  slav- 
ish work  of  making  bricks  in  Egypt, 
Psal.  Ixxxi.  6.  Jerusalem  is  likened 
to  a  boiling  pot,  the  fire  of  whichfaced 
the  north;  by  means  of  the  Chaldeans 
who  marched  from  the  north,  was 
Jerusalem  besieged  and  burnt,  and 
the  inhabitants  tormented  to  death, 
as  in  boiling  water,  or  as  in  a  drj'^, 
but  red  hot  pot,  Jer.  i.  13.  Ezek. 
xxiv.  3 — 14.  It,  or  the  Jewish  state, 
was  like  a  pot  marred  in  the  hand  of 
the  potter :  bj^  God,  the  founder  of 
it,  were  they  ruined  and  broken  to 
pieces  by  means  of  the  Chaldeans, 
Jer.  xviii.  6.  The  golden  pots,  where- 
in the  manna  was  laid  up,  some 
think  may  denote  the  precious  or- 
dinances of  the  everlasting  gospel, 
wherein  the  fulness  of  Christ  is  laid 
up  under  the  special  inspection  of 
God,  Exod.  xvi.  33.  As  the  fining 
pot  for  silver,  and  the  furnace  for 
gold,  i.  e.  for  the  trial  and  discovery 
of  these  metals,  so  is  a  man  to  his 
praise:  by  the  character  of  the  per- 
sons who  commend  him,  and  by  his 
behaviour  under  commendations,  it 
will  appear  what  sort  of  a  person  he 
is,  Prov.  xxvii.  21. 

A  POTSHERD,  is  a  piece  of  a 
broken  earthen  vessel.  Job  ii.  8. 
Christ's  strength  was  dried  like  a  pot- 


P  0  u 


(     311     ) 


P  0  w 


sherd ;  the  moisture  of  his  hotly  was 
exhausted  by  the  sweat,  the  scourg- 
injif,  tlie  nailing  to,  and  liangina;  on 
the  cross  ;  the  consolation  of  his  soul 
was  withheld,  and  he  was  like  a  pot- 
sherd dried  in  a  furnace,  Psal.  xxii. 
15.  To  mark  men's  frailty,  and  their 
being  exposed  to  trouble,  they  are 
likened  to  potsherds,  or  broken  pots, 
Isa.  xlv.  0.  A  poTTKR,  is  one  who 
makes  pots  or  earthen-ware,  Jer. 
xviii.  3.  God  is  called  the  Po«cr; 
he  forms  our  bodies  and  disposes  of 
us  as  he  pleaseth,  Rom.  ix.  21.  Isa. 
Ixiv.  8. 

POTENTATE,  a  powerful  ruler, 
God  is  the  only  Potentate,  King  of 
kiugs,  and  Lord  of  lords ;  he  is  the 
sole  supreme  Ruler  of  all  persons  and 
things,  1  Tim.  vi.  15. 

POTIPHAR,a  6m//,  afathull,  an 
officer  of  Pharaoh,  the  second  in  our 
list.  Some  will  have  him  to  be  his  ge- 
neral or  captain  of  his  guard ;  others 
will  have  him  to  be  the  chief  of  his 
cooks  or  butchers.  He  bought  Jo- 
seph from  the  Midianites,  and  find- 
ing every  thing  to  prosper  in  his 
hand,  he  conceived  an  affection  for 
him,  and  committed  to  his  care  the 
whole  management  of  his  household 
affairs;  but  he  too  easily  credited 
his  wicked  wife,  and  cast  Joseph 
into  prison.  Either  this,  or  another 
captain  of  the  guard,  afterward  fa- 
voured Joseph,  Gen.  xxxvii,  36.  and 
xxxix.  and  xl. 

Whether  Potipiierah,  priest  or 
prince  of  On,  and  father-in-law  of 
Joseph,  was  the  same  as  the  above 
Potiphar,  is  controverted.  We  think 
him  a  different  person.  On  was  about 
45  miles  distant  from  Zoan,  where 
Pharaoh  and  Potiphar  dwelt.  Poti- 
pherah  appears  to  have  been  one  of 
the  greatest  men  in  Egypt,  which 
Potiphar  does  not.  Nor  can  we  be- 
lieve Joseph  would  have  been  fond 
of  a  lewd  woman's  daughter  for  his 
wife.  Gen.  xli.  45. 

POUND,  the  same  as  the  Ma- 
Neh.     See  Talent. 

To  POUR,  SHED.  When  it  re- 
lates to  things  not  material,  signifies 
tt>  bestow  them  plentifully,  and  with 


care ;  so  God  sheds  forth  the  Holy 
Ghost,  pour?  out  \\'ia  Spirit,  his  wrath, 
(Vrc.  Prov.  i.  23.  Ezek.  vii.  8.  and  we 
pour  out  our  heart,  when  we  unre- 
servedly confess  our  sins,  and  make 
known  our  request^^  to  God,  Lam.  ii. 
10.  Psal.  Ixii.  8.  God's  love  is  shed 
abroad  la  our  heart,  when  it  is  believ- 
ed, and  hai)pily  enjoyed.  Rom.  v.  5. 
Sheddins^  of  blood,  denotes  a  violent 
death,  Gen.  ix.  6.  Heb,  ix.  22. 

POURTRAY,  to  paint,  draw  a 
picture  of,  Ezek.  iv.  1. 

POWDER,  (2.)  Small  and  dry 
dust,  Exod.  xxxiii.  20.  The  rain  of 
a  land  is  powder  and  dust,  when  in 
excessive  drought  the  wind  tosses 
about  the  dust,  instead  of  the  fall  of 
refreshing  dews  or  rain,  Deut.  xxviii. 
24.  Isa.  V.  24.  (2.)  Precious  per- 
fumes beaten  very  small ;  and  to  this 
the  intercession  of  Christ,  and  the  va- 
rious graces  which  the  saints  receive 
from  him,  and  their  holy  exercises  of 
prayer,  praise,  and  good  works,  are 
thought  to  be  likened.  Song  iii.  6. 

POWER,  (1.)  Ability  or  strength, 
Hos.  xii.  3.  (2.)  Authoritj',  and 
right  to  govern  kingdoms,  cities,  or 
classes  of  men,  Matt.  iv.  6.  and  ix»  6. 
(3.)  Privileges,  John  i.  f  12.  (4.) 
Freedom,  liberty,  1  Gor.  ix.  4,  6. 
(5.)  Force,  violence,  Ezra  iv.  f  23. 
God  is  called  poiver,  because  of  his 
unbounded  strength  and  authorit}', 
Matt.  xxvi.  64.  Jesus  Christ  cruci- 
fied is  called //ic  power  of  God;  in 
the  constitution  of  his  person,  God- 
man,  in  his  office,  and  the  execution 
of  it,  in  ransoming,  forgiving,  and 
converting  sinners,  areGotl's  strength 
and  authority  marvellously  displayed, 
1  Cor.  i.  24.  The  Holy  Ghost  is 
called  the  power  of  the  Highest,  to  de- 
note the  infinite  authority  and  might 
by  which  he  acted  in  the  incarnation 
of  Christ,  and  does  act  in  the  salva- 
tion of  men,  Luke  i.  35.  Angels, 
good  or  bad,  are  called  powers ;  they, 
ivheu  authorized,  or  permitted  of 
God,'  are  able  to  do  great  and  mar- 
vellous exploits,  Col.  i.  16.  Eph.  vi. 
12.  Magistrates  are /?07vers.-  vested 
with  authority,  they  rule  over  others, 
and  are  able  to  do  much,  Rom.  xiii. 


P  R  A 


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P  R  A 


1.  Chribl  has  all  power  and  authority 
given  liim  iQ  heaven  and  in  earth ; 
he  has  an  ever-prevalent  intercession, 
he  has  power  to  send  the  Holy  Ghost 
to  the  church,  and  to  make  angels 
and  every  creature  act  in  subservien- 
cy to  the  calling,  conversion,  and 
sanctification  of  sinners,  as  iar  as  is 
consistent  with  his  other  divine  per- 
fections, Matt,  xxiii.  18.  He  will 
put  down  all  power  and  authority, 
when  he  shall  cause  the  office  of  ma- 
gistracy and  ministry  to  cease  at  the 
end  of  the  world,  1  Cor.  xv.  24 
Jacob  had  power  with  the  angel,  and 
prevailed ;  by  the  fervent  prayer  of 
faith,  he  obtained  the  blessing  he  de- 
sired, and  got  the  better  of  Laban 
and  Esau,  Gen.  xxxii.  28.  Thepowcrs 
of  the  world  to  come,  are  the  gracious 
influences  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  Heb. 
vi.  5.  The  powers  of  heaven  shaken 
before  Christ's  coming  might  denote 
the  fearful  tokens  in  the  sk}^  and  the 
overturning  of  the  governors  of  the 
Jewish  church  and  state ;  wliich 
Pome  think,  were  emblems  of  those 
future  convulsions,  which  will  pre- 
cede the  judgment  day,  Matt.  xxiv. 
29.  Satan  hath  the  power  of  death  ; 
he  introduced  sin,  the  cause  of  death ; 
he  terrifies  men  with  the  fear  of 
death ;  and  he  torments  them  in  the 
second  death,  Heb.  ii.  14.  Death 
and  life  are  in  the  power  of  the 
tongue.  By  their  words,  teachers, 
wituesses,judges,  and  others,  have  no 
small  hand  in  occasioning  death  or 
life,  Prov.  xviii.  21.  A  woman's 
vail,  or  head-covering,  is  called  power, 
as  it  marks  her  subjection  to  the 
power  of  her  husband,  1  Cor.  xi.  10. 
At  the  resurrection,  the  saints  shall 
be  raised  in  power ;  their  body  shall 
be  quite  active,  and  able  to  attend 
their  soul  in  all  her  operations ;  for- 
ever freed  from  every  infirmity  and 
danger,  and  able  to  bear  their  ex- 
ceeding and  eternal  weight  of  glory. 
1  Cor.  XV.  43. 

PRA1SE,(1.)  Of  God,  the  acknow- 
ledging his  perfections,  works,  and 
benefits,  Psal.  cxxxviii,  1.  Rev.  xix. 
5.  (2.)  To  commend  the  good  qualifi- 
cations of  men,  Psal.  xxvii.  2.  or  the  I 


fancied  excellencies  of  idols,  Dan.  v. 
14.  (3.)  The  person  or  good  deeds 
commended.  Dent.  x.  21.  Psal. 
cxviii.  14.  and  cvi.  2.  So  God  is  the 
praise  of  his  people,  i.  e.  the  object 
whom  they  praise,  Jer.  xvii.  14. 
Magistrates  are  for  the  praise,  com- 
mendation, and  encouragement,  of 
them  that  do  well,  Rom.  xiii.  3. 

PRANCE,  to  tread  the  ground 
as  a  galloping  horse,  Judg.  v.  22. 
Nah.  iii.  2. 

PRATE,  to  babble  forth  a  great 
many  words,  to  little  or  no  good 
purpose,  Prov.  x.  8. 

To  PRAY,  to  ASK.  Our  prayer 
to  God  lies  in  offering  our  hearty  re- 
quests to  him,  either  with  or  without 
words,  with  confession  of  our  sins, 
and  thankful  acknowledgment  of  his 
mercies.  It  is  either  private  or  pub- 
lic, and  either  relates  to  the  bestowing 
of  good  thiugs,  or  the  removing  or  pre- 
venting of  evil  things,  Dan.  ix.  It 
is  to  be  made  for  all  sorts  of  men 
living,  but  not  for  the  dead,  Avhose 
state  cannot  be  changed,  1  Tim.  ii. 
1,  2.  It  is  to  be  for  things  agree- 
able to  the  will  of  God,  revealed  in 
his  precept  or  promise,  1  John  v. 

14.  and  is  to  be  performed  in  Christ's 
name,  with  knowledge  faith,  repent- 
ance, sincerity,  fervency,  and  perse- 
verance, 1  John  XV.  18.    James  v., 

15,  16.  Psalm  Ixvi.  16.  and  xvii.  1. 
Col.iv.  12.  If  persons  have  the  know- 
ledge  of  God  and  themselves,  forms 
of  prayer  are  not  necessary  :  nor  is 
there  anj*"  evidence  of  confinement 
to  forms  of  words  in  prayer,  to  be 
found  in  the  scripture.  Our  Saviour's 
pattern  is  not  expressed  in  the  same 
words  in  both  places  where  it  is 
found;  and  where  it  is  most  full,  he 
only  requires  us  to  pray  after  this 
manner  :  nor  have  we  the  least  evi- 
dence of  the  apostles  ever  using  it  as 
a  form ;  but  the  contrary,  in  a  vari- 
ety of  instances  of  their  prayers  men- 
tioned in  the  Acts,  or  in  their  ejiis- 
tles.  To  represent  the  nature  of 
prayer,  it  is  called  an  asking.  John 
XV.  16.  a  seeking  and  knocking, 
Matt.  vii.  7.  a  lifting  up  of  the  soul, 
a  pouring  out  of  the  heart,  Psai.  xxv. 


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I.  and  Ixii.  8.  a  looking  up  to  and 
talking  with  God,  Psai.  v.  3.  Job  xv. 
f  4.  a  wrestling  with  (iod,  Rom.  xv. 
30.  a  taking  hold  of  God,  Isa.  Ixiv. 
7.  meditation,  Psal.  v.  1.  inquiring. 
Gen.  XXV.  22.  crying,  1  Sam.  vii.  8. 
sighing,  mourning,  groaning,  weep- 
ing, Pgal.  xii.  5.  and  Iv.  2.  and  vi.  ti. 
Joel  ii.  17.  breathing,  Lam.  iii.  50. 
supplication,  entreaty,  Zech.  xii.  10. 
Exod,  viii.  8.  Sometimes  prayer  is 
expressed  by  the  postures  used  in  it, 
as  standing,  falling  down,  Deut.  ix. 
18.  bowing  the  knee,  Eph.  iii.  1-1. 
spreading,  stretching  forth,  or  lifting 
up  the  hands,  Exod.  ix.  29.  and  xvii. 

II.  Job  xi.  13. 

If  we  consider  the  express  law  of 
God ;  if  we  think  of  him  as  our  Sove- 
reign Lord,  our  supporting  stay,  the 
foundation  of  all  our  blessings;  or  as 
the  gracious,  all-seeing,  almighty 
hearer  of  praj-^er,  the  forgiver  of  our 
sins,  and  bestower  of  favours ; — if  we 
consider  Jesus  as  the  way  to  God,  as 
the  intercessor  with  him,  as  the  |)ur- 
chaser  of  all  necessary  blessings,  as 
our  instructing  Prophet  and  glorious 
King : — if  we  consider  the  Holy 
Ghost  as  a  Spirit  of  ado|)tion  and 
prayer ;  the  saints  as  friends,  servants, 
children,  priests  unto  God;  our  own 
necessities,  and  the  duties  incumbent 
on  us; — if  we  consider  mtr  relations 
to  one  another;  and  the  various  di- 
rections which  God  has  given  us  for 
the  right  performance  of  prayer ; — it 
is  evident  that  we  cannot  without 
great  sin  against  the  divine  Being, 
nor  without  great  hurt  to  ourselves, 
neglect  this  important  duty. — We 
pray  in  faith,  when  we  offer  our  re- 
quests to  God,  believing  that  in  cor- 
respondence to  his  relations  and  pro- 
mises, he  will  for  the  righteousness 
and  intercession  of  his  Son,  grant 
them,  James  i.  6.  We  pray  in  the 
Spirit  or  Holy  Ghost,  when  we  per- 
form it  as  directed,  and  are  influenced 
by  him,  Jude  20. 

The  pious  Jews  used  to  pray  at 
three  stated  times  in  theday;  at  noon, 
and  at  the  time  of  the  morning  and 
evening  sacrifices,  Dan.  vi.  10.  Psal. 
Iv.  7.  Actsii.  1,15.  and  iii.  1.  and  x. 

Vol.  tl. 


3,  9.  Those  about  Jenisalem  often 
(lerfonned  Iheir  prayers  in  the  court 
of  the  temple;  others  had  recourse  to 
the  s3'nagogues:  such  as  had  oppor- 
tunity of  neither,  had  proscncha\  or 
places  for  prayer,  which  were  open 
above,  except  when  covered  with 
the  shadow  of  trees  in  the  form  of 
groves.  Neither  Greeks  nor  Romans 
undertook  any  business  of  conse- 
quence, without  tirst  asking  the  fa- 
vour and  assistance  of  their  gods; 
and  it  seems  to  have  been  a  universal 
custom  among  all  nations,  civil  or 
barbarous,  to  recommend  themselves 
to  their  several  deities  morning  and 
evening  at  least.  Christians,  so  call- 
ed,  appear  to  be  the  only  persons  who 
neglect  prayer.  The  modern  Jews 
have  19  forms  of  prayer,  one  of  which 
is  a  kind  of  curse  against  the  Chris- 
tians. Nor  have  we  proper  certainty 
that  any  of  these  forms  were  coniin- 
led  before  our  Saviour's  time,  though 
the  Jewish  rabbins  say  otherwise*. 
Nor  are  these  19  consitlered  as  pro- 
per forms,  but  as  the  ground-work  of 
their  prayers,  to  which  additional 
requests  are  added  as  the  occasion 
calls  for.  They  often  pray  with  their 
face  towards  Jerusalem.  Their  other 
rites  of  prayer  are  scarcely  worthy  of 
a  place  here. 

PREACH.  See  Gospel.  To 
preach,  is  publicly  to  proclaim  the 
will  of  God,  as  his  api)ointed  heralds, 
Eph.  iii.  8.  To  preach  in  a  proper 
manner,  requires  no  small  attention, 
in  order  that  no  fault  in  the  pronun- 
ciation, the  gesture,  the  language, 
the  order,  or  matter,  tend  to  bring 
the  truths  of  the  gospel  into  con- 
tempt; or  by  feeding  the  carnal  fan 
cy  of  trifling  hearers,  divert  them 
from  the  important  subject.  To 
speak  with  an  overstrained  voice,  or 
with  one  so  low  as  scarcely  to  be 
h^ard;  with  a  thick  and  cluttering 
voice,  or  in  a  hasty,  or  a  heavy 
droning  manner ;  to  have  the  voice 
rising  and  falling  by  starts,  or  to  have 
a  dull,  uniform  pronunciation,  with- 
out emphasis  or  cadence;  to  liavo  an 
awkward,  canting  tone,  or  to  hem, 
hawk,  and  cough,  between  periods: 
2R 


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can  hardly  fail  to  mar  the  attention,! 
and  hence  lessen  the  edification  of 
hearers.     These  ought  therefore  to 
be  carefully  laid  aside;  and  a  natural, 
easy,  and  graceful  variation  of  the 
voice,  suited  to  the  ideas  and  pas- 
sions represented   in  the  discourse, 
to  be  studied.     Vitiated  habits  must 
be  corrected  by  a  proper  method  of 
reading;  and  to  obtain  this,  the  ut- 
most regard  ought  to  be  had  to  the 
points,  the  emphasis,  and  cadence,  of 
the  discourse.     The  rough,  violent, 
solt,  or  tender  air  of  expressing  the 
emphrvtic    words,    ought    to    corre- 
spond with,  and,  as  it  were,  exhibit 
the  ideas  spoken  of :    So  love  ought 
to  be  expressed  by  a  soft  and  lan- 
guishing air;  anger,  by  one  strong 
and  vehement ;  joy,  by  one  quick, 
clear,   and   sweet;    sorrow,  by  one 
flexile,  interrupted,   and  low;  fear, 
by  one  dejected,  tremulous,  and  he- 
sitating ;  courage,  by  one  full,  bold, 
and  loud;  perplexity,  by  one  grave, 
steady,  and  earnest.     Or,  should  I 
add ;  in  the  introduction,  the  voice 
should  be  low;  in  narration, distinct; 
reasonina;,  slow  ;  and  in  persuasion, 
strong.     An  attention   to  emphasis 
oughf  also  to  point  out  the  figures  of 
the  LANGUAGE.— As  disagreeable  ap- 
pearances of  the  face,  and  violent  or 
awkward    motions  of  the   hands  or 
head,  us  well  as  a  motionless  stillness, 
tempt  an  audience  toinattention,tbey 
ou'^ht  to  be  carefully  shunned ;  and 
inslead  of  them,  an  easy  and  gracetul 
action,  correspondent  to  the  ideas  re- 
presented in  the  words,  to  be  studied ; 
particularly  in  the  countenance,  bold- 
ness, terror,  joy,  grief,  love,  delight, 
and  oiher  passions,  suited  to  the  sub- 
iect,  ought  to  appear.     When  a  man 
h-is  got  rid  of  vitiated  habits  in  pro- 
nunciation and  action,  he  will  almost 
of  course  fall  into  a  right  method,  if 
he   but  carefully  avoid    mimicking 
others,  and  study  to  copy  nature.  He 
should  attend  to  his  own  natural  dis- 
position ;  to  the  state  of  his  hearers, 
and  what  tends  most  to  arrest  their 
attention;    should   maintain   a   full 
composure  of  mind,  be  master  of  his 
subject,  and  conscious  that  he  deli- 


vers nothing  unworthy  of  immortal 
souls,  or  to  be  taught  in  the  name  oi 
God ;  he  should  have  a  thorough  ex- 
perience, and  deep  impression  on  his 
own  mind,  of  the  important  truths  of 
the  gospel,  and  of  the  worth  and  dan- 
ger of  those  he  deals  with,  and  of  the 
solemn  account  he  must  quickly  give 
to  God  of  his  management.     A  firm 
persuasion  of  these  eternal  realities, 
will  make  a  man,  who  is  not  alto- 
gether  awkward,  pronounce  with  a 
natural  energy  and  vehemence,  more 
beautiful,  and  more  effectual  to  ar- 
rest  the  attention  of  an  audience, 
than  all  the  strains  of  art.    Alter  all, 
as  affectation  of  novelty,  or  of  an- 
tiqueness  in  language  and  pronuncia- 
tion, shows  a  man  to  be  foppish  of 
whimsical ;  so  a  pveache^-'s  attention 
to  elocution  and  language,  as  if  these 
were  the  principal  things,  and  aims  to 
gain  himself  honour,  marks  him  but 
a  profane  trifler  with  matters  of  in- 
finite  consequence,  and   a  resolute 
destroyer  of  souls,  starving  them  to 
death  Avith   sound  and   gesture,  in- 
stead of  that  which  is  meat  indeed 
and  drink  indeed.     It  is  not  every 
well  delivered  discourse  that  is  wor- 
thy of  a  i)ulpit.     If  a  preacher  de- 
scant  on   duties,  on   privileges,  on 
marks  of  grace,  and  the  like,  without 
ever  explaining  their  nature ;  if,  in 
an  abstract  manner,  he  merely  ex- 
j>lain,  without  endeavouring  to  ap- 
ply them  to  his  hearers'  conscience; 
if  he  run  on  with  strings  ot  particu- 
lars, without  supporting  them  from 
the  oracles  of  God  ;  or  quote  his  au- 
thorities in  so  profuse  and  indistinct 
a  manner,  as  one  can  hardly  see  how 
they  answer  the  point;  if  he  preachers 
smooth    things    relative    to     God's 
mercy  and  goodness,  or  Christ's  dy- 
ing for  men  ;  if  he  explains  the  di- 
vine law,  as  chiefly  relating  to  ex- 
ternal   vices  or  virtues,  and   marks 
out  wicked  men  solely  by  the  charac- 
ters of  theft,  murder,  adultery,  ma- 
lice, blas^diemy,  drunkenness,  or  any 
other  vices ;  or  if  he  be  much  given 
to  handle  dry  controversies,  especial- 
ly where  his  humour  or  honour  may 
be  displayed ;  or  if  he  decks  his  dis- 


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coursp  with  wild  airy  notions;  with 
bombast  phrases,  or  with  imperti- 
nent illustrations,  and  strong  asser- 
tions, consisting  of  words  without 
solid  reasoning,  and  a  pointed  ad- 
dress to  the  conscience;  what  doth 
this  general  arguing  reprove?  How 
can  the  word  of  God  herein,  like  a 
sharp  tiPO-cds^cd  .^jvord,  pierce  to  the 
dividins^  asunder  of  the  Joints  and 
7narrotv,  and  he  a  discerner  of  the 
thouiihts  and  intents  of  the  heart  ?  How 
can  the  preacher  be  cleared  of  pro- 
phesying deceits  and  preaching  him- 
self, and  not  Christ  Jcsrts  the  Lord  ? 
Is  he  not  a  sounding  brass,  and  tink- 
ling cymbal  ? — If  the  time  be  chiefly 
spent  in  prefaces,  premises,  and  in- 
troductions, or  in  proving  what  Avas 
scarcely  ever  denied,  and  which 
none  of  the  audience  have  apparent 
temptations  to  doubt  of;  if,  in  the 
haranguing  manner,  he  so  crowd  to- 
gether his  matter  that  only  the  learn- 
ed can  trace  his  method ;  if,  in  a  con- 
fused way,  he  jumble  together  a  mul- 
tiplicity of  purposes  in  an  improper 
order,  if,  in  a  blundering  manner, 
he  observe  a  doctrine  from  a  text 
that  has  none,  or  at  least  a  very  re- 
mote connexion  with  it,  or  offer  rea- 
sons and  arguments  quite  foreign  to 
the  point,  drag  texts  into  his  service, 
which,  in  their  native  sense,  give  him 
no  help ;  or  if  he  skip  from  one 
head  or  particular  to  another,  with- 
out any  decent  transition ;  or  if  he 
retail  his  impertinent  similes  or  dry 
criticisms  on  the  original ;  if,  through 
sloth  he  insist  chiefly  on  subjects  or 
particulars  easiest  to  himself,  not 
consulting  the  edification  of  his  hear- 
ers, and  perhaps,  at  every  turn,  re- 
peat his  old  sermons;  if  his  subjects 
correspond  not  with  the  circumstan- 
ces   in    which   they   are    placed,  a 


deliverances,  scarcely  any  thing  rc^ 
lative  thereto  is  mentioned;  how 
|)ossibly  can  the  man  apjiear  an  ac- 
tive, prudent,  and  faitliful  minister 
of  Christ,  who  knows  how  to  sptak  a 
word  in  season  / 

A  preacher  ought  to  have  his  un- 
derstanding dilated  by  an  extensive 
knowledge  of  [ihilosophy  and  histo- 
ry; but  above  all,  he  ought  to  be 
mighty  in  the  scriptures ;  to  be  ac- 
quainted with  their  original  language, 
and  have  them  not  only  in  his  memo- 
r}',  but  deeply  impressed  on  his  heart, 
that  believing,  he  may  therefore  speak. 
Tliough  the  leading  truths  of  the 
gospel  ought  to  be  his  grand  theme, 
yet  in  a  way  of  earnest  asking  of  di- 
rection from  God,  and  dependence 
thereon,  he  ought  to  clwose  his  par- 
ticular subjects  according  to  the  spi- 
ritual state  of  his  hearers,  according 
to  their  capacity,  and  the  sins  abound- 
ing, temptations  apparent,  or  duties 
necessary  among  them ;  and  accord- 
ing to  the  providential  events  of  af- 
fliction, or  deliverance,  of  striving, 
or  withdrawment  of  the  Divine  Spi- 
rit, and  the  occasions  of  fasting, 
thanksgiving,  communicating,  &c. 
The  subject  being  chosen,  the  me- 
thod of  handling  it  ought  to  be  natu- 
ral, distinct,  easily  taken  up  and  re- 
membered, and  having  all  its  parts 
such  and  so  placed  as  they  may  best 
concur  for  illustrating  one  another, 
and  the  common  point  in  which  they 
all  meet.  In  lecturing,  one  is  to 
point  out,  and  still  keep  in  view,  the 
principal  scope  of  the  book  or  pas- 
sage; his  division  of  the  paragraph 
or  verse  ought  to  be  distinct  in  its 
parts,  and  these  not  too  numerous 
to  load  the  memory  or  confound  the 
mind ;  the  explication  ought  to  be 
just,    clear,   and  brief,  and   may  at 


rude  ignorant  people  being  enter- 1  the  end  be  summed  up  in  a  short 
tained  with  abstruse  mysteries,  and  I  paraphrase.  The  practical  observa- 
wicked  men  have  the  privileges  and '  tions  ought  to  be  important  and  cdi- 
duties  of  saints  daily  sounded  in  their 'fying,  and  to  contain  such  hints  as 
ears  ;  or  subjects  quite  foreign  to  the :  were  neither  plainly  expressed  in  the 
exercise,  at  fasts,  thanksgivings,  and  text  or  the  explication,  nor  are  so 
sacramental  occasions;  or  if,  amidst  remote  ae  to  have  their  foundation 
greattemj)tations,  manifold  outbreak-  scarcely  visible  In  the  passage.  In 
iags,  terrible   judgments,   or   noted  sermons,  after  a  short  introduction, 


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giving  a  view  of  the  context,  or  sug- 
gesting some  striking  hint  to  quicken 
the  attention  of  the  audience,  the 
sense  of  the  text  ought  to  be  exhibited 
in  a  few  words,  and,  if  convenient, 
by  a  natural  and  easy  division  ;  but 
by  no  means  is  it  to  be  cruelly  hack- 
ed into  as  many  pieces  as  a  luxu- 
riant fancy  can  devise.  No  doc- 
trinal observation  ought  to  be  de- 
duced, but  what  is  plain  and  simple, 
and  clearly  founded  in  the  text,  and 
often  the  text  itself  is  more  plain 
or  empliatic,  than  any  observation 
which  can  be  deduced.  In  explain- 
ing the  point,  neither  the  general 
heads,  nor  the  particulars,  ought  to 
be  too  numerous,  that  the  mind  and 
memory  be  not  confounded  with 
them.  In  placing  the  heads  and  par- 
ticulars in  the  most  natural  order, 
and  where  they  may  best  stand  for 
casting  true  light  on  the  subject,  and 
making  tlie  sermon  one  true  whole, 
the  utmost  at'ention  and  judgment 
are  necessary  to  be  exercised  in  a 
way  of  dependence  on  the  direction 
of  God.  No  doubt  a  sermon  ought 
to  be  every  where  practical,  and  its 
language  scriptural,  and  is  nothing 
the  worse  that  it  be  enlivened  with 
frequent  addresses  to  the  consciences 
of  the  hearers ;  but  a  close  and  well 
studied  application  is,  after  all,  pro- 
per to  finish  it.  Every  inference 
ought  to  be  natural  and  important; 
every  mark  of  trial  plain,  and  clearly 
founded  on  God's  word.  Reproofs 
ought  to  be  plain,  pointed,  and  con- 
vincing; addresses  very  warm, 
awakening,  and  engaging ;  directions 
clear,  proi)er,  seasonable,  weighty, 
and  well  enforced.  In  fine,  the  ex- 
cellency of  a  sermon  lies  in  its  hav- 
ing the  word  of  God  so  managed  in 
}t  as  to  lighten  the  mind,  impress 
the  conscience,  and  engage  all  the  af- 
fections of  the  soul.  A  preacher's 
life  too,  must  be  correspondent  with 
his  instructions,  otherwise  he  be- 
comes guilty  of  tempting  his  hear- 
,(Br3  to  believe  that  all  he  says  is  but 
a  cunningly  devised  fable :  nor  can 
he  deserve  the  name  of  a  preacher 
^1}Q   does    not,     by    frequent   and 


effectual  fervent  prayer,  cry  for  the 
blessing  of  God  on  his  labours;  for 
Pmd  may  plant  and  Apollos  may  wa- 
ter, but  it  is  God  alone  that  giveth 
the  increase. 

PRECEPT.     See  Law. 

PRECIOUS,  (1.)  Much  esteemed 
on  account  of  its  rarity,  1  Sam.  iii. 

I.  Isa.  xiii.  12.  (2.)  Worthy  of  a 
great  price.  Matt.  xxvi.  7. 

PREDESTINATE,  Greek,  Upo- 
6^i^6),  from  5r^o  before,  and  o^^^u  to 
determine,  ( 1 .)  To  determine  or  dcjine 
before-hand,  or  before  the  event  to 
pre-determine.  Acts  iv.  28.  where  it 
may  refer  either  to  the  determination 
of  the  will  considered  in  itself,  or  ra- 
ther to  ihe^  pointing  out  and  marking 
before-hand  the  boundaries  of  the 
great  events  referred  to  in  the  prophet- 
ic writings.  Compare  Luke  xxii.  22. 
and  Acts  ii.  23.  (2.)  To  decree,  or 
to  ordain  before-hand,  to  fore-ordain, 
fore-appoint,  Rom.  viii.  29,  30.  where 
it  is  applied  to  GoA''s  fore-ordaining 
or  fore-appointing  those  whom  he 
foreknew,  i.  e.  with  approbation, 
namely,  of  the  Gentiles  as  well  as  of 
the  Jews,  to  be  conformable  to  the 
image  of  his  Son,  both  in  holiness 
and  in  glory,  1  Cor.  xv.  49.  2  Cor. 
iii.  18.  Eph.  i.  3—7,  11,  12.  Phil, 
iii.  21.  So  Eph.  i.  5.  having  forc- 
appointcd  us,  i.  e.  believers  in  general, 
to  the  adoption  of  sons ;  but  in  ver. 

I I .  it  relates  particularly  to  the  Jew- 
ish converts,  who  were  taken,  as  it 
were,  by  lot,  being  fore-appointed  ac- 
cording to  God's  purpose  of  uniting 
under  Christ,  as  the  one  head,  all 
things,  both  which  are  in  heaven  and 
which  are  in  earth,  i.  e.  angels  and 
men,  Jews  and  Gentiles. 

In  1  Cor.  ii.  7.  it  refers  to  the  gos- 
pel plan  of  saving  mankind,  particu- 
larly the  Gentiles,  which  was  ordain- 
ed before  i\iG  world  began,  Rom.  xvi. 
25,  26.  Eph.  iii.  5,  8,  9.  2  Tim.  i, 
9.  1  Pet.  i.  20. 

The  above  cited  are  all  the  passa- 
ges of  the  NewTestament  wherein  the 
verit  U^oo^i^u,  occurs;  and  from  a  di- 
ligent attention  to  them  the  reader 
may  determine  for  himself,  whether 
in  any  one  of  them  it  has  any  relation 


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to  an  absolute,  uncomUlionat  predesti- 
nation of  fiarticulnr  jjirsons  to  chrnH : 
salvation.  Only  it  should  he  itmeui- 1 
bered,  that  there  cannot  hi\  any  ab-| 
eolute,  uuconditional  predestination 
of  certain  jjeisons  to  eternal  salva-l 
tion,  without  the  ab&olute  uncondi-1 
tional  prcilesiination  of  the  rest  of 
mankind  to  f/rr/ia/ damnation. 

P HE-EMINENCE,  higher  power 
and  honour.  In  all  things,  iu  nature, 
in  person,  in  office?,  work,  power, 
and  honour,  Christ  has  tlu  prc-cmi- 
ncncc  above  angels  and  men,  or  any 
other  creature.  Col.  i.  18.  A  man 
has  no  pre-eminence  above  a  beast  as 
to  his  body  ;  he  is  liable  to  the  same 
diseases  and  death,  Eccl.  iii.  19. 

PREFER,  to  honour  and  esteem 
one  person  or  thing  above  another, 
Dan.  vi,  3.  Rom.  xii.  10. 

PREMEDITATE,  to  think  of 
and  consider  a  matter  before-hand, 
Mark  xiii.  11. 

PREPARE,  (1.)  to  make  ready. 
Josh.  i.  11.  (2.)  To  quit  and  qua- 
lify, Rom.  ix.  23.  (3.)  To  provide 
or  appoint.  Matt.  xx.  23.  (4.)  To 
direct,  establish,  1  Chron.  xxix.  18. 
God  prepares  mejrcy  and  truth  for  men, 
when  he  graciously  fulfils  his  pro- 
mises, and  blesses  them,  Psal.  Ixi.  7. 
To  prepare  the  way  of  the  Loi-d  Je- 
Mis,  is  to  consider  the  predictions  con- 
cerning him,  lay  aside  every  pre- 
judice against  him,  and  readily  receive 
him  as  the  promised  3Ie£siah  and 
Saviour  of  the  Avorld,  Isa.  xl.  3.  To 
prepare  the  heart,  is  to  mortify  its 
various  lusts,  and  get  it  into  a  frame 
of  holy  submission  to,  and  earnest 
longing  for  God,  1  Sam.  vii.  3.  The 
preparation  of  the  heart,  and  the  an 
snier  of  the  tongue,  vifrom  the  Lord: 
the  marshalling  and  fixing  of  the 
thoughts  and  inclinations  of  the  heart 
about  civil,  and  much  more  about 
spiritual  things,  and  the  giving  abi 
lity  to  speak  readily,  distinctly,  and 
to  edification,  is  from  the  Lord,  as 
his  free  gift,  Prov.  xvi.  1.  The  belly 
of  the  wicked  prepares  deceit:  his  soul 
contrives  how  to  execute  it.  Job  xv. 
35.  The  Chaldeans;>rc/>arcrf//ie /a- 
ble,  when  they    kept   a  sumptuous 


feast,  wliile  the  Medes  aad  Persians 
besieged  their  capital,  Isa.  XKi.  b. 
The  Hebrews  prepared  u  table  for 
that  troop  and  number  ;  they  erected 
altars  and  offered  sacrifices  to  their 
vast  number  of  idols,  the  heavenly 
luminaries,  and  others,  iax.  Ixv.  11. 
— The  preparation-day  on  which 
Christ  suflered,  was  not  llio  prepara- 
tion of  the  passover,  lor  that  was  the 
day  before,  but  of  the  Sabbath  of 
the  week,  Matt,  xxvii.  62.  John  xix. 
14. 

PRESBYTERY,  (1.)  An  assembly 
or  council  of  elders  in  a  political 
sense,  Luke  xxii.  tJG.  Acts  xxii.  5. 
In  both  these  passages  it  denotes  the 
Jewish  sanhedrim,  or  great  council  at 
Jerusalem.  (2.)  An  assembly  of 
Christian  elders,  1  Tim.  iv.  14.  2 
Tim.  i.  6.  Acts  viii.  17,  18.  The 
same  in  office,  it  is  thought  by  many, 
with  those  who  are  called  bishops, 
Acts  XX.  17,  28. 

PRESENT,  (1.)  At  hand,  and 
within  view,  as  to  place,  1  Sam.  xiii. 
15.  (2.)  Just  now,  as  to  time,  1  Cor. 
iv.  11.  God  is  representee  as  present, 
when  he  utters  his  mind,  displays  his 
glory,  favour,  or  wrath,  or  some  sym- 
bol of  his  existence  :  so  he  is  repre- 
sented aspresent  in  heaven,  Psal.  xvi. 
11.  in  Canaan,  Jon.  i.  3.  in  the 
courts  of  the  temple,  Psal.  c.  2.  in 
the  church.  Gen.  iv.  1 6.  in  his  noted 
providences,  Isa.  xix.  1.  and  Ixiv. 
Land  in  his  ordinances,  and  with 
such  as  have  fellowship  withhira,Luke 
xiii.  26.  Psal.Ii.  11.  Christ  is  present 
with  the  saints  in  the  ordinances  of 
the  gosj)el,  in  the  influences  of  his 
grace,  and  continued  care  of  his 
outward  providence,  Psal.  xlvi.  1. 
Matt,  xviii.  20.  and  xxviii.  20.  To 
be  present  ivith  the  Lord,  is  to  be  in 
heaven,enjoying  the  immediate  views 
of  his  glory,  2  Cor.  v.  8.  To  be 
preeent  in  the  spirit,  is  to  be  near 
in  respect  to  direction,  will,  and  in- 
clination, 1  Cor.  V.  3.  This  present 
world,  is  one  abounding  with  fleshly 
delights,  and  with  troubles,  tempta- 
tions, and  corruptions,  Tit.  ii.  12. 
The  present  truth,  is  that  which  is 
notably  opposed  by    wicked  men; 


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and  yet  it  is  much  for  the  honour  of 
Christ,  to  cleave  to  it  in  principle 
and  practice,  2  Pet.  i.  1 2. 

To  Present,   (1.)  To   show,  to 
appear  in  the    presence    or    view, 

1  Sam.  xvii.  16.  Acts  xxiii.  33.  (2.) 
To  offer.  Matt.  ii.  11.  and  so  a  pre- 
sent is  a  gift  tendered  to  testify  re- 
gard or  subjection,  or  to  procure  or 
confirm  friendship,    1  Kings  iv.  21. 

2  Kings  xvii.  3.  Kings  offer  pre- 
sents to  Christ,  when  they  give  their 
hearts  to  him,  believe  in  and  obey 
him ;  and  give  up  their  people  and 
ivealth  to  his  service,  Psal.  Ixxii.  10. 
Ministers  present  their  hearers  as 
chaste  virgins  before  Christ,  when, 
by  their  means,  they  come  to  ap- 
pear at  his  mercy-seat,  sound  in 
principle,  lively  in  faith,  single  in 
affection  to  Christ,  and  holy  in  their 
lives  and  conversation,  2  Cor.  xi.  2. 
Col.  i.  22,  28. 

PRESERVE,  (1.)  To  cause  to 
continue,  Psal.  xxxvi.  6.  Gen.  xix. 
32.  [2.)  To  keep  safe,  Psal.  xvi.  1. 
God  is  the  preserver.  Saviour,  or  ob- 
server, of  men ;  he  upholds  and  pro- 
tects them ;  he  exactly  marks  and 
judges  every  inclination,  thought, 
word,  and  deed.  How  then  can  they 
appease  his  anger  ?  or  how  can  they 
clear  themselves  before  him  ?  Job 
vii.  20.     The  eyes  of  the  Lord  pre- 


serve knowledge:  his  watchful  pro- 
vidence keeps  up  the  light  of  reason, 
of  revelation,  and  of  grace,  among 
men,  Prov.  xxii.  12.  Integrity  and 
uprightness  preserve  the  saints,  are 
means  of  their  preservation  from 
much  sin  and  trouble,  Psa.  xxv.  21. 

PRESIDENTS,  chief  rulers  un- 
der a  king,  and  who  govern  and  di- 
rect subordinate  rulers,  Dan.  vi. 

To   PRESS,   (L)  To     tread 


Ixiiii.  2.  Lam.  i.  15.  Joel  iii.  4,  31  i 
Judg.  vi.  11.  Neh.  xiii.  15.  Matt, 
xxi.  33.  Hag.  ii.  16.  Prov.  iii.  10. 
(2.)  To  throng  or  crowd  thick  to- 
gether, Luke  viii.  45.  and  xix,  3. 
(3.)  To  urge  earnestly,  Gen.  xix.  3. 
(4.)  Earnestly  seek  to  get  forward ; 
and  so  to  press  into  the  kingdom  of 
heaven,  or  towards  the  mark,  is 
with  great  diligence  and  resolution 
to  seek  after  and  take  hold  of  God's 
salvation,  purchased  by  his  Son,  and 
offered  in  his  word,  Luke  xvi.  16. 
Phil.  iii.  14.  (5.)  To  burden,  afflict, 
Psal.  xxxviii.  2.  God  is  pressed 
under  men,  as  a  laden  cart  is  under 
sheaves,  when  he  is  greatly  disho- 
noureil  and  provoked  by  their  sins, 
Amos  ii.  13. 

PRESUME,  to  be  arrogant,  confi- 
dent, and  blindly  adventurous,  Deut. 
xviii.  20.  Presumptuous  persons, 
are  such  as  venture  on  in  the  face  of 
danger  without  a  promise  of  pro- 
tection from  God,  or  who  set  up 
their  own  wisdom  and  strength  in 
opposition  to  God's  word,  and  go 
contrary  to  it,  Deut.  i.  43.  2  Pet.  ii. 
10.  Presumptuous  sins  are  such  as 
are  committed  against  knowledge, 
warning,  conviction,  reproof,  chas- 
tisement, Psal.  xix.  13.  No  sacri- 
fice was  to  be  offered  under  the  law 
for  sins  evidently  presumptuous, 
Numb.  XV.  30.  Deut.  xvii.  12. 

PREVAIL,  (1.)  To  have  the  ad- 
vantage of,  or  power  over,  Judg.  xvi. 
5.  (2.)  To  rise  higher,  Gen.  vii.  18. 
20.  Jesusprevailed  to  open  the  seal- 
ed book  of  his  Father's  purposes ; 
he  had  sufficient  knowledge  and  au- 
thority for  that  end,  Rev.  v.  5.  The 
word  of  God  prevails,  when  by  the 
2.  j  Holy  Ghost,  it  gains  the  attention 
or; of    multitudes,    converts    them    to 


squeeze  close  together,  Gen.  xl.  1 1.  Christ,  and  disposes  them  to  lay 
And  so  the  instrument  for  squeezingj  aside  their  sinful  practices,  Acts  xix. 
grapes  for  wine,  or  large  trough  inj20.  Jacob's  blessings,  particularly  of 
which  the  grapes  are  trodden,  and\  J ose\A\,  prevailed  above  the  blessings 
the  vessel  into  which  the  wine  runs' of  his  progenitors,  in  the  extent,  the 
from  the  former,  are  called  a  prw^;!  plainness,  and  the  nearness  of  ac- 
the  last  was  ordinarily  a  suhterra-jcomplishnient.  None  of  his  seed 
Heous  cistern,  where  the  wine  wasi  were  excluded  from  the  blessing,  as 
received,  and  kept  till  it  was  put  in  the  case  of  Abraham  and  Isaac, 
into  other  vessels,  Isa.  xvi.  10.  and) In  his  blessing;  Canaan  wasparticu- 


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larly  divided ;  and  by  the  increase 
of  his  posterity,  there  was  a  near 
prospect  of  their  inheriting  it.  Gen. 
xlix.  20.  Wicked  men  prevail, 
when  permitted  to  act  as  they 
please  in  dishonouring  Goil  and  af- 
flicting his  people,  Psal.  ix.  19.  Ini- 
quities prevail  against  a  man,  when 
the  a|>[)rehension8  of  his  guilt  greatly 
affright  and  distress  him,  or  his  pow- 
erful corruptions  lead  him,  contrary 
to  inclination  and  conviction,  to 
commit  sin,  Psal.  Ixv.  3. 

PREVENT,  (1.)  Tocome  before 
one  is  expected,  Job  xxx.  27.  (2.) 
To  go  before,  or  be  sooner.  Psalm 
cxix.  147.  One  is  happily  prevented, 
when  distress  is  hindered,  and  fa- 
vours come  unasked,  Job  iii.  12. 
Psal.  xviii.  18.  or  unhappily,  when 
snares  and  atflictions  come  unexpect- 
ed, 2  Sam.  xxii.  G. 

PREY.     See  Booty. 

PRICE,  (1.)  The  rate  of  any 
thing  bought  or  sold,  2  Chron.  i.  16. 
(2.)  Worth  or  value,  Prov.  xxxi.  10. 
The  price  of  our  redemption,  is  the 
death  of  Jesus  Christ,  1  Cor.  vi.  20. 
The  price  in  the  hand  of  fools,  is  an 
opportunity  of  getting  wisdom,  or 
the  valuable  ofiPer  of  salvation,  which, 
through  pride  and  sloth,  they  con- 
temn and  neglect,  Prov.  xvi.  1 6. 

PRICK,  to  be  pricked  in  heart  a7id 
reins,  is  to  be  inwardly  convinced  and 
distressed,  Acts  ii.  37.  Psa.  Ixxiii.  21. 

PRIDE,  (1.)  Inordinate  and  unrea- 
sonable self-esteem,  which  leads  to  a 
contempt  of  God,  and  disdain  of  men, 
1  Sam.  xvii.  28.  (2.)  What  a  person  is 
proud  of,  as  power,  wealth,  &c.  Isa. 
xxiii.  9.  Jer.  xiii.  9.  Zeph.  iii.  11. 
(3.)  Persons  who  are  very  proud  and 
haughty,  as  if  much  more  excellent 
than  their  neighbours,  Psal.  xxxvi. 
11.  (4.)  The  haughty  looks  and 
words,  or  wicked  deeds,  whereby 
they  discover  the  pride  of  their 
hearts,  Hos.  v.  5.  The  pride  of  Jor- 
dan is  spoiled;  the  trees  on  the  banks 
of  it  are  cut  down  to  be  employed 
in  the  siege,  the  cities  near  it  are  ru- 
ined, and  the  glory  and  wealth  of 
Judea  is  destroyed  by  the  Roman?, 
Zech.  xi.  3.  I 


PRIEST,  a  person  consecrated  to 
God  for  the  performance  of  sacred 
offices,  Heb.  v,  1.  It  is  spoken,  (1.) 
Of  Melchizedek,  a  patriarchal  priest, 
Heb.  vii.  1.  (2.)  Of  the  Levitical 
priests  of  the  true  God,  Matt.  viii.  4. 
xii.  4,  5.  Luke  i.  5.  (3.)  Of  a  hea- 
then priest  of  Jupiter,  Acts  xiv.  13. 
(4.)  Of  Christ  the  true  and  great 
High  Priest,  after  the  order  of  Mel- 
chizedek, Heb.  vii.  17.  (5.)  Of 
true  believers  in  Christ,  who  are  a 
holy  priesthood,  and  offer  up  s|)iritua- 
sacritices  acceptable  to  God  through 
Jesus  Christ,  1  Pet.  ii.  5.  Rev.  i.  6. 
V.  10.  XX.  6.  The  word  signifies 
one  that  intercedes  or  deals  familiar- 
ly with  a  sovereign.  When  it  re- 
lates to  civil  things,  it  denotes  such 
as  are  chief  and  intimate  rulers  under 
a  king,  1  Chron.  xvii.  18.  When 
it  relates  to  religion,  it  signifies  one, 
who,  by  virtue  of  divine  appoint- 
ment, offers  sacrifices,  and  intercedes 
for  guilty  men.  Before  the  con- 
secration of  Aaron,  fathers,  elder 
brothers,  princes,  or  every  man 
for  himself,  offered  his  sacrifice,  as 
is  clear  in  the  case  of  Abel,  Cain. 
Noah,  Abraham,  Isaac,  Jacob, 
Job.  When  God,  at  Sinai,  rati- 
fied his  covenant  with  the  Hebrews, 
young  men,  perhaps  the  eldest  sons 
of  their  princes,  officiated  as  priests, 
Exod.  xxiv.  5,  6.  The  whole 
Hebrew  nation  are  called  priests^ 
because  they  were  devoted  to  God, 
and  moch  employed  in  his  service, 
Exod.  xix.  6.  In  the  consecration 
of  Aaron,  and  of  the  tabernacle, 
Moses  acted  as  priest,  Exod.  xl. 
Lev.  viii.  After  which,  the  priest- 
hood, in  ordinary  cases,  pertained 
solely  to  the  family  of  Aaron ;  and 
KoRAH,  UzzA,  and  king  Azari- 
Ati,  were  severely  punished  for  in- 
terfering with  their  work :  but  some 
extraordinary  persons,  as  Gideon^ 
Samuel,  and  Elijah,  in  extraordi- 
nary cases,  offered  sacrifice,  Judg.  vi. 
1  Sam.  vii.  and  ix.  and  xvi.  1  Kings 
xviii. 

None  of  the  Aaronic  family  were 
adjnitted  priests,  except  their  ge- 
nealogy was  well  attested,  and  their 


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p  R  i 


body  soand,  neither  blind  nor  lame, 
flat-nosed,  superfluous  in  any  thing, 
broken-footed,  broken-handed,  crook- 
backed,  dwarfish,  blemished  in  the 
eye,  scurvy,  scabbed,  &c.  To  prevent 
their  acting  without  judgment,  or 
being  a  dishonour  to  their  office,,  they 
were  to  drink  no  wine  or  strong  drink 
when  they  intended  to  officiate. 
They  were  never  to  leave  the  holy 
place  to  mourn ;  nor  were  they  to 
defile  themselves  for  any  deceased 
persons,  except  very  near  relations 
such  as  parents,  brothers,  or  virgin- 
sisters;  nor  Avere  they  to  shave  off 
their  hair  or  cut  their  flesh  even  for 
thesBh  They  were  to  marry  no  infa- 
mous or  divorced  woman,  but  either 
a  Hebrew  virgin,  or  the  widow  of 
another  priest.  If  any  one  of  their 
daughters  played  the  harlot  in  her  fa- 
ther's house,  she  was  burnt  with  fire. 
— Their  sacred  robes  were  a  linen 
bonnet,  coat,  girdle,  and  breeches, 
without  which  it  was  death  for  them 
to  officiate  at  the  altar  of  God.  At 
least  their  first  consecration  was  so- 
lemn; their  bodies  were  washed  in 
water,  their  sacred  robes  were  put 
on,  a  bullock  was  offiered  for  a  sin- 
offering,  a  ram  for  a  burnt-offering, 
another  ram  for  a  consecration  or 
kind  of  peace-offering,  with  their  re- 
spective meat-offerings  and  drink-of- 
ferings; part  of  the  blood  of  the 
ram  of  consecration  was  sprinkled 
about  the  altar,  another  part  of  it 
was  put  on  the  extremities  of  their 
bodies,  their  right  toe,  thumb,  and 
ear,  to  signify  that  atonement  was 
made  for  the  sins  of  their  whole  man, 
and  to  consecrate  them  to  the  service 
of  God :  another  part  of  the  blood, 
mingled  with  anointing  oil,  was 
sprinkled  on  the  above-mentioned 
extremities  of  their  body,  and  on 
their  garments.  After  these  cere- 
monies, perhaps  all  of  them,  had  been 
repeated  seven  days,  during  which 
the  priests  remained  at  the  taberna- 
cle, a  s^in-ofTering  to  expiate  former 
guilt,  and  a  burnt-offering  to  pro- 
Cure  acceptance,  were  offered  for 
them.  Being  thus  consecrated,  their 
business  was  to  take  the  oversight  of 


the  tabernacle  and  temple,  and  all 
the  furniture  of  it:  They  slew, 
burnt,  and  poured  out  the  blood  of 
the  sacrifices;  they  put  the  show- 
bread  on  the  golden  table,  they  of- 
fered the  incense  on  the  golden  al- 
tar, they  blew  the  silver  trumpets ; 
they  supplied  with  oil,  and  lighted 
and  snuffed  the  sacred  lamps;  they 
unreared  and  set  up  the  tabernacle, 
as  was  proper;  they  blessed  the 
people,  encouraged  them  in  their 
wars;  they  judged  of  the  leprosy, 
and  in  other  doubtful  cases,  and  pu- 
rified the  unclean;  and  they  them- 
selves were  always  to  be  washed  in 
holy  water  before  they  offered  any  ob- 
lations. They  were  maintained  by 
the  sacred  revenues :  they  had  the 
tenth  part  of  the  tithes  from  the  Le- 
vites ;  they  had  the  skins  of  all  the 
burnt-offerings  of  the  herds  or  flocks; 
they  had  the  skins  and  flesh  of  all 
sin  and  trespass-offerings  for  rulers 
and  private  persons ;  they  had  the 
show-bread  after  it  was  removed 
from  the  golden  table ;  they  had  all 
the  people's  meat-offerings,  except 
the  handful  that  was  burnt  on  the 
altar;  they  had  the  right  shoulder, 
breast,  cheeks,  and  maw,  of  the 
peace-offerings ;  they  had  all  the 
poll-money,  except  what  was  spent 
in  the  purchase  of  the  daily  burnt- 
offerings,  show-bread,  and  oil  for  the 
lamps :  they  had  a  share  of  the  first- 
fruits,  and  had  all  restitutions  where 
the  true  owner  was  not  found.  Be- 
sides, they  received  the  price  of  de- 
voted persons,  and  unclean  beasts, 
and  a  great  many  compliments  at  the 
sacred  feasts:  and  had  13  cities  for 
residence  allowed  them  out  of  the 
tribes  of  Judah,  Simeon  and  Ben- 
jamin. All  the  unblemished  males 
of  Aaron's  family  might  eat  of  the 
sin-offering,  and  simple  meat-offer- 
ing. None  but  priests  in  actual  ser- 
vice might  eat  of  the  show-bread  or 
Pentecostal  peace-offering,  and  that  in 
the  holy  place,  their  wives,  children, 
and  bought  servants,  partook  in  any 
place  of  the  peace-offerings,  Heb.  v, 
1.  Ezra  ii.  62, 63.  Lev.  xxi.  and  xxii. 
1 — 13.  and  xxiv.  5 — 9.  and  i.  to  x 


P  R  I 


(     •'^21     ) 


P  R  I 


and  xiii.  and  xiv.  Kxod.  xxviii.  40 
— 43.  and  xxix.  Niimh.  x.  1  — 10. 
an<i  ii.  3.  and  iv.  5 — Hi.  an<l  vi.  22 
— 2b.  and  xvi.  and  xvii.  and  xviii. 
Dent.  xvil.  8—13.  and  xviii.  1— .';. 
and  XX.  1 — 4.  'Vhvy  weve  divi(i«^d 
by  David  info  24  classes,  10  of  tlie 
family  of  Eleazar,  and  8  of  Hie  fami- 
ly of  Kliamar;  llieye  served  in  (heir 
turns  at  Hie  (ein|)Ie,  1  Cliron.  xxiv. 
The)'  were  p;enerally  not  very  active 
either  in  (he  relormation  of  Jehoiada, 
orof  He7.ekiali,2  Chr.  xxiv.  xxix.  and 
XXX.  It  seems  there  returned  only 
four  of  their  orders  from  Babylon; 
and  of  these  were  4289,  which  were 
divided  into  24  courses,  Neh.  vii. 
39,  42.  Sometimes,  it  is  said,  about 
12,000  priests  resided  in  Jerusalem. 
Seventeen  of  them  put  away  their 
strange  wives  by  the  direction  of  Ez- 
ra, Ezra  X.  18—22.  Twenty-two 
of  them  subscnl)ed  Nehemiah's  co- 
venant of  reformation,  Neh.  x.  1 — 8. 
It  appears  evident,  that  these  jmests 
typified  our  adored  Priest  of  good 
things  to  come.  How  fully  attested 
his  divine  descent !  How  perfect  his 
person  and  nature  !  How  free  from 
every  corruption  and  every  weak- 
ness tending  to  disqualify  him  for  his 
work  !  How  solemn  his  call  and  con- 
secration by  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  by 
liis  own  blood !  How  sacred  his  robes 
of  manhood,  and  mediatorial  office  ! 
How  extensive  his  charge  to  atone 
for  all  people;  to  illuminate,  uou- 
rish,  order,  judge,  bless,  encourage, 
and  purify  his  church !  How  glorious 
his  reward,  on  which  he  and  his 
people  for  ever  feast  in  the  church 
here,  or  in  the  heavenly  state!  How 
terrible  the  punishment  of  such  as 
oi)pose  him,  and,  by  their  self-righte- 
ous attempts,  study  to  share  in  his 
proper  work!  How  proper  for  such 
as  appear  to  be  married  to  him,  to  de- 
part from  iniquity  !  And  shall  not 
such  as,  professing  to  be  his  chil- 
dren, yet  indulge  themselves  in 
whoredom  and  aposlacy,  depart  from 
him  into  everlasting  fire  ? 

Some  think  these  priests  were  em- 
blems of  gospel  ministers.  They  must 
be  divinely  called  to  their  work,  and 

Vol..   II. 


qualified  with  gifts  and  grace  for  it; 
richly  lurnished  with  s|)iritual  know- 
ledge, and  be  blameless,  sober,  tem- 
perate, holy,  and  prudent;  Avholly 
given  to  their  work,  not  entangling 
themselves  with  the  alfairs  of  this 
life,  nor  Joined  in  marriage  with  im- 
pious and  infamous  women,  nor  in 
ecclesiastical  fellowship  with  antt- 
christian  churches.  Always  apply- 
ing to  themselves  the  blood  and  Spi- 
rit of  Jesus,  they  must  preach  the 
great  atonement,  and  devote  them- 
selves and  hearers  to  God ;  muSt 
daily  offer  the  incense  of  fervent 
prayers,  blow  the  gospel  trumpet, 
calling  and  beseeching  sinners  to  be 
reconciled  to  God,  sounding  alarms 
of  impending  danger,  and  exciting 
professors  to  make  war  with  sin,  Sa- 
tan, and  the  world.  It  is  theirs  to 
explain  the  oracles  of  God,  to  snuff 
off  erroneous  glosses,  and  to  cast  out 
disorderly  w^alkers.  It  is  theirs  to 
bless  their  people,  solve  their  doubts, 
equally  caring  for  the  true  happiness 
of  the  poor  and  the  rich;  and  accord- 
ing to  their  faithfulness  and  diligence 
ought  to  be  their  encouragement  from 
their  people,  and  shall  be  their  ever- 
lasting reward,  Ezek.  xliii.  and  xliv. 
and  xlv.  Were  they  not  emblems 
of  the  saints?  Their  spiritual  de- 
scent from  Jesus.is  certain,  and  ought 
to  be  evident :  they  are  free  from 
the  reigning  love  of  every  vice :  they 
desire  soundness  in  their  heart  and 
life  :  nor  are  they  stained  with  ha- 
bitual scandal :  they  do  not  bewail 
deceased  relations  as  those  who  have 
no  hope,  nor  indulge  themselves  in 
excessive  grief,  as  if  earthly  enjoy- 
ment were  their  portion.  Their 
sacred  robes  are  righteousness  and 
grace,  evidenced  in  a  holj',  humble, 
sober,  chaste,  and  grave  conversa- 
tion. Being  called  of  God,  and  con- 
secrated in  soul,  body,  and  spirit,  b}' 
the  blood  of  Jesus,  and  the  influence 
of  the  Holy  Ghost,  it  is  theirs  daily 
to  worship  the  Lord  in  the  beauty  of 
holiness;  theirs  to  offer  to  God  the 
burnt-offering  of  their  whole  man. 
morlif3''ing  every  lust,  and  sun  en - 
deling  their  very  life  to  llie  sfrvi.-r' 
^  S 


P  R  1 


J22     ) 


P  R  I 


and  honour  of  Christ;  to  offer  the 
peace-offering  of  precise  and  thanks- 
giving, the  heave-offering  of  prayer 
and  heavenly  desires,  the  wave-of- 
fering of  universal  obedience,  the 
meat-offering  of  charitable  distribu- 
tions, and  the  drink-offering  of  godly 
sorrow.  God  i?  the  object  of  their 
Avorship  :  themselves  are  living  tem- 
ples; Christ  is  tiieir  altar  which 
sanctifies  their  gifts.  It  is  theirs 
daily  to  present  the  incense  of  prayer 
and  praise,  and  to  grow  in  grace  and 
spiritual  knowledge;  to  shine  as  lights 
in  the  world,  sauff  off  every  mistake 
in  principle  and  practice;  and  to 
blow  the  trumpet,  instruct  the  igno- 
rant, warn  the  unruly,  and  excite  the 
inactive  ;  and  by  their  intercessions 
for  all  men,  to  bring  a  blessing  on 
the  places  where  they  live;  to  try 
the  spirits,  and  promote  purity  in 
themselves,  their  families,  and  all 
around  Ihem.  How  rich  their  re- 
ward !  they  live  on  Jesus,  our  divine 
and  all-comprehensive  oblation,  and 
to  them  angels  and  men  do  service ; 
and  even  troubles  and  temptations 
work  for  them  a  far  more  exceeding 
and  eternal  weight  of  glory,  1  Pet.  ii. 
5,  9.  Rev.  i.  6. 

Sometimes  we  read  as  if  there  were 
several  chief  priests  at  once,  for 
the  leaders  of  the  24  classes  were  so 
called :  the  second  priest,  or  sagan, 
who  officiated  instead  of  the  high- 
priest,  in  case  of  his  sickness  or  de- 
filement, was  also  called  a  chief 
I>Tiest.  About  the  time  of  our  Sa- 
viour too,  as  the  high  priests  were 
put  in  and  out  by  the  civil  governors, 
there  happened  to  be  sometimes  vari- 
ous persons  alive  who  had  been  high 
priests.  But  according  to  order, 
there  was  but  one  high  priest  at 
once.  He  was  the  most  honourable 
person  of  the  sacerdotal  family,  and 
was  allowed  to  marry  none  but  a  re- 
spectable virgin,  nor  to  mourn  or 
defile  himself  for  any  relation,  how- 
ever near.  Besides  his  suit  of  ap- 
parel common  to  him  with  his  bre- 
thren, and  which  he  wore  on  the  day 
of  expiation,  he  had  other  robes  call- 
ed the  golden  garments,  and  which 


he  constantly  wore  while  engaged  in 
his  sacred  employ.  The  suit  consisted 
of  breeches,  and  an  embroidered  coat 
of  fine  linen,  with  a  girdle  of  silk  and 
fine  twined  linen  to  fasten  it.  Over 
this  was  a  blue  robe  hanging  down 
to  his  feet,  and  its  lower  hem  hung 
round  alternately  with  bells  and  em- 
broidered pomegranates :  above  this 
was  put  on  the  short  robe  of  the 
ephod,  with  the  breastplate  of  judg- 
ment, and  on  his  head  was  a  golden 
mitre,  inscribed  with  Holiness  to  the 
Lord.  Every  high  priest  had  his  head 
plentifully  anointed  with  oil  when  he 
was  consecrated.  He  had  his  lodg- 
ing in  an  apartment  of  the  taberna- 
cle or  temple,  or  near  to  it.  Besides 
his  right  to  interfere  with  the  work 
of  the  other  priests,  he  was  the  su- 
preme judge  of  all  controversies  in 
the  Jewish  church,  and  directed  all 
his  brethren  in  their  work.  Perhaps 
he  alone  made  atonement  for  other 
priests.  It  is  certain  he  alone  enter- 
ed the  Holy  of  Holies,  and  performed 
the  whole  work  of  expiation  for  Israel 
on  their  annual  fast,  Exod.  xxviii. 
and  xxix.  6.  Lev.  xxi.  10,  11, 12.  and 
viii.  and  ix.  and  xvi. 

From  the  death  of  Aaron  to  the  last 
destruction  of  Jerusalem,  the  high 
priesthood,  except  for  about  1 20  years, 
continued  in  the  family  of  Eleazar, 
Phinehas,  Abishua,  Bukki,  and  Uzzi, 
were  of  this  line :  but  instead  of  Ze- 
rahiah,  Meraioth,  Amariah,  and  Ahi- 
tub,  their  descendants  ;  Eli,  Ahitub, 
Ahiah,  Ahimelech,  and  Abiathar,  of 
the  family  of  Ithamar,  had  the  office 
of  high  priesthood.  When  Abiathar 
was  deposed,  it  reverted  to  the  fa- 
mily of  Eleazar.  Zadock,  Ahimaaz, 
Azariah,.  or  Amariah,  Johanan,  or 
Jehoiada,  Azariah,  perhaps  the  same 
as  the  Zechariah  murdered  by  Joash, 
Amariah,  or  Azariah,  who  withstood 
king  AzARfATi,  Ahitub,  Zadock,  Uri- 
jah,  who  made  the  idolatrous  altar 
for  Ahab,  Shallum,  Azariah,  Hil- 
kiah,  Seraiah,  Jehozadak,  Joshua. 
Joiakim,  Eliashib,  Joiada,  Jonathan, 
Jaddua,  officiated  from  A.  M.  2514 
to  3682.  To  these  succeeded  Onias, 
Simon  the  Just,  Eleazar,  Manasseh- 


PR  I 


(     32:1    ) 


P  R  I 


Unias,  Simon,  Onias,  Jason,  Mcue- 
laus,  Lysiniachus,  Alcinius ;  the  last 
four  of  which  were  most  abaiulonetl 
wretches,  ami  bought  the  otTice  over 
one  another's  head  from  the  heathen 
monarch  of  Syria.  To  them  succeed- 
ed, in  the  family  of  tlie  iMaccabeee, 
Judas,  Jonathan,  Simon,  Hircantis, 
Aristobulus,  Janneus,  Kircanus, 
Aristobulus  his  ursurping  brother,  and 
Antigonus  his  nsur|)ing  nephew  : 
these  were  both  high  priests  and  civil 
rulers,  but  had  not  by  birthright  a 
claim  to  the  office.  To  them  suc- 
ceeded, from  J.  M.  3904  to  4072, 
27  others,  noted  for  nothing  but  dis- 
order in  their  entrance,  or  wicked- 
ness in  their  management,  vis.  Ana- 
ueel,  Aristobulus,  Jesus,  Simon,  Mat- 
thias, Boethus,  Joazar,  Eleazar,  Je- 
sus, Annus,  Ishmael,  Eleazar  the  son 
of  Annus,  Simon,  Caiaphas,  Jona- 
than the  son  of  Annas,  Thcojjhilus, 
Simon,  Matthias  the  son  of  Annas, 
Eiioneus,  Annias,  Ishmaei,  Joseph, 
Ananias  thp  son  of  Annas,  Jesus, 
Matthias,  and  Plianias.  Since  the 
last,  there  lias  been  no  occasion  for 
priests  either  supreme  or  subordi- 
nate, their  city  and  temple  having 
lain  in  ruins.  The  Hebrew  high 
priests  were  notable  types  of  our  Re- 
deemer, who  is  the  great  High  Priest 
of  our  profession,  and  of  good  things 
to  come.  His  person,  God-man,  is 
is  infinitely  dignified  in  the  sacrificing 
and  intercessory  work  thereof;  his 
priesthood  is  the  great  foundation  of 
our  gospel  profession,  and  the  cause 
of  all  the  precious  blessings  that 
come  upon  us  in  time  and  eternity, 
Heb.  iii.  1.  and  viii.  1. 

Priesthood,  (1.)  The  office  of 
a  priest.  Num.  xvi.  10.  The  anoint- 
ing of  Aaron  and  his  sons  was  an 
everlasting  priesthood ;  it  secured  to 
them,  and  their  seed,  the  office  of 
priests  for  many  generations,  Exod. 
xl.  15.  Numb.  XXV.  13.  Christ's 
priesthood  is  unchangeable,  as  it  never 
passeth  from  him  to  another,  Heb. 
vii.  24.  (2.)  The  execution  of  this 
office  ;  and  the  iniquity  of  the  priest- 
hood, is  what  was  committed  in  per- 
forming  the    work    of   that    office 


Numb,  xviii.  1.  (3.)  A  class  ol 
l>rit'sts  :  so  (he  saints  are  a  holy  and 
royal  priesthood;  a  company  of  spi- 
ritual priests,  washed  in  Jesua's 
blood,  !?anctified  by  his  word  and 
Spirit,  and  all  of  them  kings  and 
priests  to  God,  1  Pet.  ii.  5,  9. 

PRINCE,  one  who,  whether  as 
the  son  of  a  king  or  otherwise,  is 
possessed  of  high  rule  and  authority. 
VVhen  the  Hebrews  cau)e  out  of 
Egypt,  they  had  twelve  princes  to 
govern  their  twelve  tribes.  These 
princes,  on  twelve  several  days,  of- 
fered their  oblations  lor  the  dedica- 
tion of  the  tabernacle.  The  offering 
of  each  was  one  silver  charger  of  130 
shekels  weight,  one  silver  bowl  of  70 
shekels,  both  of  them  full  of  fine 
flour,  mingled  with  oil,  for  a  meat- 
olfering;  one  golden  spoon  of  ten 
shekels,  full  of  incense,  one  l>ullock, 
one  ram,  and  one  lamb,  for  a  meat- 
otfering;  one  kid  for  a  sin-offering; 
and  two  oxen,  five  rams,  five  he- 
goats,  and  as  many  lambs,  for  a 
[)eace-oifering.  Numb.  i.  5 — It),  and 
vii.  12 — 89.  Ten  princes  of  the 
congregation,  with  Joshua  and  Elea- 
zar, were  appointed  to  divide  the 
land  of  Canaan  westward  of  Jordan, 
Numb,  xxxiv.  17,  18,  19.  David 
had  twelve  princes  who  commanded 
the  standing  militia  in  their  respec- 
tive months;  and  Solomon  had 
twelve  princes,  who  provided  for  his 
family.  Some  think  that  these  re- 
presented the  twelve  apostles  of  our 
Saviour,  who  were  (he  chief  gover- 
nors and  providers  of  provision  to 
the  Christian  church,  1  Chron.  xxvii. 
1  Kings  iv.  2  Sam.  xxiii.  David's 
princes  contributed  largely  toward 
the  exfienses  of  buihling  the  temple; 
Jehoshaphat's  were  active  in  reform- 
ing the  country  ;  and  those  of  Joash 
in  corrupting  it  with  idolatry.  He- 
zekiah's  princes  were  active  in  his 
reformation ;  and  gave  to  the  peo[)le 
for  offerings  at  the  solemn  passover, 
1,000  bullocks,  and  10,000  sheep. 
Josiah's  princes  did  much  the  satiie, 
1  Chron.  xxix.  6,  7,  8.  2  Chron. 
xvii.  and  xix.  and  xxiv.  17,  18.  and 
,xxx.  xxxiv.  XXXV.     After  Josiah'a 


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(     324     ) 


P  R  I 


death,  some  of  the  princes  were  fu- 
rious   persecutors  of   Jeremiah  and 
other  prophets,    and    some  of  them 
were  not,  Jer.  xxvi.  and  xxxvi.  to 
xxxviii.     Persons  of  great  excellen- 
cy  and   worth,  chief  olticers  of   an 
army,  and  counsellors  in  a  state  are 
CdUed  princes,  Eccl.  x.  7.  Isa.  x.  8. 
and  xix.   11.     For  the  transgression 
of  a  land,   its  princes  arc  many  ;  the 
pretenders  to  royalty  or  high  power 
are  numerous,  and  soon  cut  off',  Prov. 
xxviii.  2.    The  princes  and  thousands 
qfJudah,  denote  the  same  thing,  the 
governor  being  jjut  for  the  govern- 
ed, or  whole  bod3%  Matt.  ii.  0.  Mic. 
V.  2.  God  is  called  the  Prince  of  the 
host,  and  Prince  of  princes  ;  he  rules 
over  all,   and  in  a   peculiar  manner 
he  was  the  governor  of  the  Jewish  na- 
tion, Dan.  viii.  11,  25.  Jesus  Christ 
is  the  Prince  of  the  Icings  of  the  eaHh  ; 
in  his  person,  he  infinitely  surpasseth 
every  creature  in  excellency,  and  he 
bestows  rule  and  authority  on  men  as 
he  sees  meet,   Rev.  i.  5.    He  is   the 
Prince  of  life  :  as  God,  he  is  the  au- 
thor and  disposer  of  all  life,   tempo- 
ral, spiritual,  and  eternal;   as  Blcdi- 
ator,    he    purchases,    bestows,    and 
brings  men  to  everlasting  happiness. 
Acts  iii.  15.     He  is  the    Prince  of 
peace:  he  purchased   peace  between 
God  and  men,  he   made   peace   be- 
tween Jews    and  Gentiles,  he    left 
peace  to   his   disciples  and    jjeople, 
and   he  governs  his  church    in  the 
most   peaceable  manner,  Isa.  ix.  6. 
Angels  are  called  chief  princes,   and 
principalities;    how    excellent  their 
nature!  how  high  tiieir  station!  and 
how  great   their  influence    in  ruling 
the  w^orld,  Dan.  x.   13.     The  devil 
is  cB.\le(\  a  principalitji/,  the  prince  of 
this  world,  and  of  the  poAver  of  the 
air;  how  great  his  power  and  domi- 
nion! most   men    are    his    subjects, 
and   he   boasts  of  disposing   earthly 
kingdoms  :    he  is  the    head  of  such 
angels  as  rove  about  in  the  air  to  do 
mischief,  John  xii.  .31.  Eph.   ii.  2. 
The  apostles,  ministers,  and  saint?, 
are    called    princes :  spirit'.ially  de- 
scended from,  and  authorized  by  Je- 
sus the  king  of  sain  Is,  and  who  is 


over  his  holy  hill  of  Zion  :  how  dig- 
nified their  state,  and  how  great  their 
influence  on  the  government  of  the 
world,  especially  in  what  relates  to 
the  church  !  Psal.  xlv.  1 G.  The  He- 
brew priests  are  called  the  princes  of 
the  sanctuary,  because  Ihey  ruled  in 
and  managed  the  affairs  of  it,  Isa. 
xliii.  28.  Titus,  or  his  fathier  Ves- 
pasian, both  Roman  em[)erors,  is  the 
prince  whose  people  came  and  de- 
stroyed Jerusalem,  Dan.  ix.  26.  The 
prince  of  the  covenant  whom  Anti- 
ochusEpiphanes  overthrew,  is  either 
Onias  the  Jewish  high  priest,  whom 
he  de[)Osed,  and  sold  the  office  to 
his  brother;  or  Demetrius,  to  whom 
the  kingdom  of  Syria  belonged  ;  or 
rather  Ptolemy  king  of  Egypt,  with 
whom  he  had  just  before  made  a 
league,  Dan.  xi.  22.  A  Princess 
is  either  the  wife  or  daughter  of  a 
king;  Jerusalem  is  so  called,  because 
the  cajjital  city  of  Judea,  and  a  prin- 
cipal city  in  that  part  of  the  world, 
Lam.  i.  1. 

PRINCIPAL,  chief,  best,  Exod. 
XXX.  25.  The  principal  ofthcfiock 
are  the  chief  men  of  a  nation,  their 
rulers  and  rich  people,  Jer.  xxv.  34. 
The  principal  to  be  restored,  is  the 
thing  stolen,  or  the  value  of  it, 
Lev.  vi.  5.  Numb.  v.  7.  Princi- 
PAtrxY,  (1.)  Royal  state,  or  the  at- 
tire of  the  head  marking  the  same, 
Jer.  xiii.  18.  (2.)  Chief  rulers.  Tit. 
iii.  1.  (3.)  Good  angels,  Eph.  i. 
21.  and  iii.  10.  (4.)  Bad  angels, 
Eph.  vi.  12.  Col.  ii.  15. 

PRINCIPLE,  a  point  of  belief, 
'^riie  first  principles  cf  the  oracles  of 
Chriit,  are  such  truths  as  must  be  un- 
derstood and  believed,  in  order  to  in- 
troduce us  into  a  further  acquaint- 
ance with  divine  truth  :  Such  as,  that 
in  every  thing,  we  ought  to  make 
the  glory  of  God,  and  the  enjoyment 
of  him,  our  chief  end,  and  make  his 
word  the  standard  of  all  we  believe 
and  do  in  religion;  that  there  is  one 
God  in  three  Persons,  who  hath  pur- 
posed, created,  and  does  preserve 
and  govern  ail  things;  that  man  hav- 
ing fallen  from  his  hap|)y  state  of  ho- 
liness and  covenant-friend.-hip  with 


P  R  I 


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God,  is  absolutely  incapable  of  re- 
covering himself,  but  bis  salvation 
must  be  purchased  Avith  Jesus's  blood, 
and  graciously  aj)plied  by  his  holy 
Spirit;  that  being  justitied,  adopted, 
and  sanctified,  we  must  perfect  holi- 
ness in  the  fear  of  God,  walking  in 
all  the  connnandnients  and  ordinan- 
ces of  the  Lord  blameless,  lleb.  V.  12. 

PRINT,  a  deep  and  observable 
mark.  Job  xx.  25.  According  to 
the  Jews,  tlie  marks  upon  men's  bo- 
dies, prohibited  in  the  hnv,  Avere 
made  by  cutting  the  flesh,  and  tilling 
the  incision  with  stibium,  ink,  or 
other  colours,  Lev.  xix.  28.  God 
mh'  a  print  on  7ncn\s  heels,  when  he 
observes  their  fault,  and  takes  care 
to  prevent  their  escape  from  trouble, 
Jobxiii.  27. 

PRISON,  a  strong-hold  in  Avliich 
persons  are  confined,  either  for  debts 
or  crimes,  Luke  xxiii.  19.  To  it  are 
compared  whatever  tends  to  restrict 
liberty,  and  render  one  disgraced  and 
wretched ;  as,  ( 1 .)  A  low,  obscure,  and 
atHicted  condition,  Eccl.  iv.  14.  (2.) 
The  state  of  restraint  W'herein  God 
keeps  Satan  from  seducing  mankind, 
Rev.  XX.  7.  (3.)  The  stateof  spiritual 
thraldom  in  Avhich  sinners  are  kept  by 
Satan  and  their  own  lusts,  Isa.  xlii.  7. 
(4.)  The  grave,  out  of  which  men  can- 
not move,  and  in  which  tliey  are  shut 
up  as  evil-doers  are,  Isa.  liii.  8.  Per- 
liaps,  in  allusion  to  this,  David  calls 
the  cave  in  which  he  was,  as  one 
buried  alive,  a  prison,  Psal.  cxlii.  7. 
(5.)  Hell,  where  damned  sinners  are 
miserabljs  but  firmly  confined,  1 
Pet.  iii.  19.  Such  as  are  shut  up  in 
any  of  these,  or  are  in  a  captive  con- 
dition, are  called  prisoners,  Isa. 
xlix.  9.  Psal.  Ixix.  33.  Job  iii.  18. 
Paul  was  a  prisoner  of  Christ,  in 
bonds  and  imprisonment  for  his  ad- 
herence to  Christ's  truths,  Eph.  iii. 
1 .  The  Jews  in  Babylon,  and  those 
sinners  invited  to  Jesus  Christ,  are 
prisoners  of  hope :  the  promise  secured 
deliverance  to  the  former;  it  offers 
salvation  to  the  latter,  Zech.  ix.  12. 

PRIVATE,  secret,  apart  from 
others,  Matt.  xxiv.  3.  No  scripture 
is  of  private  interpretation  or  impulse  ; 


the  prophets  did  not  work  themselves 
up  into  s^uch  agitations,  as  led  them  to 
utter  the  predictions  and  oracles  re- 
corded; and  hence  what  they  wrote 
was  not  their  own  word,  but  that 
which  Avas  given  them  by  the  Holy 
Ghost,  2  Pet.  j.  20. 

PRIVY,  (1.)  Secret,  hidden,  Dent, 
xxiii.  1.  (2.)  Conscious  and  consent- 
ing. Acts  v.  2.  Tobring  in  damnable 
heresies  privihj,  is  to  introduce  them 
by  little  and  little,  or  under  a  shoAV  of 
knowledge,  holiness,  or  gospel-liber- 
ty, hi<ling  the  real  meaning  and  hor- 
rible tendency  of  them,  2  Pet.  ii.  1. 

The  PRIZE,  in  races,  &c.  is  the 
rcAvard  given  to  him  Avho  outruns 
or  does  more  than  the  rest,  1  Cor.  ix. 
24.  The  prize  of  the  high  calling  of 
God  in  Christ  Jesus,  is  everlasting 
happiness  in  heaven.  It  is  the  re- 
ward that  God  in  Christ  promises 
graciously  to  give  to  his  people,  to 
encourage  them  in  their  spiritual  race 
and  Avarfare;  and  Avhich  he  for  Je- 
sus's  sake  gives  them,  after  they  have 
finished  their  course,  Phil.  iii.  14. 

PROCEED,  (1.)  To  go  out  from, 
Isa.  vi.  10.  (2.)  To  go  forAvard  in 
a  journey,  a  speech,  or  course  of 
actions,  2  Tim.  iii.  9.  Job  xl.  3.  Acts 
xii.  3.  Christ  proceeded  from  the 
Father;  he  received  from  him  his 
mediatorial  commission,  and  came 
into  the  Avorld  by  his  aj)pointment, 
John  viii.  42.  The/>rocccf/mif  of  the 
Holy  Ghost  from  the  Father  and 
the  Son,  denotes  his  inconceivable 
relation  to  these  Persons,  and  hw 
acting  in  union  Avith  them  in  the  ap- 
plication of  redemption,  John  xvi. 
26.  Out  of  the  mouth  of  the  Most 
His^h  proccedclh  not  evil  ands;ood ;  he 
neither  commands  nor  eflfects  the  evil 
of  sin,  but  only  good,  Lam.  iii.  38. 

In  PROCESS  of  time,  after  many 
days,  Gen.  xxxviii.  12.  perhaps  on 
the  Sabbath,  the  end  of  the  Aveek, 
Gen.  iv.  3. 

PROCLAIM,  to  give  public  no- 
tice of  a  matter,  that  all  may  know- 
it.  The  name  of  the  Lord  is  pro- 
claimid,  when  his  excellencies  and 
mighty  Avorks  are  openly  and  loudly 
declared,  Exod.  xxxiii.  19.     A  pro- 


PRO 


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PRO 


cLAMATioN,  is  the  giving  public 
notice  of  the  will  of  a  sujjei'ior,  by 
a  herald  or  crier,  Dan.  v.  29. 

PROCURE,  to  get,  bring  on,  Jer. 
ii.  17.  Prov.  xi.  27. 

PRODUCE,  to  bring  forth.  To 
produce  our  cause,  and  bring  forth  otir 
strong  reasons,  before  God,  is  to  say 
all  we  justly  can  in  defence  of  our- 
selves and  our  conduct,  isa.  xli.  21. 

PROFANE,  not  holy,  but  al- 
lowed for  common  use,  Ezek.  xlii. 
20.  and  xlviii.  15.  Profane  fables  or 
babblings,  are  notions  and  s|)eeches, 
obscene,  heathenish,  and  tending  to 
bring  reproach  on  the  true  religion, 
1  Tim.  iv.  7.  and  vi.  20.  Profane 
persons,  are  such  as  defile  themselves 
by  shameful  actions,  particularly  a 
contempt  of  things  sacred,  Lev.  xxi. 
7.  Ezek.  xxi.  25,  Esau  rendered 
himself  profane,  by  despising  his 
birthright,  and  the  promise  of  the 
Messiah  thereto  annexed,  Heb.  xii. 
16.  To  POLLUTE  things,  is  to  defile 
them;  and  to  profane,  is  to  use 
them  as  base  or  common,  Lev.  xxii. 
15.  Ezek.  xxiv.  21.  God  and  his 
name  are  profaned  or  polluted,  when 
any  thing  whereby  he  makes  him- 
self known,  as  his  authority,  ordi- 
nances, &c.  are  used  in  an  irreverent 
manner,  and  to  promote  some  sinful 
end  of  error  or  wickedness,  Lev. 
xviii.  21.  Ezek.  xiii.  9.  God's 
Sabbaths,  sanctuary,  ordinances,  and 
statutes,  are  prof aned,  when  not  used 
in  the  manner  he  requires,  but  are 
prostituted  to  promote  carnal  or  ido- 
latrous purposes.  Lev.  xxi.  12.  and 
xxii.  7.  Neh.  xiii.  1 7.  Psal.  Ixxxix. 
t  31.  Ezek.  XX.  13.  Zeph.  iii.  4. 
Jer.  vii.  30.  God  profaned  the  princes 
of  his  sanctuary,  and  polluted  his  peo- 
ple,  when  he  gave  up  the  Jewish 
priests  and  the  people  to  the  power 
of  their  enemies,  and  i)unished  them 
with  the  most  debasing  distress,  Isa. 
xliii.  28.  and  xlvii.  6.  The  Jews 
profaned  the  holiness  of  the  Lord, 
when  they,  who  were  his  peofde,  de- 
voted themselves  to  sinful  courses; 
when  they  used  liis  temple  and  altar 
in  irreverent  and  idolatrous  worship, 
and  so  poured  contempt  on  the  holi-] 


ness  of  his  nature:  and  they  pro- 
faned his  covenant  Avhenthey  haugh- 
tily boasted  of  it,  and,  contrary  to  the 
obligations  thereof,  gave  up  them- 
selves to  wicked  practices,  Mai.  ii. 
10.  The  Chaldeans  polhded  God's 
secret  place,  when  they  entered  into 
and  burnt  the  temple,  the  Holy  of 
Holies  not  excepted,  Ezek.  vii.  21. 

Antiochus  Euiphanes  polluted  the 
sancluarif  of  strength,  when  he  set  up 
in  the  Jewish  temple  the  image  of  Ju- 
piter, and  offered  swine's  tlesh,  made 
it  a  garrison  for  his  soldiers,  and  so 
a  place  of  revelling  and  wickedness, 
Dan.  xi.  31. — The  Jewish  priests 
prof aned  the  Sabbath,  and  were  blame- 
less :  they  killed  their  sacrifices  on  it 
as  if  it  had  been  a  common  day, 
Matt.  xii.  5.  The  Jews  profaned 
thei^  fruit-trees,  when  on  the  fifth 
year  tliey  ate  their  fruit  as  common 
food,  Deut.  XX.  f  6.  Jer.  xxxi.  f  5. 
The  high  priest  profaned  himself, 
Avhen,  by  marks  of  mourning  for  his 
deceased  relations,  he  disgraced  his 
character,  and  made  himself  appear 
as  a  common  i)erson,  Lev.  xxi.  4. 
A  woman  profaned  herself,  when,  by 
turning  prostitute,  she  rendered  her- 
self common,  base,  and  contemptible, 
Lev.  xix.  7.  A  priest's  daughter 
profaned  her  father,  when,  by  her 
whoredom,  she  brought  a  stain  on  his 
character,  Lev.  xxi.  9.  The  pollu- 
tions of  this  world,  are  the  gross  and 
scandalous  sins  which  Avicked  men 
are  used  to  live  in,  2  Pet.  ii.  20. 

PROFESS,  to  declare  openly  and 
solemnl}^  Deut.  xxvi.  3.  Matt.  vii. 
23.  Profession,  is  either,  (1.)  the 
truths  of  God  which  we  openly  avow 
our  belief  of,  and  adherence  to; 
or,  (2.)  Our  act  of  boldly  avowing 
these  truths,  Heb.  iii.  and  iv.  14. 
and  X.  23.  Timothy  professed  a  good 
profession,  when  he  was  set  apart  to 
the  work  of  the  ministry  ;  and  in  his 
preaching  of  the  gospel,  he  solemnly 
avowed  his  belief  of,  and  resolved 
adherence  to,  the  precious  truths  of 
God,  1  Tim.  vi.  12. 

PROFIT,  (1.)  To  grow  better, 
become  more  intelligent  and  strict, 
to  improve  in  gifts  or  grace,    Gal.  i. 


PRO 


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PRO 


14.  I  Tim.  iv.  15.  (2.)  To  make 
better,  Heb.  iv.  2.  Our  good  works 
profU  men,  as  (hey  promote  their 
conviction,  conversion,  holiness,  or 
comfort ;  but  they  cannot  profit  God 
by  rendering  him  rilhermorelioly  or 
more  bappy.  Tit.  iii.  8.  Job  xxii.  2. 
and  XXXV.  S,  Luke  xvii.  10. 

PROFOUND,  deep.  To  be  pro- 
found to  make  staus;hta;  is  to  be 
firmly  resolved,  deeply  engaged, 
thoroughly  skilled,  and  earnestly  in- 
duistrious,  lo  conmiit  murder  in  the 
most  subtle  and  secret  manner,  Hos. 
V.  2. 

PROGENITORS, 
Gen.  xlix.  26. 


fulfilment  of  his  promise  to  his  pa- 
rents, not  by  their  natural  strength 
lor  generation,  Gal.  iv.  23.  Promises 
arc  ^ivcn,  when  set  before  us  in  the 
scripture,  that  we  may  believe  them, 
and  |)lead  the  fulfilment  of  them,  and 
their  being  ,i^ivc}i,  denotes  their  be- 
ing granted  to  us  freel}-,  2  Pet.  ii.  4. 
To  obtain  or  receive  promises,  is  to 
enjoy  the  fulfilment  of  them,  in  re- 
ceiving the  good  things  promised, 
Heb.vi.  15.  and  xi.  39.  The  fifth 
commandment  is  the  first  with  jnc- 
misc ;  it  is  the  first  of  the  second  ta- 
jble,  and  is  the  first  that  has  a  pro- 
forefathers,  |  mise  of  long  life  and  pros[)erity  to 
such  as  are  obedient  to  God,  Eph. 


PROGNOSTIC  ATORS,  such  asjvi.  2.  The  promises  of  God  are  ci- 
pretcnd  to  foretell  the  various  events  I  ther  wivo/M/f,  whose  fulfilment  de- 
of  the  months  of  the  year,  Isa.'pends  on  no  condition  to  be  per- 
xlvii.  13.  .formed  by  us;  and,  to  manifest  the 

PROLONG,  (1.)  To  make  long,  exceeding  riches  of  God's  grace, 
Deut.  iv.  26.  (2.)  To  stay  long  in  a  Zech.  xiii.  1,  8.  Ezek.  xxxvi.  25. 
place,  Numb,  ix.f  19.  God's  words  to  29.  Isa.  xlvi.  13.  Jer.  xxx.  22. 
are  p-o/o;io-ff/,  when  it  is  a  long  timeland  xxxi.  33.  for  some  of  them, 
before  they  be  fulfilled,  Ezek.  xii.  25, 1  as  tlie  promises  of  Christ's  incarna- 


28.  The  fear  of  the  Lord prolongeth 
life;  a  holy  conversation  prevents 
intemperance  and  a  rash  and  sinful 
conduct,  which  tend  to  shorten  men's 
life;  and  God,  if  it  be  for  his  honour, 
lengthens  out  the  days  of  such  as 
fear  him,  Prov.  x.  27.  AYicked  men 
prolong  not  the  perfection  of  riches  ; 
their  prosperity,  wealth,  and  power, 
wherein  they  place  their  chief  hap- 
piness, shall  be  diminished  and  taken 
away.  It  is  a  metaphor  taken  from 
a  tree.  Job  xx.  29. 

PROMISE, (l.)An engagement  to 
bestow  some  benefit,  2  Pet.  ii.  19.  so 
God's  promise  is  his  declaration  of  his 
readiness  to  bestow  his  favours  on 
men,  1  Kings  viii.  5G.  (2.)  The  good 
thing  promised;  so  the  Holy  Ghost,  in 
all  his  operations  is  the  promise  of  the 
Father,  Actsi.  4.  Eternal  life  in  hea- 
ven is  called  the  promise ;  it  is  the 
thing  promised  in  many  of  them,  Heb. 
vi.  12.  The  promise  to  the  Jews  and 
their  seed,  and  every  one  called  by 
the  gospel,  is  God's  offer  and  engage- 
ment to  be  their  God,  and  to  make 
them  his  people.  Acts  ii.  39.  Isaac 
wa<;,  hy  promise,  procreated  by  God's 


tion  and  death,  have  proj>erly  no 
condition  at  all :  or  conditional,  when 
the  fulfilment  of  them  depends  on 
some  act  or  quality  in  us,  as  if  we 
believe,  repent,  pray,  &c.  JMark 
xvi.  16.  Acts  xvi.  31.  Rev.  ii.  10. 
and  iii.  20. 

Some  promises  relate  to  outward 
things,  as  of  health,  strength,  food, 
raiment,  peace,  comfort,  success  to 
men  and  to  their  seed,  Prov.  iii.  7, 
8.  Psal.  ciii.  5.  and  xxxvii.  3,  11, 
Deut.  x.  18.  Job  v.  24.  Psal.  xci.  10. 
and  cxxi.  8.  Job  xi.  18,  19.  Prov. 
iii.  24.  Psal.  cxxviii.  2,  3.  Deut. 
xxviii.  4,  5,  12.  Psal.  i.  3.  and  ciii. 
17.  and  cii.  28.  and  xlv.  16.  and 
xxxiv.  12,  13.  Isa.  Ivii.  1.  Prov.  x. 
7,  22.  Psal.  xxiii.  5,  6.  Job  xxii.  24, 
25,26.  Deut.  viii.  10.  Joel  ii.  26. 
Gen.  xii.  2.  Deut.  xxvi,  11.  Some 
promises  relate  to  God's  preventing, 
moderating,  and  shortening  men's 
aftlictions,  supporting  them  under, 
and  delivering  them  from  aftlictions, 
and  bringing  good  out  of  them,  Psal. 
cxxi.  7.  Job  V.  19.  Isa.  xxvii.  8. 
Jer.  xlvi.  28.  Psal.  xxv.  3.  iMark 
xiiis  19,  20.    Gen.  xvi.  1.  F.7r*k.  xi. 


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16.  Psal.  xxxvii.  24.  1  Cor.  xii.  0. 
Isa.  xliii.  2.  Psal.  xli.  3.  Deut.  vii. 
15.  Exod.  xxiii.  25.  Matt.  xix.  20. 
and  X.  39.  and  v.  1 1 ,  1 2.  1  Pet.  i v. 
19.  Psal.  xii.  5.  and  Ixviii.  5.  Jer. 
xxiii.  3.  Isa.  xxvii.  9.  Psal.  xcvii. 
11.  Zech.  xiii.  9.  But  the  principal 
promises  relate  to  spiritual  good 
thina;s;  as,  of  union  with  Christ,  Hos. 
ii.  19,  20.  Isa.  liv.  5.  the  work  oi"  the 
Spirit,  Ezek.  xxxvii.  27.  Prov.  i.  24. 
justification,  Isa.  i.  18.  and  xliii.  25. 
and  xliv.  22.  and  xlv.  24,  25.  adop- 
tion, Jer.  iii.  19.  2  Cor.  vi,  18.  sancti- 
fication,  change  of  nature  and  life, 
Ezek.  xi.  17,  20.  and  xxxvi.  26, 
27.  of  spiritual  knowledge,  Prov.  ii. 
3 — 6.  James  i.  5.  of  faith,  John  vi. 
37.  Eph.  ii.  8.  of  repentance,  Rom. 
xi.  26.  Ezek.  xvi.  02,  63.  and  xx. 
43.  of  love  to  God,  2  Thess.  iii.  5. 
Deut.  XXX.  6.  of  filial  fear  of  God, 
Hos.  iii.  5.  Jer.  xxxii.  39,  40.  of  new 
ohedience,  Deut.  xxx.  8.  of  hope, 
2  Thess.  ii.  16.  Rom.  xv.  4.  of  peace 
and  joy,  Isa.  Ivii.  18,  19.  and  xxvi. 
2.  Psal.  Ixiv.  10.  and  xcvii.  11,  12. 
of  perseverance  in  a  state  of  grace, 
Jer.  xxxii.  39,40.  John  iv.  11.  and 
xvi.  19.  and  x.  27,  28.  of  a  happy 
death,  Rev.  xiv.  13.  and  of  eternal 
happiness,  Isa.  xxxv.  10.  2  Tim.  iv. 
8.  Some  promises  are  permanent, 
iultilling  in  every  age ;  and  others  are 
periodical,  fulfilled  in  certain  particu- 
lar periods  :  and  so  are  prophecies,  as 
they  foretell  what  is  future ;  but  pi'o- 
miscs,  as  they  ascertain  the  bestowal 
of  good. 

PROMOTE,  to  raise  to  higher  ho- 
nour, Esih.  v.  11.  Shame  is  the  pro- 
motion of  fools,  when  instead  of  being 
raised  to  higher  honours,  the}''  fall 
into  siiame  and  disgrace,  Prov.  iii. 
35.  Promotion  comes  not  from  the 
east,  west,  north,  or  south ;  not  by 
chance,  nor  merely  by  human  means, 
Psal.  Ixxv.  6. 

PRONOUNCE,  (1.)  To  declare 
plain!}',  as  a  judge  doth  a  sentence, 
Lev.  v.  4.  (2.)  To  express  the  sound 
of  a  word,  Judg.  xii.  6. 

PROOF,  a  clear  token  of  the  truth 
or  excelleucy  of  things,  2  Cor.  viii. 
24.  and  ii.  9.     One  makes  full  proof 


of  his  ministry,  when  by  various  es- 
says his  hearers  have  sufficient  evi- 
dence given  them  that  he  is  qualified 
and  sent  of  God,  2  Tim.  iv.  5. 

PROPER,  (1.)  Belonging  to  one's 
self,  1  Chron.  xxix.  3.  (2.)  Hand- 
some, agreeable;  Heb.  xi.  23.  and 
hence  the  qualities  of  a  thing  are  call- 
ed its  properties. 

PROPHECY,  (1.)  A  declaration 
of  future  things,  Neh.  vi.  12.  (2.)  A 
declaration  of  hidden,  obscure,  and 
important  things,  Prov.  xxx.  1.  (3.) 
The  preaching  of  the  gospel,  1  Tim. 
iv.  14.  Rom.  xii.  6.  (4.)  The  gift 
of  explaining  obscure  passages  of 
scripture,  or  of  foretelling  things  to 
come,  1  Cor.  xii.  10.  and  xiii.  8. 
(5.)  To  join  in  the  public  praises  and 
worship  of  God,  1  Cor.  xi.  5.  The 
prophcsijing  of  Christ's  two  witnesses, 
is  thought  to  denote  both  the  preach- 
ing and  the  open  j)rofession  of  his 
truths,  in  opposition  to  the  delusions 
of  Antichrist,  Rev.  xi.  3. 

A  Prophet  is,  (V.)  One  who 
foretells  future  events,  Amos  iii.  6. 
(2.)  One  who  explains  mysteries  or 
obscure  passages  of  scripture,  under 
a  peculiar  direction  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  1  Cor.  xiv.  26.  (3.)  One  who 
is  under  the  special  influence  of  the 
Spirit,  1  Sam.  xix.  24.  (4.)  A  false 
pretender  to  inspiration,  Jer.  xxix. 
15.  and  so  the  heathen  poets  are 
called  prophets,  because  ignorant  peo- 
ple supposed  them  to  speak  under  di- 
vine influence,  Tit.  i.  12.  (5.)  One 
who  declares  the  mind  of  another  to 
the  people ;  so  Aaron  v.as  the  prophet 
of  Moses,  Exod.  vii.  1.  (6.)  The 
inspired  books  of  the  Old  Testament 
are  called  the  Prophets,  besides  the 
books  ol'  Moses,  or  besides  these  and 
the  Psalms,  Luke  xvi.  31.  and  xxiv. 
27,44. 

Anciently  prophets  were  called 
seers,  because  they  had  more  know- 
ledge than  others,  1  Sam.  ix.  9.  Some- 
limes  God  revealed  his  mind  to  his 
prophets  by  dreams,  voices,  visions; 
and  sometimes  he  did  it  by  an  effica- 
cious impression  of  his  will  on  their 
understanding,  and  an  excitement  of 
their  will   to  declare   it  to   others. 


PRO 


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PRO 


uoci),  Noah,  Ahraham,  Isaac,  Jarol), 
Joseph,  Muses,  Aaron,  Samuel,  CJad, 
Nathan,  David,  Solomon,  Iddo,  Ahi- 
jah,  Shemaiah,  the  man  of  God  from 
Ju(lah,  A'/ariah,  Hanani,  Jehu,  Eli- 
jah, Micaiali,  Eleazar,  Elisha,  Jo- 
nah, Amos,  Hosea,  Joel,  Isaiah,  IMi- 
cah,  Oded,  Nahum,  Hahakknk,  Ze- 
phaniah,  Jeremiah,  Urijah,  Ezekiel, 
Obadiah,  Daniel,  Uagsjai,  Zechariah, 
Malachi,  Zechaiias,  Simeon,  John 
Baptist, and  Agabus,are  mentioned  as 
irne prophets. A  prophktk^s  sig- 
nified not  only  the  Avile  of  a  pro- 
phet, as  Isa.  viii.  3.  but  also  a  wo- 
man who  foretold  future  things. 
Among  these  we  may  reckon  Miriam, 
Deborah,  Hannah,  Huldah,  Elisabeth, 
the  Virgin  I\lary,  Anna,  and  the  four 
daughters  of  Philip  the  deacon. 
Among  wicked  prophets,  real  or  pre- 
tended, we  may  reckon  Balaam,  and 
the  old  prophet  of  Bethel,  who,  pre- 
tending a  revelation,  decoyed  the 
man  of  God  from  Judah  to  return  and 
eat  bread  with  him,  and  then  fore- 
told his  death  by  a  lion,  for  disobey- 
ing the  command  of  God,  1  Kings 
xiii.  Zedekiah  the  son  of  Chenaanah, 
Hananiah,  Shemaiah  the  Nehelamite, 
Ahab  the  eon  of  Kolaiah,  Zedekiah 
the  son  of  Naaseiah,  Caiaphas,  &c. 
Noadiali,  and  Jezebel  of  Thyatira, 
were  two  pretended  prophetesses. 
When  the  priests,  about  the  time  of 
Samuel,  neglected  the  instruction  of 
the  people,  schools  of  prophets  were 
formed,  wherein  young  men  were 
piously  educated,  to  prepare  them  for 
receiving  the  gift  of  prophecy.  Such 
schools  we  find  at  Bethel,  Gilgal, 
Naioth,  Jericho,  and  Jerusalem,  &c. 
and  which  were  inspected  by  Sa- 
muel, Elijah,  Elisha,  &c.  but  it  does 
not  appear  that  all  the«e  young  men 
were  ever  inspired,  1  Sam.  x.  and 
xi.  and  xix.  2  Kings  ii.  Whether 
the  most  of  the  noted  prophets  were 
anointed  at  their  entrance  on  their 
office,  we  know  not.  It  is  certain 
they  generally  lived  in  a  very  low 
and  temperate  manner.  The  pre- 
sents given  them,  were  such  as  oil, 
bread,  fruits,  and  honey,  2  Kings  iv. 
42.  1  Sam.  ix.  7,  8.  and  x.  3.  Eli- 
VOL.   11. 


jah  had  nothing  but  simple  provision 
provided  him  at  the  brook  Cherith, 
and  in  the  widow's  house,  or  in  the 
wilderness  of  Judah.  The  100  [»ro 
phets  whom  Obadiah  maintained  in 
two  caves,  were  sustained  by  bread 
and  water.  The  Shunamite  provid- 
ed nothing  but  mere  necessaries  for 
Elisha.  As  there  were  multitudes  of 
true  prophets,  so  there  were  no  fewer 
false  ones  :  Ahab  and  his  wife  had 
850  of  them  at  one  time;  and  it  ap- 
pears from  the  prophecies  of  Hosea, 
jAIicah,  Jeremiah,  and  Ezekiel,  that 
the  country  of  Israel  and  Judah  then 
swarmed  with  them.  The  Hebrews 
were  therefore  required  to  try  pre* 
tenders  to  |)rophecy  in  the  most  ac- 
curate manner.  None  were  to  be 
held  for  true  prophets,  except  thei'r 
prophecies  were  fulfilled,  and  also 
their  doctrines  and  lives  tended  to 
promote  the  honour  and  service  of 
God,  Dent.  xiii.  Jer.  xxviii.  and  xxix. 
— Moses  was  superior  to  the  rest  of 
the  prophets.  He  appears  to  have 
been  habitually  disposed  to  receive 
the  revelations  of  God ;  and  to  him 
God  in  a  more  familiar  manner  ut- 
tered his  mind,  and  revealed  a  com- 
plete system  of  rules  for  his  worship, 
and  which  was  but  explained  and  in- 
culcated by  a  great  deal  of  Avhat  wa» 
said  by  the  rest,  Deut.  xxxiv.  10. 
John  Baptist  was  )norc  than  aprophct, 
as  he  pointed  out  Jesus  Christ  as  al- 
ready incarnate.  Matt.  xi.  9.  Paul, 
Peter,  and  John,  may  be  called  pro- 
phets, as  there  are  in  their  writings 
a  variety  of  predictions,  2  Thess.  1. 
and  ii.  1  Tim.  iv.  and  2  Tim.  iii.  and 
iv.  1  Pet.  iv.  2  Pet.  ii.  and  iii.  1  John 
ii.  Rev.  iv.  to  xxii. — But  Jesus  Christ 
is  caWed  that  Prophet :  he  was  infi- 
nitely superior  to  all  the  rest  in  dig- 
nity of  person,  in  extent  of  know- 
ledge, in  high  authority,  and  effica« 
cious  instruction,  John  vi.  14.  He 
was  a  Prophet  like  unto  Moses  :  How 
noted  his  meekness,  his  intimacy 
with  God,  and  his  faithful  discharge 
of  his  work  !  By  him  God  revealed 
a  whole  system  of  gospel-worship; 
and  at  what  infinite  hazanl  do  men 
despise  him  ;  Deut.  xviii.  15  to  TO. 
2  T 


PRO 


(     330     ) 


PRO 


Acts  iii.  22.  Some  commentators 
suppose  that  the  Romish  clergy  are 
called  \\\2  false  prophet ;  Ihey  pretend 
to  |)eculiHr  intimacy  with  God,  to 
int'illii)ility  in  the  knowledge  of  his 
wid,  and  to  rule  in  his  church,  but 
deceive  the  most  part  oC  the  world 
called  Christian;  but  others  think 
ihp  false  prophet  may  denote  the  Ma- 
lioiuetans,  whose  original  deluder 
pretended  to  receive  a  system  of  re- 
velations from  God,  Rev.  xvi.  13. 

In  order  to  understan<l  the  proithe- 
tic  parts  of  scripture,  the  following 
rules  may  be  useful:  (1.)  The  em- 
blematic language  of  prophecies  must 
be  carefully  studied,  j)articularly  the 
em!)lematic  names  given  to  Christ, 
the  church.  Antichrist,  nations,  ar- 
mies, &c.  See  Sacred  Tropology,  p. 
229  to  289.  (2.)  There  ought  to  be 
an  acquaintance  with  the  method  of 
salvation,  and  the  nature  of  Christ's 
spiritual  kingdom,  that  every  inter- 
pretation may  be  clearly  agreeable 
to  the  analogy  or  proportion  of  faith, 
Rom.  xii.  6,  (3.)  There  ought  to 
be  an  acquaintance  with  the  scrip- 
tures in  general,  in  order  that  the 
various  pro|)hecies  relating  to  the 
same  point  may  be  compared  toge- 
ther for  their  mutual  illustration.  (4.) 
There  ought  to  be  an  acquaintance 
with  the  events  of  Providence,  in 
order  to  examine  what  events  the 
predictions  tally  with.  (5.)  One 
must  come  with  a  mind  unbiassed, 
humbly  dependent  on,  and  earnestly 
looking  Uj)  to  the  Spirit  of  God  for 
direction  into  all  truth,  and  nothing 
else,  as  he  alone  fully  understands 
the  meaning  of  his  own  words.  (0.) 
Though  the  sense  of  a  proj)hecy  be 
but  simple  and  not  manifold,  yet  it 
may  be  fulfilled  in  a  variety  of  steps 
or  events :  thus,  the  predictions  of 
Moses,  Lev.  xxvi.  Deut.  xxviii.  and 
xxxii.  and  others  like  them,  had  their 
fulfilment  in  every  similar  event  that 
happened  to  the  Jews  after  that  time. 
And  prophecies  often  respect  the 
type  in  a  lower,  as  well  as  the  anti- 
type in  a  more  exalted  sense.  Thus 
^^  h.at  relates  to  David  and  Solomon 
jii  t-licir  tyjiic-al    appearances,  have 


their  more  full  accomplishment  ib 
Christ.  Many  of  those  relating  at 
first  to  the  Jewish  nation,  have  their 
complete  fulfilment  in  the  gospel  or 
heavenly  church.  Thus,  Isa.  xxxv. 
10.  was  accomplished  in  the  deli- 
verance from  Sennacherib's  army,  ia 
the  deliverance  from  Babylon,  in  the 
spread  of  the  gospel  by  the  apostles, 
in  the  deliverance  of  the  church  by 
Constantine,  and  will  have  a  more 
complete  fulfilment  in  the  millennial 
and  eternal  state.  Many  predictions 
relative  to  the  church  and  the  con- 
version of  the  nations,  relate  both 
to  the  apostolic  and  millennial  peri- 
ods, as  Isa.  xl.  Ezek.  Ix.  to  xlviii. 
&c.  and  have  some  expressions  so 
high,  that  their  full  accomplishment 
must  be  looked  for  only  in  heaven. 
But  as  no  prophecy  can  look  back- 
ward, that  in  Rev,  xxi.  and  xxii. 
must  respect  only  the  millennial  and 
eternal  state.  (7.)  Great  care  must 
be  taken  to  know  the  time  of  every 
prediction  as  nearly  as  possible,  that 
it  may  be  applied  only  to  things 
posterior  to  that  date :  and  to  knoAV 
the  subject  of  which  it  treats,  whe- 
ther simple  or  complex  ;  and  whe- 
ther it  speaks  of  its  subject  in  a  li- 
I  teral  or  a  figurative  sense,  Acts  viii. 
j  34.  And  in  order  to  know  the  sub- 
ject of  a  prophecy,  Ave  must  collect 
in  our  minds  all  or  the  principal  cha- 
racters applied  to  it  in  that  prophecy; 
nay,  though  it  should  be  named,  we 
are  by  these  to  find  out  whether  it  is 
to  be  taken  properly  or  figuratively, 
or  partly  in  both  ways.  By  this  rule 
it  is  easily  known,  that  David  in  Ez. 
xxxiv.  andxxxvii.  Hos.  iii.  5.  means 
Christ;  and  that  Psalm  Ixxxix.  xlv. 
and  Ixxii.  have  at  most  but  a  sub- 
ordinate reference  to  David  and  So- 
lomon, and  the  principal  to  Jesus 
Christ.  (8.)  When  a  subject  is  call- 
ed by  its  own  name,  and  the  whole 
or  principal  characters  agree  to  that 
subject,  we  must  never  de[)art  from 
the  literal  sense,  as  in  the  predic- 
tions relative  to  the  Canaanites. 
Edomites,  A  nimonites,Moabites,  Phi- 
listines, Assyrians,  Chaldeans,  Per- 
sians, Arabians,    Greek?,  and  most 


PRO 


(     331     ) 


PRO 


of  those  relating  to  the  Ilehrews, 
iVc.  but  ir  the  chararters  ilo  not 
agree  with  (lie  l^^ll»joct  ex|>resse(l  by 
name,  we  must  seek  lor  a  similar 
Bubject  to  which  they  can  agree ;  as 
ifl  the  case  of  Eiioin,  Isa.  Ixiii.  1, 
Elijah,  Mai.  iv.  5.  David,  Jer.  xxx. 
20.  (9.)  Oftentimes,  the  order  in 
which  things  stand  in  the  [trophetic 
books,  ilirects  us  to  the  period  and 
(hintrs  which  the  jirediclions  belong 


I  finil  that  as  arrangement  of  the  va- 
rious itredictions,  so  that  all  relating  to 
a  particular  suliject  and  event  be  or- 
ilerly  classed  together,  and  by  setting 
over  against  the  same  what  siiiMlar 
events  we  can  find  in  scrijtturt  or 
other  iiiftorj',  is  of  no  small  use  :  and 
I  doubt  not  but  a  person  well  ac- 
quainted with  his  Bible,  and  with 
the  iustory  of  nations  and  churches, 
would  find  that  providence  is  little 


to  :  thus,  as  the  last  27  chapters  oljelse  than  a  fulfilling  commentary  on 
Isaiah  are  introduced  with  the  preach-  the  oracles  of  God  ;  and  that  though 
ing  of  Joiui  Bai)tist,  it  is  proper  to 'miracles  be  now  comparatively  ceag- 
understaud  the  most  |)art  of  them  as  |ed,  the  continued  fulfilment  of  pro- 
relating  to  Cluist  and  the  gosi)el- j  pheeies  in  so  circumstantial  a  manner, 
church,  and  what  follows,  chap,  liii.jis  no  les*  strong  a  proof  of  divine  in- 
which  treats  of  Christ's  sufierings,  as  iS|iiralion  than  miracles  could  be. 
relating  to  the  establishment  and  glo- 1  PROPITIATION,  that  which 
ry  of  the  Christian  church;  ajid  in  atones  for  and  covers  our  guilt,  as  the 
the  book  of  Revelation,  the  events  mercy-seat  did  the  tables  of  the  law. 
relating  to  the  seals,  trumpets,  vials,  I  Jesus  Christ  is  called  {he  projiitialion 
and  New  Jerusalem,  must  be  under-  or  atonement,  as  through  his  death 
stood  as  succeeding  one  another,  iail  the  perfections  of  Deity  are  in 
However,  this  rule  must  be  atten<led  harmony  in  saving  all  such  as  truly 
to  with  proper  precaution,  as  the; believe  in  Christ,  Rom.  iii.  25. 
j)rophecies  are  often  intermixed  with   1  John  ii.  2. 

addresses  to  the  people  coeval  with  I  PROPORTION,  the  answerable- 
the  prophets,  and  with  ditferent  pre-  ness  of  one  thing  to  another,  1  Kings 
dictions  or  ex|>licalions  of  what  had  vii.  36.  Job  xli.  12.  The proj}orHon 
been  before  said  :  so  Revelation  xii.  .or  analogy  of  faith,  is  the  |)roportioa 


to  xxii.  contains  an  explication  of 
much  of  what  had  been  said  in  chap, 
viii.  and  ix.  and  xi.  (10.)  As  what- 
ever hints  Jesus  and  his  apostles 
have  given  us,  are  an  infallible  key 
for  directing  to  the  sense  of  prophet- 
ical passages ;  so  it  is  plain  from 
thence,  that  whatever  in  Moses,  in 
the  Psalms,  or  the  proj.hets,  can  be 
applied  to  Jesus  Christ,  his  church, 
and  spiritual  things,  without  doing 
violence  to  the  context,  ought  to  be 
so,  es|)ecially  if  the  characters  are 
too  high  for  other  sulijects,  as  Isa. 
xlii.  and  xlix.  Szc.  Tliis  sense  will 
most  display  the  emphasis  of  the  lan- 
guage, and  the  wisdom  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  and  his  testifying  of  Christ, 
and  will  best  suit  the  nature  of 
Christ's  spiritual  kingdom;  and  as 
David  was  a  type,  his  case  repre- 
sented in  the  Psalms  may  be  expect- 
ed to  be  very  often  typical  of  Christ's. 
(11.)  From  an  attempt  1  have  made, 


that  the  doctrines  of  the  gospel  bear 
to  each  other,  or  the  close  connexion 
between  the  truths  of  revetJed  reli- 
gion, Rom.  xii.  6. 

PROtJELYTE,  one  that  turned 
from  Heathenism  to  the  Jewish  reli- 
gion. Acts  ii.  10.  According  to 
most  authors,  some  were  onl}-  pros€- 
hjles  of  the  gate,  who,  though  they 
renounced  the  Heathen  idolatries, 
observed  what  the  rabbins  call  the 
seven  precepts  of  Noah,  and  attend- 
ed the  Jewish  instructions,  yet  were 
not  circumcised,  nor  partook  of  the 
passover.  To  these  the  Jews  adnrit- 
teu  hopes  of  eternal  life,  and  they  al- 
lowed them  to  dwell  in  Canaan;  and 
to  them  they  reckoned  it  lawful  to 
sell'the  flesh  of  animals  strangled  or 
dying  of  themselves.  Of  this  kind 
of  proselytes,  we  suppose  Naaman, 
Cornelius,  the  Ethiopiiiu  eunuch,  and 
Solomon's  153,600  servants,  to  have 
been.       Others    were   proselytes  of 


PRO 


(     332 


PRO 


righteousness,  or  of  the  covenant ;  and 
obliged  to  fulfil  the  whole  law  of  Mo- 
ses. At  their  admission,  their  mo- 
tives iufluenciag  them  to  change 
their  religion  were  examined,  and 
they  were  instructed  in  the  princi- 
ples of  Judaism.  Next,  if  males, 
they  were  circumcised,  and  then  baj)- 
tized  with  water,  and  presented  their 
oblation  to  the  Lord.  Their  females 
were  baptized,  and  then  they  offered 
their  offering  before  God.  No  boys 
under  12  years  of  age,  or  girls  under 
13,  were  admitted,  without  the  con- 
sent of  their  parents,  or,  if  these  re- 
fused, without  the  consent  of  the 
judges  of  the  place.  After  admis- 
sion, children  or  slaves  were  account- 
ed free  from  the  authority  of  their 
parents  or  masters.  Some  think,  no 
Edomites  or  Egyptians  could  be  ad- 
mitted proselytes  till  the  third  ge- 
neration, and  the  Ammonites,  or 
Moabites  not  till  the  tenth;  but  we 
suppose  this  exclusion  only  debarred 
them  from  places  of  civil  govern- 
ment, Deut.  xxiii.  1 — 8. 

PROSPECT,  view,  side  for  view- 
ing the  adjacent  ground,  Ezek.  xi.  44. 

PROSPERITY,  (1.)  Wealth, 
abundance  of  temporal  good  things, 
Psal.  Ixxiii.  3.  (2.)  Apparently  es- 
tablished rest,  peace,  and  wealth, 
Psal.  XXX.  9.  (3.)  Success  in  what 
one  does,  as  in  going  a  journey,  in 
outward  life,  or  in  trade,  Rom.  i.  10. 
Psal.  i.  3.  1  Cor.  xvi.  3.  A  mau'?^ 
soul  prosper  cih,  when  his  knowledijp 
of  divine  things,  faith  in  the  pro- 
mises and  offers  of  the  gospel,  the 
quieting  sense  of  reconciliation  with 
God,  and  comfortable  intimacy  with 
him,  an<l  conformity  to  him  in  heart 
and  life,  do  more  and  more  increase, 
3  John  2. 

PROSTITUTE,  vicious  for  hire, 
sold  to  infamy  or  wickedness,  as  when 
a  woman  gives  up  herself  to  be  a 
whore.  Lev,  xix.  f  29. 

PROTECT  and  PROTECTION, 
are  the  same  as  defend  and  de- 
fence. 

PROTEST,  to  declare  a  matter 
with  great  solemnity  and  concern, 
Jer.  xi.  7.    1  SaiB.  viii.  0. 


PROVE,  (1.)  To  try  or  examine 
one's  state,  sentiments,  or  cause,  2 
Cor.  xiii.  5.  John  vi.  6.  Psal.  xxvi.  2. 
(2.)  To  find  true  by  trial  and  experi- 
ence, Eccl.  vii.  23.  Rom.  xii.  2.  (3.) 
To  manifest  the  truth  of  a  point  by 
argument,  or  the  testimony  of  proper 
witnesses.  Acts  ix.  22.  and  xxiv. 
13.  (4.)  To  make  manifest  what  is 
in  men's  heart  by  afHicting  them, 
or  permitting  them  to  be  tempted ; 
so  God  proves  men,  Deut.  viii.  2.  and 
xiii.  3.  Men  prove  God,  when  by 
their  continued  wickedness  they  put 
his  patience  to  a  trial  how  much  it 
can  bear,  Psal.  xcv.  7.  or,  by  dili- 
gence in  repentance  and  good  works, 
make  atrial  how  much  God  will  coun- 
tenance such  conduct,  and  graciously 
do  for  them,  Mai.  iii.  10. 

PROVENDER,  dry  food  for  beasts 
to  eat.  The  Hebrews'  provender 
seems  to  have  been  a  mixture  of  oats, 
beans,  and  pease,  Gen.  xxiv.  25. 
Isa.  XXX.  24. 

PROVERB,  (1.)  A  short  sen- 
fence  containing  much  sense  in  it, 
Eccl.  xii.  9.  (2.)  A  short  taunting 
speech,  Isa.  xiv.  4.  Persons  or  things 
become  a  proverb  or  by-word,  when 
they  are  often  mentioned  in  a  way  of 
contem[)t  and  ridicule,  1  Kings  ix.  7. 
2  Chr.  vii.  20.  Prorcr^s  were  ancient- 
ly very  much  in  use,  and  were  ordi- 
narily :i  kind  of  short  parables.  Numb. 
xxi.  27.  Solomon  s|)oke  3,000  pro- 
verbs ;  hut  man}'^  of  these  never  being 
intended  for  a  standard  to  the  church, 
are  now  lost.  Such  as  remain  are 
in  the  Hebrew  called  mishle,  para- 
bles, well  pressed  or  ruling  sentences. 
In  the  book  of  proverbs,  we  have 
rules  for  every  period  and  station  of 
life;  for  kings,  courtiers,  tradesmen, 
masters,  servants,  parents,  children, 
<fec.  Probably  Solomon  collected  the 
first  24  chapters,  and  left  them  in 
writing;  Hezekiah  appointed  scribes 
to  copy  out  the  rest,  chap.  xxv.  1. 
Some  think  he  wrote  the  Proverbs 
in  his  middle  age,  when  his  son 
Rehoboam  was  young,  and  in  dan- 
ger of  seduction  by  lewd  women 
and  bad  companions,  if  not  rather 
after  he  repented  of  his  apostacy  oc* 


PRO 


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PSA 


caaioned  by  bis  numerous  anil  wicked 
wives.  Tbe  latter  part  of  cbap.  i. 
exbibits  tbe  gospel-call,  and  llie  ter- 
rible cakiriiities  brougbt  on  tbe  Jews 
orotbers  by  Ibeir  rcjecling  tbe  same. 
Tbe  fitb  and  beginning  of  Ibe  Otli, 
contain  n  representation  of  Jesus 
Cluist  in  bis  person,  office,  and  l»e- 
nefits.  Tbe  rest  ol  tbe  book  generally 
relates  to  moral  virtues,  and  tbeir 
contrary  vices.  Young  people  may 
here  learn  mucb  more  relative  to 
true  bebaviour,  Iban  in  10,000  ro- 
mances, novels,  plays.  Sec.  Tbe 
Greek  interpreter,  and  sucb  as  fol- 
lowed him,  bave  used  intolerable 
freedom  witb  tbis  book,  adding  a  va- 
riety of  tbings  not  in  tbe  original. 

PROVIDE,  to  look  out,  prepare, 
Acts  xxiii.  24. 

PROVIDENCE,  prudent  fore- 
sigbt,  and  tender  care  in  managing 
affairs,  Acts  xxiv.  2.  God's  provi- 
dence, in  bis  boly,  wise,  and  power- 
ful, management  of  bis  creatures,  sup- 
porting tbera  in  their  being  and  form, 
and  governing  them  in  all  their  ac- 
tions, natural,  civil,  virtuous,  or  sin- 
ful, to  the  glory  of  bis  name  and  the 
good  of  bis  people,  Rom.  xi.  36. 
j)an.  iv.  34,  35.  Providence  ex- 
tends to  every  creature,  but  is  chief- 
ly conversant  about  rational  crea- 
tures, in  giving  them  laws,  enabling 
them  to  obey,  and  in  rewarding  or 
punishing  in  time  or  eternity,  as  is 
meet;  and  sucb  as  belong  to  Christ 
by  faith  in  him,  are  the  most  pecu- 
liar objects  of  divine  care,  Psal.  cvii. 
Isa.  i.  lii.  and  liii.  Tbe  events  of  pro- 
vidence are  either  common,  wherein 
things  are  produced  by  second  causes 
in  an  ordinary  manner;  or  miraculous., 
wherein  the  powers  of  second  causes 
are  exceeded  or  counteracted.  A 
careful  observation  of  providence 
tends  much  to  increase  our  know- 
ledge of  the  scriptures,  and  of  the  di- 
vine perfections,  and  to  render  our 
minds  composed,  an)idst  tbe  various 
conditions  we  may  be  in,  Psal.  civ. 
— cvii. 

PROVINCE,  a  country,  or  part 
of  a  kingdom  or  empire,  Ezra  iv.  1.5. 
The  Romans  called  those  places  pro- 


vinces  which  tbcy  had  conquered 
and  reduced  under  their  form  of  ci- 
vil government,  Acts  xxv.  1. 

PROVISION,  victuals,  and  other 
things  necessarj'  for  maintaining  a 
person  or  family.  Zions  provision 
is  not  chiefly  tbe  sacred  loud  of  tbe 
Jewish  |)riests,  but  God's  word  and 
ordinances  assigned  for  tbe  spiritual 
food  of  tbe  church,  Psal.  cxxxii.  15. 
Provision/or  the  Jlesh,  is  w  bat  tends 
to  strengthen  our  inward  corruption, 
and  to  excite  sinful  thoughts,  worda, 
and  deeds,  Rom.  xiii.  14. 

PROVOKE,  to  stir  up,  whether 
to  anger,  Psal.  cvi.  26.  or  to  care- 
ful concern  about  salvation,  Rom.  xi. 
18.  or  to  love  anil  good  works, 
Heb.  X.  24.  Puovocatiox,  is  what 
tends  to  excite  wrath,  as  sin  does  in 
God,  Neb.  ix.  18.  and  tbe  idola- 
trous offerings  of  tbe  Hebiews  were 
sucb  to  him,  Ezek.  xx.  23.  Jeru- 
salem Avas  a  provocation  to  God,  be- 
cause of  the  great  sin  there  com- 
mitted, Jer.  xxxii.  31.  Job's  eye 
continued  in  his  friend's  provocation  ; 
he  was  w  earied  and  angry  witb  see- 
ing and  hearing  them  sneer  at  him, 
and  charge  him  w  ith  hypocrisj' ;  and 
even  in  the  night  his  grief  on  that  ac- 
count restrained  bis  eyes  from  clos- 
ing in  sleep,  Job.  xvii.  12. 

PRUDENT,  wise,  skilful  in  find- 
ing out  truth,  or  managing  matters  to 
tbe  best  advantage,  1  Sam.  x^vi.  IS. 

PRUNE,  to  cut  off  superfluous 
branches  from  trees  and  vines,  that 
they  may  not  waste  the  sap,  and  so 
render  the  tree  less  fruitful.  Lev. 
xxv.  3. 

PSALMS,  a  canonical  bookoftlie 
Old  Testament,  containing  spiritual 
songs  and  hymns,  written  by  king 
David  and  others.  They  are  called 
psalms,  from  the  Greek  -^uXXii, 
which  signifies  to  touch  sweetly,  be- 
cause with  the  voice  was  joined  the 
sound  of  musical  instnmienls.  When 
psalms,  hymns,  and  spiritual  songs,  are 
mentioned  together,  psalms  may  de- 
note sucb  as  were  sung  on  instru- 
ments ;  hymns,  such  as  contain  only 
matter  of  praise;  and  s]>iritual  songs 
such  as  contain   doctrines,  history. 


PSA 


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PSA 


and  prophecy,  for  men's  instruction, 
Eph.  V.  19.  The  book  of  Psalms  is 
one  of  the  most  extensive  and  use- 
ful in  scripture,  suiting  every  case  of 
the  saints ;  and  indeed  like  their  con- 
dition, which  is  at  first  much  mixed 
with  comphiints  and  sorrows,  and  at 
last  issues  in  high  and  endless  praise. 
That  David  composed  the  most  of 
the  psalms,  is  bej'ond  doubt ;  Heman 
composed  the  88th,  Ethan  the  89th, 
Moses  the  90th.  Whether  those 
under  the  name  of  Asaph  were  pen- 
ned by  one  of  that  name,  or  whe- 
ther they  were  only  assigned  to  be 
sung  by  him,  as  others  were  to  the 
sons  of  Korah,  we  caniiot  positively 
determine.  Some,  as  the  74th,  79th, 
and  137th,  appear  to  have  been  com- 
posed after  the  commencement  of  the 
captivity  in  Babylon.  The  rest,  in- 
cluding those  two  marked  with  the 
name  of  Solomon,  might  be  composed 
b}"^  David,  who  on  that  account  is  call- 
ed the  sweet psalmistoi  Israel,  2  Sam. 
xxiii.  1.  In  their  matter,  some  psalms 
are  doctrinal,  as  Psal.  i.  some  histori- 
cal, as  Psal.  Ixxviii.  and  cv.  and  cvi. 
some  prophetic,  as  Psal.  ex.  some 
consist  of  prayer  and  complaints,  as 
Psal.  vi.  and  xxxviii.  &c.  others  con- 
i^ist  of  praise  and  thanksgiving,  as 
Psal.  cxlv. — cl.  In  some,  most  or  all 
of  these  subjects  are  connected,  Psal. 
Ixxxix.  Whether  the  titles  of  the 
psalms  are  of  divine  authority,  is  not 
agreed.  The  Hebrew  words  there- 
in mentioned  are  by  some  consider- 
ed as  names  of  instruments  of  music, 
or  first  words  of  some  song,  or  to 
denote  the  subject-matter  of  the 
psalm.  We  think,  Maschil  always 
signifies  that  the  psalm  is  designed  for 
instruction,  Psal.  xxxii.  that  Michtam 
denotes  the  precious  or  golden  nature 
of  the  psalm;  and  perhaps  all  the 
psalms  so  marked  relate  to  Christ, 
as  Gussetius  observes,  xvi.  Ivi. — Ix. 
Alrtaschith,  destroy  not,  may  de- 
note, that  the  scope  of  the  psalm  was 
to  deprecate  destruction,  Ivii.  Iviii. 
lix.  Muthlabbcn,  m?iy  denote  that  the 
psalm  was  composed  on  the  occasion 
of  the  death  of  his  son,  or  of  Goliath 
the  dueller,  ix.    Aijeleth  Shahar,  that 


its  subject  is  Jesus  Christ,  the  hindof 
the  morning,  xxii.  JonatJi-elem-recho- 
kim,  that  David  is  therein  represent- 
ed as  a  mute  dove  among  foreigners, 
Ivi.  Shoshanniin,  Shoshannim-eduth\ 
or  Shushan-eduth,  may  either  signify 
that  the  subject  of  the  psalm  is  Christ 
and  his  people,  who  are  lilies,  or  li- 
lies of  the  testimony  or  congregation, 
or  may  signify  a  harp  of  six  strings, 
as  Sheminith  does  one  of  eight,  Psal. 
xlv.lx.  Ixxx.  and  xii.  Mahalath^eems 
to  be  the  name  of  the  tune  or  instru- 
ment, asPsalm  liii.  and  Mahalathlean- 
noth{\\e  latter  part  of  the  proper  name 
of  the  tune  or  instrument,  Psal.  liii. 
Ixxxviii.  Ncginoth  or  Niginah,  signi- 
fies s^rmi^f///7i6<nf?neHf5,  Psal.iv.  and 
Ixi.  Nchiloth,  wind  instruments,  Psa. 
V.  Gillilh,  a  kind  of  instrument  in- 
vented at  Gath,  Ps.  viii.  Alamoth,  the 
virginals,  or  a  song  to  be  sung  by  vir- 
gins, xivi.  Shiggaion  or  Shiggionoth, 
may  denote  that  the  psalm  is  to  be  sung 
with  diversified  tunes,  or  has  very  di- 
versified matter,  vii.  Hab.  iii.  1.  The 
120th  and  14  following,  are  entitled 
songs  of  degrees,  probably  because 
they  were  sung  on  the  stairs  of  the 
temple,  or  sung  at  certain  halts  made 
by  David  and  the  Israelites  when 
they  brought  up  the  ark  of  God 
from  Kirjath-jearim.  The  Hebrews 
divided  the  psalms  into  five  books, 
ending  with  xli.  Ixxii.  Ixxxix.  cvi. 
and  cl.  the  four  first  of  which  are  con- 
cluded with  Amen.  By  joining  the 
ix.  Avith  the  x.  and  civ.  with  cv. 
and  again  dividing  the  cxvi.  and 
cxlvii.  into  two,  the  Greek  version 
and  the  Vulgate  Latin  differ  one  or 
two  in  their  reckoning  from  us. — 
Some  arrogant  Greek  has  also  axlded 
one  at  the  end. 

PSALTERY,  a  musical  instrument 
much  used  by  the  Hebrews.  It 
was  made  of  wood,  with  strings 
fixed  to  it.  It  is  said  to  have  been  of 
a  triangular  form,  with  a  hollow  belly, 
and  with  strings  from  top  to  bottom, 
which  being  touched  with  the  finger 
or  bow,  gave  a  very  agreeable 
sound,  and  to  have  differed  little 
from  the  harp,  only  it  was  played  on 
below,  and  the  harp  above.     In  Jo- 


?  V  L 


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PUN 


aephus's  time,  the  psaltery  ornablion 
had  12  strings.  Our  incKlern  psaltery 
is  a  flat  instrument  of  a  triangular 
lorni,  strung  from  side  to  side  with 
iron  or  hrass  wire,  and  [ilayed  on 
with  a  kind  of  how. 

PTOLEMAIS.     See  Accno. 

PUBLICAN,  an  inferior  collector 
of  the  Roman  tribute.  The  |)rincipal 
farmers  of  this  revenue  were  men  of 
great  credit  and  influence;  but  the 
under-farmers,  or  publicans,  w  ere  ac- 
counted as  oppressive  and  vile  as 
thieves  and  pick-pockets.  As  they 
were  at  once  cruel  oppressors  anti 
badges  of  slavery,  the  Jews  detested 
thejn  to  the  last  degree.  If  either  far- 
mers or  publicans  were  convicled  of 
oppression,  the  Roman  law  ordei-ed 
them  to  restore  fourfold,  Luke  xix.  8. 
Our  Saviour  showed  a  compassionate 
regard  to  the  publicans;  and  told  the 
Pharisees,  who  were  enraged  thereat, 
that  |)ul)licans  and  harlots,  being  more 
ready  to  receive  conviction,stood  fair- 
er to  enter  the  kingdom  of  God  than 
themselves.  Matthew,  Zaccheus,and 
probably  other  publicans,  became  his 
disciples,  Luke  xv.  2.  Matt.  xxi.  31. 
Luke  xviii.  10 — 14.  and  xix.  1 — 10. 

PUBLIC,  known  to  many,  Matt. 
i.  19. 

PUBLISH,  to  make  known  to 
many,  Ueut.  xxxii.  3. 

PUBLICS,  common.  See  Melita. 

To  PUFF  at  one,  is  to  hiss  and 
make  mouths  at  him,  Psal.  xii.  5.  To 
be  jniffed  up,  is  to  be  filled  with  self- 
conceit,  as  a  blown  bladder  is  with 
wind,  1  Cor.  v.  1.  and  viii.  1. 

PUL,  a  bean,  decay,  or  destruc- 
tion. (1.)  The  first  king  of  As- 
syria who  invaded  Canaan,  and, 
by  a  present  of  1000  talents  of  sil- 
ver, was  prevailed  on  by  Menahem 
to  withdraw  his  troops,  and  recog- 
nize the  title  oi"  that  wicked  usur- 
per, 2  Kings  XV.  19. — But  who  he 
was,  the  learned  are  not  agreed. 
Usher,  RoUin,  Calmet,  and  Pri- 
deaux,  reckon  him  the  father  of  Sar- 
danapalis;  and  Patrick  is  no  less 
confident  that  he  was  the  same  v.ith 
Baladan  or  Belesis  the  Chaldean. 
Sir  Isaac  Newton,  and  the  aathors  of 


the  Universal  History,  reckon  hiln 
the  first  founder  of  the  Assyrian  em- 
l)ire.  His  name  is  a  pure  Assyrian 
I  word,  without  the  least  tincture  of 
the  Chaldean  idiom,  and  is  |)lainly  a 
part  of  the  comjiound  names  of  Tig- 
lath-pul-assur,  Nebo-i)ul-assur,  and 
Sardan-pul,  his  successors.  It  is  pro- 
bable he  was  worshipped  under  the 
name  of  the  Assyrian  Belus.  (2.)  A 
place  where  the  gospel  Avas  preach- 
ed in  the  apostolic  age.  The  vulgate 
version  calls  this  Africa:  others  will 
have  it  liyliia;  but  I  suppose  Bo- 
chart  and  Vilringa  are  more  in  the 
right,  who  reckon  it  the  same  as 
Philas,  an  island  of  the  Nile  on  the 
north  border  of  Abyssinia :  only  I 
think  it  is  put  for  the  whole  country 
round  about,  Isa.  Ixvi.  19. 

Pi  XL,  to  draw  with  force,  Gen. 
xix.  10. 

PULSE,  coarse  grain,  as  pease, 
beans,  and  the  like,  Dan.  i.  12. 

PUNISHMENT,  any  infliction 
imposed  in  vengeance  of  a  crime, 
whether  in  a  way  of  proper  wrath, 
or  of  kind  correction.  Lam.  iii.  39. 
but,  properly  taken,  it  means  the 
infliction  of  deserved  wrath.  Matt. 
XXV.  40.  It  also  denotes  church- 
censure  for  correcting  and  reforming 
oflenders,  2  Cor.  ii.  t).  In  scripture, 
we  find  a  variety  of  civil  punish- 
ments, as,  (1.)  Retaliation,  accord- 
ing to  which  the  offender  Avas  serv- 
ed as  he  had  injured  his  neighbour, 
stripe  for  stripe,  an  eye  for  an  eye, 
and  a  tooth  for  a  tooth.  Sec.  but  this 
might  be  changed  into  some  other 
satisfaction,  as  of  money,  &c.  Exod. 
xxi.  23,  24,  25.  Deut.  xix.  21.  (2.) 
Fining  in  a  certain  value  or  sum  of 
money  :  He  that  hurt  a  woman  w'ith 
child,  but  not  so  as  to  cause  abor- 
tion, he  that  reproached  his  wife 
with  unchastity  before  marriage,  and 
he  that  hurt  his  servant  or  neighbour, 
was  fined,  Exod.  xxi.  Deut.  xxii. 
13 — 19.  To  this  may  be  reduced 
whatever  part  of  restitution  was 
above  the  value  of  the  principal, 
Exod.  xxii.  Lev.  xxvii.  and  a  confis- 
cation of  goods  to  the  king's  use, 
Ezra  vii.  26.  (3.)  Scourging  :  so  (he 


p  u  Isr 


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PUN 


wliorish  slave  was  to  be  punished; 
but  among  the  Jews,  a  person  was 
never  to  receive  above  40  stripes  at 
once,  Deut.  xx^'.  1,  2,  3.  2  Cor.  xi. 
24.  (4.)  Imprisonment :  sometimes, 
indeed,  this  was  not  a  proper  punish- 
ment, but  used  as  a  mean  to  retain 
persons;  so  Joseph  imprisoned  all 
liis  ten  brethren  three  daj^s,  and  Si- 
meon much  longer,  Gen.  xlii.  17  to 
24.  The  blasphemer  and  the  ga- 
therer of  sticks  on  the  Sabbath  day, 
were  imprisoned  till  the  Lord  should 
declare  their  punishment,  Lev.  xxiv. 
12.  Numb.  XV.  34.  Sometimes  it 
was  proper  punishment,  especially 
when  attended  with  severities  of  an- 
other kind.  Joseph  was  imprisoned 
and  put  in  chains  by  Potiphar,  Gen. 
xxxix.  20.  Psal.cv.  18.  Samson  was 
imprisoned  by  the  Philistines,  and 
meanwhile  had  his  eyes  put  out,  and 
was  obliged  to  grind  at  their  mill. 
Hoshea,  Manasseh,  Jehoahaz,  Jehoi- 
achin,  and  Zedekiah,  were  all  shut 
up  in  prison  by  their  conquerors, 
and  the  last  had  his  eyes  put  out,  2 
Kings  xvii.  4.  2  Chron.  xxxiii.  11. 
2  Kings  xxiv.  12.  and  xxv.  7 — 27. 
The  prophet  who  rebuked  Asa,  Mi- 
caiah,  Jeremiah,  Peter,  John,  Paul, 
&c.  were  all  put  in  prison  for  their 
faithfulness.  Sometimes  there  was 
an  imprisonment  at  large;  as  when 
Paul  ihad  leave  to  dwell  at  his  OAvn 
hired  house,  with  a  soldier  that  kept 
him.  Bonds,  fetters,  stocks,  hard 
fare,  &c.  ordinarily  attended  impri- 
sonment. (5.)  Pbicking  out  of  the 
eyes.  This  happened  in  tl?3  case  of 
Samson  and  Zedekiah,  and  was  in- 
tended for  the  inhabitants  of  Jabesh- 
gllead,  Exod.  xxi.  24.  Judges  xvi. 
21.  2  Kings  xxv.  7.  1  Sam.  xi.  2. 
(6.)  Cutting  off  particular  members  of 
the  body,  as  of  the  toes  or  thumbs :  so 
Adonibezek  served  70  of  his  fellow- 
kings  of  Canaan,  and  at  last  was  so 
used  himself  by  the  Hebrews,  Judg. 
i.  5,  6,  7.  Baanah  and  Rechab,  who 
murdered  Ishbosheth,  had  first  their 
hands  and  feet  cut  off,  and  then  were 
hanged,  2  Sam.  iv.  12.  (7.)  Pbicking 
ajfthe  hair,  was  at  once  a  very  shame- 
ful and  painful  punishment,  Isa.  1.  6. 


so  Nehemiah  punished  some  who  had 
married  idolatrous  women,  Neh.  xiii. 
25.  At  Athens,  after  the  hair  of 
adulterers  was  plucked  off,  they  ap- 
plied burning  ashes  to  the  skin.  (8.) 
Killing  with  the  srvord:  so  Zeba, 
Zalmunna,  Adonijah,  and  Joab,  were 
executed,  Judg.  viii.  21.  1  Kings  ii. 
25,  34.  (9.)  Crucifixion  ;  in  which 
the  criminal  being  stretched  and 
bound  or  nailed  to  a  cross,  hung  there 
till  he  expired,  Matt,  xxvii.  (10.) 
Hanging.  According  to  the  Jews, 
none  but  idolaters  and  blasphemers 
were  hanged  among  them.  Some 
as  Haman  and  his  sons,  and  the  king 
of  Ai,  were  hung  up  alive,  Esth. 
vii.  and  ix.  Joshua  viii.  29.  Saul's 
seven  descendants  were  hung  up  till 
they  died,  and  remained  a  consider- 
able time  after,  1  Sam.  xxi.  12.  Pha- 
raoh's baker  was  first  beheaded,  and 
then  hung  up  in  chains.  Gen.  xl.  19. 
(11.)  Stoning  to  death  was  a  very 
common  punishment.  It  is  said  to 
have  been  used  wherever  death  was 
the  penalty,  and  the  kind  of  it  not 
mentioned  :  as  in  the  case  of  incest- 
uous persons;  defilers  of  women 
betrothed  or  married,  or  by  force, 
OT  while  in  their  issues;  Sodomites, 
idolaters,  blasphemers,  magicians, 
witches.  Sabbath  profaners,  rebel- 
lious children,  &c.  (12.)  Burning 
alive.  He  that  married,  or  had  car- 
nal knowledge  of  both  mother  and 
daughter :  and  a  priest's  daughter 
who  committed  fornication;  were 
thus  punished,  Lev.  xx.  14.  and  xxi. 
9.  Thus  Judah  proposed  to  punish 
Tamar;  and  Nebuchadnezzar  at- 
tempted to  punish  Shadrach,  Me- 
shach,  and  Abedneso,  Gen.  xxxviil. 
24.  Dan.  iii.  21.  (13.)  Throwing  of 
persons  from  the  top  of  a  rock,  with 
or  without  a  stone  about  their  neck, 
or  into  the  sea.  Amaziah  threw 
1 0,000  Edomitish  prisoners  from  the 
top  of  a  rock,  2  Chron.  xxv.  12. — 
The  people  of  Nazareth  attempted  to 
cast  our  Saviour  from  the  top  of  a 
rock,  Luke  iv.  29.  (14.)  Behead- 
ing :  SO  Pharaoh's  baker  was  cut  off; 
so  Abimelech  murdered  his  70  bre- 
thren   and  the   elders  of  Samaria, 


PUN 


(     337     ) 


PUR 


at  Jehu's  command,  murdered  70  of 
Aliiilt's  jioslerity,  and  sent  their  heads* 
in  I).isket3  to  \\\iu;  and  ihus  Herod 
murdered  John,  lien.  xl.  19.  Judj^.ix. 
5.  'J.  lvin?s  X.  7.  Malt.  xiv.  10.  (15.) 
Ttariiii^  to  picas  alive:  so  Gideon 
tore  oil"  the  flesh  ol'  the  rulers  of  Suc- 
colh  Willi  hriers  and  thorn!?.  David, 
accordinii  to  our  version,  tore  ofl' the 
flesh  of  the  Ammonites,  by  causing 
them  to  pass  under  saws,  harrou.s, 
and  axes  ol'  iron,  or  caused  them  to 
pass  through  the  burning  brick-idln. 
It  is  also  supposed  he  tortured  to 
death  two-thirds  of  the  Moabites. 
Judg.  viii.  16.  2  Sam.  xii.  31.  and 
vhi.  2.  (lb.)  Edfosiirc  to  wild  beasts, 
to  be  torn  to  pieces  by  them  ;  so 
Daniel  and  his  accusers  were  Cast 
into  the  den  of  lions,  chap.  vi.  The 
Heathens  frequently  exposetl  the  pri- 
mitive Christians  to  wild  beasts,  and 
sometimes  in  wild  lieasts'  skins,  that 
they  might  be  the  more  readily  torn 
asunder.  Some  think  Paul  was  expos- 
ed to  beasts  at  Ephesus,  1  Cor.  xv.  32. 
(17.)  Racki)ts^  or  iynipani::ing  ;  what 
this  punishment  was,  whether  that  of 
the  tressel  or  chivalet,  or  flaying 
alive,  or  the  bastinado,  is  not  agreed  ; 
but  the  last  of  these  is  most  proba- 
ble, and  best  accords  with  the  mean- 
ing of  the  original,  Heb.  xi.  35.  (18.) 
Samng  (Lsvmler,  beginning  either  at 
the  feet  or  at  the  head :  so  it  is  said 
Isaiah  was  murdered  by  Manasseh, 
and  so  it  is  certain  some  godly  He- 
brews were  murdered  by  their  per- 
secutors, Heb.  xi.  37.  This  terrible 
punishment  is  said  to  have  had  its 
rise  among  the  Chaldeans  or  Per- 
sians ;  and  not  long  ago  it  was  used 
in  Morocco  and  Switzerland,  if  it  be 
not  so  in  the  former  still.  (IQ-) 
Sometimes  the  very  Jwuscs  of  offend- 
ers were  demolished,  and  made  dung- 
hills, Dan.  ii.  5.  and  iii.  29.  and  so 
Jehu  demolished  the  temple  of  Baal, 
2  Kings  X.  27. 

PUNON,  a  precious  stone,  behold- 
ing, w  here  the  Hebrews  encamped  in 
the  desert,  is  probably  the  same  as  the 
Phauos  or  Phenos,  which  Euscnius 
places  four  miles  from  Dedan,  bet  ween 
Petra  and  Zoar,  and  whose  bishops 

Vol.  II. 


we  find  among  tlie  subscribers  totlie 
ancient  couueils.  Whether  it  wag 
here  or  at  Zaimonah  that  the  brazen 
serpent  was  erected,  we  can  hardly 
tell ;  but  near  to  tiiis  jjlace  there  were 
mines  sfMlangeious  to  work,  thai  the 
e.)ndemnetl malefactors  lived  in  them 
but  a  iew  days,  Num.  xxxiii.  42,  43. 
PUR.     See  Feast. 

PURE,  I'URGE,  PURIFY.  Sct 
CliEAN. 

PURLOIN,  to  take  what  belongs 
to  another;  to  steal;  to  take  by  thcft» 
Tit.  ii.  10. 

PURPLE-DIE,  especially  that  of 
Tyre,  was  much  esteemed,  and  was 
much  worn  by  kings  and  emperors. 
It  was  died  with  the  blood  of  a  shell- 
fish, plenty  of  Avhich  were  found  ia 
the  sea  on  the  north-west  of  Canaan, 
and  are  still  found  about  the  Caribbee 
islands  and  other  parts  of  America, 
and  even  on  the  west  of  England. — 
Purple  was  used  in  the  curtains  of 
the  tabernacle,  and  robes  of  the 
priests ;  if  w  hat  we  render  purple 
and  scarlet  ought  not  rather  to  be 
rendered  scarlet  and  crimson,  Exod. 
XXV. — xxviii.  XXXV.  xxxix.  The 
Chaldeans  clothed  their  idols  with 
habits  of  purple  and  azure  colour. 
The  husband  of  the  virtuous  woman, 
and  the  rich  man,  are  represented  as 
clothed  in  purple,  Prov.  xxxi.  22. 
Luke  xvi.  19.  To  reward  Daniel 
for  explaining  Belshazzar's  dream, 
he  was  clothed  in  purple  or  scarlet, 
and  had  a  chain  of  gold  put  i.i/out 
iiis  neck,  Dan.  v.  7,  29.  Mordccai, 
when  made  chief  minister  of  state  in 
Persia,  was  clothed  in  purple  and 
fine  linen,  Esth.  viii.  15.  Furplc 
was  much  used  in  Phenicia,  Ezek. 
xxvii.  7,  It),  and  the  Popish  cardi- 
nals wear  clothes  of  it.  Rev.  xvii.  4. 
To  ridicule  our  Saviour's  royalty,  his 
enemies  arrayed  him  in  purple,  Mark 
XV.  17. 

PURPOSE,  (1.)  A  firm  resolu- 
tion of  soul,  Acts  xi.  23.  2  Tim.  iii. 
10.  (2.)  The  end  for  which  any 
ibing  is  done,  Neh.  viii.  4.  The 
purpose  of  God  mentioned  in  the 
scrijitures  appears  to  include  his 
gracious  design  of  calling  men  in 
2  U 


F  U  t 


{     338     ) 


P  Y  G 


general,  Gentiles  as  well  as  Jews,! 
to  salvation,  Rom.  viii.  28.  of  ga- 
thering together  all  tilings  in  Christ, 
Eph.  i.  11.  of  making  the  Gen- 
tiles fellow-heirs  and  of  the  same 
body  with  the  Jews,  and  partakers 
of  his  promise  in  Christ  by  the  gos|)el, 
E[)h.  iii.  n.  2  Tim.  i.  9.  of  choos- 
ing one  nation  rather  than  another 
to  certain  privileges  and  blessings, 
Rom.  ix.  1 1. 

PURSE,  a  small  bag  to  carry  mo- 
ney in,  and  which  was  wont  to  be 
in  the  folds  of  men's  girdles,  Matt. 
X.  9.  Christ  prohibited  his  disci- 
ples from  taking  with  them  purse  or 
scrip,  to  evidence  that  they  had  no  in- 
tention to  acquire  money,  and  that 
they  constantl}'^  depended  on  God  for 
their  daily  bread,  Luke  xxii.  35. 

To  PURSUE  a  person,  is  to  fol- 
low hard  after  him,  either  as  an  enemy 
to  do  him  hurt,  Gen.  xxxv.  5.  or  as 
a  supplicant  to  entreat  him  earnestly, 
Frov.  xix.  7.  ^o  pursue  good  or  evil, 
is  earnestly  to  endeavour  the  prac- 
tice of  it,  Psal.  xxxiv.  14.  Prov.  xi. 
19.  Evil  or  blood /;?/r52<f5  men,  when 
the  just  punishment  of  murder  and 
other  wickedness  is  hastened  upon 
them,  Prov.  xiii.  21.  Ezek.  xxxv.  6. 
Psal.  cxl.  11. 

PURTENANCE,  what  belongs 
to  any  thing :  the  inwards,  heart,  li- 
ver, &c.  of  the  paschal  lamb  was  its 
purlenance,  which  was  to  be  roasted 
along  with  the  rest  of  it,  Exod. 
xii.  9. 

PUSH,  to  thrust  at  one  as  a  go- 
ring ox  or  fighting  ram,  Exod.  xxi. 
29.  To  push  arvaij  one^s  feet,  is  to 
thrust  him  out  of  his  place  or  station, 
Job  XXX.  12.  To  push  nations,  is  to 
make  war  upon  them  with  fury  and 
violence,  Dan.  viii.  4.  and  xi.  40. 

PUT.  God  ptits  away  sin,  by  for- 
giving it,  2  Sam.  xii.  13.  Chvistptci 
away  sin,  by  satisfying  the  justice  o; 
God  for  it,  Heb.  ix.26.  Men  pttt 
away  the  evil  of  their  doings,  when 
they  reform  from  their  wicked  cour- 
ses, Isa.  i.  16.  They  put  far  away  the 
ail  day,  and  cause  the  seat  of  violence 


to  come  nigh,  when,  in  hopes  that  af- 
fliction will  be  long  or  for  ever  de- 
layed, they  give  up  themselves  to 
oppression,  perverting  of  judgment, 
murder,  and  the  like,  Amos  vi.  3. 
They  put  away  their  ivives,  when  they 
divorce  and  expel  them  from  their 
families,  Mai.  ii.  16.  To  p2it  on  the 
Lord  Jesus,  is  by  faith  to  receive 
him  as  our  righteousness  and  sancti- 
fication,  Rom.  xiii.  14.  He  is  put 
on,  as  to  a  solenni  profession  hereof 
in  baptism.  Gal.  iii.  27.  To  put  on 
the  whole  annour  of  God,  is  to  be  in 
constant  readiness  to  improve  it,  and 
defend  one's  self  therewith,  against 
sin,  Satan,  and  the  world,  Eph.  vi. 
1 1 .  To  put  off"  the  old  man,  or  body 
of  sin,  ami  ptit  on  the  new,  or  the  graces 
of  the  Spirit,  is  to  have  our  state  and 
nature  changed  by  the  word.  Spirit, 
and  blood  of  Christ,  and  to  repent 
of,  and  turn  from  sin,  and  be  con- 
formed (o  God  in  knowledge,  righte- 
ousness, holiness,  meekness,  and  love, 
Col.  ii.  11.  and  iii.  9.  Eph.  iv.  24. 
Col.  iii.  10— -14. 

PUTEOLI,  stdphureous  wells,  a 
citj^  in  Campania  in  Italy,  so  called 
from  the  stink  of  its  hot  waters,  or 
the  multitude  of  its  wells.  It  stood 
about  eight  miles  from  Najjies,  and 
100  south  of  Rome.  From  hence  a 
considerable  trade  was  carried  on 
with  Alexandria  in  Egypt ;  and  here 
Paul  halted  seven  days  as  he  went 
prisoner  to  Rome,  Acts  xxviii.  13. 
We  find  several  of  its  bishops  in  the 
primitive  councils  of  the  Christian 
church. 

PUTREFYING,  rotting. 

PYGARG,  or  white  buttocks, 
is  a  name  sometimes  given  to  the 
eagle  with  a  white  tail ;  but  with 
Moses  it  signifies  a  four-footed  beast. 
Its  Hebrew  name  Dishon,  hints  it 
to  be  ash-coloured  :  and  so  it  is  like 
to  be  the  tragelaphus  or  goat-deer, 
whose  back  and  sides  are  partly  ash- 
coloured.  It  was  a  clean  beast;  but 
whether  the  same  with  the  pygarg  of 
Herodotus,  Pliny,  and  Elian,  we  can- 
not say,  Deut,  xiv,  5. 


QUA 


(     339     ) 


QUE 


Q 

I^UAILS,  ukindof  hinlsof  a  mid-j  inurmurers  would  have  been  con? 
^^5  (lie  size,  between  sfiarrows  aud  tented  with  tlieir  disa2;ieealjle  flesh, 
piijeons.  They  arc  extremely  iiu-  QrANTITV,  measure,  higiiehs, 
nuruw.s  in  warm  countries.  A  size,  Isa.  xxii.  2-1. 
hundred  thousand  ol'  them  have  beenj  QUAKKEL,  strife,  an  occasion  fo 
caught  in  Italy,  within  the  space  ol'ido  another  hurt,  2  Kini^a  v.  7.  The 
five  miles,  every  day  I'or  a  whole  fjii  am  I  of  (iotts  covenant,  is  the  vi- 
mouth.  When  they  have  been  out-  olalion  and  breach  thereof,  uhich 
Wearied  in  their  flight  over  the  sea,  s;ave  him  just  cause  to  punish  the 
v;<st  multitudes  of  them  have  alighted:  Hebrews,  Lev.  xxvi.  25. 
on  a  ship.  They  hatch  four  limes!  QUARKIES,  out  of  which  stones 
a  jear,  15  or  20  at  a  time;  and  their  |  are  digged  :  but  some  render  Pksi- 
flesh  is  very  delicious  and  agreeable.  LiM,  ^Tatrn  images,  which  perhaps 
But  whether  these  be  the  same  kind  were  set  up  near  Eglou's  camj), 
with  those  wherewith  tiod,   in  the  Judg.  iii.  19. 

desert  of  Sin,  and  at  Kibroth-hatta-|  QUARTER,  a  part  of  a  city  or 
avah,  feasted  the  wandering  He-,countr3%  Gen.  xix.  4.  Josh,  xviii.  14. 
brews,  (a  wind  bringing  such  multi-|  QUATERNION,  four  in  com- 
tudes  of  them  that  they  were  heaped  pany,  Acts  xii.  4. 
above  a  yard  high,  for  a  day's  jour-j  QUEEN,  a  woman  who  is  either 
uey,  all  around  their  camjt,)  Exod.' married  to  a  kiug,  or  governs  a  king- 
xvi.  13.  and  Numb.  xi.  32.  is  by  dom,  Neh.  ii.  6.  1  Kings  x.  1.  Acts 
some  doul)ted.  The  great  Ludol-  viii.  27.  The  church  and  her  true 
phus,  in  his  history  of  Ethiopia,  con-i  nicrabers  are  called  queens :  they  are 
tends  that  the  Hebrew  word  Shelav  espoused  to  .Jesus  the  King  of  kings, 
means /ocM,sfA%  not  qumls.  To  con-: and  are  eminently  high,  happy,  and 
firm  this,  he  observes,  that  an  army  glorious,  in  their  new-covenant  sta- 
in A  rica  was  preserved  from  starv-  tion,  Psiil.  xlv.  9.  Song  vi.  8.  As 
iiig  by  a  cloud  of  locusts  falling' the  Chaldeans  thought  their  empire 
among  them;  that  locusts  often  fly ' //j^fCH  governess  of  all  others,  so  A u- 
in  such  multitudes  as  to  darken  the  tichrist  sits  a  queen.  In  their  pride 
sky,  and  have  driven  nations  from  and  security,  the  Papists  have  boasted 
their  dwellings;  that  they  abound  of  themselves  as  the  infallible  and 
in  Arabia,  and  are  often  eaten  by  impregnablechnrch,againstwhichtlie 
the  inhabitants,  and  are  declared  gates  of  hell  could  not  prevail,  Rev. 
clean  food  by  the  Mosaic  law;  that  xviii.  7.  But  her  hierarchy  is  now 
clouds  of  them  are  easily  carried  be-  shaken  to  the  centre. — The  queen  or 
lore  the  wind;  that  they  are  move  frame  of  heaven,  to  which  the  Jews 
fit  to  be  heaped  around  the  camp,  erected  altars  on  the  tops  of  their 
and  measured  by  omers,  than  quails;  houses,  or  near  their  doors,  and  the 
and  that  quail-flesh,  when  exposed  corners  of  their  streets,  or  in  groves, 
to  the  sun,  quickly  breeds  worms,  and  to  which  they  offered  incense, 
To  this  it  may  be  replied,  that  all  cakes  baked  with  oil  and  honey,  and 
the  ancient  versions  and  commenta-  drink-oflerings  of  wine  and  other  li- 
ters take  the  Shelav  for  quails,  and  quors,  was  either  the  moon,  or  perhaps 
the  scripture  calls  them  feathered  the  whole  system  of  the  heavenly  lu- 
fowls,  Psal.  Ixxviii.  27.  the  bringing  minaries,  sun,  moon,  and  stars,  Jer. 
or  preserving  the  flesh  of  quails  and  xliv.  17to  25. 

of  locusts,  is  equally  easy  to  Omni-  QUENCH,  to  put  out  fire,  Psal. 
potence;  and  there  is  no  reason  to  cxviii.  12.  in  allusion  to  which,  the 
imagine  the  Hebrews  would  have  allaying  of  thirst  by  a  satisfying 
eaten  to  excess  of  locusts,  or  that  the  1  draught  of  liquor  is  called  qucnthr 


Q  U  I 


(     340 


Q  U  I 


ins^,  Psal.  civ.  11.  As  the  spirit  of 
God,  Hud  his  wrath,  are  likened  to 
fire,  they  are  said  to  he  quenched 
when  the  Spirit's  influence  is  check- 
ed by  the  prevalence  oi'  siut'ul  lusts, 
1  Thess.  V.  19.  and  the  judgments 
of  God  are  stopped,  Ezelt.  xx.  48. 
Children,  as  tlie  coal  of  tioinfort  to 
parents;  and  kings,  as  the  light-ol 
kiugdoms  are  quenched  when  ciit  off 
by  death,  2  Sam.xiv.  7.  and  xxi.  17. 
Men  are  quenched  as  tow,  when  their 
glorj'^  and  power  to  hurt  are  easily 
taken  from  them,  Isa.  xliii.  17.  The 
violence  of  fire  was  quenclied,  when 
it  could  not  hurt  Shadrach,  Meshach, 
^and  Abednego,  Heb.  xi.  34.  Christ 
will  not  quench  desires  after  himself, 
though  weak  as  tire  in  smoking  flax ; 
will  not  destroy,  but  tenderly  encou- 
paee  and  strengthen  them,  Isa.  xlii.  3. 

QUESTION,  (1.)  A  demand  to 
which  an  answer  is  at  least  seeming- 
ly required.  Matt.  xxii.  35.  (2.) 
Contentions,  disputes,  2  Tim.  ii.  23. 
Questions  are  either  religious,  Deut. 
vi.  20.  or  blasphemous,  John  viii. 
48.  curious,  Luke  xiii.  23.  foolish  and 
unlearned  about  Iriiles,  Tit.  iii.  9. 
hard,  or  uneasy  to  be  answered,  1 
Kings  X.  1.  captious,  tending  to  en- 
snare the  answerer,  Mark  xii.  14. 
hypocritical.  Matt.  ii.  7.  accusing, 
Neh.  ii.  19.  reproving,  1  Sam.  i.  14 
denying  and  affirming,  Numb.  xii.  2 
proud  and  vain.  Matt,  xviii.  To  ques- 
tion one,  is  the  same  as  examine. 

QUICK,  (1.)  Living,  Acts  x.  42. 
(2.)  Very  sensible,  Lev.  xiii.  10. 
(3.)  Very  ready,  and  so  quickly^  is 
viih  all  possible  haste,  John  xi.  29. 
The  word  of  God  is  quick  and  power- 
ful :  Christ,  the  [)er6oaal  Word  of 
God,  is  the  living  God,  and  Author 
of  all  created  life;  and  is  infinitely 
able  to  save  men,  and  to  convince 
and  turn  their  hearts  as  he  pleaseth : 
the  revealed  word  of  God  powerfully 
awakens,  convinces,  and  converts 
men  to  him,  Heb.  iv.  12.  To  quick- 


en, is,  (1.)  To  give  natural  life  to 
the  dead,  Rom.  iv.  17.  (2.)  To  give 
spiritual  life  to  them  who  are  dead 
in  trespasses  and  sins,  removing  their 
guilt,  instating  them  in  favour  with 
God,  and  producing  in  them  a  living 
principle  of  grace,  Eph.  ii.  1,  5, 
(3.)  To  restore,  re-invigorate,  and 
cheer  up,  such  saints  as  are  under  spi- 
ritual langour  and  weakness,  by  giv- 
ing them  new  supplies  of  grace  and 
comfort,  Psal.  cxix.  Jesus,  the  last 
Adam,  is  a  quickening  Spirit;  as  the 
second  public  head  of  men  in  the  new 
covenant,  he,  being  possessed  of  a  di- 
vine nature,  and  of  the  fulness  of  the 
Holy  Ghost,  is  the  fountain  of  life, 
spiritual  and  eternal,  to  all  those  who 
believe  in  and  obey  him,  1  Cor. 
XV.  45. 

QUICK-SANDS,  or  Syrtes, 
two  moving  sands  on  the  north  of 
Africa,  almost  over  against  Sicily, 
which,  either  by  the  slime,  or  some 
other  qualit}'',  renders  it  very  danger- 
ous for  ships  to  sail  near  them,  Acts 
xxvii.  17. 

QUIET,  See  Rest. 

QUIT,  free.  To  quit,  to  be- 
have, 1  Sam.  iv.  9.   1   Cor.  xvi.  13. 

QUITE,  wholly,  Hab.  iii.  9. 

QUIVER,  a  case  for  holding  ar- 
rows. When  children  are  likened  to 
arrows,  the  house  is  the  quiver,  Psal. 
cxxvii.  5.  When  God's  judgments 
are  likened  to  arrows,  his  purpose 
and  providence  are  the  quiver,  Lam. 
iii.  13.  When  Christ,  or  Isaiah,  is 
likened  to  an  arrow,  God's  protec- 
tion, wherein  they  are  hid  and  pre- 
served, is  the  quiver,  Isa.  xlix.  2. 
Sometimes  quiver  is  put  for  arrows 
in  it :  thus  the  quiver,  i.  e.  the  ar- 
rows from  it,  rattle  against  the  horse 
in  battle,  Job  xxxix.  23,  and  the 
quiver  of  the  Chaldeans  was  an  open 
sepulchre;  their  arrows  killed  multi- 
tudes, Jer.  V.  16. 

To  QUIVER,  is  to  pant  for  breath, 
or  to  tremble  for  fear,  Hab.  iii,  JB. 


R  A  B 


(     341     ) 


R  A  » 


R 


R  A  AM  AH,  thunder,  or  bntuiins:, 
,  t!ic  fourth  son  of  Cii^^ii,  who 
peoi)li'(l  a  country  in  Araiiia  the  Hap- 
py, 1  supMOSf,  at  the  entrance  of  the 
Persian  gull.  The  po.-^terity  of  Kaaiii- 
ah  carrieil  on  trade  with  the  'J'yrians, 
in  s|>ices,  precious  stones,  and  gold, 
Gen.  X.  7.    Ezek.  xxvii.  22. 

KABBAH,  or  Radbatii,  great, 
po)V(rJ'u/,  contentious,  the  ca|)ital  city 
of  the  Ammonites,  stood  near  the 
source  of  the  riVer  Arnon.  It  seems 
to  have  been  a  considerable  city  in 
the  time  of  Moses;  and  to  it  the 
iron  bedstead  of  Og  was  transported, 
Deut.  iii.  11.  After  Joab  liad  he- 
sieged  it  a  long  time,  and  Uriah  had 
been  slain  before  it,  David  went  thi- 
ther with  a  reinforcement,  and  quick- 
ly after  look  it,  and  used  the  princi- 
pal inhabitants,  if  not  others,  in  a 
terrible  manner.  Some  time  after, 
Shobi,  the  conquered  king's  brother, 
and  David's  deputy  in  it,  brought 
him  beds  for  his  soldiers  at  Mahana- 
im,  2  Sam.  xi.  and  xii.  and  xvii. 
The  city  was,  long  after,  pillaged  by 
the  Assyrians  and  Chaldeans,  Amo^ 
i.  14.  Jer.  xlix.  2,  3.  Ezek.  xxi. 
20.  and  xxv.  5.  .  Ptolemy  Philadel- 
phus,  the  Greek  monarch  of  Egypt, 
repaired  it,  and  called  it  Philadet- 
phia ;  and  not  long  after,  Autiochus 
the  great,  of  Syria,  seized  it.  In  the 
primitive  ages  of  Christianity  there 
was  a  church  of  some  note  here  ;  at 
present  the  place  is  of  very  small 
consequence.  Rabbatlvmoab  is  the 
same  as  Ar. 

RABBI,    RAB,     RABBAN,    RABEON, 

a  title  signifying  master.  It  seem? 
to  have  come  originally  from  Assy- 
ria. In  Sennacherib's  army,  Ave  find 
Rab-shakeh,  the  master  of  the  drink- 
ins;  or  botler,  and  Rab-saris,  the  mas- 
ter of  the  eunuchs.  In  Nebuchad- 
nezzar's, we  find  also  Rab-mag;  th(^ 
chief  of  the  magi;  and  Nebuzaradan 
is  called  Rab-tehachim,  the  master  of 
the  butchers,  cooks,  or  guards.  We 
tind  also  at  Babylon,  Rab-sananim, 
ihe  master  of  the  governors,  and  Rab- 


chartuniim,  the  master  of  the  inter- 
preters of  dreams,  Jer.  xxxix.  3.  2 
Kings  xxv.  8.  Dan.  i.  3.  atid  ii.  48. 
and  V.  11.  To  keep  order,  Ah. isu- 
erus  set  a  rab  or  governor  at  every 
tal)le  ol  his  splen<lid  feast,  Kslh.  i.  0. 
Rab  is  now  with  the  Jews  reckoned 
a  more  (iignified  title  than  rabbit  and 
rabbin  or rabbim. greater  than  either; 
and  to  become  such,  one  mustasceod 
by  several  degrees.  The  rector  of 
their  school  is  called  rab-chacham, 
the  wise  jrmster.  He  that  attends  it 
in  order  to  obtain  a  doctorship,  is 
called  bachur  the  candidate.  After 
that,  he  is  called  chabar-tcrab,  the 
mastcr^s  companion.  At  his  next  de- 
gree, he  is  called  rab,  rabbi,  and 
morcnu,  our  teacher.  The  rab-cha- 
cham decides  in  religious,  andfrc- 
(piently  in  civil,  aflairs.  He  cele- 
brates marriages,  and  declares  di- 
vorcements. He  is  head  of  the  col- 
legians, and  preaches  if  he  has  a  la- 
lent  for  it.  He  reproves  the  unruly, 
and  excommunicates  offenders.  Both 
in  the  school  and  synagogue  he  bits 
in  the  chief  seat,  and  in  the  sciiool 
his  scholars  sit  at  his  feet.  Where 
the  synagogue  is  small,  he  i.s  both 
preacher  and  judge;  l»ut  wh<  lO  !he 
Jews  are  numerous,  Ihej-  hav.'  cidi- 
narily  a  council  for  their  civil  mat- 
ters; but  if  the  rabbin  lie  called  to  it, 
he  usually  takes  the  chief  seat.  Our 
Saviour  inveighs  against  the  rabbins, 
whether  Scribes  or  Pharisees,  of  his 
time,  as  extremely  proud,  ambitious 
of  honorary  titles  and  honorary  seats, 
and  as  given  to  imj)ose  on  others  a 
vast  number  of  traditions  not  war- 
ranted by  the  word  of  God,  Matt. 
XV.  and  xxiii.  Since  that  lime,  God 
has  given  up  the  Jewish  rabbins  to 
the  most  astonishing  folly  and  tri- 
fling; they  chiefly  deal  in  idle  and 
stupid  traditions,  and  whimsical  de- 
cisions on  points  of  no  consequence, 
except  to  render  the  observers  of  them 
ridiculous.  In  geography  and  his- 
tory they  make  wretched  work.  In- 
consistencies of  timing  things,   ab- 


R  A  C 


(     ^-12     ) 


RAG 


Burdities,  auil  dry  rehearsals,  crowd 
their  page.  In  their  commentaries 
on  the  scripture,  they  are  ordinarily 
blind  to  what  an  ordinary  reader 
might  perceive,  and  retail  multitudes 
of  silly  fancies  fit  only  to  move  our 
jiity  or  contempt.  The  judicious  On- 
kelos,  the  laborious  Nathan-morde- 
cai,  the  famed  Maimonides,  the  two 
Kimchis,  Aben-ezra,  Solomon  Jarchi, 
Jaichides,  Sephorno,  Benmelech,and 
some  others,  however,  deserve  a  much 
better  character.  See  Tradition. 
RABSHAKEH.   See  Sennache 

RIB. 

RACE.     See  Run. 

RACA.  Lightfoot  says,  that  in 
the  books  of  the  Jews,  the  word  Ra- 
ca  is  a  term  of  the  utmost  contempt, 
and  is  used  to  be  pronounced  with 
certain  gestures  of  indignation,  or 
spitting,  turning  away  the  head,  &c. 
The  Pharisees  in  their  lectures  upon 
this  law,  Thou  shalt  not  kill,  extended 
it  no  farther  than  that  a  man  should 
not  without  a  warrant  actually  fake 
away  the  life  of  another.  But  our 
Saviour  gave  them  another  sense  of 
this  law,  namely,  that  if  a  man  doth 
but  in  his  heart  nourish  wrath  and 
anger  against  another,  and  suffers  it 
to  grow  up  into  malice,  and  thoughts, 
and  desires  of  revenge,  though  he  be 
not  by  it  obnoxious  to  courts  of  jus- 
tice, yet  he  is  accountable  to  God, 
and  lial)le  to  his  judgment:  but  if 
iiien  sutfer  their  passions  to  break  out 
into  reviling  and  opprobrious  lan- 
guage, such  as  Raca,  or  thou  fool, 
they  are  not  only  liable  to  the  eternal 
vengeance  of  God,  but  oyght  to  be 
subjected  to  the  punishment  of  the 
civil  magistrate  ;  these  scornful,  dis- 
dainful, and  villifying  speeches,  be- 
ing the  beginning  of  murder,  puovo- 
cations  to  it,  and  indications  of  a 
murderous  heart.  Matt.  v.  22. 

RACHEL,  a  sheep.  An  account 
of  her  beauty;  of  Jacob's  great  love 
to,  and  marriage  of  her;  her  barren- 
ness for  a  time,  and  fretful ness  under 
it ;  her  putting  her  maid  to  her  hus- 
band's bed  for  the  sake  of  children, 
and  the  significant  names  she  gave 
tljem ;  her  stealing  her  lather's  idols, 


and  crafty  concealment  of  them  when 
he  searched  her  tent,  and  her  after  de- 
liver}' of  them  to  Jacob ;  his  peculiar 
care  to  secure  her  and  her  child  from 
the  fury  of  Esau ;  her  having  Joseph 
for  her  first-born  son  ;  her  j)urchase  of 
Reuben's  mandrakes  ;  and  at  last  her 
dying  in  child-birth  of  Benjamin, 
and  being  buried  at  Zelzah,  a  little 
north  of  Bethlehem ;  have  been  re- 
lated under  the  article  Jacob.  The 
voice  heard  in  Ramah,  Rachel  weep- 
ing for  lier  children,  and  refusing  to 
be  comforted  because  they  were  not 
to  be  found  in  life,  signifies,  that  at 
the  Chaldean  captivity,  and  when 
the  babes  of  Bethlehem  were  mur- 
dered by  Herod,  her  daughters  of  the 
tribe  of  Benjamin,  and  their  sisters  of 
the  tribe  of  Judah,  so  bitterly  be- 
wailed the  loss  of  their  children,  that 
their  weeping  was  heard  unto  Ra- 
mah ;  and  that  if  Rachel  who  lay 
buried  near  by,  could  have  risen  from 
her  grave,  she,  who  was  so  fond 
of  children,  would  have  joined  them 
in  their  lamentations,  Jer.  xxxi.  15. 
Matt.  ii.  18. 

RAFTER,  the  secondary  timbers 
of  the  house ;  the  timbers  which  are 
let  into  the  great  beams  that  bear  up 
the  galleries,  or  Rat  roofs  of  houses. 
Cant.  i.  17. 

RAGE,  violent  anger,  whereby  a 
person  is  put  into  a  tumult  of  passion, 
as  the  sea  in  a  storm,  and  is  ready  to 
destroy  what  gives  the  offence,  2Kings 
V.  1 2.  A  man's  jealousy  is  his  ras;€  ; 
the  detection  of  his  wife's  whoredom 
with  another  readily  puts  him  into 
such  a  rage,  as  he  is  ready  to  cut  off 
both  her  and  her  paramour  without 
the  least  mercy,  Prov.  vi.  34.  Men 
rage,  when  they  bestir  themselves  as 
if  mad  and  furious,  and  assemble  in  a 
tumultuous  manner,  Psal.  ii.  1.  Cha- 
riots rage,  when,  being  furiously  dri- 
ven, they  justle  one  against  another, 
as  the  swelling  waves  of  the  sea  in  a 
storm,  Isa.  xlvi.  9. 

RAGS:  to  be  clothed  with  them 
denotes  deep  poverty,  Prov.  xxiii.  21. 
Our  self-righteousness  is  likened  to 
filthy  rags,  or  a  menstruotts  clolh  ;  it 
can  no  more  adorn  our  soul,  or  ren- 


RAH 


(     3J3     ) 


R  A  I 


tier  it  accepted  before  God  as  our 
.lodge,  than  filthy  r.<i;s;  but  with  its 
vileuess  provolies  hia  detestation, 
Isa.  ixiv.  6. 

RAHAB,  proud,  .strong,  broad, 
quarrelsome,  (1.)  A  name  tjiven  to 
EejI)t,to  denote  t  he  |Mi(le  and  strength 
of  tliat  kingdom,  P?al.  Ixxxvii.  3.  an«l 
Ixxxix.  ]().  Isa.  li.  9.  (2.)  A  Cu- 
naanitish  harlot,  or  inn-keeper  of  Je- 
richo. Some  fancy  she  was  only 
nn  inn-keeper;  and  that  if  she  had 
been  a  harlot,  the  spies  wouUl  not 
have  lodged  with  her,  nor  Salmon 
have  married  her:  bnt  this  reasoning 
is  inconclusive  :  the  spies  might  not 
know  her  character  when  they  took 
lip  their  lodging,  and  she  was  niigh 
tily  reformed  before  Salmon  m.arried 
her.  It  is  certain  the  word  zoxah 
signifies  a  harlot,  and  the  name 
PoRNE  ascril)ed  to  her  by  James, 
chap.  ii.  25.  and  Paul,  Heb.  xi.  31. 
signifies  nothing  else.  Inwardly 
touched  by  the  Spirit  of  God,  she 
kindly  lodged  the  messengers  whom 
Joshua  sent  to  sjjy  the  place.  The 
king  hearing  of  I  hem,  sent  to  apjire- 
heiid  them;  but  she  hid  them  on  the 
top  of  her  house,  and  told  the  king's 
messengers  that  they  were  gone, 
and  might  be  overtaken  if  they  Avere 
quickly  pursued.  She  then  went  up 
to  the  Hebrew  spies,  and  told  them 
that  she  believed  the  Loid  would  de- 
Uver  the  country  into  their  hand, 
and  knew  that  the  inhabitants  were 
already  in  a  panic  of  terror.  She  re- 
<iuested  their  oath,  that  herself  and 
her  family  should  be  spared  ^vhen  Je- 
richo should  be  taken.  They  solemn- 
ly engaged,  that  every  body  found  iu 
her  house  should  be  unhurt,  provided 
her  window  should  be  marked  with 
a  scarlet  string.  Her  house  being  on 
the  wall,  she  let  them  down  from 
her  window  by  a  rope,  and  directed 
them  to  hide  themselves  three  days 
in  the  adjacent  mountains  till  the 
searchers  for  them  should  be  return- 
ed. They  followed  her  direction, 
and  got  safe  to  their  camp.  When, 
a  few  weeks  after,  Jericho  was  ta- 
ken, having  marked  her  house  ac- 
eording   iv>  aereement,   she  and  all 


her  friends,  by  Joshua's  order  and  the 
care  of  the  spies,  were  preserved 
therein.  She  Joined  herself  to  th.e 
Jewish  religion;  and  behaved  in  a 
manner  so  prudent  and  pioua,  that 
Salmon,  or  Salma,  son  of  N  a;  lion,  and 
prince  of  the  children  of  Judali,  es- 
(K)used  her,  and  had  by  her  the  famed 
Boaz,  The  Spirit  of  God  highly 
commends  her  faith  and  goo<l  works, 
but  not  the  lie  which  she  told  to  con- 
ceal the  spies,  Heb.  xi.  31.  James 
ii.  25. 

RAIL.     See  revilr. 

RAIN,  is  formed  of  the  moist  va- 
pours exhaled  by  the  heat  of  the  sun 
which,  being  collected  into  clouds, 
fail  U[K)n  the  earth  in  drops;  and, 
when  it  freezes  before  its  fall,  it  is  call- 
ed hail OT snow.  When  it  falls  down 
as  in  water-spouts,  the  wiiulorvs,  or 
tlood-gatcs  of  heaven,  are  said  to  he 
opened.  In  the  time  of  drought,  the 
earth  is  reju-esenled  as  crying  to  the 
heavens,  and  the  heavens  or  clouds 
crying  to  God  for  his  permission  to 
pour  their  moist  treasures  in  rain 
and  dew  upon  the  earth,  Hos.  ii.  21. 
In  U[)per  Egypt,  it  seldom  rains  any 
at  all.  In  some  parts  of  the  Persian 
empire,  it  rains  but  little  for  eight 
months  together.  In  Syria  and  Barba- 
ry,  there  is  scarcely  any  rain  during 
(he  summer.  In  Canaan,  they  ordina- 
rily had  a  plenliful  r:iin  twice  a  year ; 
the  former  rain  happened  about 
September,  and  the  latter  about  the 
beginning  of  March,  just  before  their 
harvest,  Joel  ii.  23.  Zech.  x.  1. 
Rain,  when  seasonable,  is  shorvers  of 
blensmg,  E>;ek.  xxxiv.  20.  The  loos- 
ing of  the  earth  in  the  spring,  pro- 
duces a  muUitude  of  moist  vapours  : 
and  in  September,  the  withdraw- 
nient  of  the  sun,  occasioning  the  (ail 
of  the  higher  vapours  on  the  lower- 
produces  rain.  In  some  places  near 
seas,  lakes,  and  great  rivers,  the 
quantity  of  rain  is  very  considerable 
In  Lancashire,  the  yearly  depth  of 
it,  taken  altogether,  is  about  42 
inches;  at  Pisa  in  laly,  about  43. 
Near  the  equator,  the  rains  are  often 
excessive  during  the  summer;  and 
wfTe  if  not  so.  the  inhabitants  would 


R  A  I 


(     344     ) 


R  A  I 


be  scorched  with  the  heat.  Thunder 
and  lightning  dissolve  the  clouds,  and 
so  rain  ordinarily  follows,  Psa.  cxxxv. 
7.  Whatever  is  very  refreshing,  nou- 
rishing, delightful,  and  tending  to 
make  jjersons  fruitful  in  good  works, 
as  important  instructions,  outward 
blessings,  and  the  word,  ordinances, 
and  influences,  of  Jesus  Christ  and 
his  Spirit,  are  likened  to  rain  and 
blessed  showers,  Deut,  xxxii.  2.  Job 
xxiv.  22,  23.  Isa.  v.  6.  Psal.  lxviii..9. 
Ezek.  xxxiv.  26.  Thus  rain  coin- 
ing on  moivn  grass,  and  on  the  earth, 
denotes  the  Messiah's  coming  in  the 
doctrines  of  his  gospel,  and  the  in- 
fluences of  his  Spirit,  Psal.  Ixxii.  6. 
The  remnant  of  Jacob  are  likened  to 
showers ;  the  Jewish  apostles  and 
believers,  and  saints  and  ministers  of 
every  nation,  are  useful  to  promote 
the  spiritual  growth  and  fruitfulness 
of  the  places  they  live  in,  Mic.  v.  7. 
Destructive  judgments  are  likened  lo 
an  ovcrfiowing  shower,  to  mark  how 
sudden,  wasting,  and  ruinous,  they 
are  to  a  country,  Ezek.  xiii.  11. 
Whatever  falls  plentifully  out  of  the 
air,  as  fire  and  brimstone,  or  manna, 
is  said  to  be  rained  from  it,  Gen.  xix. 
24.  Psal.  Ixxviii.  24,  27. 

RAINBOW,  one  of  the  grandest 
and  most  beautiful  phenomena  in  na- 
ture, and  yet  nothing  more  is  requi- 
site for  its  production  than  drops  of 
rain  and  sun-shine :  w^e  never  ob- 
serve a  rainbow  but  when  the  rain 
falls  before  us,  and  the  sun  is  behind 
us;  for  the  rays  of  the  sun  are  re- 
fracted in  the  drops  of  rain,  b}'  which 
refraction  the  dilTerent  colours  of  the 
bow  are  produced,  the  very  same 
with  those  of  the  prism.  In  our  cli- 
mate, in  which  we  are  never  j)laced 
between  the  sun  and  the  south,  we 
never  observe  a  rainbow,  towards 
that  quarter.  Though  the  bow  is 
formed  in  the  falling  drops  of  rain, 
yet  it  appears  to  us  to  be  in  the 
cloud,  if  there  be  no  rising  ground 
behind  it :  and  as  it  is  formed  in 
the  successive  falling  drops,  we  see 
a  different  bow  every  moment. — 
There  is  a  two-foUl  bow,  distinguish- 
ed by  the  order  in  which  the  colours 


stand;  the  one,  the  ordinary  or  pri? 
mary  bow;  the  other,  the  extraordi- 
nary, or  secondary,  inclosing  the 
primar3\  In  the  ordinary  bow  the 
red  colour  stands  uppermost,  and  the 
violet  undermost:  in  the  extraordi- 
nary this  order  is  inverted.  The  or- 
dinary bow  is  formed  by  two  refrac- 
tions, the  one  when  the  ray  enters 
the  drop,  the  other  at  coming  out, 
with  one  intermediate  reflection.  If 
the  angle  at  the  eye,  Ibrmed  by  the 
issuing  ray  and  a  line  parallel  lo  the 
incident  ray,  contains  42  deg,  2  min. 
the  red  colour  appears;  but  if  only 
40  deg.  17  min.  the  violet;  and  be- 
tween these  two  angles,  the  other 
colours  in  their  successive  order.  In 
the  extraordinary  bow  there  are  two 
refractions  and  two  intermediate  re- 
flections. If  the  angle  formed  as 
before,  be  54  deg.  7  min.  the  violet 
appears;  but  if  50  deg.  57  min.  the 
red ;  and  under  the  immediate  an- 
gles, the  other  colours  in  inverted 
succession. 

A  man  may  form  a  kind  of  artificial 
rainbow,  by  hanging  a  black  cloth 
opposite  to  the  sun,  and,  turning  his 
back  to  the  sun  and  his  face  to  the 
cloth,  cause  water  to  fall  like  a  show- 
er of  rain  between  hini  and  it;  thus  a 
rainbow  will  be  formed  in  these 
drops.  Whether  the  common  rain- 
bow proceeding  from  natural  causes, 
appeared  before  the  flood,  is  not 
agreed.  Perhaps  it  did  not ;  and 
then  it  was  a  more  striking  token, 
and  more  effectual  to  confirm  Noah's 
faith  in  the  divine  promise,  that  the 
flood  should  never  return  to  overflow 
the  earth.  It  is  certain,  every  dis- 
position of  a  rainy  cloud  is  not  pro- 
l)er  to  produce  a  rainbow;  and  who 
knows  but  before  the  flood  the  clouds 
might  be  alwaj's  so  disposed  as  not  to 
form  any  ?  Its  appearance,  though 
now  ordinary,  continues  still  a  divine 
token,  that  the  earth  shall  no  more  be 
drowned  with  a  universal  flood,  Gen. 
ix.  8 — 17. — The  covenant  of  grace 
is  likened  to  a  rainbow  round  about 
God''s  throne,  and  about  ChrisVs  head ; 
thh  glorious  disjilay  of  the  excellen- 
cies  of  the    Sun    of   righteousness 


RAM 


(     3.15     ) 


R  A  N 


wherebj'  all  our  clouds  of  trouble  and 
wretchedness  are  illiiiiiinated,  is  our 
undoubted  security  against  the  over- 
flowing vencjeanee  of  God,  Aviioever 
deljcrhls  in  and  attends  to  it,  in  all 
his  dispen^^ations  ol"  pruviilence,  llev. 
iv.  3.  and  x.  1. 

RAISE,  (1.)  To  lift  up,  1  Sam.  ii. 
n.  (2.)  'Vo  invent,  or  relate,  Exod. 
xxiii.  1.  (3.)'robeget,  Gen.  xxxviii. 
8.  (4,)  To  keep  in  remembrance, 
Ruth  iv.  5.  (5.)  To  call  and  fit  per- 
sons to  perform  some  important  work, 
Judg.  ii.  10.  (t).)  To  build,  repair, 
Isa.  xxiii.  13.  (7.)  To  rouse,  stir 
Uj),  Psal.  cvii.  25.  Acts  xxiv.  12. — 
God  raised  u\)  Pharaoh  to  his  digni- 
ty, or  rather,  made  him  to  stand,  with 
a  view  to  di3j)lay  his  power  in  bring- 
ing him  low;  he  permitted  him  to 
stand  obstinate;  he  sull'ered  hi.m  to 
continue  in  life  while  many  were  cut 
o3',  to  display  his  power  in  ruining 
him  at  the  Red  Sea,  Rom.  ix.  18. 
Exod.  ix.  13. 

RAISINS,  a  well-known  kind  ol 
dried  grapes.  The  largest  are  those 
oi"  Damascus,  a  bunch  of  which  will 
sometimes  weigh  25  pounds;  but 
their  taste  is  faintish,  and  not  very 
agreeable.  The  Spanish  raisins  of 
the  sun  are  also  noted.  The  spirit 
of  raisins  is  very  useful  to  distillers, 
in  rectifying  their  liquors.  Raisins 
fermented  with  water,  produce  a 
kind  of  wine,  and  brandy  is  extract- 
ed from  them.  With  clusters  of  rai- 
sins Abigail  met  David,  1  Sam.  xxv. 
1 8.  With  bread,  water,  and  raisins, 
the  spirit  of  au  Egyptian  was  revi 
ved,  1  Sam.  xxx.  12.  Raisins  were 
also  sent  to  David  by  Mephiboshelh 
2  Sam.  xvi.  1 . 

RAM,  or  BATTERING-RAM, 
an  engine  of  war,  employed  by  the 
ancients  in  beating  down  the  wallsof 
cities,  now  superseded  by  the  inven- 
tion of  gunpowder.  It  consisted  of 
large  heavy  beams,  armed  with  an 
iron  head,  which  being  slung  on 
other  stout  beams  that  stood  tirm,  was 
violently  pushed  against  the  wall  to 
be  battered,  and  that  repeatedly. — 
Pliny  ascribes  its  invention  to  Epeus, 
at^the  siege  of  Trov:  Vitrnvius,  to| 

Vol.  II. 


the  Carthaginian-'.  Ezekiel  is  thought 
to  bo  the  earliest  author  who  mon- 
fions  it,  Ezek.  iv.  1,2.  (2.)  Ram, 
hiah,  castijis;  awm/,  son  of  Hezron, 
and  fallier  of  Aminidab,  of  the  tribe 
of  .fudab,  1  Chron.  ii.  9.  (3.)  Ram, 
.lob  xxxii.  2.  is  sui)posed  to  be  i)ut 
for  Aram,  or  Syria.  The  Clialdee 
paraplirast  explains  it  of  the  family 
of  Abraham,  as  if  Abraham  and  Raui 
were  the  same  thing. 

RAM  AH,  or  Ra  math  aim,  liis;Jif 
or  castin<r  away,  a  city  of  Benjamin, 
about  six  miles  northward  from  Jeru- 
salem, Josh,  xviii.  25.  not  far  distant 
from  Geba  and  Gibeah,  Isa.  x.  29a 
Hos.  v.  8.   Near  to  it  Deborah  dwelt, 
Judg.  iv.  5.  Elkanah  and  Samuel  re- 
sided in  it,    1  Sam.  i.  1,  19.   vii.  17, 
viii.  4.  xxv.  1 .  and  at  Naiol  h,  or  the 
meadows  of  Ramah,  was  a  college  of 
young  prophets,  1  Sam.  xix.     As  it 
stood  in  a  passbetween  the  kingdom 
of  Israel  and  Judah,  Baasha,  king 
of  Israel,  seized  it,  and  began  to  for- 
tify it,   that   none   of  his    subjects 
might  pass  that  way  into  the  king- 
dom ot  Judah,   1  Kings  XV.  17,  21. 
The   inhabitants   were  terribly   af- 
frighted when  Sennacherib  marched 
this  Vt  ay  against  Hezekiah,  Hos.  v. 
8.    Isa.  X.  29.     Here  Nebuzaradan, 
the  Chaldean  general,  disposed  of  his 
Jewish  prisoners  after  their  capital 
was  taken,  which  occasioned  a  dread- 
ful mourning  to  the  daughters  of  Ra- 
chel, Jer.  xl.  1,  2,  3.   and  xxxi.  15. 
Ramah  was  afterwards  rebuilt  by  its 
inhabitants  who  returned  from  Ba- 
bylon,   Neh.   vii.    30.    and  xi.    33. 
There  w^as  another  Ramah  on  the 
west  border  of  Naphtali,  Josh.  xix. 
36.  and  a  Ramath,  or  Ramoth,  which 
we  suppose  to  be  the  same  as  Baal- 
alh-beer,  in  the  lot  of  Simeon,  Jo- 
shua xix.  8.    1  Sam.  xxx.  27. — (See 
Gu.EAD,)  and  a  Ramoth,  Remeth,  or 
Jarmuth,  in  the  lot  of  Issachar,  Josh. 
xix.  21. 

RAMESES.     See  Pithom. 
RAMPART,  a  fence  to  a  city. 
The  Mediterranean  Sea,  or  rather  the 
river  Nile,  was  a  rampart  that  de- 
fended the  city  of  No,  Nah.  iii.  8, 
RANGE,  to  go  \^\^  and  down  at 
2X 


R  A  S 


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RAW 


pleasure,  Prov.  xxviii.  1 1 .  Range  of 
the  mountains,  is  an  extent  of  bar- 
ren ground,  suited  to  the  uncontrol- 
led disposition  of  the  wild  ass,  Job 
xxxix.  8. 

Ranges,  ranks  of  men  who  were 
as  protecting  rails  about  the  king, 
2  Kings  xi.  8. 

RANK,  (1.)  Order,  station,  1 
Chron.  xii.  33.  (2.)  High-grown 
and  fruitful,  Gen.  xli.  5. 

RANSOM,  (1.)  The  price  paid 
lor  the  redemption  of  a  slave  or  cap- 
tive, or  for  the  pardon  of  an  oifence, 
Prov.  vi.  35.  Exod.  xxi.  30.  (2.)  A 
bribe,  1  Sam.  xii.  f  3.  To  prevent 
the  plague,  and  make  a  ceremonial 
atonement  for  their  souls,  every  male 
Hebrew,  come  to  age,  paid  half  a  she- 
kel yearly  as  a  ransom,  Exod.  xxx. 
12.  The  obedience  and  death  of 
Christ  are  the  only  proper  ransom 
and  price  of  our  deliverance  from 
bin  and  misery.  Matt.  xx.  28.  Job 
xxx.  24.  Egypt  and  Seba  were  a 
ransom  for  the  Jews;  God  recom- 
pensed Cj^rus's  gracious  deliverance 
of  the  Jews,  by  giving  him  the  wealth 
of  the  Egyptians  and  Sabeans,  Isa. 
xliii.  3.  The  wicked  is  a  ransom  for 
the  rightcons,  when  he  is  punished  in 
order  that  the  righteous  may  be  de- 
livered and  preserved,  Prov.  xxi.  18. 
A  man's  riches  are  the  ransom  of  his 
life ;  they  are  the  means  of  his  sup- 
port, and  which  he  would  give  lo 
preserve  an  endangered  life;  and 
sometimes  they  are  the  occasion  of 
attempts  against  his  life,  Prov.  xiii.  8. 
To  ransom,  is  to  deliver,  redeem 
from  bondage  and  misery  by  price  or 
power,  Jer.  xxxi.  11.   Hos.  xiii.  14. 

RARE,  uncommon,  very  ditiicult, 
Dan.  ii.  11. 

RASE,  to  demolish  completely, 
Psal.  cxxxvii.  7. 

R  ASOR.  Doeg'e  tongue  was  like 
a  deceitful  rasor,  which,  instead  ol' 
cutting  the  hair,  and  smoothing  the 
face,  cuts  the  throat :  he  pretended 
to  clear  himself  from  disloyalty,  but 
really  intended  to  expose  the  priests, 
as  friends  of  David,  to  the  fury  of 
Saul,  Psalm  lii.  2.  The  Assyrians 
and  Chaldeans  were  God's  hired  ra- 


sors ;  providentially  hired  with  the 
spoils,  to  cut  off  multitudes  of  the 
Jews,  Isa.  vii.  20. 

RAVEN,  a  binl  of  prey,  ceremo- 
nially unclean.  Lev.  xi.  15.  It  is 
near  the  bigness  of  a  common  hen, 
and  of  a  black  colour,  with  a  bluish 
back.  Its  head  is  small,  depressed 
on  the  crown,  and  flattened  on  the 
sides.  Its  eyes  are  bright,  large,  and 
piercing,  and  can  see  far.  Its  beak 
is  pretty  long  and  thick,  somewhat 
ridged  on  the  back,  and  sharp  at  the 
point.  We  are  not  certain  that  old 
ravens  either  forsake  or  expel  their 
young  from  their  nest,  as  some  af- 
firm. The  raven  sent  forth  by  Noah 
to  try  if  the  waters  were  dried  up 
from  off  the  earth,  returned  not  to 
him,  as  it  could  live  on  putrid  sub- 
stances,— a  true  emblem  of  wicked 
men,  who,  delighting  in  sensual  and 
sinful  pleasures,  refuse  to  come  to 
Jesus  and  his  new  covenant  state! 
Gen.  viii.  6,  7.  Though  ready  to  de- 
vour every  thing  themselves,  ravens, 
directed  by  God,  nourished  the  [nO- 
phet  Elijah  at  Cherith  with  bread  and 
flesh  every  morning  and  evening.  To 
pretend  with  some  that  theHHOREBm 
were  not  ravens,  but  Arabian  mer- 
chants, or  inhabitants  of  Oreb,  shows 
only  a  disposition  to  rob  Gotl  of  the 
honour  of  the  miracle.  And  we  may 
add,  why  did  not  these  pretended  feed- 
ers bring  him  water  after  the  brook 
was  dried,  as  long  as  they  had  any  for 
themselves?  1  Kings  xvii.  4,  6. — 
To  RAVEN ;  to  search  for  prey ;  to 
kill  and  tear  asunder,  as  ravens  do 
smaller  birds,  in  order  to  eat  them. 
Matt.  vii.  15.  Wicked  men  are  re- 
presented as  ravenous,  to  mark  their 
cruelty,  oppression,  and  murder,  Psa. 
xxii.  13.  Ezek.  xxii.  25,  27.  Raven, 
is  wealth  or  spoil  procured  by  op- 
pression and  murder.  Nab.  ii.  12. 

RAVISH,  to  take  and  use  bj' 
force,  Lam.  v.  11.  One  is  ravished 
in  heart,  when  greatly  delighted,  and 
powerfully  constrained  to  love,  Prov. 
v.  10,  20. 

RAW,  not  fully  roasted,  Exod. 
xii.  9.  Tlie  quick  raw  flesh,  in  the 
leper's  sore,  was  a  mark  of  a  deep 


/ 


R  E  A 


(     347     ) 


R  E  B 


and  malignant  leprosj',  that  had  eaten 
into  the  very  llesh,  Lev.  xiii.  10. 

REACH,  to  ttretch  out,  extend, 
John  XX.  27.  Zech.  xiv.  5.  When 
things  are  very  high  or  great,  they 
are  said  to  reach  unto  heaven,  Dan. 
iv.  1  l.Rev.  xviii.  3.  2  Chron.  xxviii. 
9.  Psalm  xxxvi.  5.  Saints  reachforlh 
Lo  the  things  before,  when  they  ear- 
nestly endeavour  to  grow  in  grace, 
.and  lliink  of,  love,  desire,  and  seek 
to  enjoy  things  eternal,  Phil.  iii.  13. 
-The  sword  or  stroke  reachcth  to  the 
heart,  when  it  cuts  oS  men's  life, 
the  hest  fortified  places,  and  the  best 
and  greatest  men  of  the  nation,  Jer. 
iv.  10,  18. 

READ.  There  is  a  twofold  rcad- 
inir  of  the  scriptures  required,  one 
private  and  daily  by  particular  per- 
sons, whether  princes  or  others,  Deut. 
xvii.  19.  John  v.  39.  another  public 
in  the  congregations  of  professed 
worshippers  of  God,  Neh.  viii.  3. 

READY,  (1.)  Strongly  inclined 
and  diposed,  Tit.  iii.  1.  (2.)  Near 
at  hand,  1  Pet.  iv.  5.  (3.)  Well 
prepared  and  furnished,  1  Pet.  iii.  15. 
Those  ready  to  perish,  are  such  as  are 
on  the  point  of  being  utterly  misera- 
ble. The  Jews  were  in  a  most  wretch- 
ed condition  before  CjTusgave  them 
their  liberty  to  return  to  Canaan. 
The  Gentiles  were  in  a  most  deplor- 
able condition  with  respect  to  divine 
things,  just  before  the  gospel  was 
preached  to  them,  Isa.  xxvii.  1 3.  The 
good  things  of  a  church  are  rcadi/  to 
die,  when  her  members  are  growing 
few,  their  graces  w'eak,  and  the  pu- 
rity and  power  of  gospel  truths  and 
ordinances  are  but  very  little  known, 
Rev.  iii.  2. 

REALM,  kingdom,  empire,  2 
Chron.  xx.  30.  Ezra.  vii.  13. 

REAP,  (1.)  To  cut  down  corn 
in  HARVEST,  James  v.  4.  (2.)  To 
receive  the  fruit  of  works,  whether 
good  or  bad;  so  such  as  sow  in  right- 
eousness reap  in  mercy,  reap  ever- 
lasting life,  i.  e.  receive  it  as  their 
gracious  reward,  Hos.  x.  12.  Such 
as  son  iniquity  or  corruption,  reap 
wickedness,  vanity,  thorns,  whirl- 
winds, &c.  i.  e.  they  are  punished 


with  destruction  and  misery  as  their 
<leeds  rerjuire,  Jol)  iv.  8.  Prov.  xxii. 
8.  Jer.  xii.  13.  Hos.  viii.  7.  To  reap 
where  one  sowed  not,  JMid  gallur  where 
one  strewed  not,  and  take  up  what  one 
laid  not  down,  is  to  ex[)cct  and  de- 
mand good  works  where  no  gifts  or 
ojiportunites  were  given.  Matt.  xxv. 
20.  Luke  xix.  21.  The  earth  will 
be  reapcdhy  the  angel's  sharp  sickle, 
when,  by  the  just  vengeance  of  God 
our  Saviour,  Antichrist  and  his  sup- 
porters shall  be  utterly  and  fearfully 
destroyed.  Rev.  xiv.  15.  Angels 
are  called  reapers ;  God  employs 
them  to  overturn  and  cut  off  nations, 
and  by  them  he  will  gather  his 
people  to  him  at  the  last  day.  Matt, 
xiii.  30,  39.  Ministers  are  reapers  ; 
they  not  only  sow  the  seed  of  divine 
truth  among  men,  but  are  the  blessed 
means  of  cutting  them  otf  from  their 
natural  root,  and  bringing  them  to 
Christ,  John  iv.  36,  37. 

REASON,  (1.)  That  power  of 
the  human  soul  whereby  we  conceive 
and  judge  of  things,  Dan.  iv.  36- 
(2.)  Ground,  argument,  proof,  1 
Pet.  iii.  5. 

To  REASON,  is  to  talk  together, 
dispute,  argue,  Matt.  xvi.  8.  Mark 
viii.  16.  The  saints' offering  of  them- 
selves soul  and  body,  and  their  holy 
conversation,  to  promote  the  honour 
of  God,  is  a  reasonable,  not  brutal 
sacrifice,  and  corresponds  with  the 
wise  injunctions  and  grounds  assign- 
ed by  both  reason  and  revelation, 
Rom.  xii.  \. 

REBEKAH,  Rebecca,  fattened, 
contention,  hindered,  or  ranoved, 
daughter  of  Bethuel,  sister  of  Laban, 
and  wife  of  Isaac.  Her  being  providen- 
tially pointed  out  for  Isaac,  by  her  of- 
fer to  draw  water  forEliezer's  camels  as 
w-ell  as  himself;  her  readiness  to  leave 
her  country,  and  to  be  Isaac's  wife; 
her  modest  vailing  of  herself  when  she 
came  near  Isaac ;  her  long  barrenness, 
and  after  20  years,  conceiving  in  an- 
swer to  her  husband's  prayers ;  her 
consulting  of,  and  receiving  answer 
from  God,  concerning  the  struggling 
of  the  twins  in  her  womb  :  her  deli- 
very of  Esau  and  Jacob,  and  her  pe- 


R  E  B 


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R  E  C 


culiar  love  to  the  latter;  her  joining 
with  ^iaac  in  the  pretence  that  she 
was  his  sister,  that  tlie  Philistines  of 
Gerar  mieht  not  shay  her  husband  for 
the  sake  of  her  extreme  beanty;  her 
grief  at  Esau's  marriage  with  two 
Canaanitsh  women ;  her  base  con- 
duct in  directing  Jacob  to  impose 
on  Isaac,  in  order  to  obtain  his 
principal  Idessing;  her  advising  him 
to  flee  to  Padan-aram,  and  stay  there 
in  her  brother's  family  till  Esau's 
fury  should  be  cooled  :  her  care  to 
prevent  his  marrying  a  Canaanitess; 
and,  in  fine,  her  death,  and  burial  in 
the  cave  of  Machpelah;  have  been 
already  relate  under  Eliezer,  Isaac, 
and  Jacob,  Gen.  xxiv. — xxviii.  and 
xlix.  31. 

REBEE,  to  cast  oflf  the  authority 
of,  or  make  Avar  against  a  superior, 
Numb.  xvi.  1,  2.  2  Sam.  xv.  20. 
Men  rebel  against  God,  when  the}^ 
contemn  his  authority  and  do  what 
he  forbids,  Numb.  xiv.  9.  They 
rebel  against  the  Spirit^  when  Ihey 
resist  his  motions,  and  slight  his 
reproofs,  Isa.  Ixiii.  10.  They  rebel 
ageiinst  his  word,  when  thej^  refuse  to 
believe  his  promises,  receive  his  of- 
fers, or  obey  his  laws,  Psal.  cvii.  11. 
Isa.  i.  20. 

REBUKE,  REPROVE,  (1.)  To 
check  for  a  fault  privately  or  public- 
ly, either  by  words,  or  by  a  con- 
trary practice,  Lev.  xix.  17.  Eccl. 
vii.  5.  Prov.  xxvii.'  5.  1  Tim.  v.  20. 
(2.)  To  convince  of  a  fault,  make 
it  manifest,  in  order  to  promote  re- 
pentance, John  xvi.  8.  and  iii.  21. 
(3.)  To  restrain,  check  the  designs 
of,  overthrow,  and  render  incapable 
to  perform  their  purposes,  Zech.  iii. 
2.  Isa.  xvii.  13.  (4.)  To  chasten 
or  punish  for  sin,  Psal.  vi.  1.  and 
xxxix.  11.  Ho,?.  V.  9.  Ezek.  v.  'ib. 
(5.)  To  order  silenoe,  Luke  xix.  39. 
To  rebuke  a  disease,  is  to  cure  it  by  a 
word,  Luke  xi.  39.  To  rebuke  the 
mind  and  sea,  is  to  calm  both  or  dry 
up  the  latter.  Malt.  viii.  26.  Isa.  1.  2. 
Psal.  civ.  7.  To  he  wiihout  rebuke, 
is  to  live  in  a  blameless,  sober,  right- 
eous, andgodly  manner,  so  as  not  toi 
deserve  rebuke,  Phil,  ii.  1 5.     To  suf-  \ 


^fer  rebuke  for  God's  sake,  is  to  en 
I  dure  the  reproach  and  persecution  of 
I  men  for  adherence  to  his  way,  Jer. 
•XV.  15.  A  wise  reprover,  is  one  that 
carefully  observes  the  circumstance? 
of  the  fault,  the  station  and  temper 
oi"  the  offender,  and  the  proper  time 
and  place  for  tendering  the  reproof, 
Prov.  XXV.  12.  A  rebukcr  in  the  gate 
is  one  who  reproves  sin  openly,  and 
with  plainness  and  authority,  Amos 
V.  10. 

RECALL,     to  call  back. 

RECEIVE,  (1.)  To  take  what  is 
given,  ascribed  to,  paid,  or  put  into 
our  hands,  2  Sam.  xviii.  12.  2  Kings 
v.  26.  Rev.  V.  2.  (2.)  To  be  endow- 
ed with,  to  enjoy,  possess.  Acts  i.  8. 
Heb.  X.  36.  (3.)  To  give  welcome  to, 
to  lodge,  entertain.  Acts  xxviii.  2,  7. 
(4.)  To  admit  into  the  church  or 
family  of  God,  Rom.  xiv.  1,  3.  (5.) 
To  hold,  contain,  1  Kings  viii.  64. 
(6.)  To  accept  kindly,  and  bear  pa- 
tiently. Job  ii.  10.  2  Cor.  xi.  10. 
— Christ  receives  power,  wisdom, 
strength,  honour,  glory,  and  bless- 
ing, when  they  are  heartily  ascribed 
to  him  by  his  people  in  praise,  Rev. 
V.  1 1 .  To  receive  Christ,  is  to  be- 
lieve the  "promise  of  the  gospel, 
wherein  he  is  freely  offered,  as  made 
of  God  to  us  wisdom,  righteousness, 
sanctification,  and  redemption,  John 
i.  12.  To  receive  his  Avord  or  law, 
is  to  hear,  consider,  understand,  be- 
lieve, and  love  it,  Prov.  ii.  1.  To 
receive  Christ's  ministers  as  such,  is 
to  hear  them  as  invested  Avilh  his 
authority,  ajid  earnestly  endeavour  to 
believe  and  obey  their  instructions. 
Matt.  X.  40,  41.  Stony  ground 
hearers  receive  the  word  of  God 
withjo}',  but  they  have  not  root  in 
themselves,  no  deep  conviction  of 
their  sinfulness,  guilt,  or  helplessness, 
and  therefore  soon  give  up  their  pro- 
fession of  religion,  Matt.  xiii.  20. 
Unregenerate  men  receive  not  the 
things  of  God;  they  have  not  the  spi- 
ritual knoAvledge,  love,  or  possession, 
of  them  in  their  heart,  1  Cor.  ii.  14. 

RECHAB.  See  Baanah  and 
Kenites. 

RECKON.    See  Coum. 


U  E  C 


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RED 


To  RECOMMEND  one,  is  lo  en- 
deavour (o  procure  liirii  (he  esteem 
and  care  of  some  fierson,  Acts  xiv. 
26.  'J'o  recommend  one  to  fhc  icracc  oj 
God,  is,  hy  <lie  prayer  of  I'aith,  to 
commit  Iiim  to  the  care  and  favour  of 
a  gracious  (iod,  and  reques^t  every  ne- 
cessary hiessinp;  for  him,  Acts  xv.  40. 

RECOMPENSE,  an  amends  or 
requital  of  deeds  either  good  or  evil, 
])eul.  xxxii.  35.  The  recompense  ol 
the  Heathens'  abuse  of  their  know- 
ledc;e,  and  of  their  wilful  apostacy 
from  God  as  their  Creator  and  Pre- 
server, was  their  being  left  to  unna- 
tural lust,  Rom.  i.  27,  The  recom- 
pense or  punishment  of  the  Jews  for 
idolizing  their  ceremonies  to  the  re- 
jection ofChrkt,  was  God's  making 
these  ordinances  an  occasion  of  their 
hardening  and  ruin,  Rom.  xi.  9. 
The  gracious  reward  of  the  saints' 
good  works,  is  tbeir  recompense, 
Heb.  X.  35.  and  xi.  26. 

To  RECOMPENSE  or  rcquitc,  is 
(1.)  To  render  to  men  according  to 
their  deeds,  Psal.  xviii,  20,  24.  Judg. 
i.  7.  1  Tim.  V.  4.  but  sometimes 
good  is  requited  with  evil,  2  Sam. 
XXV.  21.  and  evil  with  good,  2  Sam. 
xvi.  12.  (2.)  To  make  restitution, 
giving  back  the  value  of  what  was 
wrongfully  taken  away,  Numb.  v. 
7.  The  righteous  are  recompensed  in 
the  earth ;  they  are  rewarded  even 
here  with  proper  comforts,  or  ra- 
ther they  are  chastised  here  for 
their  former  sins,  and  much  more 
fearfully  shall  the  Avicked  be  then 
punished,  Prov.  xi.  31. 

RECONCILE,(l.)Tomakepeace 
between  parties  at  variance,  to  se- 
cure favour,  Matt.  v.  24.  (2.)  To 
atone  for,  to  consecrate,  Lev.  vi.  30. 
Ezek.  xlv.  20.  God  reconciles  the 
world  to  himself:  he  devised  the 
whole  plan  of  our  reconciliation  and 
peace  with  him  :  he  sent  his  Son  to 
die  for  our  offences,  sends  him  to 
bless  us;  justifies,  sanctifies,  and 
glorifies  us,  according  to  the  riches 
of  his  grace,  2  Cor.  v.  19.  Christ 
reconciles  us,  by  his  death  for  us, 
and  his  grace  in  us  ,•  he  intercedes 
with  God  on  our  behalf;   and,  by 


uniting  us  to  himself,  and  dwelling 
in  us  by  faith,  he  |)repares  us  for 
everlasting  peace,  Epii.  ii.  ItJ.  He 
reconciles  alt  Ihins^s  :  through  his  obe- 
dience and  death,  Goil  is  reconciled 
to  men,  .lews  and  Gentiles  were  re- 
conciled into  one  church,  holy  angels 
and  men  are  at  peace  one  with  ano- 
ther, men  become  peaceably  disposed 
among  themselves,  and  enjoy  a  real 
inward  peace  of  conscience,  and  are 
in  a  covenant  of  peace  with  the  ir- 
rational and  inanimate  creation,  Col. 
i.  20.  The  gospel  is  the  word  or  mi- 
nistrij  of  reconciliation  ;  by  means  of 
it  is  this  peace  with  God,  angels, 
men,  conscience,  and  other  creatures, 
declared,  offered,  and  applied  to  us, 
2  Cor.  V.  18,  19. 

RECORD,  (1.)  To  bear  witness: 
and  hence  a  record  is  a  solemn  testi- 
mony and  declaration,  Acts  xx.  26. 
John  i.  1 9.  1  John  v.  7, 1 0,  11.  and  to 
call  on  God  for  a  record  upon  one's  senil, 
is  to  make  a  solemn  appeal  to  him, 
2  Cor.  i.  28.  (2.)  To  declare,  make 
mention  of,  1  Chron.  vi.  14.  Exod. 
XX.  24.  (3.)  To  mark  in  a  register, 
Neh.  xii.  8, 22.''and  hence  an  historical 
register  is  called  a  record,  Ezra.  vi. 
2.  and  a  recorder  was  an  officer 
that  noted  things  in  a  register  or  book 
of  account,  and  who  put  the  king  in 
mind  of  what  ought  to  be  considered, 
2  Sam.  viii.  16. 

RECOVER,  (1.)  To  regain  what 
had  been  lost,  taken  away,  or  was 
wanting,  1  Sam.xxx.  8.  Lukeiv.  18. 
{2)  To  restore  to  wonted  health,  2 
Kings  V.  3,  6,  7, 1 1.  (3.)  To  deliver 
from  bondage  and  distress,  Isa.  xi. 
11.  2  Tim.  ii.  26.  (4.)  To  take 
away  what  had  been  abused,  Hos. 
ii.  9. 

RECOUNT,  to  number  over  by 
name,  to  muster,  to  take  a  view  of, 
Nah.  ii.  5. 

RED.  This  colour  applied  to 
Christ,  as  by  trhe  red  heifer  and  his  red 
apparel,  denotes  his  bloody  suffer- 
ings, or  bloody  overthrow  of  his  ene- 
mies, Numb.  xix.  2.  Isa.  Ixiii.  2. 
but  the  red  die  of  the  rams'  skins 
which  covered  the  tabernacle,  might 
denote  both  his  sufferings  and  the  per- 


RED 


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RED 


secy.'ion  and  troubles  of  his  church, 
Ex'^d.  xxvi.  14.  and  xxxix.  34.. 
Redness  of  horses,  and  redness  of  the 
wine  of  God's  wrath,  denote  the  fear- 
ful and  bloody  effects  of  God's  judg-j 
aients,  Zech.  i.  8.  and  vi.  2.  Rev. 
VI.  4.  Psal.  Isxv.  8.  Redness  ascribed 
to  the  church  as  a  vineyard,  either 
denotes  her  being  ex[)osed  to  grievous 
trouble  and  persecution,  or  her  bring- 
ing forth  good  fruit  to  God,  Isa.  xxvii. 

2.  The  redness  oi  the  Heathen  dra- 
gon, signified  the  dreadful  persecu- 
tions of  the  C  hristians  by  the  Roman 
emperors.  Rev.  xii.  3.  Redness  of 
eyes,  imports  the  having  plenty  of 
wine,  or  being  drunk  with  it,  Gen. 
xlix.  12.  Prov.  xxiii.  29. 

REDEEM,  (1.)  To  buy  back  per- 
sons or  things  formerly  sold  or  taken, 
by  paying  a  due  price  for  them,  Lev. 
XXV.  25.  (2.)  To  deliver  from  dis- 
tress and  bondage,  by  the  exertion 
of  great  power  and  love,  Deut.  vii. 
5.  and  xxii.  6.  (3.)  To  deliver  men 
from  sin,  Satan,  an  evil  world,  death, 
and  hell,  by  the  price  of  .lesus's  obe- 
dience and  suffering,  and  by  means 
of  the  enlightening  and  sanctifying 
power  of  his  Spirit,  Gal.  iv.  4,  5.  Tit. 
ii.  14.  Luke  i.  68.  1  Pet.  i.  19.  they 
are  redeemed  from  the  earth;  from 
among  carnal  men,  and  to  God,  into 
a  state  of  fellowship  with,  and  vo- 
luntary subjection  to  him.  Rev.  xiv. 

3.  and  v,  9.  To  redeem  time,  is,  un- 
der the  conviction  of  having  misspent 
much  of  it,  to  double  our  diligence 
in  the  improvement  of  what  remains 
for  us,  Eph.  V.  16.  To  oblige  the 
Hebrews  to  be  deliberate  in  their 
vows,  nothing  once  devoted  was  to 
be  redeemed,  without  paying  the 
whole  worth  of  it,  and  a  fifth  part; 
more ;  nor  Avas  that  which  had  been 
devoted  under  the  form  of  a  curse  to 
be  redeemed  at  all  if  proper  to  be  of- 
fered :  nor  could  the  tithes,  or  any 
thing  which  the  Lord  had  a  stated 
claim  to,  be  redeemed  at  all,  except  the 
FIRSTLINGS,  improper  for  sacrifice. 
The  price  of  redemption  for  persons 
under  20  years  of  age,  was  five  shekels 
for  a  boy,  and  three  ibr  a  girl ;  for  per- 
sons between  20  and  60  years  of  age, 


it  was  50  shekels  for  a  man,  and  30  fox 
a  womaa;  and  for  all  above  60,  it  was 
20  for  a  man  and  10  for  a  woman: 
but,  if  a  person  was  so  poor  that  he 
could  not  pay  at  this  rate,  the  priest 
was  to  fix  a  price  upon  him  accord- 
ing to  his  ability.  The  nearer  it  was 
to  the  5'ear  of  jubilee,  the  price  for 
buying  or  redeeming  fields  Avas  pro- 
portionably  the  less :  in  the  first  year 
after  the  jubilee,  the  price  was  to  be 
48  years'  purchase;  in  the  45th,  it 
was  but  three  years'  purchase,  or 
little  more. 

REDEEMER.  The  Hebrew 
GOEti,  or  kitisman  redeemer,  who  was 
also  the  nearest  of  kin,  was  to  exert 
himself  in  favour  of  his  destitute 
kinsman.  If  he  had,  through  pover- 
ty, mortgaged  his  inheritance,  the 
goel  was  to  buy  it  back.  H"  he  had 
sold  himself  into  slavery,  the  goel 
was  to  pay  his  ransom.  If  he  was 
murdered,  the  goel  was  to  avenge 
his  blood.  If  he  died  childless,  the 
goel  might  espouse  his  widow,  and 
raise  up  seed  to  him ;  but  it  does 
not  appear  that  he  was  obliged  to 
this,  except  he  was  an  unmarried 
brother,  Numb.  v.  8.  and  xxvii.  11. 
and  XXV.  Deut.  xxv.  1  to  8.  Ruth 
iii.  and  iv. — Did  not  this  goel  typify 
Christ's  assuming  our  nature,  pur- 
chasing our  happiness,  recovering 
our  liberty,  avenging  our  blood  on 
Satan  and  his  agents,  and  raising  up 
a  seed  of  saints  zealous  of  good 
works  ?  God  is  called  a  Redeemer, 
with  mighty  power  and  kindness,  he 
rescued  the  Hebrews  from  their 
bondage  and  trouble,  and  often  deli- 
vers the  oppressed ;  and  he,  through 
the  precious  blood  of  his  Son,  saves 
from  deepest  slavery  and  wo,  to 
endless  glory  and  happiness.  Isa. 
Ixiii.  16.  Christ  is  a  Redeemer :  he 
paid  the  price  of  our  redemjjtion; 
by  his  intercession,  he  pleads  for  and 
procures  it;  by  his  Spirit,  he  api)liesit 
to  our  souls,  Isa.  lix.  20.  Job  xix.  25. 
Our  redemption,  or  deliverance  from 
sin,  and  all  its  effects,  is  through  his 
blood  and  Spirit,  Eph.  i.  7.  Col.  i. 
14.  Heb.  ix.  12.  it  begins  in  our  for- 
giveness, is  carried  on  in  our  sancti- 


REE 


(     3M     ) 


REP 


tication,  and  perfected  in  our  eternal 
blessedness,  when,  at  the  resurrec- 
tion, our  very  bodies  shall  be  deliver- 
ed from  all  the  effects  of  sin;  and 
this  entrance  on  eternal  glory  is  call- 
ed our  rcd-mplioiiy  as  it  brings  the 
deliverance  to  its  perfection,  Luke 
xxi.  28.  Rom.  viii.  23.  It  is  called 
the  redemption  of  the  purchased  pos- 
session, as  we  then  enter  on  the  full 
possession  of  what  Christ  has  pur- 
chased; or  what  is  the  rcdcmidion  of 
the  peculiar  people,  Eph.  i.  1 4.  Christ 
died  for  the  redemption  of  transgres- 
sions, i.  e.  that  he  might  make  full 
satisfaction  for  them,  Heb.  ix.  15. 
He  is  made  of  God  to  us  redemption  ; 
he  is  prepared  and  given  of  God  to 
us  an  all-sufficient  Saviour,  as  the 
purchaser,  price,  treasury,  and  sub- 
stance of  our  complete  deliverance 
from  sin  and  misery,  to  holiness  and 
happiness,  1  Cor.  i.  20.  We  are 
justified  through  the  redemption  that 
is  in  him,  the  redemption-price  of  his 
death,  and  in  partaking  of  him  as 
made  of  God  to  us  redemption,  Rom. 
iii.  22. 

REDOUND,  to  conduce  in  the 
consequence,  2  Cor.  iv.  15. 

REEDS,  such  as  grow  in  fenny 
and  watery  places,  and  are  of  many 
different  kinds.  The  common  reeds 
in  our  country  are  of  no  great  use, 
except  for  thatching  of  houses.  The 
paper  reeds  of  Egypt,  the  sugar 
reeds  or  canes,  and  the  Spanish  reeds 
of  which  walking  staffs  and  weavers' 
jeeds  are  formed,  are  of  much  more 
account.  (2.)  A  staff  made  of  reed; 
such  a  one,  by  way  of  derision,  was 
put  into  our  Saviour's  hand  instead 
of  a  sceptre ;  and  with  this  they 
held  up  to  him  on  the  cross  the 
spunge  full  of  gall  and  vinegar.  Matt. 
xxvii,  29,  30,  48.  (3.)  A  measure 
of  six  cubits,  or  11  feet  2.323  inches, 
Ezek.  xl.  3.  Christ  will  not  break 
the  bruised  reed,  nor  quench  the  smolc- 
ins^  flax ;  he  will  not  destroy,  but 
kindly  help,  care  for,  and  comfort, 
the  weakest  saints,  that  are  upon  the 
point  of  losing  all  their  grace  and 
comfort,  Isa.  xlii.  3.  In  allusion  to 
the  multitude  of  reeds  growinir  about 


Egypt,  the  Egyptians  and  their  king 
are  likened  to  a  staff  of  reed :  and 
broken  reed,  to  «lenote  their  inability 
to  help,  and  their  readiness  to  hurt, 
the  Jews,  and  such  others  as  trusted 
in  them  for  support  or  protection, 
Ezek.  xxix.  6.  Isa.  xxxvi.  G.  The 
ten  tribes  of  Israel  were  stnittcn  cls  a 
reed,  when  tossed  to  and  fro  as  to 
their  outward  estate,and  by  the  force 
of  God's  judgments  upon  them,  1 
Kings  xiv.  15.  John  Baptist  was 
not  a  reed  shaken  rath  the  wind;  was 
not  unsettled  in  his  doctrine  or  prac- 
tice, but  constant  and  steady  in  bear- 
ing testimony  to  Christ,  and  in  fol- 
lowing a  course  of  strict  holiness, 
amidst  storms  of  trouble,  Matt.  xi.  7. 
The  measuring  reed  in  Ezekiel  and 
John's  vision,  may  denote  the  word 
of  God,  according  to  which  all  the 
things  of  the  church  ought  to  Ije  ad- 
justed ;  or,  that  the  providence  of 
God  should  with  great  exactness  pro- 
tect and  defend  them,  Ezek.  xl.  3. 
and  xlii.  16.  Rev.  xi.  1.  and  xxi.  15. 
The  reeds  at  Babylon  were  burnt  with 
fire  ;  either  those  that  were  growing 
in  the  Euphrates  were  deprived  of 
their  moisture  when  the  current  was 
diverted,  or  they,  and  those  on  the 
roofs  of  houses  were  burnt  by  the  Per- 
sians, Jer.  li,  32. 

To  REEL  and  stagger,  is  to  walk 
as  men  who  are  stupid  with  drink,  or 
as  men  that  cannot  keep  their  feet 
in  a  ship  tossed  by  a  tempest,  Psal. 
cvii.  27.  The  earth  reels,  Avhen  its 
inhabitants  are  thrown  into  great  ter- 
ror, perplexity,  and  disorder,  Isa. 
xxiv.  20.  and  staggers,  when  shaken 
to  and  fro  by  earthquakes,  Psal.  xcis. 
1 1 .  Men  stagger  at  God's  promise, 
when  the  faith  they  have  is  mixed 
with  unbelieving  feara  and  doubts, 
Rom.  iv.  20.  They  stagger  under 
affliction,  when  they  arc  so  perplexed 
that  they  know  not  what  to  do  or 
whither  to  go.  Job  xii.  25.  Isa.  xis- 
14.  and  xxix.  0. 

REFINE,  to  pui-ge  as  founders  do 
metal  from  dross,  or  as  vintners  do 
wine  from  dregs,  1  Chrou.  xxviii.  18. 
Isa.  XX.  6.  Christ  is  a  refiner  and 
pf. rifier  ;hy  hh  word,  his  blood,  hi? 


REP 


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Spirit,  and  by  sanctified  troubles,  he 
purges  out  the  dross  of  error,  corrup- 
tion, and  scandalous  persons,  from  the 
church,  and  the  dross  of  sinful  defile- 
ment from  the  heart  and  life  of  his 
people,  Mai.  iii.  2,  3.  Isa.  xlviii.  16. 
Zech.  xiii.  9.  The  word  of  the  Lord 
is  refined;  there  is  no  dross,  error, 
wickedness,  or  vanity,  to  be  found  in 
it,  2  Sam.  xxii.  f  31.  Psal.  cxix. 
tl40. 

REFORM,  to  bring  into  a  new 
state  or  course.  The  Hebrews  were 
reformed  when  they  left  their  idola- 
tries and  other  evil  courses,  and  turn- 
ed to  the  Lord,  Lev.  xxvi.  23.  The 
gospel  dispensation  is  called  the  re- 
formation: the  ceremonial  ordinances 
being  fulfilled  in  Christ,  were  laid 
aside  for  more  clear,  easy,  and  spi- 
ritual ones  ;  and  multitudes  of  Jews 
and  Gentiles  were  turned  from  tiieir 
legal,  superstitious,  idolatrous,  and 
other  wicked  courses,  to  the  profes- 
sion, faith,  and  obedience  of  Christ, 
Heb.  ix.  10. 

REFRAIN,  to  withhold,  keep 
back.  Gen.  xlv.  1.  Psal.  cxix.  101. 

REFRESH,  (1.)  To  strengthen 
one  by  food,  1  Kings  xiii.  7.  (2.) 
To  take  rest,  and  recover  strength 
after  fatigue,  Exod.  xxiii.  12.  (3) 
To  revive  and  comfort,  1  Cor.  xvi. 
18.  Men's  spirit,  soul,  or  bowels, 
are  refreshed,  when  they  get  new  in- 
ward ease,  strength,  vigour,  and  com- 
fort. Job  xxxii.'  20.  2  Cor.  vii.  13. 
Prov.  XXV.  13.  Phil.  vii.  The  re- 
freshing promised  to  the  penitent 
Jews,  may  comprehend  the  com- 
fortable declaration  and  application 
of  a  free  and  full  redemption,  through 
the  person,  obedience,  death,  and  in- 
tercession of  Christ;  a  comfortable 
deliverance  and  preservation  from 
the  general  ruin  of  their  nation,  and 
chiefly  the  com[)lete  happiness  of 
both  soul  and  body  at  tlte  last  day, 
Acts  iii.  19.     See  Rest. 

REFUGE,  SHELTER,  a  place  of 
safety  in  time  of  storms  or  danger, 
Job  xxiv.  8.  Christ  is  a  refuge,  or 
shelter ;  by  him  the  saints  are  gra- 
ciously protected  against  every  storm 
of  wrath,  against  every  danger,  and 


against   the  assaults   of  every   foe, 
Psal.  xiv.  6.  and  xlvi.  1.  and  xli.  3. 
Refuges  of  lies,  are  vain  imaginations, 
and  ill-grounded  hopes  of  safety ;  or, 
persons  we  trusted  disappointing  us, 
as  the   Assyrians,  who,  instead   of 
helping   Ahaz,  distressed  him,  Isa. 
xxviii.  15,  17.     To  inspire  the  He- 
brews with  a  horror  of   bloodshed, 
and  mercifully  provide  for  the  relief 
of  involuntary  manslayers,  God  ap- 
pointed  six  of  their   cities,  Bezer, 
Golan,   and  Ramoth-gilead,  on  the 
east    of    Jordan,     Kedesh-naphtali, 
Shechcm,  and  Hebron,  on  the  west 
of  it,  all  of  them  belonging  to  the 
priests  or  Levites,  to  be  cities  of  re- 
fuge; and  they  were  commanded  to 
add  to  these  when  their  territories 
shoukl  be  e/ifarged ;  but  we  find  no 
account  of  any  such  addition.  These 
cities  were  of  easy  access,  situated  in 
mountains  or  large  plains.    That  no- 
thing might  retard  the  manslayer  in 
his  flight  to  them,  the  roads,  to  the 
width  of  58  feet  4  inches,  were  kept 
in  good  repair,  and  the  rivers  of  note 
had     bridges    thrown    over    them; 
where   any   other    way   crossed   or 
parted  from  them,  posts  marke(J  with 
REFUGE,  directed  to  the  city  of  re- 
fuge.    On  the  15th  day  of  the  121b 
month,  at  the  end  of  the  winter,  the 
roads  were  inspected  bj'^  the  magis- 
trates, and  repairs  were  ordered. — 
These  cities  Avere  plentifully  stored 
with   necessary   provisions,  but   no 
Aveapons  of  war  Avere  made  or  sold 
therein.      When  a   Hebrew,    or    a 
stranger    among   them    unwittingly 
killed  his  neighbour,  he  fled  with  all 
possible  expedition  to  the  city  of  re- 
fuge that  was  next  to  him  ;  for,  if  any 
of  the  friends  of  the  killed  person 
could   overtake  him  before  he  got 
thither,  they  were  warranted  to  slay 
him.     Whenever  the  manslayer  en- 
tered the  city,  he  used  to  send  some 
prudent  and    moderate    persons   to 
meet  the  pursuing  avenger  of  blood, 
to  soften  his  rage.     When  he  came 
up,  he  presented  an  accusation  to  (he 
judges  of  the  place,  upon  the  fooling 
of  which  the  manslayer  was  cited  to 
their  bar.     If  upon  trial  it  appeared 


R  E  (5 


(     353 


he  had  slain  his  neiijhl)our  unwitting'- 
\y,  he  was  received  as  a  lotlsjer  intu 
the  city;  only  it  is  said  thai  the 
cause  was  again  tried  in  the  man- 
slayer's  own  city ;  and  if  hv!  was 
ogain  found  to  have  dune  it  without 
<lesign,  he  was  safely  contlucted  hack 


) 

V.  12. 
upuii 
Dcut. 
show 


R  E  n 


I 


1  Sam.  XXV.  25.  (2.)  To  loek 
one  with  pity  and  concern, 
xxviii.  50.  (3.)  To  have  of 
a    distinguished  love    to,  es* 


teem  of,  or  care  for,  2  Kinjs  iii.  14. 
Rorn.  xiv.  6.  God  rci^ards  the  jirayer 
of  the  destitute,  when  he  graciously 


to  the  city  of  refuge,  and  ahode  there 'accepts  it,  and  bestows  either  the 
till  the  death  of  the  high  priest;  but  very  thing  that  is  asked,  or  what  is 
he  was  obliged  to  apply  himself  toj much  better,  Psal.  cii.  17.  Men  re- 
some  business,  that  he  might  not  be  ira/v/ 5m,  when  they  love  and  esteem 
chargeable  to  the  inhabitants.  The 'it,  aiul  delight  to  [iraciise  it,  Psal. 
altar  of  burnt-olfering  was  also  a  re-  Ixvi.  18.  and  xxxi  t).  .'on.  ii.  8. 
J'tis^c  for  petty  criminals  ;  and  such  v.s  , To  rc2;ar/l  mens  persons,  is  to  value 
tle«l  to  it,  if  found  to  have  acted '  theju  for  tiieir  outward  honour,  pow- 
undesignedly,  were  conducted    to  a  er,  or  wealth.  Matt.  xxii.  16 


city  of  refuge.  Num.  xxxv.  Deut. 
xix.  11,  12.  Josh.  XX.  It  is  gene- 
rally acknowledged,  that  ihcserjiii^es 
oi  asylums  represented  Jesus  Christ, 
as  the  sole  rel'uge  for  guilty  sinners, 
who  h.ive  murdered  their  souls,  their 
neighbour,  their  Saviour,  and  at- 
tempted to  murder  their  God.  How 
o;)en  our  way  to  himi  how  cert-iin 
our  peace  and  safety  in  him!  nor 
shall  those  who  come  to  and  abide 
in  him  ever  be  cast  out;  i)ut  if  law 
and  justice,  these  avengers  of  blood, 
find  us  without  him,  how  great  our 
danger  of  eternal  death  ! 

REFUSE.  The  Jews,  as  the 
church  of  God  before  the  incarnation 
of  Christ,  on  account  of  their  barren 
and  forlorn  etate,  very  much  resem- 


REGENERATION,  a  new  birth. 
See  Renew. 

REGION.     See  Country. 

REGISTER,  a  public  record  for 
marking  genealogies  and  events  wor- 
thy of  remembrance,  Ezra.  ii.  62. 

REHEARSE,  to  tell  over,  Exod, 
xvii.   15.   1  Sam.  xvii.  41. 

RE  HOB,  breallh,  spice,  or  ex^ 
tent,  a  city  of  the  tribe  of  Asher, 
given  to  the  Levites.  It  seems  to 
have  stood  on  the  north  border  of 
Tanaan,  and  to  have  been  a  very 
different  place  from  the  Rooba  oC 
.lerome,  which  he  says  was  but  fouf 
miles  from  Bethshan,  Numb.  xiii. 
21.  Josh.  xix.  23.  and  xxi.  31. 

RE  HOBO  AM,  cnlan^er  of  the 
people,    the  space  or   breadth  of   the 


bled  a  distressed,  slighted  \\'n\o\\;\ people,  the  son  and  successor  of  So 
and  the  Gentiles  were  then  in  a  la- 
mentable state  of  ignorance  and 
wretchedness  ;  yet  even  these  were 
not  overlooked  by  the  Almiiihty,  al- 
though they  were  esteemed  the  re- 
fuse of  men,  Isa.  liv.  G.  Men  refuse 
Christ,  w  hen  they  neglect  the  know- 


lomon,  horn  of  one  Nahainah  an  Am- 
monitess,  about  the  end  of  David's 
reign.  It  appears  froui  the  book  of 
Proverbs,  that  his  father  was  at  no 
small  pains  to  teach  him  wisdom; 
but  these  instructions  were  not  re- 
garded by  him,   nor  were  they  duly 


ledge  of  his  truth,  the  cordial  belief^  exemplified  in  his  lather's  life.  When 
of  his  promises  wherein  he  and  all  his  he  i)egan  to  reign,  //.  M.  3030,  he# 
fulness  are  otfered  to  them  as  the  free  j  being  a!>out  41  years  of  age,  re[)air- 
giftof  God,  and  the  observance  of  his  led  to  Shechem,  whither  the  Hebrews 
ordinances,  Heb.  xii.  25.  The  refuse  Ardd  assemhed  to  make  him  king, 
ofany  thing,i3itsdross,fiIth,ornau2.h-  Instigated  b}-^  Jeroboam,  who  had  be^ 


ty  part,  1  Sam.  xv.  9.  Amos  viii.  0. 
The  Jews  w^ere  made  as  the  refuse, 
when  rendered  weak,  poor, contempt- 
ible, and  wretched,  Lamb.  iii.  f  45. 
REGARD,  (1.)  To  think  of,  se- 
riously to  consider,  lav  to  heart,  lea. 


gun  to  raise  sedition  a  little  l)efore 
Solomon's  death,  they  oifered  Reho- 
boam  the  sovereignty,  provided  he 
Avould  ease  them  of  the  hard  service 
and  expensive  taxes  which  his  father 
had  laid  upon  them  as  he  carried  «n 
2  X 


R  E  H 


(     364     ; 


R  E  H 


his  buildings.    He  took  three  days  to 
deliberate  on  the  proposal.     His  aged 
counsellors,  who  had  served  with  his 
father  in  that  station,  advised  him  to 
give  the  people  an  obliging  answer, 
and  he  would  soon  fix  them  in  his 
interest.    Unwilling  to  do  so,  he  con- 
sulted with    his  young  counsellors, 
who  had  been  brought  up  with  him  : 
they  advised  him  to  tell  the  people, 
that  he  intended  to   load  them  with 
far    more  grievous  burdens,    and  to 
punish  them  far  more  severely,  than 
ever  his  father  had  done.     This  ad- 
vice suiting  his  haughty  and    foolish 
disposition,  he  followed  it.    The  ten 
tribes  of  Reuben,  Simeon,  Ephraim, 
Manasseh,  Dan,  Zebulun,  Issachar, 
Naphtali,  Gad,  and  Asher,  provoked 
by  his  conduct,  cried  out,  that  they 
were  under  no  obligation  to,  and  had 
no  interest  in,  the  family  of  David, 
and  therefore  would  go  home,  and  let 
Reho!(Oam  and  the  family  of  David 
care  (or  themselves.  Upon  their  with- 
draM'ing  in   a  body,  Rehohoani  sent 
Hadoram  his  treasurer  after  them  to 
persuade    them  to  return.     Perhaps 
supposing  him  to  have  been  the  au- 
thor of   their   late   hardships,    they 
stoned    him  to    death.      Rehoboam 
seeing  this,  posted  off  to  Jerusalem 
in  his  chariot,    where  the  tribes   of  j 
Judah  and  Benjamin  acknowledged! 
him  king.     Of  these  he   formed  an  | 
army  of  180,000,  to  reduce  the  ten 
revolting  tribes   by  force;  but  She- 
niaiah  the  prophet,  in  God's  name, 
discharged  him  and  his  army   from 
this  attemi)t,  as   it  would  not  pros- 
per; Rehoboam  and  his  people  then 
returned    to    their   homes.     He,    to 
strengthen    his    kingdom,     fortified 
Bethlehem,  Elam,  Tekoah,  Bethzur, 
Shocho,   Adullam,  Gath,  Mareshah, 
Ziph,    Ador.iim,   Lachish,  Azekah, 
Zorah,  Aijalon,  and  Hebron,  and  put 
garrisons  of  men,  and  magazines  of 
armour  and  provision,  therein.     As 
Jeroboam,  when  he  was  made  king 
of  the  ten  tribes,  cast  off  the   true 
worship  of  God,  many  of  the  priests 
and  Levites,    and   no  doubt  others, 
retired  to  the  kingdom  of  Judah,  and 
strengthened  it. 


I     For  three  years.  Rehoboam  and  hi^ 
{subjects  followed  the  Lord,  and  pros- 
pered exceedingly;    but  afterwards 
they  abandoned  themselves  to  every 
enormity,    idolatrous  altars,  statues, 
groves,  and  high  places,  were  every- 
where formed ;   and  Avomen  were  ap- 
pointed to  be  public  prostitutes.     To 
punish  this  wickedness,  God  permit- 
ted Shishak  king  of  Egypt  to  invade 
the  land,  A.  M.  3035.     He  ravaged 
•  the  country,  and  carried  off  the  trea- 
jsures  of    the  temple  and  palace. — 
jMeanwhil*^,  Shemaiah  the   prophet 
i  informed  Rehoboam  and  his  |)rinces, 
f  that  their  idolatry  and  other  wicked- 
ness had  occasioned  these  disasters. 
They  humbled    themselves  under  a 
sense  of  their  guilt,  and  acknowledg- 
ed thejustice  of  God  in  their  miseries. 
Shemaiah  then  assured  them,that  God 
would  not  utterly  forsake  them,  but 
would  give  them  a  trial  what  differ- 
ence there  was  between  the  blessed- 
ness of  serving  the  Lord  and  the  mi- 
sery of  serving  Shishak.     When  Shi- 
shak left  the  country,  after  he  had 
held  it  about  3  or  4  years,  Rehobo- 
am and  his  people  on  the  main  restor- 
ed the  worship  of  God,  but  the  high 
places  were  not  removed.     He  made 
brazen  shields  for  his  guard  who  at- 
i  tended  him  to  the  temple,  instead  of 
the goldenones  ol  his  la(her''s  making. 
Which  Shishak  had  carried  off:  tliese 
lay  in  his  arsenal  wlien  they  were 
not    used.     Alter    Rehoboam     had 
reigned  17  j'ears,  he  died,   and  was 
buried  in  the  city  of  David  ;  and  lefJ 
Abijah,  his  son,  whom  he  intended  to 
have  made  his  colleague  on  the  throne, 
to  be  his  successor.     There  were  al- 
most perpetual  w^ars  between  him  and 
Jeroboam,  the  history  of  which,  and 
of  his  life,  was  written  by   the  pro- 
j)hets  Shemaiah  and  Iddo ;  but,   not 
being  intended  as  caiionical,it  has  not 
reached  our  times,  1  Kings  xii.  and 
Kiv.  21 — 31.  2  Chr.  x.  and  xi.  and  xii. 
REHOBOTH,      spaces,     places, 
largeness,     (1.)    A  cily    near   Nin- 
eveh,    perhaps     the  same    as     the 
Oroba    of    Pliny :    but    some    sup- 
pose it   to    signify    the    streets    of 
the  city  of   Nineveh,    Gen.  x.  11 


R  E  I 


(     355     ) 


R  E  L 


2.)  A  city  of  Edom,  where  Saul, 
kins;  of  that  country,  was  born;  for 
it  i?  ahsunl  to  iniaij^ino  he  could  he  ol 
the  other  Relioholh  on  the  'Pilaris, 
Gen.  xxxvi.  37.  (3.)  A  well  dii;- 
•4;ed  by  Isaac,  eastward  of  Gerar,  so 
called,  because  there  the  Lord  had 
jnade   room  for  him.  Gen.  xxvi.  22. 

REHUM.     See  Samaritans. 

REJECT,  (1.)  To  despise,  Hos. 
iv.  6.  (2.)  To  cast  ofT,  forsake,  Jer. 
vii.  20.  and  xiv.  19.  (3.)  To  deny 
(he  grantins;  of  a  request,  Mark  vi. 
2(5.  Obstinate  abusers  of  gospel  or- 
(linances,  whether  Jews  or  Gentiles, 
are  rejected  as  barren  ground ;  will 
be  deprived  of  the  strivings  of  God's 
Spirit,  and  of  divine  ordinances,  and 
are  exposed  to  temporal  and  eternal 
ruin,  Heb.  vi.  1. 

REIGN,  to  rule  or  command  as 
a  king,  2  Sam.  v.  4,  5.  God  reigns 
as  the  absolute  ruler  of  all  things,  he 
governs  and  disposeth  of  them,  and 
to  him  must  all  persons  give  an  ac- 
count. Psalm  xciii.  1.  Christ  re? «7J.s 
as  supreme  governor  of  his  church, 
who  alone  gives  her  laws,  appoints 
officers,  and  orders  or  dis|?oseth  her 
concerns  as  he  |)lea?e*h,  1  Cor.  xv. 
25.  The  saints  rf/§-«  ;  they  have  a 
spiritual  dominion  over  sin,  Satan, 
and  the  corru[)t  influence  of  this 
world,  and  by  their  prayers  have  no 
small  hand  in  the  management  of 
it;  and  during  the  millennium,  the}' 
will,  it  is  thought,  possess  the  chief 
power  in  church  and  state,  Rev.  v. 
iO.  and  XX.  6.  [\wy  reign  in  life  spi- 
ritual, beinc  more  than  conquerors 
through  him  that  loved  them,  of  sin, 
Satan,  an<l  the  world;  ami  will 
reign  in  life  eternal,  when  advanced 
to  the  highest  glory,  and  shnll  have 
every  thing  to  their  wish,  Rom.  v. 
1 7.  Sin  reigns,  and  reigns  unto  death, 
when  it  has  the  chief  jiower  in  the 
heart,  and  when  sin  in  general  has- 
tens forward,  and  condemns  to  death 
temporal,  spiritual,  and  eternal,  Rom. 
ri.  12.  and  v.  21.  Grace  rcis^ns,  and 
reigns  to  eternal  life,  through  the 
righteousness  of  Jesus  Christ,  who  in 
a  gracious  manner,  disposes  of  the 
saints,  and  all  their  concerns,  so  as  to 


promote  their  eternal  life:  thegracious 
liabits  iiiip|.uit<(l  in  our  souls  conquer 
and  root  out  our  inward  corruptions, 
and  so  prepare  us  for  eternal  life, 
Kom.  vi.  IJ.  and  v.  21. 

REINS,  (1.)  The  kidnies,  or  in- 
wards of  an  animal.  Lev.  xv.  t  2. 
Jobxix.  27.  Psalm  cxxxix.  13.  (2.) 
The  souls  of  m(  n  \\ilh  their  disposi- 
tions and  thoughts,  Lam.  iii.  13.  Rev. 
ii.  23.  God  \^  far  from  m(n\s  reins, 
wh^n  they  have  no  true  knowledge, 
fear,  love,  desire  of,  or  delight  in 
him,  and  perform  no  true  obedience 
to  him,  Jer.  xii.  2.  Men  nrepricked 
in  their  reins,  \\  hen  their  soul  is 
wounded  with  disquieting  thoughts, 
tortnenting  passions,  envy,  sorrow, 
anger,  Psal.  Ixxiii.  21.  Men's  m«* 
instruct  them,  when  God,  by  inspi- 
ration or  otherwise,  stirs  up  instruc- 
tive and  directive  thoughts  in  their 
mind,  Psal.  xvi.  7. 

REJOICE.    SeeJoT. 

RELEASE,  (1.)  To  set  a  prison- 
er or  slave  at  liberty,  Matt,  xxvii. 
15.  (2.)  To  forgive  a  debt  or  tri- 
bute, Deut.  XV.  2.  Esther  ii.  18.  See 
Feast. 

RELY,  to  lean,  to  depend  for 
help  and  victory,    2  Chr.  xvi.  7,  8. 

RELIEVE,  to  free  one  from  hard- 
shi[);  as  from  op()res?ion,  by  right- 
eous Judgment,  Isa.  i.  17.  from  deep 
poverty,  by  proper  gifts  and  presents, 
1  Tim.  V.  17.  Acts  xi.  29.  from  hun- 
ger, by  proper  food.  Lam.  i.  11,  19. 
from  excessive  grief,  iiy  encourage- 
ment and  comfort,  Lam.  i.  16.  God 
relieves  the  fatherjess  and  widow; 
he  comforts  them  agninst  grief,  he 
delivers  them  from  0|,'pression,  and 
provides  for  them  again^jt  povtrly 
and  want,  Psal.  cxlvi.  9. 

RELIGION,  (I.)  The  true  reli- 
gion, evidently  sujiposes  a  si)irilual 
knowledge  and  belief  of  <livine  truth, 
a  depen'lence  on  and  love  to  Christ 
and  to  the  Father  in  him,  mani!e:-t- 
ed  in  a  regular  acknowicdgf-ent  and 
worshif)  of,  and  obedience  to  him,  and 
in  showing  proper  attention  to  men, 
chieflj'  such  as  are  in  distress  and 
want.  Jam.  i.  27.  (2.)  The  external 
and  ceremonial  worship  of  the  Jews, 


REM 


V 


356     ) 


REN 


Acta  xxvi.  5.  (3.)  A  superstitious 
worshipping  of  ana;els,  Col.  ii.  f  18. 
Religious,  or  devoid,  are  such  as 
are  much  given  to  a  religious  course 
or  profession,  Acts  siii.  43. 

REMAINS,  (1.)  To  continue, 
G(^n.  viii.  22.  (2.)  To  be  left  be- 
hind, Judges  V.  13.  Remainder,  or 
remnant,  is  what  is  over  and  above, 
what  is  left  behind,  Exod.  xxvi.  13. 
2  Kings  xix.  4.  God  restrains  the 
remainder  of  man's  wrath,  when*  he 
represseth,  and  hinders  from  break- 
ing out,  whatever  of  it  he  dolh  not 
intend  for  his  own  glory  and  the 
good  of  his  people,  Psahii  Ixxvi,  10. 
Remnant  often  signifies  a  small  part 
left  behind :  and  so  the  remnant  of  a 
people,  are  the  small  part  that  are 
saved  from  ruin,  temporal  or  eternal, 
Rom.  ix.  4.  The  remnant  of  the 
church's  seed,  warred  upon  by  the 
dragon,  are  the  small  remains  of  the 
opitosers  of  Antichrist  scattered  here 
and  there.  Rev.  xii.  17.  The  rem- 
nant of  Baal,  is  what  was  left  of  his 
worship  and  worshippers,  Zeph.  i.  4. 
REMEDY,  a  cure  for  removing 
or  preventing  of  evil,  2  Chr.  xxxvi. 
16. 

REMEMBER,  (1.)  To  call  to 
mind  what  is  past,  Deut.  xv.  15.  (2.) 
To  keep  in  mind  somev\rhat  future 
and  important,  that  we  may  prepare 
for  it,  or  take  notice  of  it  when  it 
comes,  Exod.  xx.  8.  (3.)  To  think 
of  and  consider,  Psal.  xlii.  6.  Matt. 
xvi.  9.  (4.)  To  esteem,  reward, 
Eccl.  ix.  15.  (5.)  To  mention  in 
the  way  of  praise  and  commendation, 
1  Chron.  xvi.  12.  (6.)  To  take  care 
of;  God  remembers  men,  when  he 
shows  regard  to,  cares  for,  favours, 
and  saves  them,  esj>ecially  after  a 
suspension  of  his  benefits,  Psal.lxxiv. 
2.  So  he  remembered  Noah,  and 
other  animals,  when  he  provided  for 
their  deliverance  from  the  ark.  Gen. 
viii.  1.  He  remembered  Abraham, 
when,  from  regard  to  his  prayer,  he 
delivered  Lot  from  the  overthrow  of 
Sodom,  Gen.  xix.  29.  He  remem- 
bers mercy,  v,  hen  he  notably  exercises 
it,  Psal.  XEv.  6.  Hab.  iii.  2.  Mer<?- 
:picmbers  or  mentiom  sin  or  righteous- 


ness, when  he  punishes  the  one  and 
rewards  the  other,  Jer.  xxxi.  34. 
Ezek.  xviii.  22,  24.  Antichristians 
and  other  wicked  men  are  remembered, 
when  their  sins  are  punished,  3  John 
10.  Psal.  cxxxvii.  7.  Rev.  xvi.  19. 
Men  remember  Godov  his  name,  \\hen 
they  think  of,  believe  in,  and  de- 
pend on  him  for  help  and  assistance, 
Psal.  XX.  7. — Remembrance,  me- 
mory,consideration,  iJeut.  xxxiii.  20, 
26.  Your  remembrances  are  like  nnio 
ashes,  your  bodies  to  bodies  of  clay  ; 
your  memory,  or  renown,  and  your 
l>ody,  your  mortal  life,  are  contemp- 
tible, and  will  soon  perish;  or,  your 
memorials,  your  admonitions,  are 
pitiful  as  ashes,  and  your  strongest 
reasonings  as  v/eak  and  brittle  as 
clay,  ,lob  xiii.  12. 

REMIT,  to  forgive,  declare  for- 
given, absolve  from  censure,  John 
XX.  23. 

REMPHAN,  prepared,  set  in 
array,  an  idol.  Some  think  him  to 
have  been  Rernphis,  a  king  of  Egypt, 
worshipped  after  his  death;  perhaps 
he  is  the  same  as  Moloch,  Chiun, 
and  the  Egyptian  Serapis  and  Osiris* 
To  commemorate  the  dream  of 
the  kine  whereby  Egjjpl  was  saved, 
a  deity  Avas  there  worshipped  in 
the  form  of  a  bull ;  and  the  Hebrews 
carried  the  portrait  of  Remphan 
in  the  wilderness,  when  they  had 
their  golden  calf  among  them, 
Amos  v.  26.  Acts  vii.  43.  Othera 
think  Remphan  to  be  the  same 
as  Ham,  Chronus,  or  Saturn,  the 
father  of  the  Rephaira,  or  giants. 

REMOVE,  (1.)  To  go  from  one 
place  to  another.  Numb.  xii.  16. 
(2.)  To  take  away,  set  aside.  Gen. 
viii.  13.  Judg.  ix.  29.  (3.)  To  pass, 
to  change,  Numb,  xxxvi.  7.  (4.) 
To  cause  persons  or  things  to  j)ass 
from  one  place  or  state  to  another. 
Gen.  xlvii.  21.  Prov.  xxii.  8. 

REND,  TEAR,  (1.)  To  tear  asun- 
der, pul!  in  pieces,  Psal.  vii.  2.  (2.) 
To  reproach,  Psal.xxxv.  15.  Retid- 
ins:  of  garments,  imi)orted  one's  l)e- 
ing  overwhelmed  with  grief,  or 
shocked  with  something  terrible, 
2  Chron.  xxxiv.    27-  Gen.  xxxvfi. 


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'4*0,  34.  As  the  priests  were  not 
allou-ed  to  rend  their  garments,  Cai- 
aphas's  rending  liis  garments  was  a 
token  that  tlie  priesthood  was  depart- 
ing, Matt.  xxri.  05.  Rcndins[  oj  the 
heart,  imports  great  and  bitter  sor- 
row lor  sin,  Joel  ii.  13.  God  rends 
the  iuavcns  and  codus  down,  when, 
in  a  majestic  manner,  he  powerfully 
delivers  his  people,  Isa.  Ixiv.  1.  God 
forf  til  •  .lew?,  when  he  divided  and 
lenildy  afllicled  them,  Hos.  v.  14. 
The  anser  of  (he  Edomites  did  tear 
pcrprtualli) ;  they  on  every  opportu- 
nity harassed  and  murdered  llie  Jews, 
Amos  i.  11.  The  Assyrian  Uings 
did  tear  enou3:h  for  their  rvhtlps  ; 
they  enriched  their  country  with  the 
wealth  they  procured,  by  6[)oiling 
and  murdering  the  nations  around, 
Nah.  ii.  12. 

RKXDEU,  (1.)  To  give,  Numb, 
xviii.  0.  (2.)  To  return  in  thanks- 
giving, Psal.  cxvi.  12.  (3.)  To  re- 
turn like  for  like,  to  recompense, 
Psal.  xciv.  2. 

RENEW,  (1.)  To  make  over 
again,  Rom.  xii.  2.  (2.)  To  repair 
and  purge,  2  Chron.  xv.  8.  (3.)  ^Fo 
confirm,  establish,  I  Sam.  xi.  14. 
God  renews  the  earth,  when  he  re- 
turns the  spring,  and  gives  a  new 
succession  of  creatures  to  reptenish 
the  earth,  Psal.  civ.  30.  He  renews 
his  people's  days,  when  he  brings  them 
out  of  captivity,  and  restores  them  to 
a  fiourishing  estate,  Lam.  v.  21.  He 
renewed  his  iviliusscs  against  Job,  ac- 
cording to  the  apprehensions  of  that 
good  man,  when  he  still  brought  one 
fresh  plague  on  him  after  another,  as 
testimonies  of  his  displeasure  with 
him,  Job  X.  17,  The  saints  are  re- 
newcd  day  by  day,  and  renew  their 
youth  and  strength,  when,  by  fresh 
communications  of  grace  from  the 
fulness  of  Christ,  they  either  recover 
from  spiritual  decays,  or  grow  in 
holiness  and  spiritual  vigour  and 
comfort,  2  Cor.  iv.  10.  Psal.  ciii.  5. 
Isa.  xl.  31.  and  xli.  1. 

RENEWING,       REGENERATION, 

<1.)  That  work  of  the  Holy  Spirit, 
whereby,  through  his  grace  implant- 
e<l  in  us,  we  are   born   again,  and 


spiritually  changed  in  our  whole 
man.  It  is  evident,  that  where  a 
man  is  regenerated,  or  born  again, 
there  will  be  new  ap|»rehension3  of 
things,  i.  e.  of  God,  of  himself,  of 
Christ,  of  eternity,  and  of  the  way 
and  method  which  God  has  marked 
out  for  liis  being  happy  hereafter. 
.\nd  it  is  likewise  clear,  that  these 
new  ap[)reheiisions  will  lie  attended 
with  new  atl'ectioMs;  which  appear, 
1.  In  love,  the  ruling  passion  of  the 
mind,  which  may  be  said  to  have  all 
the  rest  in  an  avowed  and  real  subjec- 
tion to  it:  2.  That  a  regenerate  soul 
has  new  aversions;  for  he  once  hated 
knowledge,  and  did  not  choose  the 
fear  of  the  Lord,  Prov.  i.  29.  3.  The 
regenerate  man  has  also  new  desires; 
for  there  was  a  time  w  hen  sinful 
passions  worked  in  his  members  to 
bring  lorth  fruit  unto  death,  Rom. 
vii.  5.  but  now  he  earnestly  desires 
a  conformity  to  God,  as  his  highest 
happiness.  4.  The  regenerate  man 
has  new  fears,  i.  e.  he  fears  punish- 
ment and  guilt,  he  fears  the  remon- 
strance of  an  injured  conscience* 
5.  He  has  new  joys,  which  arise 
chiefl}'  from  an  intercourse  with  God 
through  Christ;  but  then  new  sor- 
rov.s  arise  in  his  mind,  particularly 
such  as  spring  from  the  recollection 
of  past  offences,  from  the  remainder 
of  sin  in  the  soul,  and  from  the  pre- 
valence of  sin  in  the  world  at  large. 
The  regenerate  person  also  forms 
new  resolutions  for  the  service  of 
God,  and  against  sin.  He  has  new 
labours  and  employments;  yea,  new 
entertainments  too.  In  consequence 
of  all  this  the  regenerate  soul  has  new 
hopes  and  prospects,  Tit.  iii.  5,  2 
Cor.  X.  17.  Gal.  vi.  15.  John  iii.  3, 
4,  5.  (2.)  The  reviving,  repairing, 
and  strengthening,  of  what  was  de- 
cayed and  blemished  by  sin,  in  a 
particular  saint,  or  in  the  church, 
Psal.  Ii.  10.  Rev.  xxi.  5.  Isa.  Ixv.  17. 
Res:cneratton,  in  Matt.  xix.  28.  if 
Joined  with  what  goes  before,  may 
either  denote  the  new  birth,  or  rather 
the  putting  of  the  church  into  a  new 
state  by  jireaching  of  the  gospel ; 
if  .joined  with  what  follows,  it  de-> 


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notes  the  tlay  of  judgment,  wherein 
Hie  saints'  bodies  shall  be  put  into  a 
new  state  of  life,  and  there  shall  be 
a  new  heaven  and  a  new  earth. 

Those  who  deny  original  sin,  deny 
also  all  implanted  habits  of  grace, 
and  those  who  deny  all  inherent 
habits  or  princi[)les  of  grace,  pre- 
tending to  substitute  Christ  and  his 
wDrd  in  the  room  of  them,  suppose 
that  our  regeneration  consists  in, 
or  is  effected  by,  our  minds  per- 
ceiving the  light  of  divine  truth,  and 
our  heart  being  thereby  determined  ifluence,    ascribed    to    God    in    this 


as  the /rM?f  of  it.  We  see  and  know 
spiritual  things,  because  we  are  born 
again,  and  have  had  eyes  to  see  and 
ears  to  hear  given  us,  Deut.  xxix.  4. 
1  John  V.  20.  John  iii.  3.  1  Cor.  ii. 
14.  We  believe  that  Jesus  is  the 
Christ,  and  receive  him  by  faith,  and 
are  born  of  God,  1  John  v.  1  John  i. 
12,  13.  We  love  God  and  his  people, 
because  we  areborn  of  God,  andknow 
God,  1  John  iv.  7.  The  sight-giving, 
dead-quickening,  lieart-circumcising, 
renewing,  begetting,  and  creating,  in- 


to credit  the  certainty  of  it  by  faith 
These  allow  the  word  of  God  to 
have  all  the  influence  conceivable  on 
the  human  soul,  provided  no  vital 
habit  or  principle  of  grace  be  im- 
planted by  the  almighty  power  of 
God  attending  the  word.  But  when 
we  consider  that  the  motions  and 
acts  of  all  beings,  created  or  divine, 
flow  from  inward  and  abiding  prin- 
cinles  answerable   to  their  motions 


matter,  showeth  at  once  that  it  is  not 
by  mere  moral  suasion,  or  any  na- 
tural influence  upon  the  rational  soul, 
but  by  a  supernatural  and  almighty 
influence,  similar  to  that  through 
which  by  a  word  he  created  the 
world,  healed  desperate  diseases,  or 
raised  the  dead,  that  this  change  is 
effected ;  and  that,  by  this  divine 
agenc}^  there  is  framed  in  us  a  vital 
habit  or  principle  of  grace,  disposing 


and  actions,  it  must  be  absurd  to  i?na-  and  enabling  us  to  acts  of  faith,  love, 


gine,  that  gracious  acts  of  faith,  love, 
hope,  repentance,  and  new  obedi- 
ence, flow  from  no  gracious  princi- 
ple dwelling  in  the  heart.  The 
scripture  account  of  man's  heart  be- 
ing by  nature  unclean,  deceitful  above 
all  things,  and  despcratcb/  wicked. — 
enmity  against  God, — dead  in  tres- 
passes and  sins, — renders  it  manifest 
that  no  good  act  can  be  performed 
by  him,  without  new  habits  or  prin- 
ciples of  grace  implanted  in  him. 
Job  xiv.  4.  Jer.  xvii.  9.  Rom.  viii. 
7,  8.  Eph.  ii.  1,  2.  Matt.  xv.  19.  and 
vii.  1 6,  1 7.  and  xii.  33,  34,  35.  Nei- 
ther the  love,  nor  the  wisdom,  nor 
the  safhciency  of  Christ,  can  appear 
in  our  redemption,  unless  the  reme- 
dy answer  to  the  malady,  and  gra- 
cious habits  be  implanted  Instead  of 
the  natural  habits  of  indwelling  cor- 
ruption, spiritual  knowledge  instead 
of  ignorance,  faith  instead  of  an  evil 
heart  of  unbelief,  love  instead  of  en- 


&c.  Acts  xxvi.  18.  2  Cor.  iv.  6. 
Deut.  xxix.  4.  John  v.  23.  Rom.  iv. 
17.  Eph.  ii.  1,  5.  Ezek.  xxxvii.  1 — 
14.  Deut.  XXX.  6.  Col.  ii.  11,  12, 
with  Gen.  xvii.  10,  11.  Tit.  iii.  5. 
Eph.  iv.  23.  Johni.  13.  and  iii.  3, 
5,  6,  8.  Jam.  i.  18.  1  Pet.  i.  3,  23. 
Eph.  ii.  10.  and  iv.  24.  Col.  iii.  10. 
The  inspired  representations  of  that 
which  is  produced  by  this  superna- 
tural and  all-powerful  agency  of 
God,  as  a  copy  of  God's  law  in  the 
heart,  Jer.  xxxi.  33.  2  Cor.  iii.  3. 
eternal  life  abiding  in  one,  1  John  v. 
12.  and  iii.  14,  15.  a  new  heart,  a 
pure  heart,  one  heart,  a  heart  to  know 
and/crtr  God,  a  heart  of  flesh,  Ezek. 
xix.  11,  19.  and  xxvi.  26.  and  xviii. 
31.  Jer.  xxiv.  7.  and  xxxii.  39. 
Deut.  xxix.  4.  1  Tim.  i.  5.  Heb.  x. 
22.  a  divine  nature,  God''s  workman- 
ship created,  not  in,  or  by,  but  xmto, 
good  works,  2  Pet.  i.  4.  Eph.  ii.  10. 
the  image  of  God,   opposite  to  the 


mity,  &c.  Ezek.  x.  19.  and  xxxvi.  image  of  the  devil,  which  is  in  men 
26.  1  Cor.  vi.  11.  Tit.  iii.  5.  The  by  nature,  and  answerable  in  the 
scripture  never  represents  any  gra-isubstantials  of  it  to  Adam's  likeness 
cious  acts  of  ours  as  either  our  rege-  to  God,  Eph.  iv.  24.  Col.  iii.  10.  2 
neration  or  a  mean  of  it,  but  always i  Cor.  iii.  18.  with  Gen.  i.  26,  27.  a 


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)ie>v  cnalure  that  hath  a  real  suL>*ist- , 
eiiceinus,  ami  reiuk'r?  us  tietv'ui  ourj 
qualities,  and  which  is  contrary  to,; 
and  exthisive  of,  o/</  sinful  lusts,  2j 
Cor.  V.  17.  Gal.  vi.  15.  E|)h.  ii.  10.  i 
and  iv.  24.  Col.  iii.  10.  a  new  dmh, 
the  reverse  of  the  old  man,  which 
must  he  put  otl',  and  is  crucified  with 
Christ,  E|d).  iv.  22,  24.  Col  iii.  9, 
10.  Roin.  vi.  6.  a  new  man,  having 
(yes  to  see,  ears  to  hear,  and  a  lieart\ 
to  ttndtrstanJ.  Ueut  xxix.  4.  an  in-\ 
n'tf/v/or  inn^man,  which  delights  in  | 
Gotl's law, and  Urou7Viddi\i\ slrenffth- 
ciicd  day  by  day,  Rom.  vii.  22.  2 
Cor.  iv.  lU.  Eph.  iii.  IG.  a  spirit 
horn  of  God's  Spirit,  a  new  spirit  put 
within  one,  and  which  lusteth  again.it 
the  JUsh  or  habits  of  sinful  corruption, 
and  directs  and  draws  unto  a  gt)od 
walk,  and  produceth  gracious  fruits 
of  actual  holiness,  John  iii.  .5,  6. 
Ezek.  xxxvi.  26.  and  xi.  19.  Rom. 
viii.  4.  Gal.  v.  17,  22.  -AiJlcsUy  ta- 
bles of  the  heart,  in  whicli  Christ's 
truths  are  written  by  the  Holy  Ghost, 
2  Cor.  iii.  3.  an  inward  root,  which 
produceth  good  acts,  Matt.  vii.  17, 
18.  and  xii.  33.  and  xiii.  6,  21.  a 
good  treasure  of  the  hceirt,  out  of 
which  good  acts  are  brouglit  forth, 
Matt.  xii.  35.  as  incffrriiptible  seed 
distinct  from,  and  conveyed  into  the 
heart  by  the  Avord  of  God,  1  Pet.  i. 
23.  seed  that  abideth  in  every  one 
who  is  born  of  God,  1  John  iii.  9. 
manifest  an  imj)lanted  habit  of  grace 
in  every  saint. — ^T ins  gracious  habit 
or  principle,  under  the  difterent  forms 
of  knowledge,  faith,  love,  hojje,  &c. 
is  represented  i\%  obtained,  2  Pet.  i.  1. 
had,  2  Thess.  iii.  2.  kept,  2  Tim.  iv. 
7.  as  abidins;,  Luke  xxii.  32.  1  Cor. 
xiii.  8,  13.  dwd'Jmr,  2  Tim.  i.  5. 
Eph.  iii.  17.  as  working.  Gal.  v.  6, 
22.  Jam.  ii.  22.  1  Cor.  xiii.  4,  8.  as  m- 
creascd,  2  Cor.  x.  15.  growing,  2  Pet. 
iii.  18.  all  which  descri|jtions  mani- 
fest, that  in  every  regenerate  person 
there  is  divinely  implanted,  pre- 
served, strengthened,  and  actuated, 
a  su[)ernaturHl  gracious  hal)it  or  vital 
}jrincij)le  of  holiness. — This  implant- 
ed and  iahereut  grace  or  holiness 
may  either  be  viewed  as  one  simple 


principle,  fdling  and  disposing  the 
whole  soul  (o  holy  acta  ;  or  in  respect 
to  I  he  dilVirent  powers  of  the  soul  in 
whiclj  it  acts,  and  isi  respect  to  its 
(lillerent  forms  of  acting  on  objects,  it 
may  l)e  distinguished  into  the  tliffer- 
ent  graces  of  knowledge,  faith,  love, 
hope,  re|)entance,  <!L'c.  Rut  the  thing 
is  so  im|)ortant,  that  whosoever  de- 
nies this  im|danted,  inherent,  habi- 
tual grace,  holiness,  or  righteousness, 
attempts  to  overthrow  the  gospel,  and 
all  the  work  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  the 
grace  of  Christ,  and  the  new  cove- 
nant. Without  allowing  this  habi- 
tual grace,  we  must  deny  original 
sin,  the  sinful  corruption  of  man's 
whole  nature,  and  the  spiritual  ex- 
lent  and  indispensable  obligation  of 
God's  law,  as  a  rule  of  life.  We 
must  deny  the  salvation  of  infants, 
or  pretend  they  are  admitted  to  hea- 
ven without  any  gracious  disposi- 
tions. We  nmst  deny  all  spiritual 
union  with  Christ,  justification  by 
faith,  or  adoption  into  his  family. 
We  must  deny  all  indwelling  of 
Christ,  his  Spirit,  and  Avord,  in  our 
hearts ;  and  leave  it  to  be  filled,  ac- 
tuated, and  governed,  by  the  in- 
dwelling habits  of  sinful  corruption. 
We  must  deny  all  sanctification  of 
our  nature,  all  renovation  of  the 
whole  man  after  the  image  of  God, 
all  experience  and  exercise  truly 
gracious  or  acceptable  to  God,  all 
spiritual  Avarfare  between  the  flesh 
aod  sj)irit;  all  growth  and  perseve- 
rance in  grace  and  perfection  there- 
in ;  all  marks  of  a  gracious  state, 
and  exiimination  of  ourselves,  Avhe- 
ther  we  be  in  the  faith,  or  Christ 
be.  in  us;  all  habitual,  nay,  actual, 
l)reparation  for  death  or  heaven; 
all  meetness  of  nature  or  temper 
for  the  blessedness  of  heaven;  and 
all  admission  to  it,  unless  it  be  Avith 
hearts  filled  Avith  all  unrighteous- 
ness. 

RENOUNCE,  solemnly  to  give 
up,  2  Cor.  iv.  2. 

RENOWN,  a  AA'ide-spread  fame  ol 
a  person's  excellencies-,  and  gootl  or 
mielity  deeds,  Dan.  ix.  15.  and  to 
be  renowned^  \%  to  have  a  hisrh  cha- 


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racfer  for  wisdom,  honour,  wealth, 
victories,  Numb.  i.  16.  Ezek.  xxvi. 
17.  aaci  xxxiv.  29.     Isa.  xiv,  29. 

REPAIR,  to  build  u|»  what  is  rent 
or  broken  down,  Judg.  ii.  23.  2 
Chron.  xxix.  3.  The  Jews  were 
repairers  of  breaches,  and  reslorcrs  of 
paths  to  divdl  in,  when,  after  the 
innovations  of  Manasseh  and  Amon, 
Josiah  re-established  the  [)urc  wor- 
ship of  God,  and  abolishinl  idolatry  ; 
and  when,  after  the  Chaldean  capti- 
vity, they  returned  and  built  their 
temple  and  houses,  and  re-establish- 
ed the  worshi[»  of  God;  but  chiefly 
when,  in  the  apostolic  age,  and  the 
millennium,  they  shall  return  to  the 
Lord,  and  all  division  between  them 
and  the  Gentiles  be  removed,  Isa. 
Iviii.  12. 

To  REPENT,  as  applied  to  men, 
is  with  grief  to  change  one's  mind  to 
what  is  thought  more  proper.  Matt. 
xxi.  29.  God  repents,  not  by  changing 
his  mind,  affection,  or  purpose,  but 
by  changing  the  manner  of  his  work  : 
so  he  repented  that  he  had  made  man, 
or  made  Saul  king,  when  he  changed 
the  course  of  his  providence  towards 
them,  as  men  do  when  they  repent 
and  change  their  mind,  acting  as 
one  determined  to  destroy  ami  [;u!l 
them  down.  Gen.  vi.  6,  7.  1 
Sam.  XV.  11.  His  repenting  himself 
concerning  his  servants,  or  his  repent- 
ings  kindling,  imports  his  compas- 
sionately rising  up  for  their  deliver- 
ance after  he  had  seemed  determin- 
ed to  ruin  thern  in  the  world,  Deut. 
xxxii.  36.  Psal.  cxxxv.  14.  Hos. 
xi.  8.  His  repenting  of  the  evil  or  the 
good  he  had  conditionally  threatened 
or  itromised,  denotes  his  not  inflict- 
ing the  one  or  bestowing  the  other, 
Psal.  cvi.  A5.  Jer.  xviii.  10.  His 
gifts  and  calling  are  without  repent- 
ance ;  God  does  not  re[)ent  of  his 
gifts  to  the  Jots,  or  his  calling  cf 
the  GcTitilcs,  Rom.  xi.  29.  Men's  re- 
pentance is,  (1.)  A  change  of  mind, 
earnestly  wishing  something  undone 
that  is  done.  Esau  found  no  jdace 
for  repentance,  though  he  sought  it 
carefully  with  tears,  he  could  not 
move  his  father  Isaac,  to  repent  ol 


what  he  had  done,  or  to  recall  the 
blessing  from  Jacob  and  confer  it  on 
himself,  Heb.  xii.  17.  Matt.  iii.  2. 
and  iv.  17.  (2.)  A  partial  or  world- 
ly repentance,  wherein  one  is  griev- 
ed for  and  turns  from  his  sin,  merely 
on  account  of  the  hurt  it  hath  done, 
or  is  likely  to  do  him :  so  a  male- 
factor, who  still  loves  his  siu,  repents 
of  doing  it,  because  it  brings  him  to 
|)unishment ;  so  Judas  repented cii  his 
betraying  hU  Master,  because  he  saw 
it  would  bring  him  to  everlasting 
shame  and  torment.  Matt,  xxvii.  3, 
(3.)  Gospel  repentance,  which  is  a 
godly  sorrow  wrought  in  the  heart 
o\'  a  sinful  person  by  the  word  and 
Spirit  of  God,  whereby,  from  a 
sense  of  his  sin,  as  oiTensive  to  God, 
murderous  to  Christ,  and  detiling  to 
his  own  soul,  and  from  an  a;)i)re- 
hensiou  oi'  the  mercy  of  God  in 
Christ,  he,  with  grief  and  hatred  of 
all  his  known  sins,  turns  from  them 
to  God  as  his  Saviour,  portion,  and 
Lord.  This  is  called  repentance  to- 
wards God,  as  therein  w^e  turn  from 
sin  to  him  ;  and  repentance  unto  Ife, 
as  it  leads  to  sjuritua!  life,  and  daily 
increaseth  it,  and  issues  in,  and  pre- 
pares for,  eternal  life.  Matt.  iii.  2. 
Acts  iii.  19,  and  xx.  21.  and  xi.  18. 
in  every  case,  a  correspondent  faith 
must  precede  repentance.  We  must 
first  by  faith  look  on  Jesus,  and  then 
mourm  he  that  coincth  to  God  must 
believe,  and  come  by  Christ  as  the 
way,  Heb.  xi.  6.  John  xiv.  6.  A 
believing  view  of  the  holiness  and 
justice,  the  truth  and  faithfulness  of 
God,  will  make  sin  to  appear  ex- 
ceeding sinful;  but  nothing  produces 
such  dee[>,  genuine,  contrition  of 
soul  for  it,  as  looking  unto  Jesus^ 
pierced  by  our  transgressions,  and 
bruised  for  our  iniquities,  Isa.  liii.  5. 
Zech.  xii.  10.  This  melts  (he  hard- 
est heart,  bows  the  most  stubborn 
will,  au<l  sinks  the  haughty  spirit 
into  the  dec;!est  abasement  before  M 
the  Loril.     Sec  Forgive.  a 

REPETITIONS,  ^the  vain  ones)       ' 
of  the  Pharisees,  were  the    saying 
the    same   things  over  and  over  in 
their  prayers,  as  if  the  more   they 


REP 


(    ii«l     ) 


REP 


they  said  they 'would  be  the  better,  xxxvi,  3.  Neli.  ii.  12.  (2.)  SlaiuUr 
heard,   iViatt.  vi.  9.  I  oiH  siu'tch,  whrrcby  nu-Ti    ijive  tlib- 

REPLENISH,  to  lill  with  inha-;  graceful  characters  to  others,  Trial. 
bitauts  or  wealth,  E/.ck.  xxvi.  2.!lxxix.  \9.  Persons  or  thiii!z;s  arc 
CJoil  )T/>/t~/Jw/<<s sorrow lul  souls,  when,  s;ii«l  to  he  a  reproach,  when  their 
he  fills  them  with  joy  and  eonilort,  characters  are  really  had,  and  made  ;i 
Jer.  xxxi.  25.  The  Jews  were  JY/.i/t'-  common  hy-word,  Psal.  xxii.  tJ.  and 
7iJ5/i<(/rrom  theeast;  they  eiitertuiiicdl  Ixxxix.  41.  Sin  is  the  Kjnvach  of 
numbers  of  idolatrous  magicians,  and;  amy  people  ;  it  is  a  disgrace  to  them, 
their  altoininalions,  from  Chaldeaaud  and  tends  to  render  them  contcmpti- 
Atfsyria;  or,  wer(?  [iroud  of  their  alli-l  l)le,  Prov.  xiv.  3-1.  Oppression,  or 
ance  with  the  Assyrians,  Isa.  ii.  15.    .  mocking  of  the  poor,  is  niyproackini^ 

l{E\^li AIM,  giants, physicians,  re-'^o(  Goii,  as  if  his  imarre  oii  them 
kasc/l,  retujcctl,  a  valley  on  the  south  deserved  uo  respect;  as  if  l»y  niak- 
or  south-west  of  Jerusalem,  very  fruit-;  ing  them  poor  he  had  devoted  thein 
lul  in  corn,  Isa.  xvii.  5.     It  seems  to!  to  hard  usage,    and  as  if  he  Couhl 


have  had  its  name  from  the  giakts 
that  anciently  inhabited  it ;  and  here 
the  host  of  the  Philistines  encamped 
repeatedly,  1  Chr.  xi.  15.  and  xiv.  9. 

REPHIDIM,  beds,  a  litler,  slack- 
ed hajids,  a  place  on  the  east  side  of 
the  western  gulf  of  thri  Ptcd  Sea, 
where  the  Hebrews  ttmpted  God,  and 
quarrelled  with  Moses  for  want  of 
water;  and  therefore  it  was  called 
iMeribah,  contention;  and  Massah, 
temptation.  Here  IMoses  brought 
them  water  from  a  rock;  and  here 
they,  under  the  direction  of  Joshua, 
routed  the  Amalekites. 

To  REPLY  against  God,  is  to  find 
fault  with  his  purpose  or  providence, 
Rom.  ix.  20. 

To  REPORT  a  thing  is,  (1.)  To 
declare  how^  it  is  done,  how  orders 
are  executed,  Ezek.  ix.  11.  (2.)  To 
convey  information  of  a  fact,  and 
make  it  public,  1  Cor.  v.  1.  Report, 
and  rvc  iiill  report  it;  tell  us  what 
you  can    against  Jeremiah,  and  we 


not  protect  them,  Prov.  xiv.  31. 
and  xvii.  5.  Tin;  reproach  of  Christ, 
is  scorn  and  calumny  endured  for 
adherence  to  him  and  his  ways,  Heb. 
xi.  26.  and  xiii.  1 3.  Among  the  He- 
brews, barrenness  was  accounted  a 
reproach,  as  it  excluded  from  a  share 
in  the  multiplicatioii  of  Abraham's 
seed,  and  from  f)eing  the  honouied 
progenitor  of  the  Messiali,  Gen, 
XXX.  23.  Isa.  iv.  1 .  Luke  i.  25.  Uu- 
circumcJsion  was  the  reproach  of 
Ei^ypt,  as  it  anciently  discovered  men 
to  be  aliens  from  God  like  the  Egyp- 
tians ;  and  perhaps  many  of  the  Jews 
neglected  to  circumcise  their  children 
when  in  Egypt,  Josh.  v.  0.  God 
put  the  Philistines  to  a  per()etual  re- 
proach, when  he  smote  them  with 
the  long  remembered  and  shameful 
disease  of  the  emerods,  Psal.  Ixxviii. 
btj.  Riproach  breaks  the  heart,  as  it 
not  only  tends  to  bereave  a  man  of 
his  outward  enjoyments,  but  renders 


him  contemptible  and  lessens  Ins  use- 
will  rehearse  it  to  the  king  to  have! fulness  in  advancing  the  honour  of 
him  punished,  Jer.  xx.  10.    Thegos-  God,  and  doing  real  service  to  man- 


pel  is  called  a  report  or  hearing; 
herein  the  infinite  excellencies  of 
God  in  Christ  are  declared;  and  the 
prophets,  apostles,  and  ministers,  re- 
ceiving it  from  Christ,  publish  it  to 
men,  Isa.  liii.  1. 

REPROACH,  INFAMY,  (1.)  The 
bad  character  of  a  person,  whether 
procured  by  his  own  wicked  deeds,  or 
occasioned  by  false  accusation,  out- 
rageous upbraiding,  or  scornful  de- 
rision, Prov.  vi.  33.  Isa.  IK  7.  Ez«k. 

Voir.    II. 


kinil,  Psalm  Ixix.  20. 

REPROBATE,  not  approved. 
Among  metalists,it  signifies  what  can- 
not abide  the  trial,  without  showing 
itself  drossy,  or  of  a  coarse  alloy. 
Thus  wicked  men  are  reprobate  sil- 
ver;  they  are  not  purged  nor  refined, 
nor  will  they  pass  current,  accordins^ 
to  the  standard  of  God's  law,  Jer.  vi. 
30.  When  this  word  is  used  concern- 
ing wrestling-games  and  races,  it 
the  person  who  loses  the 
3  Z 


signifies 


11  E  S 


(     ^62     3 


RES 


jji-ize.  Lest  I  should  be  a  reprohale, 
or  c  tsl-away :  lest  I  should  be  found 
One  whom  God  will  never  reward  as 
a  runner  of  the  Christian  race,  or  as 
having  fought  the  good  fight  of  faith, 
1  Oor.  ix.  27.  A  reprobate  mind, 
is  a  mind  hardened  in  wickedness, 
and  which  cannot  discern  between 
good  and  evil,  Rom.  i.  28.  Men 
are  reprobate  concerning  the  faith, 
when  they  apostatize  from  the  doc- 
trines of  Christ,  and  abandon  them- 
selves to  the  most  horrid  errors,  2 
Tim.iii.  1.  They  are  reprobate  to 
every  good  work,  when  quite  incapa- 
ble of  performing  good  works,  and 
are  opposed  to  the  performance  of 
them  by  others,  Tit.  i.  16. 

REPROVE.     See  Rebuke. 

REPUTE,  to  reckon,  esteem,  Job 
xviii.  3.  Reputation,  a  high  cha- 
racter, (4al.  ii.  2. 

REQUEST,  to  crave,  pray  for, 
Judg.  viii.  26.  1  Kings  xix.  4. 

REQUIRE,  (1.)  To  ask  a  fa- 
vour, Ezra.  viii.  22.  (2.)  To  de- 
mand as  a  debt,  or  as  due  obedience, 
Luke  xix.  23.  Deut.  x.  12.  (3.)  To 
call  to  account  for,  Ezek.  xxxiv.  10. 
(4.)  To  avenge,  to  punish  for,  1  Sam. 
XX.  1 6.  God  requircth  things  that  are 
past :  he  orders  that  which  was  past 
and  driven  away  to  be  brought  back 
and  restored,  and  requites  men  for 
their  past  deeds,  Eccl.  iii.  15.  This 
night  shall  thy  soul  be  required  of 
thee;  it  shall  be  separated  from  thy 
body,  and  called  to  give  an  account 
of  itself  and  its  deeds  at  the  tribu- 
nal of  God,  Luke  xii.  20. 

REQUITE.     See  Recompense. 

REREWARD,  the  last  body  or 
hindmost  part  of  the  troops  in  a 
marching  army,  who  as  it  were 
guard  the  back  of  the  army,  Josh, 
ri.  13.  The  Lord  of  glory,  is  the 
rerewardoi  his  people,  when  he  af- 
fords them  full  protection  even  from 
unseen  enemies;  so  he  was  to  the 
Jews  in  their  return  from  Babylon, 
Isa.  Iii.  12.  and  Iviii.  8. 

RESCUE,  (1.)  To  recover  back 
from  captivity,  1  Sam.  xxx.  18.  (2.) 
To  save  from  imniiuent  danger, 
Acts  xxiii.  27. 


RESEMBLE,  (1.)  To  be  like  l& 
other  persons  or  things,  Judg.  viii. 
18.  (2.)  To  liken  or  compare, 
Luke  xiii.  18. 

RE  SEN,  a  bridle,  or  bit,  a  noted 
city  of  Assyria,  built  by  Ashur,  be- 
tween NiuevehandCalah.  Some  think 
all  these  three,  together  with  Reho- 
both,  were  at  last  united  in  Nineveh; 
but  perhaps  Resen  is  the  same  as  La- 
rissa  on  the  Tigris,  which  was  eight 
miles  in  circumference,  its  walls  100 
feet  high  and  23  broad.  Gen.  x.  12. 

RESERVE,  (1.)  To  leave,  set 
aside  for  a  particular  use,  2  Sam.  viii. 
4.  (2.)  To  keep  firmly  and  careful- 
h^,  Jude  6.  (3.)  To  keep  things  in 
store  in  order  to  give  them  out  af- 
terwards, 1  Pet.  i.  4. 

RESIDUE,  what  is  left  or  remains 
behind,  Exod.  x.  5.  Neh.xi.20. 

RESIST.     See  Oppose. 

RESORT,  (1.)  To  meet  together, 
Neh.  iv.  20.  (2.)  To  come  to,  PsaL 
Ixxi.  3. 

RESPECT,  regard,  attention.— 
Sinful  respect  of  persons,  is  to  re- 
gard and  esteem  them  in  giving  sen- 
tence ofjudgment,  on  account  of  their 
honour,  power,  and  wealth,  not  at- 
tending to  truth  and  equity,  Lev.  xix. 
15.  Deut.  i.  15.  In  this  sense,  God 
does  not  respect  persons  lor  their  na^ 
tion,  family,  or  outward  circumstan- 
ces, nor  ought  judges  or  others  to  do 
so.  Acts  X.  34.  Lev.  xix.  15.  Deut, 
i.  17.  James  ii.   1,  9.  1   Pet.  i.  17. 

God  has  respect  to  the  lowly ;  he  de- 
lights to  have  fellowship  Avith  them, 
and  to  do  them  good,  Psa.  cxxxviii. 
6.  He  had  respect  to  Abel  and  his  of- 
fering, esteeming  his  person  as  united 
to  Jesus,  he,  by  causing  tire  to  de- 
scend from  heaven  and  consume  it, 
showed  a  regard  to  his  offering,  which 
was  offered  in  faith.  Gen.  iv.  4. 

RESPITE,  a  breathing,  a  time 
wherein  to  advise,  Exod.  viii.    15. 

1  Sam.  xi.  3. 

To  REST,  (1.)  To  cease  from 
work,  Exod.  xxiii.  12.  (2.)  To  sit 
or  nestle  quietly,  Gen.  xviii.  4.  Isa. 
xxxiv.  14.     (3.)  To  lean,  to  trust, 

2  Chron.  xxxii.  8.    (4.)  To  continue 
fixed,  Isa.  H.   4.     (5.)  To  come  to 


RES 


(     363     ) 


RES 


an  end,  Ezck.  \v\.  42.  and  xxi.  17. 
God  rested  from  creation-work,    and 
was  refreshed ;  he    ceased  to    make 
new  kinds    of  creatures,    and  took 
pleasure  in  what  he  had  made,  Hel). 
iv.  A.  Exod.  xxxi.  17.   His  reslin^  in 
his  love,  implies  his  pleasure  in  the 
past  effects  of   it,  and  Ids  taking  de- 
light in  showing  it  moreal)undantly, 
Zepli.  iii.   17.     His   teilcins;  his  rest 
rluring    the     Assyrian     ravages    of 
Egy|)t  and  Ethiopia,  imports  his  for- 
bearing to  interpose  remarkably  be- 
tween the  contending  parties,  Isaiah 
xviii.  4.     Men    rest    in    the    Lord, 
when,  with  a  strong  faith  in  his  pro- 
mise and  righteousness,  they  commit 
themselves  to  his  care,  and   depend 
on  him   for  all  necessary  blessings, 
Psalm  xxxvii.  7.     The  saints  rest  at 
noon,    Avhen,  amidst  scorching    per- 
secution   and    temptation,  God  be- 
stows upon  Ihem  distinguished  pro- 
tection, inward  patience,  and  com- 
fort. Song  i.  7.     The  dead  rest  in 
their   graves,    from   all  labour,  dis- 
turbance, and   pain,    Isaiah  Ivii.  2. 
To  QUIET,  is  to  cause  to  rest,  make 
still.  God's  Spirit  was  r/iiietcd  in  the 
north  country,    speaking    after  the 
manner  of  men,  when  the  Persians, 
Greeks,  and  after  them,  the  Romans, 
executed  the  destined  vengeance  on 
Chaldea,  where  his  people  had  been 
oppressed;    or,  when    the  spread  of 
the  gospel  was  the  mean  of  covert- 
ing  multitudes  to  Christ,  Zech.  vi.  8 


God  quietclh  the  earth  with  the  south 

tyzHr/,  when  he  makes  its  gentle  galesj  former   was   given  by    him  to 

to  blow  on  it,  Job.  xxxvii.  1  7.  Hebrews  to  dwell  in,  Heb.  iii 


ctrnial  glory ;  atten«Ied  with  a  cheer-, 
ful   confidence    in  the  promises,  and 
a  submission  to  the  i)rovidcnces  of 
God,  Psal.  cxvi.  7.  (0.)    Rtbx  also 
signifies  a  peaceful  and  comfortable 
settlement,  such  as    Canaan  to  the 
Hebrews,  and  the  temple  to  the  ark, 
Deut.  iii.  20.    Psal.    cxxxii.  8,  14. 
(7.)  A  part  of  a  wall  for  the  ends 
of  l)eams    to  lie  on,    1  Kings  vi.  U. 
(8.)    The    remainder,  those  beside, 
Gen.  XXX.  G.     Christ,  in  his  otlices, 
relations,  righteousness,  power,  and 
love,  and  in  his  promises,  is  a  rest  and 
refreshing,  which,  if  applied  and  im- 
proved, yields  a  niort  sweet  |)lea=i!rc 
and  quiet  to  men,    Isa.  xxviii.   12. 
Christ's  rest  is  glorious  ;  his  gospel- 
church  and  his  new-covenant  state, 
wherein  his  people  enjoy  sweet  de- 
light and  repose,  is  the  product   of 
his  glorious  power  and  bleeding  love, 
and  is  glorious  in  its  properties  and 
ends,  Isa.  xi.  10.     The  rest  ranain- 
ing  for  the  people  of  God,  is  either 
the  gopel-state  of  the  church  where- 
in men  enjoy  freedom  from  the  bur- 
densome services  of  the  ceremonial 
law,  and    have  Jesus  and    his  pre- 
cious promises  clearly  exhibited    to 
them  ;  or  the  heavenly  state,  where- 
in the  saints  sliall  be  for  ever  \t(iQ: 
from  sorrow,  teu:iptation,  and  tioable, 
or  toil,  and  be  for  ever  delighted  in 
the  lull  enjoyment  of  God,  Heb.  iv. 
9.  Canaan  and  the  temple  are  called 
God's   rest,  because  there  the  sym- 
bols  of  his  presence  resided,  and  the 

the 
11. 


REST,  QUIETNESS,  (1.)  A  ceas-jPsal.  cxxxii.  14.  but  it  wasnot</tf?> 
ing  from  lal)0ur,  Exod.  v.  5.     (2.)ir<:A/,  because  it  was /JoZ/w/tt/,  as  God 


A  ceasing  from  open  war,  Josh,  xiv 
15.  or  to  he  exem[)t  from  persecution, 
Acts  ix.  31.  (3.)  Ceasing  from  til- 
lage and  husbandry,  Lev.  xxv.  5.(4.) 
A  state  of  peace  and  reconciliation 
with  God  and  men's  own  conscience. 
Matt.  xi.   29.  Heb.   iv.  3.     (5.)  A 


expelled  them  from  it,  Mich.  ii.  10. 
If  GoA  give  quietness,  who  then  can 
make  trouble  /  If  God  give  inward 
peace  and  comfort,  or  even  outward, 
who  can  vex  his  people  ?  Job  xxxiv. 
29.  The  wicked  shall  not  feel  quiet- 
ness in  his  belli/  ;  no  ease  in  his  mind 


calm  composure  of  mind,  produced!  concerning  his  ill-gotten  goods,  Job 
by  the  love  of  God  shed  abroad  ini  xx.  20.  Damascus  was  the  rest  of 
our  heart,  and  by  the  Holy  G host's iGot/'*'   wrath  ;  his  jutlgments   conti- 


witnessing    to  our  conscience,    our 
justification,  reconciliation,    regene 


nued  long  upon  it,  Zech.  ix.  1. 
Quiet,  (1.)  Still,  calm,  and  peace- 


ration,   adoption,  and  sure    title  to  I  able,  composed  in  mind,  1  Thesa.  iv. 


RES 


(     364     ) 


RES 


11.  Psal.  x!vi.  10.  and  iv.  4  (2.)! 
Idle,  inactive,  Jiidg.  xviii.  7,  27. 
(8.)  Free  from  noise  and  war,  2 
Cliron.  xiv.  1,  5.  And  to  still  per- 
sons^ is  to  render  them  pleased,  calm, 
and  silent.  Num.  xiii.  30.  Psai.  Ixv.  7. 
RESTORE,  (1.)  To  give  back 
again,  C^en.  xx.  14.  (2.)  To  re-es- 
t:»ldish  a  man  in  his  former  office  or 
station,  Gen.  x1.  13.  Isa.  i.  20,  (3.) 
To  make  restitution,  by  giving  back 
to  an  owner  what  was  unjustly  taken 
or  (ietained  from  hini,  or  which  had 
bepn  lost.  In  holy  things,  and  where 
there  was  the  least  apjiearance  of 
fraud,  restitution  was  at  least  to  be 
made  to  the  full  value,  and  a  fifth 
part  more.  Four  sheep  were  given 
for  one  that  had  been  stolen,  and  (ive 
oxen  for  one,  as  these  animals  were 
easily  stolen,  and  the  want  of  the  last 
hindered  the  tillage  of  the  field  ;  and 
(or  fraudulent  exaction  of  tribute, 
the  restitution  was  to  he  fourfold.  If 
the  owner  and  his  heirs  were  all  dead 
or  unknown,  tlie  restitution  was  to 
be  made  to  the  priest  as  the  Lord's 
deputy,  and  no  atonement  could  be 
ma;le  for  the  person's  injustice  till 
once  the  restitution  was  made.  Does 
not  this  prove,  that  no  m«n  has  any 
ground  to  expect  forgiveness  of  his 
injustice,  till  he  make  restitution  of 
v.'hathe  unjustly  obtained,  or  at  least 
do  what  he  can  to  give  every  one  his 
due  ?  but  he  may  make  it  in  as  se- 
cret a  way  as  possible,  Exod.  xxii. 
1 — 4  Num.  V.  7,  8.  Lev.  xxii.  14. 
and  vl.  4.  Luke  xix.  8.  According  to 
his  siibslaiicc^  shall  his  rtslitzition  be  : 
all  his  estate  shall,  if  requisite,  be  ta- 
ken from  him  to  pay  wliat  he  fraudu- 
lently got,  Job  xx.  18.  (4.)  To  reco- 
ver, lake  back,  put  again  in  possession 
of,  2  Kings  xiv.  25.  (5.)  To  heal  or 
cure.  Matt.  xii.  13.  (G.)  To  reform 
the  church  from  her  corruptions  in 
doctrine,  worship, and  practice,  Matt. 
xvii.  1 1 .  Christ  restored  w\mt  he  took 
not  away,  when,  b}'^  his  mediat.ion,he 
brought  glory  to  God,  and  righteous- 
ness, holiness,  and  happiness,  to  men, 
Psal.  ixix.  4.  I^o  restore  a  man  wlio 
has  been  overtaken  in  a  fault,  or  set 
liim  in  jointy  is  to  bring  him  to    a 


sense  of  his  sin,  a  belief  of  God's 
pardoning  mercy,  and  an  amendment 
of  practice,  and  to  an  access  to  ordi- 
nances as  before.  Gal.  vi.  1.  The 
restitution  of  all  thin:^s,  is  the  com- 
plete accomplishment  of  God's  gra- 
cious purposes,  and  the  restoratioa 
of  order  and  subjection  in  all  his 
dominions. 

RESTRAIN,  WITHHOLD:  (I.)  To 
keep  back  as  with  a .  bridle,  Psal. 
Ixxvi.  10.  Gen.  xx.  6.  (2.)  To  de- 
tain,  cease  from  giving,  Job.  xv.  4. 
(3.)  To  confine,  Job  xv.  8. 

RESURRECTION,  or  rising 
again  from  the  dead,  is  cither,  (1.) 
Civil,  when  a  person  or  nation  is 
recovered  from  a  state  of  distress  and 
bondage,  as  in  the  case  of  David, 
Hezekiah,  Paul,  Psal.  xxv.3,  4.  Isa. 
xxxviii;  16.  2  Cor.  i.  9,  10.  and  of 
the  Jewish  nation.  Lam.  iv.  20.  Hos. 
vi.  i,  2.  Ezek.  xxxvii.  1—14.  (2.) 
Spiritual,  from  a  state  of  death  in 
sin  to  spiritual  life  and  happiness; 
and  this  is  either  of  particular  per- 
sons when  they  are  regenerated  and 
born  again,  John  v.  25.  Eph.ii.  1,  5. 
Col.  ii .  12.  and  iii.  1.  or  of  the  church, 
when,  by  the  influences  of  Cinist, 
she  is  mightily  increased  in  her  mem- 
bers, and  they  aboui7d  in  lively  walk- 
ing with  God,  and  in  comfort  and 
prosperity.  This  will  signally  take 
{dace  in  the  beginning  of  the  millen- 
nium, and  is,  as  some  think,  called 
ihe  first  resurrection,  Isa.  vi.  19,  21. 
and  Ix.  1.  Rom.  xi.  14.  Rev. 
XX.  1 — 8.  (3.)  Corporal,  when  dead 
bodies  are  restored  to  life.  That  there 
will  be  a  general  rising  of  the  dead 
at  the  last  da)%  is  most  agreeable  to 
reason.  Reason  hints,  that  the  law 
of  God  is  given  to  our  whole  man 
and  is  violated  by  our  soul  and  body 
in  connexion.  The  body,  as  an  open 
port,  admits  incitements  to  good,  and 
temptations  to  sin;  the  carnal  atTec- 
tions  depending  on  the  body,  corrupt 
and  mislead  the  mind.  What  out- 
ward acts  the  soul  designs,  whethet 
good  or  evil,  the  body  executes. 
When  the  heart  is  filled  with  hatred 
of  God,  and  all  unrighteousness, 
the  tongue  and  other  bodily   mofu-- 


RES 


(     30*     ) 


RES 


bers  are  instruments  to  execute  it. 
Wlien  the  renewed  soul  loves  and 
cleaves  to  Jesus  Christ,  the  tonsjue 
utters  his  praise,  and  the  oilier 
bodily  meml)ers  labour,  or  endure 
suffering  for  his  sake.  If  the?e  dif- 
ferent parts  of  human  nature  share 
thus  in  actions  good  or  bad,  it  is  rea- 
sonable tiiey  should  share  together  of 
the  everlasting  reward  or  punish 
mcnt ;  and  hence  (he  body  must  be 


should,  live  unto  God,  Luke  xx.  37, 
3!t.  Amidst  all  his  trouble.  Job 
firmly  belirved,  not  <hat  he  would 
have  a  return  to  prosporitj'  in  thi^s 
life,  for  this  he  did  not.  Job  vi.  8,  9. 
and  vil.  7,  !'..  and  x.  21, 1^2.  and  xvi. 
22.  and  xvii.  1,  15.  and  xix.  10. 
and  his  words  are  loo  grand  to  ex- 
press such  an  event ;  but  that  at  the 
last  day  his  Redeemer  should  raise 
him  from   the  dead,  and  make  him. 


restored  to  life,  and  re-united  to  theiiu  his  flesh,  in  the  very  same  body  he 


soul  never  more  to  be  separated.  The 
dying  of  seeds   that  thcj'  may  re- 
vive and  grow  up,  the  revival  of  wi- 
thered trees  and  roots  in  the  s[)ring, 
are  a  natural  presage  of  this  resur- 
rection,  John  xii.   24.    1  Cor.    xv. 
36.     The  translation  of  Enoch  and 
Elias  to  heaven,  both  soul  and  body; 
the  restoration  of  many  to  life  by  the 
hands  of  Elijah,  Elisha,  and  of  Christ 
and  his  apostles;  but  chiefly  the  re- 
surrection of  Jesus  Christ  from  the 
dead,  are  incontestable  proofs  here- 
of.    Jesus  rose  as  the  first fnnls  of 
ihan   that   slept ;    to    mark    Avhich, 
numbers   of  dead   bodies   of  saints 
arose  about  the  same  time,  who  it  is 
scarcely  probable  ever  returned   to 
corruption,    1  Cor.    xv.    20.    Matt, 
xxvii.  52,  53.     In  his  resurrection 
he  exerted  his  own  divine  power,  and 
was  solemnly  owned  by  his  Father 
as  his  only  begotten  Son,  Rom.  i.  4. 
Acts  xiii.  25.  He  rose  for  our  justi- 
fication, as  therein  he  was  discharged 
of  all  debt  vvhich  he  had  taken  on 
himself,  and  exalted  to  be  a  Prince 
a»id  Saviour  to  give  repentance  and 
forgiveness   of   sins,    Rom.  iv.    25. 
and  he  is  the  resurrection  and  the  life  ; 
the  spring  and  cause  of  our  spiritual 
resurrection  from  a  state  of  sin;  ol 
our  revivals  after  sinful  languishing 
and  distress,  and  will  be  of  our  hap 
py  rcHurrection  at  the  last  day,  John 
•si.  25,     That  there  shall  be  a  future 
resurrection  of  the  dead  in  general, 
is  also  evident  from  many  passages  of 
scripture.  God  showed  the  truth  here- 
of to  Moses  at  the  bush,  in  calling 
Iiimself  the  God  of  the  patriarchs  af- 
ter they  were  dead;  which  imported 


then  had,  to  sec  God  as  hia  friend  and 
portion,  Job  xix.  25,  26,  27.  With 
the  view  of  this  God  comforts  hia 
church,  Isa.  xxvi.  19.  and  Dan.  xii.  2, 
3.  In  tlie  New  Testament,  this  truth 
is  evidently  asserted  in  a  multitude 
of  texts,  Luke  xiv.  13.  John  vi.  39, 
40,  44,  54.  and  xi.  24—26.  and  xiv. 
19.  Acts  iv.  2.  and  xvii.  18.  and 
xxvi,  8.  Rom.  viii.  11.  1  Cor.  vi, 
14.  and  XV.  2  Cor.  i.  9.  and  iv.  14. 
1  Thess.  iv.  14.  2  Tim.  iv.  1,  Heb. 
vi.  2.  and  Rev.  xx.  12,  13.  That  the 
same  body  will  be  raised,  is  evi- 
dent from  the  reasons  above-men- 
tioned, as  well  as  from  the  verj'  na- 
ture of  a  resurrection;  for,  if  the 
same  body  were  not  raised,  it  could 
be  no  resurrection,  but  a  new  crea- 
tion. It  is  their  body  that  was  once 
vile,  mortal,  diseased,  and  dead,  and 
that  bore  the  image  of  the  earthly 
Adam,  that  shall  be  raised,  changed, 
and  glorified,  Phil.  iii.  21.  Rom.  viii. 
11.  Job  xix.  26,  27.  John  v,  28. 
1  Cor.  XV.  42,  43,  51,  53,  54.  That 
the  saints''  bodies  shall  rise  first,  and 
be  rendered  glorious  like  unto  Chrisfs 
glorified  body,  and  spiritual,  so  as  to 
be  no  clog  to  the  soul,  is  also  plain. 
The  vain  questions  concerning  the 
time  of  (he  resurrection,  the  apparent 
difficulties  of  raising  the  same  body, 
and  the  diiference  of  sex  in  them 
that  are  raised,  I  dismiss  as  frivolous 
and  im[;ertinent.  Nothing  that  is 
|)ro[)er  is  impossible  for  the  power 
and  wisdom  of  God  to  eflecl.  But 
let  us  know  and  earnestly  remem- 
ber, that  by  the  resurrection  of  life, 
the  godlj'  shall,  first  in  order,  and  in 
a  glorious  manner,  be  raised  to  en- 


that  their  souls  did,  and  their  bodies 'joy  everlasting  happiness;  and   by 


RET 


(     866     ) 


R  E  U 


the  rcsurrcclion  of  damnalion^  the 
wicked  shall  rise  to  everlasting  shame 
and  torment;  (or  while  hell  shall 
give  up  their  departed  souls,  (he  sea 
and  earth  shall  produce  their  dead 
bodies,  John  v.  28,  29.  Rev.xx.  12, 
13,14. 

RETAIN,  to  hold  fast  in  one's 
power  or  possession,  Judg.  vii.  8. 
and  xix.  14.  God  rdaineth  not  his 
anger  for  ever ;  he  Avill  not  always 
continue  to  punish  and  afflict,  Mic. 
vii.  18.  Wicked  men  like  not  to 
retain  God  in  their  knowledge;  they 
are  not  inclined  to  cherish  and  in- 
crease proper  notions  of  God,  and  the 
impressions  of  his  greatness,  good- 
ness, and  justice,  on  their  conscience, 
Rom.  i.  28.  Sins  are  retained  when 
the  sinner  is  continued  under  cen- 
sure or  condemnation,  John  xx.  23. 
Bernice  did  not  retain  the  power  of  the 
arm ;  did  not  by  her  marriage  esta- 
blish a  firm  union  between  the  two 
kingdoms  of  Egypt  and  Syria :  nor 
did  she  long  maintain  her  interest  in 
the  favour  of  her  husband  Antiochus 
Theos;  for  he,  after  the  death  of  her 
father  Ptolemy  Philadelphus,  king  of 
Egypt,  divorced  her,  and  retook  Lao- 
dice,  by  whom  he  himself,  Bernice, 
and  her  child  and  friends,  were  soon 
after  murdered,  Dan.  xi.  6. 

RETIRE,  to  march  backward,  to 
go  aside,  Judg.  xx.  39. 

RETURN,  (l.)Togobacktothe 
place  from  whence  one  came,  Exod. 
xiii.  17.  (2.)  To  come  again,  2 
Chron.  xviii.  26.  (3.)  To  requite, 
1  Kings  ii.  32,  44.  (4.)  To  rehearse, 
tell  over,  Exod.  xix.  8.  God  returns 
to  men,  when,  after  sore  judgments 
and  afflictions,  he  bestows  fresh  fa- 
vours upon  them,  Psal.  vi.  4.  Joel  ii; 
14.  He  returns  on  high,  when  he, 
as  a  judge,  gives  sentence  for  his 
people,  and  against  their  enemies, 
and  displays  his  authority  and  power 
in  the  execution  of  it,  Psal.  vii.  7. 
Men  return  to  God,  ^vlien  they  re- 
pent of  their  sinful  wandering  out  of 
the  way  of  his  commandments,  and  i 
begin  anew  to  obey  and  serve  him,  j 
Isa.  X.  21.  Ezek.  xviii.  21.  The  re- i 
turn  of  the  year,  is  the  spring-tide, ' 


when  it  began  anew  in  the  season, 
and  in  the  sacred  reckonings  of  the 
Jews,  1  Kings  xx.  22.  In  return- 
ing and  rest,  ye  shall  he  saved;  by 
means  of  returning  to  God  in  Christ 
by  faith  and  repentance,  and  by  rest- 
ing quietly  on  him  as  your  support 
and  deliverer,  without  going  to  Egypt 
for  help,  shall  ye  have  deliverance, 
Isa.  XXX.  13.  Let  them  return  to  thee, 
but  return  thou  not  to  them;  let  them 
hearken  to  thy  words,  and  follow  thy 
pattern ;  but  comply  not  thou  with 
them  in  their  courses,  nor  flatter  them 
in  their  sins,  Jer.  xv.  19. 

REU,  or  Ragau,  his  shepherd,  com- 
panion,fricnd,  (he  son  of  Peleg,  and 
father  of  Serug,  was  born,  J.  M. 
1787,  and  died  A.  M.  2026,  Gen. 
xi.  18. 

REUBEN,  the  vision  of  his  son,  the 
eldest  son  of  Jacob  by  Leah,  born 
A.  M.  2246.  When  he  was  very 
young,  he  found  dudaim,  which  we 
render  mandrakes,  in  the  field,  about 
the  time  of  wheat  harvest.  These 
his  mother  sold  to  Rachel  who  covet- 
ed them,  for  her  night  with  Jacob. 
When  he  was  about  40  years  of  age,, 
he,  to  the  great  grief  of  his  father, 
committed  incest  with  his  concubine, 
but  seems  to  have  deeply  repented 
of  it.  Though  Joseph  stood  fair  to 
come  between  him  and  his  father's 
inheritance,  he  did  all  that  in  him  lay 
to  preserve  Joseph  in  safety.  He 
entreated  the  rest  of  his  brethren  not 
to  murder  him.  With  a  view  to 
protect  him,  he  persuaded  them  to 
throw  him  into  a  dry  pit,  and  leave 
him  there  to  die  of  his  own  accord. 
While  he  took  a  round-about  turn 
to  draw  him  out  and  send  him  home, 
his  brethren  had  taken  him  thence, 
and  sold  him  to  the  Midianites. 
When  he  found  he  was  removed,  he 
rent  his  clothes,  and  was  deeply  dis- 
tressed on  his  account.  When  after- 
wards Joseph's  rough  usage  of  them 
brought  (hem  to  a  sense  of  their  guilt 
concerning  his  blood,  Reuben  re- 
minded them  how  obstinately  deaf 
they  were  to  all  entreaties  lor  the  pre- 
servation of  his  life.  When  his  fa- 
ther refused  to  let  Benjamin  go  vrith 


R  E  U 


(     367     ) 


REV 


tUem  into  Egypt,  he  offered  to  forfeit 
the  tile  of  his  two  sons  if  ho  tlid  not 
bring  him  safely  back.  In  liis  last 
benediction,  Jacob  tohl  him,  that  for 
his  ihcest  he  skould  lose  his  birth- 
right, and  fhould  never  excel,  Gen. 
xxix.  32.  ai\d  xxx.  14.  and  xxxv. 
22.  and  xlii.  '12.  and  xxxvii.  29,  30. 
and  xlii.  21,  22,  37.  and  xlix.  3,  4. 
1  Chron.  v.  1. 

His  sons  were  Hanoch,  Pallu,  Hez- 
rou,  and  Carmi,  all  of  whom  were 
parents  of  considerable  families, 
Kumb.  xxvi.  5,  6.  When  the  Reu- 
benites  came  out  of  Egypt,  their 
numlic!',  tit  for  war,  amounted  to 
46,j00,  under  the  command  of  Eli- 
zur  the  son  of  Shedeur.  They,  with 
their  brethren  of  Simeon  and  Gad, 
formed  the  second  division  in  the 
march  of  the  Hebrews,  and  went 
just  before  the  ark.  Their  spy  (or 
searching  tlie  promised  land,  was 
Shammua  the  son  of  Zacchur.  Da- 
than,  Abiram,  and  On,  who  rebelled 
against  Closes  and  Aaron,  along  with 
Korah,  were  of  this  tribe.  In  the 
plains  of  Moal),  their  warriors 
amounted  to  43,7,30.  When  IMoses 
seizeil  the  kingdoms  of  Sihon  and 
Og,  the  Reubcnites  and  Gadites, 
observing  how  proper  the  country 
was  for  their  vast  numbers  of  flocks 
and  herds,  begged  to  have  it  as  their 
portion.  At  first  Moses  refused ;  but 
on  their  proposing  to  assist  their  bre- 
thren with  all  their  force  in  the  con- 
quest of  western  Canaan,  he  granted 
the  country  to  them  and  the  hall 
tribe  of  Manasseh.  There  they  re- 
paired the  cities,  and  settled  their 
wives  and  children.  Their  warriors 
went  over  Jordan ;  and  though  pro- 
bably they  visited  their  families  at 
times,  yet  they  continued  with  their 
brethren  for  the  most  part  of  seven 
years,  till  all  the  tribes  had  got  their 
settlements ;  after  wliich  they  were 
honourably  dismissed.  In  their  re- 
turn home,  they  erected  the  altar  of 
Ed  on  the  bank  of  Jordan,  not  for 
offering  sacrifices  or  incense,  but  for 
a  testimony  that  they  were  of  the 
same  Hebrew  stock  and  religion 
with  tlicir  brethren.     The  design  of 


this  was  at  first  mistaken  by  the 
other  tribes :  and  Fhint  has,  and  a 
variety  of  princes,  were  sent  to 
expostulate  wilh  them  about  thia 
matter,  as  they  took  it  to  be  a  step 
towards  apostacy  from  the  worship 
of  God;  but  wiien  they  heard  the 
true  design  of  erecting  the  altar, 
they  were  satisfied.  According  to 
the  predictions  of  Jacob  and  Moses, 
this  tribe  never  excelled,  there  ne- 
ver being  any  noted  person  in  iti 
and  they  lay  much  exposed  to  ene- 
mies, the  Moabites  on  the  south, 
the  Ammonites  on  the  east,  and  the 
Syrians  from  the  north,  Numb.  xxvi. 
5,  6.  and  i.  5,  21.  and  x.  18,  21.  and 
xvi.  and  xxxii.  Josh.  xxii.  Deut. 
xxxiii.  6.  In  the  dsys  of  Deboralt, 
the  Reubenites  were  so  embarrassed 
with  intestine  broils  or  foreign  inva- 
sions, that  they  could  send  no  as- 
sistance to  Barak.  During  the  reign 
of  Saul,  they,  probably  under  the 
command  of  Bela  the  son  of  Azaz, 
conquered  a  tribe  of  the  Hagarites 
on  the  east  of  Gilead,  and  seized  on, 
their  country.  Of  them  and  their 
brethren,  the  Gadites  and  Manas- 
sites,  to  the  number  of  120,000,  at- 
tended at  David's  coronation,  lu 
that  period,  Eliezer  the  son  of  Zichri 
was  their  governor,  and  Adina  the 
son  of  Shiza  was  one  of  David's 
worthies.  Hazael  king  of  Syria  ter- 
ribly ravaged  their  country;  but  \t 
seems  that  afterward,  in  the  reign  of 
Jeroboam  II.  they  and  their  brethren 
of  Gilead  smote  the  Hagarites,  and 
took  from  them  their  country,  and 
a  prodigious  booty  of  flocks.  Not 
long  after,  when  Beerah  was  their 
prince,  Tiglath-jnleser  carried  them 
captive  into  the  north-east  parts  of 
his  empire,  Judg.  y.l  5, 16.  1  Chron. 
xii.  37.  and  xxvii.  16.  and  xi.  42. 
2  Kings  x.  37.  1  Chron.  v. 

REVEAL,  to  make  manifest  what 
was  before  concealed  or  unknown, 
Rom.  ii.  5.  Christ  is  revealed.,  when 
God  by  his  word  and  Spirit  enlight- 
ens the  mind  of  men,  and  sheds  his 
love  abroad  in  the  heart,  Gal,  i.  1 6,  and 
was  also  revealed^  when  by  fearl'ul 
judgments  on  the  Jewish  nation,  he 


REV 


(     368     ). 


REV 


manifested  his  power  and  Messiah- 
ship,  Luke  xvii.  30.  and  will  likewise, 
when  he  shall  at  the  last  day,  come 
openly  to  judge  the  world,  2  Thess.  i. 
7.     The  arm  of  the  Lord  is  revealed, 
when  Christ  is  savingly  discovered, 
and  when  the  power  ol"  God  in  its 
mighty  effects  is  sweetly  felt,  sins  be- 
ing forgiven,  the  conscience  puritied, 
and  the  heart  changed,   Isa.  liii.  1. 
His   righteousness  is  revealed,  when 
the  obedience  and  suffering  of  Christ, 
in  which  the  justice  and  mercy  of 
God  shine  forth,  are  declared,  and 
his  grace  is  offered  to  sinful  men,  Isa. 
Ivi.  1.  Rom.  i.  17.     The  heavens  rf- 
veal  null's  iniquity,  when  God  brings 
it  to  light,  and  punisheth  them  observ- 
ably for  it,  Job  XX.  27.     The  wrath 
of  God  is  revealedfrom  heaven  against 
all  unrighteousness,  and  by  the  stings 
of  sinners'  conscience,   and    by  his 
judgments  on  them,  his  displeasure 
with  their  conduct  is  clearly  mani- 
fested,    Rom.  i.   18.      The  Popish 
•man  of  sin  was   revealed,  when  he 
appeared   as   head  of    the    church, 
or  as  a  civil   prince,  2  Thess.  ii.  8. 
Men  reveal  their  cause  to  God,  when 
they  lay   it  before  him  In    prayer, 
Jer.  xi.  20.    By  Christ's  coming  into 
the  world,    and  being  preached  in 
the   gospel,   the   thoughts  of  many 
hearts  are  revealed:  some  have  their 
consciences    fully  searched    by  his 
word;   and  many,  by  their  evidence 
of  regard  to,  or  hatred  of  him,   de- 
clare what  is  in  their  hearts,  Luke 
ii.  35.     Every  man's  work  shall  be 
tried  and  revealed  by  fire  ;  by  the  fire 
of  God's  word    trying   it,  by   tieiy 
trials  and  persecutions,  and  especial- 
ly by  a  thorough  trial   in   the  last 
judgment,  its  nature  and  quality  shall 
be  plainly  discovered,  1  Cor.  iii.  13. 
Any  immediate  discovery  of  God's 
mind,  is  called  a  revelation,  Gal. 
i.  12.  1  Cor.  xiv.  6,  26.  but  the  last 
book  of  the  scripture,  in  which  God 
discovered   to    John   the  apostle    a 
multitude  of   things  relative  to  his 
Avill  and  purpose  towards  his  church, 
is  particularly  so  called.   Rev.  i.  1. 
After  an  introduction   and   descrip- 
tion of  a  vision  which  John  had  of 


Jesus  Christ  in  the  isle  of  Patmos, 
it    contains    seven  epistles    to  the 
Asiatic  churches  of  Ephesus,  Smyrna, 
Pergamos,  Thyatira,  Sardis,  Phila- 
delphia, and  Laodicea,  in  which  Je- 
sus commends  their  good  things,   re- 
proves their  defects,   calls  them  to 
repent,  and  encourages  them  under 
their  trials,  chap.  i.  ii.  iii.      In  chap, 
iv.  and  v.  we  have  an  introduction 
to  the  prophetic  part,  consisting  of 
a  vision  of  God  upon  a  throne,  and 
celebrated  by   ministers  and  saints; 
and  of  Christ's  opening  the  seven- 
sealed  book  of  his  purposes,  to  the 
great  joy   of   angels  and  redeemed 
men.      In  chap.  vi.  is  the  opening  of 
six  seals,  exhibiting  the  state  of  the 
church,  and  of  the  Roman  emj)ire, 
from  Christ's  ascension,  to  the  fall 
of  the  heathenish   form  of  the  em- 
pire about  A.  D.  323,     In  chap.  vii. 
is   an  emblematic  representation  of 
the  security  of  the  saints  under  the 
trumpets,    and  their    happy  escape 
from  their  troubles.     In  chap.  viii. 
and  ix.  is    the  opening   of    the  se- 
venth seal,  and  the  sounding  of  six 
trumpets,    where    is   exhibited    the 
fate   of  the  church,  by  the  Arians, 
Donatists,    Pelagians,   Papists,   and 
Saracens;    and  the  fate  of  the  Ro- 
man empire,  by  the  Goths,  Vandals, 
Huns,  Heruli,   Saracens,  and  Turks, 
from  A.  D.  323  to   1866,  or  2016, 
in  chap.  x.  is  another  introductory 
vision  of  Jesus  Christ  with  a  little 
open  book,  the  seals  being  now  loos- 
ed in   his  hand,  importing  a  further 
discovery  of    the  events  of    provi- 
dence.    In  chap.  xi.   is  a  view  of 
the  rise,  power,  duration  of,  and  oj>- 
position  to.  Antichrist,  and  of  his  fall, 
and    the   glorious  millennium;   and 
so  reaches  from  A.  D.  606,  to  the 
end  of  the  1,000  years'  reign  of  the 
saints;  and  of  it  from  the  xiii.  to  xxii. 
are  but  an  explication.     In  chap.  xii. 
is  a  repeated  view  of  the  state  of  the 
church  under  Heathenism  and  An- 
tichrist.    In  chap.  xiii.  and  xiv.  we 
have  a  view  of  the  rise  of  Antichrist 
in  his  civil  and  ecclesiastic  power,  to- 
gether with  preludes,  warnings,  and 
emblematic  representations,   of    his 


REV 


(     369     ) 


REV 


ruin.  In  chap.  xv.  and  xvi.  ^ve 
have  tlie  preparation  lor,  and  the 
pouring  out  of  tlie  destructive  vials 
of  God's  wratlj  on  Antichrist.  In 
chap.  xvii.  xviii.  and  xix.  are  exhibit- 
ed the  marks  of  Antitdirist,  and  the 
causes  and  terrible  nature  olhis  over- 
throw, and  the  a;rief  of  Ids  friends, 
and  joy  of  the  saints  thereat.  I  n  chap. 
XX.  is  represented  the  glorious  mil- 
lennium, and  the  last  judgment.  In 
chap.  xxi.  and  xxii.  is  represented 
the  happiness  of  rtie  millennial  and  of 
the  eternal  state,  and  a  terrible  de- 
nunciation of  wrath  to  such  as  take 
from,  or  add  to,  the  words  of  God. 

How  far  this  anah/sis  oi' \he  Reve- 
lation is  just,  the  reader  is  requested 
to  judge  for  himself.  It  is  suffered 
to  appear  in  this  work,  as  taken 
from  Mr.  Brown,  because  the  Editor 
iiopes  it  may  excite  some  persons  to 
avail  themselves  of  the  benefit  to  be 
derived  from  a  careful  perusal  ofimi- 
dern  publications  on  this  subject, 
and  to  an  earnest  application  to  God 
in  prayer,  that  he  may  set  up  his 
kingdom,  and  explain  his  own  word. 
REVELLINGS,  luxurious  feast- 
ing, attended  with  wanton  songs  and 
behaviour.  Gal.  v.  21. 

REVENGE,  or  vengeance,  (1.) 
A  retarn  of  an  injury  that  has  been, 
or  is  supj)osed  to  have  been  done  us, 
Jer.  XX.  10.  (2.)  A  just  censure  of 
a  scandal,  2  Cor.  x.  6.  {2.)  A  ha- 
tred of  sin,  manifested  in  using  all 
proper  methods  to  destroy  it,  2  Cor. 
\n.  11.  When  revenge  or  vengeance 
is  attributed  to  God,  it  includes  no 
passion,  but  merely  a  righteous  dis- 
position to  punish  evil-doers,  Acts 
xxviii.  4.  and  the  just  punishment 
inflicted  on  tlieni.  Psalm  Iviii.  10.  or 
chastisement  of  his  people,  P?;;!m 
xcix.  8.  Vengeance  belongelh  vnhj 
anlo  Goff:  he  alone  can  fully  re?x;nt 
injuries;  he  alone  has  a  right  fully  (o 
requite  the  dishonours  done  to  liim- 
self,  a?  the  God  and  supreme  Gover- 
nor of  the  world  ;  and  he  pruLiiiiied 
to  private  persons  all  revenge  of  in- 
juries done  to  them.  Lev.  xix.  1 7, 1  o. 
Rom.  xii.  17,  19.  and  by  the  law  of 
requital,  he  did  r.ol  allov^.-,  ln:t  !:ot 
Vol.  II. 


bounds  to  private  revenge,  Exod.  xxi. 
4.  W  hen  magistrates  puHiisbed  inju- 
ries, or  when  the  kinsman-redeemer 
killed  him  who  had  accident ly  slain 
his  friend,  they  acted  as  the  deputies 
of  God  the  supreme  Ruler,  Rom.  xiii. 
4.  Numb.  Kxxv.  10,  24.  The  pu- 
nishincnt  taken  by  God  on  the  Chal- 
deans, for  destroying  his  people  and 
temple,  is  called  the  vengeance  of  his 
tcinjjle,  Jer.  1.  28. 

REVENUE,  profit,  income,  Ezra 
iv.  13.  Isa.  xxiii.  3.  Chrisfs  rcve- 
nnc  is  the  blessings  he  gives  to  men, 
which  are  more  precious,  enriching, 
and  useful,  than  choice  silver,  Prov. 
viii.  19.  In  the  revenue  of  the  wicked 
is  trouble ;  in  acquiring,  preserving, 
and  parting  with  their  wealth,  they 
have  trouble,  and  a  curse  and  trouble 
often  punish  their  wicked  manner  of 
procuring  it,  Prov.  xv.  6.  The  Jews 
were  ashamed  of  their  revenue;  asham^ 
ed  of  what  they  had  sinfully  procur- 
ed to  themselves,  and  of  the  issue  of 
their  giving  presents  to,  and  trust- 
ing in,  the  Egyptians,  Jer.  xii.  13. 

REVERENCE,  veneration,  re- 
spect, awlul  regard.  To  do  reverence 
to  God,  is  to  have  an  humble  and  filial 
awe  of  his  greatness,  fear  of  his  dis- 
pleasure, and  a  self-abased  temper 
of  spirit  in  worshipjjing  him  or  bear- 
ing his  chastisements,  Heb.  xii.  28, 
To  reverence  his  sanctuary,  is  to  pay 
an  awful  and  self-debasing  regard  to 
his  ordinances.  Lev.  xix.  30.  God's 
name  is  reverend ;  all  things  whereby 
he  made  himself  known  are  to  be 
awfully  regarded,  as  connected  with 
him  who  is  infinitely  great,  and  to 
be  feared  by  all  his  creatures,  Psalm 
cxi.  9.  To  do  reverence  to  men,  is 
humbly  to  show  our  respect  to  them, 
by  bowing  before  them,  or  the  like, 
2  Sam.ix.  t5. 

REVERSE,  to  ma!;e  null,  over- 
turn, Nhinb.  xxiii.  20. 

REVILE,  RAiii,  to  speak  evil  or 
contemptuously  of  persons  or  things, 
i\Iatt.  xxvii.  30.  1  Sam.  xxv.  14. — 
As  their  words  are  like  spears  and 
swords,  dcstruclivo  to  men's  persons, 
characters,  and  interest,  reviler?  or 
railcrs  ought  to  he  expelled  front 
3  A 


It  E  W 


(     370 


; 


R  E  Z 


dren  are  God''s  reward,  wliich  he  be 
stows  as  a  blessing  on  parents,  or 
which  parents  devote  to  God  as  an 
acknowledgment  of  his  kindness, 
Psal.  cxxvi.  3.  The  praise  and  high 
esteem  of  men.  is  the  reward  of  hy- 
pocritical appearances  of  religion, 
Matt.  vi.  2,  3.  The  Jews  loved  a 
reward  on  every  cern-fioor  ;  like  har- 
lots, ready  to  prostitute  themselves 
on  corn-floors  or  any-where,  lor  a 
measure  of  corn  or  piece  of  bread; 
they  also  ascribed  their  plentiful 
crops  to  their  idols,  and  gave  Ihem 
tithes  of  all  they  had,  and  were  rea- 
dy to  join  with  the  idols  of  any  coun- 
try, for  the  sake  of  the  most  pitiful 
advantage,  Hos.  ix.  1. 

REZIN,  affection,  goodwill,  a 
rzinncr,  or  messenger,  the  last  king 
of  the  ancient  Syrians,  perhaps  a 
descendant  of  Hazael.  Entering  into 
a  league  ^vith  Pekah,  king  of  Israel, 
they  invaded  the  kingdom  of  Judah, 
then  governed  by  Ahaz.  Not  being 
able  to  take  Jerusalem,  Ihey  ravaged 
the  countrjs  and  returned  home. 
Soon  after,  Rezin's  army  again  plun- 
dered the  country ;  and  about  this 
time  he  marched  to  the  Red  Sea,  and 
took  Elath,  and  restored  it,  whether 
to  Syria,  or  the  Edomites,  we  are  un- 
certain, as,  in  the  Hebrew,  Aram  and 
Edoji  are  so  very  similar.  But  it  is 
certain  that  not  long  after  Tiglath- 
pileser,  king  of  Assyria,  at  Ahaz's 
desire,  invaded  Syria,  slew  Rezin, 
and  carried  his  subjects  captive  to 
Media,  2  Kings  xvi.  2  Chron.  xxviii. 
Isa.  vis.  and  viii. 

REZON,  small,  lean,  secret,  or 
prince,  the  son  of  Eliadah,  revolting 
from  his  master  Kadadezer,  the  Syrian 
KingofZobah,  while  David  made  war 
ui)on  him,  put  himself  at  the  head  of  a 
band  of  robbers  ;  and  after  sundry  ra- 
vages of  the  country  aiiout  Damascus, 
he  seized  on  that  city,  and  set  up  for 
king  of  that  place:  but  whether  he 
did  so  in  the  time  of  David,  or  only 
in  the  time  of  Solomon,  we  know 
not ;  nor  is  it  certain  at  what  time 
he  began  to  give  disturbance  to 
Solomon.      It    seems    that    at    the 


hunjan  society  and  the  church,  1  Cor. 

V.   11.  and  God  has  excluded  them 

from  his  kingdom,  1  Cor.  vi.  10.     It 

is  highly    criminal   to  revile  rulers 

in  church   or  state,  and  revilers  of 

parents    were    appointed   to  death, 

Exod.  xxii.  28.  and  xxi.  f  1  7.  They 

are  blessed  of  God,  who  bless,  and 

from  tile  heart  wish  well  to  such  as 

revile  them.   Matt,    v.   II.    1    Cor. 

iv.  12. 

REVIVE,  (1.)  To  become  lively 

and  cheerful  after  much  fainting  and 

sorrow,  Gen.  xlv.  27.  (2.)  To  return 

to  life,  to  rise  from  languor,  oblivion, 

or  obscurity,  Rom.xiv.  9.  Hos.  xiv.  7. 

Hab.  iii.  2.  (3.)  To  cjuicken  and  ren- 
der lively  and  active.  Psalm  Ixxxv.  G. 

God  revives  men,  when  he  grants  de- 
liverance to  them  from  great  calami- 
ties, and  gives  his  quickening  Spirit 

to  render  them  active  and  cheerful  in 

liis  service,  Hos.  vi.   2.   Ezra  ix.  3. 

Isa.  Ivii.  \5.      Tlie  3 e\y a  revived  the 

stones  out  of  the  heaps  of  rubbish,  when 

they  digged  them  up,  and  rebuilt  the 

wall  of  Jerusalem   therewith,  Neh. 

V.  2.    Sin   revives,  when  the  com- 

manthnent  is  closely  applied  to  men's 
conscience,  and  the  guilt,  pollution, 

and  ppwer,  of  their  sin  are  manifest 
ed,  and  it  acts  with  greater  vigour 
than  before,  Rom.  vii.  9. 

REWARD,  WAGES,  (1.)  What 
is  gained  by  service,  or  as  the  sub- 
sistence of  ministers,  1  Tim.  v.  13. 
2  Cor.  si.  8.  and  Avhat  is  gained  by 
sinful  works,  is  the  wages  </  unright- 
eousness, 2  Peter  ii.  15.  (2.)  The 
fruit  of  men's  labour,  Eccl.  ix.  5.  (3.) 
A  bribe  given  to  a  judge  for  liis  fa- 
vour in  a  cause,  Deut.  xxvii.  25. 
The  reward  o'i  the  godly  from  God, 
is  the  blessings  he  bestows  on  them 
in  consequence  of  their  good  works, 
and  particularly  the  unmerited  gift 
of  eternal  life  in  heaven,  which  is  be- 
stowed upon  them  from  the  mercy 
of  God,  and  through  the  righteous- 
ness and  deatii  of  Jesus  Christ,  Matt. 
V.  12.  The  reward  of  ihe  rrickcd,  or 
tJie  wages  of  ihe'n  sin,  is  that  fearful 
and  just  punishment  of  death,  tem- 
poral, spiritual,  or  eternal,  which  God 
infiicts  upon  them,  Psal.  xci.  1.   Chil-ltime  of  his  death  he  could  scarcely 


R  H  0 


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R  11  0 


be  less  than  niiiely  years  of  ago,  and 
it  u  |)robal)le  he  was  i-wccceded  l)y 
his  sou  Hezion,  1  Kings  xi.  23, 2-1,  25. 
an«l  XV.  18. 

RHElilUiM,  rupture,  fracture,  a 
city  in  the  kinsiilotn  of  Nai)lcs,  on 
the  south  point  of  Italy,  at)oiit  six 
mlh'3  east  of  ]Mes?ina  in  Sicily,  and 
180  south  of  Na|)le9.  It  is  siid  to 
have  been  orifiiinaily  bnilt  hy  a  colo- 
ny from  Chalcis.  It  was  splendidly 
rebnilt  hy  Jnlius  Cesar,  after  his  de- 
feat of  Pomjiey,  and  driving  him  out 
of  Sicily.  Here  Paul  touched  as  he 
went  [)risoner  to  Rome,  Acts  xxviii. 
12,  14.  It  has  been  often  plundered 
hy  the  Turks,  and  hurt  by  earth- 
quakes. It  is  nevertheless  still  in  a 
tolerable  condition,  and  is  the  seat  of 
an  archbishop  and  of  two  colleges; 
hut  the  inhal>itantsare  not  nun]er(his, 
nor  is  their  trade  great ;  nor  are  their 
harbours  good,  being  exposed  to  all 
winds,  and  propei*  only  for  small 
ships. 

RHODA.     See  Fetek. 

RHODES,  a  rose,  an  island  of  the 
Mediterranean  Sea,  about  75  miles 
east  of  Crete,  and  8  south  of  Caiia 
and  Lysia  in  Lesser  Asia,  and  about 
120  miles  in  circumference.  Some 
think  it  was  peopled  by  Uodanim,  or 
Rhodanim,  the  p;randpon  of  Ja|)heth; 
but  others  think  it  was  peopled  b}' 
the  posterity  of  Shem,  who  dwelt  on 
the  adjacent  continent,  and  had  its 
name  from  the  multitudes  of  I'cscn 
that  grew  on  it.  It  is  certain  the 
Rhodians  were  famous  about  the  time 
ol  the  Trojan  war.  Their  most  an- 
cient cities  were  Lindus,  Camirus, 
Jalysus,  and  Rhodes,  which  soon 
eclipsed  all  the  rest,  and  is  still  a 
place  of  note.  This  island  was 
famed  for  the  fineness  of  the  weather, 
and  the  excellent  w^ines  thereof;  and 
for  their  excellent  laws  relative  to 
sea-trade,  and  which  were  a  kind  of 
standard  to  the  sea- faring  men  round 
about;  and  for  the  birth  of  several 
excellent  artists  in  painting,  statuary 
work,  <Lc.  but  for  nothing  more 
than  the  famed  Colossus,  or  image 
of  Apollo,  which  was  so  tixed  at  the 
mouth  of  their  harbour  at  Rhodes, 


as  that  the  sliips  sailed  in  between  the 
feet  of  it.  It  was  70  cubits  his,h,  or, 
according  to  Sextus  l:]mpericus,  80, 
and  its  parts  in  projjoriion,  few  men 
being  able  to  grasp  its  thumb.  It 
was  begun  by  Charles  of  I.indus;  and 
was  tinibhcd  by  Laches?;  it  cost  about 
300  talents,  ami  contained,  it  is  said, 
720,000  [)oun(ls  weight  of  brass.  It 
was  erected  about  J.  M.  3716; 
and  after  standing  60  years,  was 
thrown  down  by  an  earthquake.  The 
Rhodians  procured  a  contribution 
from  the  nations  around,  to  restore 
it;  but  having  got  nearly  five  times 
tile  worth  of  it,  they  Vvere  too  covet- 
ous to  appl}^  the  money  to  any  such 
use.  Nobody,  however,  ventured  to 
carry  oil' the  brass  of  the  fallen  statue, 
till  about  804  years  after,  when  Mau- 
vi.is,  (he  sixth  caliph  of  the  Saracens, 
sold  it  to  a  Jew,  who  loaded  900  ca- 
mels with  it. 

After  two  different  races  of  kings 
had  governed  the  Rhodians,  they  in- 
troduced a  commonwealth  form  of 
government.  At  length,  after  they 
had  undergone  a  variety  of  changes, 
sometimes  oppressed  or  distressed  by 
the  Carians  or  Greeks,  and  sometimes 
in  a  great  degree  of  grandeur,  and 
lords  of  Caria  and  Lycia  on  the 
continent,  or  courted  by  almost  every 
state  around,  they  fell  a  prey  to  the 
conquering  and  villanous  Romans. 
About  J.  M.  3962,  and  about  100 
3'ears  after,  Rhodes  was  made  part 
of  the  province  of  the  islands.  The 
Saracens  sieeed  it  A.D.  654;  but 
the  Greeks  after  that  retook  it,  and 
kept  it  till  1283,  when  it  was  taken 
i)y  the  Seljukian  Turks.  In  1308, 
the  warlike  knights  of  St.  John  of 
.Jerusalem  wrested  it  out  of  their 
hands,  and  kept  posses^^ion  of  it  till 
1522,  when  Bolyman  the  Ottoman 
Turk  attacked  them  with  200,000 
men,  and  300  ships.  After  almost 
a  year's  siege  of  the  city  of  Rhodes, 
and  the  loss  of  90,000  of  his  troops, 
the  knights,  whose  army  uas  now- 
reduced  to  6,000,  were  obliged  io 
quit  the  island,  and  soon  after  set- 
tled in  Malta.  Most  of  the  Rho- 
dians de?erted  the  place   about  tltc 


R  I  € 


372     ) 


R  I  C 


^anie  time.  The  Turks  thereCore 
granted  distinguished  liberties  and 
privileges  to  such  Greeks  as  thej' 
fould  excite  to  reJnhabit  it.  Paul 
touched  here  as  he  went  to  Jerusa- 
lem, A.  D.  60;  but  we  find  no  ves- 
tige of  Christianity  till  the  4th  cen- 
tury, since  which  it  has  never  been 
Avholly  expelled.  At  present,  the 
inhabitants  are  generally  Greeks, 
sufficiently  poor  and  oppressed  :  but 
the  Jews  who  tied  from  Spain  are  the 
principal  inhabitants  of  the  city  and 
castle. 

RIBS,  those  bones  on  the  sides  of 
wiany  animals  which  are  the  protec- 
tion of  their  heart  and  bowels.  Eve's 
being  formed  of  a  rib  taken  out  of 
Adam's  side,  imported  the  almost 
eiiuality  and  strong  affection  that 
ought  to  take  place  between  husbands 
and  wives,  Gen.  ii.  21,  22.  The 
three  kingdoms  of  Lydia,  Babylon, 
and  Egj'pt,  conquered  by  Cyrus  and 
his  Medo-Persian  troops,  are  likened 
to  three  ribs  in  the  mouth  of  a  bear, 
Dan.  vii.  5. 

RIBLAH,  a  qiiarrcl,  or  chiding 
confirmed,  a  city  of  Syria,  in  the  land 
of  Hamath.  It  was  a  most  agree- 
able place.  Here  Pharaoh-necho,  in 
his  return  from  Carchemish,  ordered 
Jehoahaz  to  meet  him,  and  deprived 
him  of  his  crown,  giving  it  to  Jehoia- 
kim  his  brother,  2  Kings  xxiii.  33, 
34.  Here  Nebuchadnezzar  spent  his 
time  while  his  generals  besieged  Je- 
rusalem; and  here  he  murdered  Zede- 
kiah's  children  and  several  of  the 
Jewish  princes,  put  out  Zedekiah's 
eyes,  and  bound  him  in  chains,  2 
Kings  XXV.  Jer.  xxxix.  5.  and  Hi.  9. 
Borne  think  Riblah  was  the  same  as 
Antioch,  or  as  Daphne  in  Syria ;  but 
as  the  scripture  represents  it  as  on  the 
way  between  Carchemish  and  Je- 
rusalem, Ave  can  scarcely  believe  it 
was  either  of  the  two,  but  rather  a 
city  not  far  from  Damascus,  the  ves- 
tiges of  which  are  now  gone. 

RICH,  WEALTHY,  (1.)  Such  as 
abound  in  money,  or  worldly  pos- 
sessions, 1  Tim.  vi.  17.  Jer.  xlix- 
31.  (2.)  Such  as  place  their  hap- 
piness and  confidence  in  their  out- 


ward prosperity,  Matt.  xix.  24. 
Luke  vi.  24.  (3.)  Such  as  have  plen- 
ty of  spiritual  gifts  and  graces,  and 
are  entitled  to  everlasting  happiness, 
James  ii.  S.  (4.)  Such  as  in  their 
own  opinion  abound  with  spiritual 
gifts  and  graces,  while  destitute 
of  them,  Rev.  iii.  17.  (5.)  Wise 
and  Avorthy  men,  largely  furnished 
Avith  excellent  endowments,  Eccl. 
X.  6.  (6.)  Precious,  plentiful,  Ezek. 
xxvii.  24.  1  Tim.  vi.  18.  God  is 
richi  he  has  all  fulness  in  himself,  and 
is  very  ready  to  bestow  great  and 
good  things  on  sinful  men,  Rom.  x. 
12.  Eph.  ii.  4.  Men  are  rich  in  them- 
aelvcs,  not  towards  God,  Avhen  they 
are  full  of  self-conceit,  but  destitute 
of  true  8{)iritual  excellency,  Luke 
vi.  21.  To  tnake  one''s  self  rich,  is  to 
boast  of  Avealth  or  valuable  endow- 
ments :  and  to  make  one's  self  poor. 
is  to  have  a  Ioav  and  humble  vieAv 
of  one's  OAvn  gifts  or  property,  Prov. 
xJii.  7.  Canaan  Avas  a  wealthy  place, 
as  the  soil  was  good :  and  there  the 
Hebrews  got  the  riches,  flocks,  and 
herds,  of  the  Canaanites,  Psal.  Ixvi. 
12.  Riches  or  wealth  denote 
plenty,  Avhether  of  outAvard  good 
things.  Gen.  xxxvi.  7.  Job  xxi.  13. 
Eccl.  V.  19.  or  of  spiritual  and  eter- 
nal blessings,  Luke  xvi.  11.  or,  in 
sum,  the  real  Avelfare  and  advantage 
of  either  soul  or  body,  1  Cor.  x.  24. 
Tho  riches  of  God,  are  his  unbounded 
fulness  of  Avisdom,  poAver,  mercy, 
grace,  and  glory,  Eph.  i.  7,  18.  and 
ii.  7.  or  the  effects  of  his  |)ower  and 
goodness,  all  which  pertain  to  him 
as  their  owner,  Psal.  civ.  24.  The 
riches  of  Christ,  are  his  unbounded 
treasures  of  spiritual  and  eternal  bless- 
ings, ready  to  be  bestowed  on  sinful 
men,  Prov.  viii.  15.  Eph.  iii.  8.  and 
the  abundant  ascriptions  of  the 
praise  and  glory  thereof,  Rev.  v.  12. 
The  riches  of  the  glory  of  the  gos^ 
pel,  are  the  Avonderful  mysteries 
therein  revealed,  the  infinite  bless- 
ings  therein  offered,  Avhich  render 
it  exceedingly  glorious,  Col.  i.  27. 
The  fall  or  diminishing  of  the  Jcav?, 
their  calamities  and  ejection  from 
the  churcli  of  God,  was  the  riches  qf 


K  1  G 


(     373     ) 


R  I  N 


the  Gentiles ;  made  way  for  (heir  re- 
<»>iviiig  the  precious  oriiiiinnced  ol' 
he  gospel,  and  heini;  many  ol'  tliein 
.<lmitte«l  to  an  einicliini;  state  of 
fellowship  \vith  God,  Rom.  xi.  12. 
llicMLY,  plentifully,  abundantly, 
('ol.  ii).  It). 

KID,  (1.)  To  deliver  from  dan- 
ger, Gen.  xxxvii.  22.  (2.)  To  clear 
away,  destroy,  Lev.  xxvii.  6.  Kjd- 
DANCK,  is  an  utter  destruction  or 
putting  of  things  clean  away,  Zeph. 
ii.   18. 

To  RIDE,  sometimes  denotes  ho- 
nourandtrium|)Ii,lsa.lviii.l-l.  When 
God,  in  meta()horic  language,  is  said 
to  ride,  it  denotes  his  speedy  and  ma- 
jestic ai)pearance  to  protect  and  de- 
liver his  people,  or  destroy  his  ene- 
mies, Deut.  xxxiii.  26.  Psal.  Ixviii.  4. 
and  xviii.  10.  Isa.  xix.  1.  Psal.  xlv.  4. 

RIFLE,  to  plunder,  spoil,  Zech. 
xiv.  2. 

RIGHT,  besides  its  signification 
relative  to  hand,  sides,  or  quarter, 
also  signifies,  (1.)  Straight,  Prov.  ix. 
15.  (2.)  Just  and  proper,  0[»posite 
to  what  is  wrong,  Gen.  xviii.  25. 
and  so  a  right,  is  either  a  just  cause, 
Job  xxxiv.  17.  Psal.  xvii.  1.  or  a 
just  sentence,  Job  xxxvi.  0.  or  a 
just  title  to  any  thing,  or  privilege 
ef  it :  and  so  thei/  that  do  God's  com- 
viandvienls  have  a  ris;ht  to  enter  by  the 
gates  into  the  city  of  the  Ne^v  Jeru- 
salem ;  they  have  a  meetness  for  it, 
manifesting  their  title  to  it,  Rev. 
sxii.  14. 

RIGHTEOUSNESS,  (1.)  Tiiat 
perfection  of  the  divine  nature  where- 
by God  is  most  just  and  most  holy 
in  liimseif,  and  in  all  his  dealings 
with  his  creatures  he  observes  the 
strictest  rules  of  rectitude  and  equity. 
Job  xxvi.  2.  John  xvii.  25.  (2.) 
The  clemency,  mercy,  and  goodness, 
of  God,  Deut.  vi.  25.  Psal.  Ii.  14. 
f'^.)  His  truth  and  faithfulness  in  ful- 
filling his  promises,  Psal.  xxxi.  1. 
Isa.  xlii.  G.  and  xlv.  19.  (4.)  The 
gracious  reward  of  n<:;hteousness, 
Psal.  xxiv.  5.  Isa.  Iviii.  8.  (5.)  The 
righteousness  which  is  imputed  to  a 
sinner  in  hisjustification,  is  called  the 
Hglitcousness  of  God,  brcraise  it  h  of 


his  contriving,  and  [iroviding,  and 
which  alone  will  be  accejileil  by  him, 
Rom.  i.  1  7.  It  is  called  the  righteous- 
ness of  faith,  because  it  id  only  i»y  faith 
that  Christ  and  his  benefits  can  be  re- 
ceived, Rom.  iv.  13.  Christ  is  called 
the  Lord  our  righteousHfs.s,  Jer.  xxiii- 
G.  He  is  the  procurer  and  bestower  of 
all  that  righteousness  and  holinesa 
which  is  in  believers.  (G.)  That  up* 
rightness,  equity,  and  justice  in  deal- 
ing, which  ought  to  be  between  man 
and  man,  Luke  i.  75.  Eph.  iv.  24. 
(7.)  An  eminent  act  of  justice  and 
piety  proceeding  from  a  sincere  zeal 
for  God's  honour,  and  the  good  of 
his  people^  Psal.  cvi.  31.  (8.)  Ho- 
liness of  life  and  conversation,  1  Cor. 
XV.  33. 

RIMMON,  or  Remmox,  exulted,  a 
pomegranate,  (1.)  A  city  belonging 
to  the  Simeonites,  and  which  was 
rebuilt  after  the  captivity  of  Baby- 
lon. It  seems  to  have  stood  about 
25  miles  south-west  of  Jerusalem, 
Josh.  xix.  7.  Neh.  xi.  29.  (2.) 
Remmon-methoar,  a  city  of  Zebu- 
luu  given  to  the  Levites,  io^h.  xix. 
3.  and  1  Chron.  yi.  77.  (3.)  A 
steep  rock  near  Gibeah,  whither 
600  Benjamites  fled  when  the  rest 
of  their  tribe  was  destroyed,  Judg. 
XX.  45.  Perhaps  it  was  under  tliis 
rock,  not  under  a  pomegranate-tree, 
that  Saul  stood,  1  Sain.  xiv.  2.  (4.) 
A  principal  idol  of  the  Syrians,  wor- 
shipped at  Damascus;  the  name  sig- 
nifies  elevation;  blit  whether  that 
idol  be  the  Elion  or  Most  High  of 
the  Phenicians,  or  the  Sun,  or  Sa- 
turn, or  Juno,  or  Venus,  is  not 
agreed.  Some  think  he  was  none  of 
all  these,  but  Jupiter  Cassius,  who 
had  a  temple  on  the  north-east  of 
Egypt,  and  was  figuren  with  liis  hand 
stretched  out.  1  suppose  he  was 
Caphtor,  the  father  of  Caphtoiini, 
whose  name  as  well  as  that  of  Rim- 
mon,  signifies  a  pomegranate-tree^ 
2  Kings  V.  18.-— 

RINGS  were  either  for  hanging 
curtains  or  other  things  by,  or  for 
ornaments  on  the  hands,  fingers, 
ears,  &:c.  Judah,  Pharaoh,  the  i\Ii- 
dianites,   and    Hebrew    men,    wnr*^ 


R  I  P 


(     374     ) 


R  I  V 


rings  on  their  fingers,  and  sometimes 
these  were  finely  engraved,  Gen. 
xxxviii.  18.  and  xli.  42.  Numb. 
xxxi.'  50.  Exod.  xxviii.  11.  Nay, 
sometimes  idolatrous  pictures  and 
magicul  devices  were  engraven  on 
them;  hence  Jacob  hid  the  idola- 
trous car-rings  ot  those  in  hh  family, 
Gen.  XXXV.  4.  Tlie  Jewish  women 
wore  rings,  not  only  on  their  fingers 
and  in  their  ears,  but  in  their  nos- 
trils.— Persons  of  dignity  sealed  their 
letters  and  decrees  with  their  rings  : 
and  hence,  when  Pharaoh  transfer- 
red authority  to  Joseph,  he  gave  him 
his  ring,  as  an  emblem  thereof,  1 
Kings  xxi.  7.  Esth.  iii.  40.  Dan.  vi. 
1 7.  Gen.  xli.  42.  The  dreadful  rings 
of  tlu  wheels,  in  Ezekiel's  vision,/?//^ 
pf  eyes,  may  denote  the  marvellous 
and  wise  turnings  of  divine  Provi- 
dence, and  the  majestic  appearance 
of  saints  in  the  church  when  filled 
with  the  knowledge  of  Christ,  Ezek. 
i.  18.  The  ring  on  the  finger  of  the 
returning  prodigal  son,  may  denote 
the  love  of  God  shed  abroad  in  the 
heart,  Avhereby  a  believer  is  satisfied 
of  his  acceptance  with  God,  and  ex- 
cited to  all  good  works,  Luke  xv.  22. 
To  be  as  the  ring  or  signets  on  Ood''s 
right  hand,  is  to  be  very  familiar  with 
and  dear  to  him,  Jer.  xxii.  24.  Hag.  ii. 
23. 

RINGLEADER,  one  Avho,  as  a 
captain  of  the  vanguard  leads  on  all 
the  rest ;  one,  that,  by  his  doctrine 
and  example,  chiefly  stirs  up  others 
to  any  particular  course,  Acts  xiv.  H. 

RfNG-STREAKED,  having  on 
their  legs,  ^vhere  they  use  to  be  tied 
for  the  slaughter  or  for  shearing,  cir- 
cular streaks.  Gen.  xxx.  35.  or  on 
their  bodies. 

RINSE,  to  make  clean  by  wash- 
ing and  rubbing,  Lev.  xv.  11. 

RIOT,  RIOTING,  excessive  and 
expensive  feasting,  2  Pet.  ii.  13. 
Rom.  xiii.  13.  Riotous,  intempe- 
rate, lascivious,  Pro  v.  xxviii.   7. 

RIPE,  ready  to  be  cut  down,  or 
plucked  up.  The  Anlichristians  and 
others  are  ripe  for  the  sickle  of  God's 
judgments,  when  their  sin  universal- 
ly abounds;  when  the}'  have    long 


continued  in  the  most  aggravated 
wickedness,  and  the  patience  of  God 
can  no  longer  bear  with  them.  Rev. 
xiv.  18.  Joel  iii.  13. 

RIPHATH,  remedy,  release,  or 
pardon,  the  second  sou  of  Gomer, 
and  grandson  of  Japheth.  We  sup- 
pose his  offspring  peopled  Paphia- 
goiiia,  or  Bithyuia  in  Lesser  Asia, 
where  Mela  the  ancient  geographer 
places  a  tribe  called  the  Kiphata;i  or 
Rij>hates.  From  this  country,  it  is 
probable  part  of  them  removed  north- 
ward, and  gave  name  to,  and  resided 
near,  the  Riphsean  mountains,  Gen. 
X.  3. 

RISE.     See  arise. 

RITES,  laws,  customs,  ceremo- 
nies, Numb.  ix.  3. 

RIVER,  a  current  of  fresh  Avater 
flowing  towards  the  sea  in  a  hollow 
channel.  The  chief  rivers  of  Asia 
are  Euphrates,  Tigris,  Indus,  Gan- 
ges, Kyang,  Lena,  Jenisea,  and  Oby. 
Those  of  the  continent  of  Europe  are 
Wolga,  Don,  Nieper,  Niester,  Da- 
imbe,  Duina,  Uuna,  Weissel,  Oder, 
Elb,  Bug,  Weser,  Rhine,  Po,  Tiber, 
Rhone,  Seine,  Loire,  Garonne,  Ebro, 
Tajo,  Guadiana,  Guadalquir.  Those 
of  Africa  are  the  Nile,  Senegal, 
Zaire,  and  Bravagal.  Those  of  Ame- 
rica are  the  river  de  la  Plata,  the 
river  of  the  Amazons,  the  Mississip- 
pi, St.  Lawrence,  and  Delaware.  The 
chief  rivers  of  Britain  are  the  Severn, 
Thames,  Dumber,  Tyne,  Esk,  Clyde, 
Tweed,  Forth,  Tay,  S|)ey,  and  Ness. 
The  rivers  mentioned  in  the  scrip- 
ture are  the  Nile  in  Egypt,  Jordan, 
Kishon,  Jabbok,  and  Arnon,  in  Ca- 
naan. The  waters  of  Nephtoaii  and 
Etam  ought  rather  to  be  ranked 
among  the  brooks.  In  Syria,  we  read 
of  the  Abana  and  Pharpar.  In  Chal- 
dea  and  its  vicinity,  we  find  Eu- 
l)iuates,  Hiddekel,  Gihon,  Pison, 
Chcbar,  Ahavah,  Ulai.  The  Eu- 
phrates and  the  Nile  are  sometimes 
Q.\\\Wi\  the  river  by  way  of  eminence, 
Ei^ra  iv.  10,  16.  Psal.'lxxx.  11.  Isa. 
xix.  5.  The  Red  Sea,  and  perhaps 
also  the  iMediterranean,  is  called  a 
river,  Psal.  Ixxiv.  15.  Hab.  iii.  8. 
Isa.  xxiii.  3.     From  the  river  to  the 


R  O  A 


(     37i     ) 


HOC 


f.'iJ.v  <y</jf  car///,  is  iVorn  the  Euplira-  God's  roarin>(,  im|)Oits  the  Icarlnl 
tea  to  the  tfhore  ol  tlie  Mediterraiiean  (Iib|»lay8  of  his  ^vill,  his  power,  and 
bea;  or  it  may  imiiort,  that  the  wrath,  .ler.  xxv.  30.  Joel  iii.  10. 
Christian  chiircii  should  lor  many  Amos  i.  2.  Satan's  roarinny  denotes 
agts  exist,  l)elween  the  Knphratts  tiie  terriljle  iiatu;e  of  his  temptations, 
on  the  east,  and  the  west  of  Spain,,!  Pet.  v.  U.  3Ien's  roanui:;  is  ex- 
Psal.  Ixxii.  8.  Zech.  xi.  10.  (iod  is  pressive  of  theiroutrageou^  or  niourn- 
likene«l  to  broad  rivim ;  how  hirge  luMainentations,  Jer.  I.  24.  .lol»  iii. 
und  abundant    the   refreshing    inllu-  24. 

ence  which  he  bestows  on  liis  peo-  ROB,  to  take  away  by  force  what 
l)h- !  and  how  full  his  protection  of  belongs  to  another.  Lev.  xix.  13. 
them  :  isa.  x\xiii.  21.  Christ  is  liken- 1  iMen  ro/»  God,  wlicn  they  withhold 
ed  to  rivers  of  ivater  in  a  dry  place ;  his  due  tithes,  olTcring?,  or  worshij); 
liow  pitnliiul,  free,  and  constant,  when  they  do  not  glorify  liim  wilh 
the  cleansing  and  refreshing  influ-|  their  bodies  and  s|)iri(s  which  arc 
ence  of  his  blood  and  Spirit!  Isa. 'his,  1  Cor.  vi.  20.  Mai.  iii.  8,0. 
xxxii.  2.  The  gospel  and  its  ordi- !  Paul's  roiim^  of  other  churches,  was 
nances  and  blessings,  the  Holy  Ghost ;  his  receiving  a  supply  from  them  \o 
and  his  influences,  and  the  joys  of ,  maintain  him  while  preaching  the 
the  heavenly  state,  are  likened  to  a  gosjtel  at  Corinth,  2  Cor.  xi.  2U. 
Wicr,  to  denote  their  plenty,  purity, |  Koebkrb  are  such  as  take  by  coni- 


perpctuily,  purifying  and  defensive 
influence,  Ezek.  xlvii.  5,  9.  John 
vii.  38.  Joel  iii.  18.  Psal.  xlvi.  4. 
and  John  xvi.  11.  God  shakes  his 
hand  over  the  river,  he  smites  its 
streams,  and  drives  up  rivers,  w  hen  he 
easily  and  efl'ectually  removes  every 
dilRculty  that,  like  an  interposing 
river,  lies  in  the  way  of  the  execu- 
tion of  his  purpose,  and  of  the  salva- 
tion and  deliverance  of  his  peo[(le, 
Isa.  xi.  15.  and  xliv.  27.  To  pass 
through  the  land  as  a  river,  is  to  flee 
oft'  as  speedily  as  possible- in  multi- 
tudes, not  to  return,  Isa.  xxiii.  10. 
Pharaoh's  river  made  by  him,  may 
denote  his  power  and  wealth,  Ezek. 
xxix.  3.  Whatever  is  vcrj'  plenti- 
ful is  likened  to  a  river,  as  |)lenly  of 
tears,  or  of  peace,  of  oil,  or  of  plea- 
sure, 2  Sam.  ii.  13.  Isa.  xlviii.  18. 
Job  xxix.  U.  Psal.  xvi.  11.  Behe- 
moth's large  draught  of  Avater  is 
called  a  river.  Job.  xl.  23.  and  jtlen- 
tiful  rain  is  called  the  rivir  cf  God, 
Psal.  Ixv.  9.  Rivers  of  living  water 
fiow  out  of  the  belly  of  those  who 
believe  in  Christ,  when  their  inward 
lidness  of  spiritual  grace  apjiears  in 
the  multitude  of  their  good  work.-, 
«Scc.  John  vii.  38. 

RIZPAH.     See  Sail. 

ROAR,  to  make  a  hideous  noisC; 
as  the  raging  sea,  or  the  angrv  lion. 


[)ulsion,  or  steal  secretly,  the  i)ro- 
perty  of  others,  Job  xii.  6.  or  are 
unjust  invaders  of  a  countr^s  as  the 
Assyrians  and  Chaldeans  were  of 
Canaan,  Isa.  xlii.  24.  or  are  am- 
bitious of  stations  not  belonging  to 
them,  and  ready  to  oppros  their 
neighbours  to  gain  them,  Dan.  xi.  14. 
or  false  teachers,  who  attempt  toj-o6 
God  of  his  honour,  (_  hrist  of-  his  of- 
fice, and  men  of  their  happiness  and 
outward  wealth,  John  x.  Robbi.rv 
is,  (1.)  The  violent  taking  away  of 
our  neighbour's  goods,  ProA .  xxi.  7. 
(2.)  What  is  jjrocured  by  violence 
and  injustice,  Isa.  Ixi.  8.  Christ 
thought  it  no  robbery  to  be  equal 
with  God ;  lie  claimed  equal  ho- 
nours with  the  Father  as  his  proper 
due,  Phil.  ii.  0. 

ROBE.     See  CiiOXHKs. 

ROCKS,  large  quantities  of  stone 
connected  togetlier  either  above  or 
below  the  surface  of  the  ground. — 
Rocks  standing  out  above  llie  surface 
of  the  e;rth  were  \cry  common  iu 
Canaan,  and  many  of  them  were  a 
shelter  for  the  inhabitants  in  time  of 
danger.  In  scripture,  we  find  men- 
tioned tilt  rockb  of  Lebanon  and 
Hermon  in  tho  north,  and  the  rocks 
of  the  hills  by  the  river  Anion  on  (he 
east,  Jer.  xviii.  14.  Numb,  xxiii.  n 
Oreb.  near  mount  I'libor.  Judg.  vii. 


ROC 


(     376     ) 


ROD 


25.  and  Zoheletli,  Bozez,  Seneh,  and 
Rimmon,  in  the  tribe  of  Beujamiu; 
and  the  rocks  of  Engedi,  Adullam, 
Selah-hamntalekoth,   and  Etam,    in 
the  tribe  of  Judah;  of  the  rock  Jok- 
theel  in  the  land  of  Edoni ;  and  in- 
deed the    whole   country  abounded 
with  rocks,  as  did  Arabia  the  Roclvy  ; 
though  we   read  in  scripture  of  no 
more  there  but  the   rock  of  Horeb, 
and  of  Meribah  in  Re[jhidim,  and  of 
Kadesh.     From  these  two  last,  God 
supplied  the  Hebrews  with  water  al- 
most the   whole   time  they  were  in 
the  desert.   According  to  Thevenot, 
Shaw,  Pocock,    and  other  travellers 
of  credit,   the   rock  of  Meribah    in 
Raphidlm  seems  to  have  been  a  cleft 
fallen  off  from  (he  side  of  Sinai,  and 
lies  like  a  large  loose  stone  in   the 
midst  of  the  valley.     It  is  of  red  gra- 
nate,  of  the  hardness  of  flint ;  and 
is,    according  to    Shaw,    about  six 
yards  square;  though   Pocock  says 
it  is  fifteen  feet  long,    twelve  high, 
and  ten  broad  ;  and  there  are  twelve 
openings   in  it ;  nay,   Pocock  says 
twelve  on  ever}'  side,    whence  the 
water  issued  out  for  the  thirty-nine 
years    supply    of  the  Hebrews,  and 
the  stone  is  worn  Avhere  the  Avater 
had  run  down.      This  rock,  we  are 
assured  by  the  apostle,    1  Cor.  x.  4. 
was  an  eminent  <y{;e  of  Jesus,  who 
appeared    as  a  root   out  of  a    dry 
ground,  but  was    the  firm   and   un- 
rhangei'.ble  God  and  ?«Iediator  of  sin- 
ful men;   and  being  emitten  by  Mo- 
ses's rod,  his   fiery  law,  fill  he  gave 
«p  the  ghost,  does,  through  the  doc- 
trines of  his  twelve  apostles,  convey 
refreshing  blessings  to  hi:*  church,  in 
^•very  age  and  period  of  her  wander- 
ing in  this  world,  Esod.  xvii.     The 
rock  of  Kadesh,  called  also  Meribah, 
was  not  to  i»e  smitten,  but  sjjoken  to, 
that  it  might  yield  water;  sd,  in  the 
millenniiint,  Jesus  must  not  lie  cruci- 
fied afresh,    but    only     preached  to 
men,  that  his  blessings  may  How  out 
upon  them,  Numb.  xx.  t — 1:1.  God 
is  called  a  rock,  and  rock  of  a^;cs ; 
he   is    a    high,    firtn,    never-failing 
foundatio!!,  hiding-place,  and  s-jince 
of  blessings  to  his  [teojile,  Ps;il.  xviii. 


2.  Isa.  xxvi.  4.  Jesus  Christ  is  the 
rock  on  which  his  church  and  people 
are  built ;  he  alone  bears  their  weight 
and  all  their  concerns ;  he  is  their  re- 
fuge, their  occasion  of  wide  jjrospect 
of  divine  things ;  and  the  source  of 
all  jiurifyingand  refreshing  influence 
to  them,  Isa.  xxxii.  2.  Matt.  vii.  25. 
As  rocks  are  barren  and  unfruitful 
places.  Job  xxix.  6.  Psal.  xviii.  16. 
liard-hearted  sinners,  unfruitful  in 
good  Avorks,  are  compared  to  rocks, 
Luke  viii.  13.  As  rock  denotes  a 
quarry  out  of  which  stones  are  dig- 
ged, Abraham  and  Sarah,  once  like 
to  have  no  children,  are  likened  to  a 
rock  and  pit,  Isa.  li.  1. 

ROD,      STAFF,     SCEPTRE,    (1.)     A 

rod,  in  its  original  signification,  is  a 
tuig,  or  small  branch  of  a  tree;  and 
Jesus    Christ    is    called    a    Rod  or 
Branch,  Isa.  xi.  1.  and  so  the  word 
shebct,  which  we  sometimes  render 
rod,  Gen.  xxx.  27.  is  also  used  for 
tribes,  because  they  grow  as  branches 
from  a  common  roof.     And  the  two 
sticks  of  Judah  and  Ephraim  becom- 
ing one,  denotes  the  junction  of  the 
tribes  of  Judah  and  Benjamin,  which 
were    one  kingdom,   with  those    of 
Ephraim  and  his  fellows,  which  form- 
ed another,  Ezek.   xxxvii.   15 — 22. 
(2,)  In  the  hand  ol   one  walking,  it 
.signifies    a  staff,    to   support  and 
enable  him  to  finish  his  journey,  and 
in  allusion  to  this,  food  that  supports 
men  in  life  and  action,  is  called  a  stafl' 
and  a  stay,  Isa.  iii.  1.     With  a  stalT 
the  Healliens  of  old  used  to  divine 
what  course  they  should  follow,  Hos, 
IV.    12.       The    Egyptians    were  a 
.s^fl^'of  reed  to  the  house  of  Israel,  i.  e. 
an    ally    on   which  they  depended, 
'>ut  which  always  failed  them  in  a 
time  of  need,   Ezek.  xxix.  6.     (3.) 
In  the  hand  of  a  shepherd,  it  signifies 
his  crook,  whereby  he  directs  and  ap- 
.)rehends  such    of    his   flock  as  he 
;?leaseth,   Lev.  xxvii.   32.     Christ's 
staves  of  bcautjt/  and  bands,  which  he 
cut  asunder  uitli  respect  to  the  Jews, 
wore  his  peculiar  concern  with  them 
as  their  siiei)herd,  and  Ihtir  brotherly 
connexion  among  themselves,  which 
h;;d  been   their  glory  a'ld    support  ; 


ROD 


C     377     ) 


ROD 


end  which  being  dissolved,  they  not 
only  lost  their  church-slate,  hut  tell 
into  such  furious  contention  as  has- 
tened their  ruin,  Zech.  xi.  10  to 
14  (-1.)  In  the  hand  of  a  surveyor, 
itait^nifits  his  niea'^ureforineetinc;out 
liekis  ;  and  so  the  tiling  ineasared 
is  called  the  rod;  and  the  Jewish 
nation  is  called  the  rodofGoiTs  inher- 
itance, h»  they  were  set  apart  to  be 
his  peculiar  property,  Psal.  Ixxiv.  2. 
or  the  word  might  he  rendered  tribe, 
•ler.  X.  10.  (5.)  iu  the  hand  of  a 
thresher,  it  denotes  a  Oail,  or  thresh- 
ing-^tatl',  Isaiah  xxvii.  21.  and  in  al- 
lusion to  this,  in  the  hand  of  an  of- 
fended person,  it  signifies  an  instru- 
ment to  beat,  correct,  or  punish,  the 
otiender,  Prov.  xxiii.  13.  An<l  in 
allusion  to  this  correction,  church- 
censure  and  punishment  are  called  a 
rod,  xMicah  vi.  9.  and  vii.  14.  1  Cor. 
iv.  21.  Prov.xxix.  15.  God's  chas- 
tisements of  his  people  are  called 
tlie  rod  of  men,  as  they  are  inflicted 
by  men,  as  instruments,  or  with  the 
kindness  and  compassion  of  a  father, 
2  Sam.  vii.  14.  (6.)  Jn  the  hand  of 
a  warrior,  it  signifies  his  truncheon, 
the  staff' of  his  spear,  or  his  walking- 
staff;  2  Sam.  xxiv.  21.  (7.)  In  the 
hand  of  a  ruler,  it  is  a  sceptre,  or 
badge  of  authority,  to  direct,  go- 
vern, chastise,  and  reward,  Esth.  viii. 
4.  and  hence  it  is  put  for  power  and 
authority,  Isa.  xiv.  5.  and  also  for 
the  rulers  themselves;  so  where  we 
have  SHEBET  in  one  jilace,  we  have 
judsces  in  the  parallel  i)lace;  compare 
2  Sam.  vii.  7.  1  Chron.  xvii.  6.  and 
the  princes  of  Judah  are  called  rods, 
because  with  authority  they  ruled 
and  corrected  others,  Ezek.  xix.  14. 
— Tlie  rod  of  ChrisCs  slren<rth  sent 
Old  of  Zion,  is  the  gospel  attended 
with  miraculous  and  saving  influen- 
ces, for  the  conversion  of  multitudes, 
and  the  support  and  direction  of  saints, 
Psal.  ex.  2.  It  is  a  acepirc  of  righteous- 
ness, wherein  the  riglUeousness  of 
God's  nature  and  law  are  glorified  to 
the  highest;  Jesus's righteousness  or 
henetils  are  brought  near,  offered, 
and  ai)plicd  to  us;  and  by  which  we 
are  effectually  made  righteoua  in  all 
Vol.  II. 


mannerofconversatinn.  This  sceptre 
may  also  denote  Jesus's  righteous  ex- 
ecution of  his  v\  holcoll'tce,  Psal.  xlv. 
(J.     iiod'i^  rod  i\in\  .stcjf  {\\At  condbrt 
his  people,  are  his  gosjiel  truths,  and 
iiis  supporting  influence,  whereby  he 
|yrescrvcs  and   draws    them  to    him- 
self, Psalru  xxiii.  4.     Christ's  ro J  o/" 
iron,  wherewith  he  rules  the  nations, 
is  his  absolute  authority  over   them, 
and  his  wrathful  judginciits  executed 
upon  them,  particularly  in  the  over- 
throw of  the  Jewish  nation,  the  ruin 
of  Heathenism  in  the  Roman  em,)ire, 
and  of  Antichrist  and  Mahomet,  Psa. 
ii.  0.  Kev.  xix.  l.S.     The  saints,  by 
their  prayers  and  otherwise,  have  a 
share  in  his  ruling  the  nations  with 
his  rod  of  iron,    Rev.  ii.   27.     The 
Assyrians  and  their  correcting  infjo- 
ence,  are  called  a  rodofQod\s  an2;er^ 
and  a  staff' in  his  hand,  and  they  cor- 
rected w}7/i  a  >W  ;  they  afflicted,  hut 
could  not  destroy,  the  Jews,  Isa.  ix. 
4.  and  x.  5,  15.  and  xxx.  32.     Ne^ 
huchadnezzarand  his  arniy  are  called 
the  blossomi?i!^  rod,  and  rod  of  wick- 
edness ;  they  prospered  in  their  con- 
quests but  were  most   wicked :  and 
by  them  God  punished  the  increasing 
pride  and  growing  violence  of   the 
Jews,  Ezek.  vii.  10,11.     The  king- 
dom of  Moab  is  likened  to  a  strong 
stuff'-diiii  heauliful  rod,  for  their  strong 
and  beautiful  appearance,  their  ruling 
over  others,  and  being  instruments  of 
God's   wratl*    against   them.      God 
broke  this  rod,  and  the  staff  of  the 
wicked,  when  he  ruined  the  authori- 
ty and  power  of   the  Moabites  and 
Chaldeans,  Jer.  xlviii.  17.  Isa.  xiv. 
^  5.     The  condemned  rod  of  God's  Son, 
I  may  signify  the  royal  family  of  Ju- 
[dah,    and  their   authority  over  his 
j  peculiar    people,    which   were  con- 
tenmed  by  the   Chaldeans,  and  de- 
,  pressed  by  the  calamities  which  they 
[inflicted,  Ezek.  xxi.  10,  13.     The 
I  rod  of  the  wicked,  is  their  authority, 
I  power,    and     oppressive     usage    of 
I  others,  Psal.  cxxv.  2.  Tlxerod  of  pride 
\in  the  mouth  of  the  foolish,  is  |)roud, 
I  |)assionate  language,  which  wountia 
!  tile  soul,  credit,  health,  or  pro[)erty 
1  of  themselves  and  others,  Prov.  xiv. 
3  U 


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R  0  M 


3.  The  grounded  staff  denotes  the 
appointed  judgments  of  God,  inflict- 
ed on  the  Jews  or  Assyrians,  Isa. 
XXX.  32.     See  Shiloh. 

ROE,  ROEBUCK.     SeeDEHR. 

ROLL.  A  man  rolls  himself  on 
ihc  Lord,  when  he  depends  on  him 
for  direction,  Psalm  xxxvii.  f  5.  The 
Chaldeans  were  rolled  down  from  the 
rocks,  when  driven  out  of  their  strong 
ami  lofty  city ;  perhaps  some  of  them 
were  thrown  over  the  walls,  ami  de- 
prived of  all  means  of  shelter,  by  the 
Persians,  Jer.  li.  25.  Nations  are 
like  a  rolling  thing  before  the  whirl- 
wind, when  easily  tossed  to  and  fro 
with  the  judgments  of  God,  Isaiah 
xvii.  13. 

Roll,  a  piece  of  paper  or  parch- 
ment rolled  up;  for  anciently,  before 
the  binding  of  books  was  invented, 
all  writings  Avere  in  rolls  of  paper; 
and  the  Jews  in  their  synagogues  slill 
read  the  scriptures  out  of  copies  in 
loose  sheets,  that  are  rolled  up  on  a 
staff.  The  roll  in  Ezekiel  and  Ze- 
chariah's  visions,  is  represented  as 
containing  denunciations  of  heavy 
judgments  against  wicked  men,  Ezek. 
ii.  Zech.  v.  The  roll,  or  volume 
of  ike  hook,  as  it  relates  to  Da- 
vid, may  signify  some  written  vow 
of  his,  wherein  he  had  solemnly  de- 
voted himyeSf  to  the  service  of  God. 
As  it  relates  to  Jesus  Christ,  it  may 
denote  the  [)urpose  of  God,  wherein 
every  thing  relative  to  his  mediation 
was  settled ;  or  rather  the  scriptures 
which  testify  of  him,  and  almost  from 
the  very  beginning  intimated  that  he 
should  bruise  the  serpent's  head,  and 
have  his  own  heel  bruised,  Psalm  xl. 
7.  Gen.  iii.  15. 

ROME,  strength,  power,  height, 
the  most  noted  city  of  Italy,  and  long 
the  mistiees  of  the  world,  was  built  by 
the  Etrurians,  and  enlarged  by  Ronm- 
lus,  and  a  number  of  little  else  than 
banditti  under  his  direction,  about 
A.  M.  3254.  It  gradually  increased, 
till  it  extended  over  seven  hills;  nay, 
at  last  it  took  in  thirteen.  The  river 
Tiber,  which  ran  through  it,  when 
swelled  M'ilh  rain,  and  blown  back 
by  tlie  south-west  wind,  often  did  it 


a  great  deal  of  hurt:  but  was  of  great 
use  on  ordinary  occasions,  to  afford 
water  to  the  city,  and  to  carry  off 
the  filth,  which  was  conveyed  to  it 
by  canals  under  ground.  Its  Avails 
never  seem  to  have  been  above  thir- 
teen miles  in  circumference;  and  if 
deductions  be  made  for  their  various 
windings,  they  will  be  found  much 
less:  but  the  country  around  was 
formed  into  a  vast  extent  of  suburbs, 
said  to  be  50  miles  in  circumference. 
To  mention  the  diversified  fate  of  this 
city,  its  burnings,  and  pillage  by  the 
Gauls,  and  by  the  Goths,  Vandals, 
Heruli,  Greeks,  &c.  and  the  various 
massacres,  famines,  and  pestilences, 
which  have  happened  in  it,  would  be 
improper  in  this  work.  In  the  time 
of  Romulus,  it  contained  about  3000 
inhabitants;  in  the  time  of  Augustus, 
they  were  about  two  millions.  At 
present  they  scarcely  amount  to  200 
thousand;  and  no  more  than  about 
the  third  part  of  what  is  within  the 
walls  is  inhabited.  It  is  now  noted 
for  multitudes  of  ancient  ruins,  and 
for  Peter's  church,  which  was  100 
years  in  building,  and  the  Vatican, 
or  winter-palace  of  the  jiope,  Avhich 
consists  of  about  12,500  chambers, 
halls,  and  closets,  and  has  a  famed 
library,  garden,  and  arsenal.  Its 
hospitals  are  under  excellent  regula- 
tions ;  but  the  morals  of  the  inhabi- 
tants are  licentious  to  an  uncommoa 
degree. 

The  Romans  were  noted  idolaters, 
making  gods  and  goddesses  of  almost 
every  thing.  There  w^as  but  little 
philosophy  among  them,  till  they 
conquered  the  Greeks.  It  seems,  how- 
ever, that  for  some  ages,  chastity  and 
honesty  Avere  in  repute  among  them ; 
but  as  their  poAver  increased,  they 
decreased  in  every  thing  virtuous, 
and  stuck  at  nothing  villanous  or 
Avanton,  Rom.  i.  21 — 32.  They  Avere 
first  governed  by  seven  kings,  for 
about  220  years.  During  the  next 
488  years,  they  were  governed  by 
consul?,  tribunes,  decemvirs,  and  dic- 
tators, in  their  turns.  They  Avere 
afterwards  governed  by  05  emperors, 
for  the  space  of  518  years. — Theix 


ROM 


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power  gradually  increased,  till  fliey 
first  siil)diic(l  a  groat  part  of  Italy; 
Riul  niter  that,  parti}'  l)y  force,  and 
partly  hy  villany,  they  made  lh»^m- 
f^elves  masters  of  all  tho  countries 
from  the  north  parts  of  Itritain  to 
the  south  borders  of  E2;ypt,  and 
from  the  western  parts  of  Persia  to 
the  west  coasts  of  Spain.  Thus  their 
emi)ire  extended  ahout  2600  miles 
from  north  to  south,  and  ahout  as 
much  from  east  to  west.  Their  wars 
with  the  Carthaginians,  Spaniards, 
Gauls,  Greeks,  Rlithradales  of  Pon- 
tus,  Parthians,  and  Jews,  were  the 
most  noted.  Tl»ey  had  scarcely  ex- 
tended tiieir  power  so  far  and  wide, 
■when  their  leading  men  Marius,  Sylla, 
Pompey,  Julius  Cesar,  6cc.  by  their 
civil  contentions,  and  massacres  of 
one  anollier's  party,  were  like  en- 
tirely to  ruin  the  einjiire.  Julius 
Cesar,  by  terrible  bloodshed,  got 
himself  the  sovereign  power;  hut, 
long  after  the  senate  retained  some 
faint  shadow  of  authority.  His  am- 
bitious overthrow  of  the  common- 
wealth form  of  government,  soon  cost 
him  his  life;  and  Cassius  and  Brutus 
afterwards  made  a  most  vigorous  at- 
tempt to  have  restored  it :  but  they 
perished  therein,  'i'he  long  pros- 
perous, and  mild  government  of  Au- 
gustus made  tiie  Romans  give  up 
almost  all  their  care  about  their 
ancient  liberty.  IMost  of  his  succes-' 
sors  in  the  empire  were  monsters 
of  pride,  cruelty,  and  almost  every 
other  vice.  This,  together  with  the 
civil  contentions  occasioned  by  num- 
bers who  endeavoured  to  seize  on 
the  supreme  power,  and  the  terrible 
ravages  of  the  Goths,  Vandals,  Huns, 
Heruli,  &c.  and  the  division  of  the 
emj)ireinto  ditfcrent  parts,  the  east- 
ern and  westci-n,  gradually  wasted 
it,  till  it  was  entirely  ruined. 

About  ^.  D.  4G,  a  famine  of  seven 
years'  continuance  terriblj^listressed 
the  empire;  and  not  long  after,  a 
multitude  of  earthquakes  happened. 
The  persecution  of  the  Christians, 
the  butchery  of  the  subjects  by  Nero 
and  Doniitiau,  the  terrible  wars  with 
the  Jews  too,  cut  off  prodigious  num- 


bers of  tlie  Romans.  The  Jews  were 
then  reduced;  but  the  vengeance  of 
heaven  i-lill  pursued  the  Hoinan  per- 
secutors. Even  uud^r  the  two  Se- 
verusos  terril)le  famines  plagued  the 
em[iire.  The  next  period  under  the 
fourth  seal,  was  unspeakalily  worse. 
In  50  ye^Trs,  above  20  em])erors  were 
mostlj-^  cut  off  in  a  miserable  manner 
and  30  other  usurpers  came  to  a 
wretched  end,  alter  making  no  small 
disturbances  in  the  empire.  While 
the  Parthians  or  Persians  rav.igcd  Sy- 
ria, and  places  adjacent,  the  Goths, 
Quadi,  Sarmata?,  Suevi,  andVandals, 
terribly  ravaged  almost  the  whole 
empire ;  few  cities,  and  scarcely  an 
unwalled  town,  was  left  unpiliaged. 
Famines  attended  the  carnage  of 
Avar.  A  pestilence  too,  of  15  years' 
continuance,  gradually  ravaged  the 
whole  empire.  I3ogs,  wolves,  and 
other  wild  beasts  were  so  accustom- 
ed to  eat  unhuried  corpses,  that  they 
began  to  enter  the  towns,  and  de- 
vour the  living.  In  the  beginning 
of  the  fourth  century,  after  Diocle- 
sian's  ten  years'  persecution  of  the 
Christians,  Constantit\e  the  Great, 
with  much  effusion  of  blood,  over- 
turned Heathenism,  about  A.  D.  323 ; 
the  emperors  and  their  idolatrous 
priests  were  killed;  the  Avorsbip  of 
the  sun,  moon,  stars,  and  other  idols, 
was  prohibited.  For  a  short  time,  the 
Roman  enpire  enjoj'^ed  a  ray  of  pros» 
perity  :  but  Constantine  had  scarcely 
removed  his  seat  of  government  to 
Constantinople,  and  at  his  death  di- 
vided the  empire  to  his  three  sons, 
Constantine,  Constantius  and  Con- 
stans,  when  the  intestine  rebellions 
of  Maxentius  and  Sylvanus,  who 
struggled  for  the  crown,  and  the  ra- 
vages of  the  Persians  and  Armenians 
in  the  east,  and  of  the  Alemans  in 
Europe,  and  of  the  Scots  and  Picts 
in  Britain,  miserably  distracted  it. — - 
Once  and  again  the  eastern  and 
western  empires  were  united  under 
the  same  sovereign;  and  Theodosius 
the  Great  almost  restored  it  to  its 
ancient  honour;  but  he  dying  A.  D. 
395,  the  Goths  under  Rhadagaisug, 
and  those  under  A'.aric,  in  their  turn, 


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R  O  M 


terribly  ravaged  it,  and  seized  on 
France  and  Spain;  and  about  a  third 
part  of  the  people  were  murder- 
ed by  them  Avherever  they  came — 
Twice,  Italy  was  ravaged;  Rome 
was  besieged,  and  some  years  alter, 
in  410,  was  taken  and  burnt.  Much 
about  the  same  time  other  Goths 
nnd  the  Alans,  Bur^^undians,  and 
Vandals,  spread  havoc  and  ruin  in 
France  and  Spain.  At  last,  Attila, 
ivho  called  himself  the  scoiir<:€  of 
God,  with  his  almost  infernal  Huns, 
for  14  year^,  most  terribly  distrt-ssed 
Thrace,  Macedonia,  Greece,  France, 
and  part  of  Italy,  [iutting  almost  eve- 
ry thing  to  tire  and  sword  where- 
ver they  came.  The  emperor  Va- 
lentian  ill.  had  scarcely  <liverled 
them  by  a  j)romise  of  tribute,  when 
!ie  w^as  murdered.  Kis  empress  Eu- 
doxa  invited  the  Vandals  from  Af- 
rica, to  avenge  his  murder.  Aiter 
ravaging  Sicily  and  Italy,  and  taking 
and  pillaging  Rome,  they,  under 
Genseric  their  king,  returned  home 
laden  with  booty,  and  with  multi- 
tudes of  slaves,  A.  D.  455.  After 
the  western  empire  had  lansnished 
out  21  years  more,  under  eiglit  tur- 
bulent reigns,  Odoacer,  alterwards 
king  of  the  Heruli,  and  other  bar- 
barians, deposed  Augustulus,  and 
translated  the  government  to  Ra- 
%'enna,  another  cilj'  of  Italy.  His  go- 
vernment had  continued  but  aboid 
16  years,  when  it  was  aisolished  by 

Theodoric,  king  of  the  Goths. 

Their  royal  government  had  conti- 
nued at  Rome  about  60  years,  wlien 
Justinian,  the  emperor  of  tlie  cast, 
recovered  part  of  Italy,  and  abolished 
the  Roman  senate.  By  this  time 
the  Romans  in  the  we--tern  empire 
niingled  with  the  ancient  Goths,  ami 
the  various  tribes  of  barbarians,  who 
had  poure<l  in  themselves  from  the 
east,  were  divided  into  ten  sovereign- 
ties or  states.  (See  Horn.)  The 
eastern  part  of  the  Roman  empire, 
whose  emperors  resided  at  Constan- 
tinople, notwithstanding  hard  strug- 
0es,  with  the  Persians,  Saracens,  and 
Turks  &c.  continued  till  about  the 
pdiddle  of  the    15th  century,  when 


it  was  wholly  seized  by  the  Ottoman 
Turks.  Al)out  the  end  of  the  8th 
century,  when  the  pope  had  got 
himself  made  a  civil  prince,  a  sha- 
dow of  the  Roman  em()ire  was  erect- 
ed in  Germany,  in  which  the 
deadly  wound  given  to  that  of  Rome 
seemed  to  be  healed.  This  will 
probably  continue  till  the  beginning 
of  the  millennium,  Avhen  the  king- 
dom of  Jesus  shall,  like  a  moun- 
tain, fill  the  whole  earth,  Gen.  ix,  27. 
Zech.  vi.  1  to  7.  Dan.  ii.  3.3,  34, 
40  to  44.  and  vii.  7,  8,  19—27.  and 
xi.  30— -35,  40.  Acts  xi.  28.  Rev. 
vi.  and  viii.  and  xii.  and  xiii.  3. 

A  Christian  church  was  very  early 
planted  at  Rome.  To  them  Paul 
wrote  an  excellent  epistle.  That 
Paul  was  the  author  of  this  epistle, 
and  consequently,  that  it  is  canoni- 
cal, a[)pe<{rs,  (1.)  From  the  inscrip- 
tion and  title.  (2.)  From  the  usual 
salutation  at  the  end  of  the  epistle, 
compared  with  2  Thess.  iii.  17.  (3.) 
From  the  st5ie  and  matter  of  it. 
which  are  of  a  piece  with  the  rest  of 
Paul's  writings.  4.  From  the  consent 
and  tradition  of  the  universal  church. 
It  Avas  written  to  certain  Christian 
converts  living  at  Rome.  As  busi- 
ness had  brought  hither  many  Chris- 
tians out  of  the  other  provinces,  they 
had  laid  t'le  foundation  of  a  church 
in  the  capital  of  the  Roman  empire. 
There  were  at  that  time  likewise 
rnanj^  Jews  at  Rome,  who  inhabited 
on  the  other  side  of  the  Tiber.  It  is 
usually  asked,  w'hy  Paul,  inditing  to 
the  Romans,  chose  rather  to  write 
in  the  Greek  than  in  the  Latin  lan- 
guage ?  To  which  it  may  be  answer- 
ed, that  though  the  apostle  could  not 
be  ignorant  of  the  Latin  tongue,  3^et 
he  Avas  better  acquainted  with  the 
Greek,  and  .lu venal  will  inform  us, 
that  the  Greek  was  in  daily  use  among 
the  Romans,  even  the  women.  To 
which  may  be  added,  that  as  this  epis- 
tle contains  all  the  grounds  of  the 
Christian  doctrine,  it  might  be  jiroper 
tliat  copies  of  it  should  be  sent  to 
other  churches ;  and  the  Greek  lan- 
guage was  the  most  convenient  for 
that  purpose,  as  being  of  greater  ex-* 


R  O  I\l 


(     381     ) 


R  O  IM 


tent,  and  more  generally  spoken  were  umler  the  law,  l)uf  fai(h  in  .Te- 
th«n  ihe  Latin.  The  epistle  was  isus  Christ.  This  was  the  slate  ol  the 
written  at  Corinth,  and  sent  hy  Ph«je-{  Israelites.  As  to  the  Cwnlile  worhl, 
be,  a  servant  or  deaconess  of  the'hetells  them,  that  (hoiiu:li  (lod  made 
church  at  Cenehrea,  in  the  i>ort  oil  himself  knovvn  to  tluin  liy  the  leiri- 
Corinth.     'J'he  jjrincipal  aim  of  Paul  l)le  characters  of  his  hcin:;  and  pow- 


in  this  epi<tle  to  the  Romans,  is  to 
persuade  them  to  a  steady  perseve- 
rance in  the  profession  of  Christiani- 
ty, by  convincing  them,  that  Cod  is 
the  liod  of  the  Gentiles  as  well  as  of 
the  .lews,  and  that  now  under  the  gos- 
pel there  is  no  ditTerence  between  the 
Jew  and  the  Gentile.     This  he  does 


er,  visihie  in  the  works  of  the  crea- 
tion, yet  they  gloriiit-d  him  not,  nor 
worshipped  the  only  and  true  God; 
but  revolted  from  hii;i,  and  worship- 
ped stocks  and  stone?;  and  tlierefore 
God  had  cast  them  olV,  and  given 
them  up  to  vile  afiections,  which  led 
them  to  all  sorts  of  vices  :  that  God, 


several  ways  :  (1.)  By  showing  that  j  by  sending  his  Son,  had  shown  them, 
the  Jews  and  Gentiles  being  equullyjtogether  with  the  Jews,  the  way  of 
sinful,  the  tbrmer  could  have  no  title,  being.juslified  by  faithin  Jesus  CJirist; 
on  account  of  their  having  the  law  and  lastly,  that  though  jusliiication 
ftnd  the  promises,  to  exclude  the  lat-i unto  eternal  life  be  only  by  grace, 
ter  from  being  the  [)coplc  of  God  un-i  through  faith  in  Jesus  Christ,  yet 
der  the  gospel.  (2.)  That  Abraham  lit  was  their  duty  to  endeavour  alter 
Avas  the  common  father  of  all  that  be- 1  righteousness,  and  all  the  blessings 
lieved,  as  well  uncircumcised  ascir-{of  the  gospel. 

cunjcised.  (3.)  That  God  had  pur- 1  In  the  last  part,  he  aiiplies  his  sub- 
j)osed  from  the  beginning  to  takejject,  exhorting  them  to  a  variety  of 
the  Gentiles  to  be  his  people  underi duties  towards  God,  towards  one 
the  Messiah,  in  the  room  of  the  another,  towards  magistrates,  to- 
Jewp,  who  had  rejected  him.     (4.)  wards  weak  brethren,    towards  mi- 


That  the  Jews  had  no  reason  to  com- 
plain of  being  rejected,  since  they 
had  been  warned  of  it,  and  might 
find  it  threatened  in  their  ancient 
prophets.  But  besides  the  assurance 
he  gives  the  Roman  Christians,  that 
they  were  the  people  of  God,  with- 
out circumcision  or  other  observance 
of  the  Jews,  which  is  the  main  drift 
of  this  ei)islle;  he  has  woven  into 
his  discourse  the  chief  doctrines  of 
Christianity,  and  given  them  a  com- 
prehensive view  of  the  dis|)en3ations 
of  Providence  from  first  to  last,  in 
reference  to  eternal  life.  He  repre- 
sents to  them,  that  by  Adam's  trans- 
gression, sin  entered  into  the  world, 
and  death  by  sin;  that  by  Moses 
God  gave  the  children  of  Israel  a 
law,  which  if  they  obeyed,  they 
should   recover   tliat   immortal    life 


nisters,  and  concludes  with  a  vast 
number  of  salutations,  and  a  warn- 
ing against  schism,  chap.  xii. — xvi. 
A  christian  church,  real  or  pretend- 
ed, has  still  continued  at  Rome. 
According  to  the  lists  we  have,  there 
have  been  about  230  bishops  or  popes 
at  Rome.  Among  the  first  65, 1  find 
nothing  remarkably  good,  none  of 
them  being  eminent  for  learning,  nor 
excelling  their  fellowsinpicty;  though 
no  doubt,  many  of  the  primitive  ones 
were  holy  men;  and  it  is  as  certain, 
many  of  them  were  ambitious  wretcli- 
es,  who  studied  to  exalt  themselves 
to  a  lordship  over  their  brethren.  Of 
the  last  165,  I  find  not  one  giving 
any  tolerable  evidence  of  the  grace 
of  God  in  him;  but  all  of  them  pre- 
tenders toheadship  over  the  Christian 
church  ;  and  many  of  them  noted  for 


which  had  been  lost  by  Adam's]  falsehood,  perjury,  murder,  whore- 
transgression;  that  this  law,  through  I  dom,  magic,  and  almost  ever}'^  thing 
the  weakness  of  human  nature,  hadj  horrid.  There  have  been  also  about 
failed  of  attaining  the  great  end  fori  35  anti-popes,  and  these  much  of  the 
which  it  was  given:  that,  therefore,:  same  temper  and  practice  with  their 
there  was  no  way  left  to  those  that  I  rivals.     See  Antichrist  and  Church. 


0  0 


(     382     ) 


R  0  0 


WiuSe  {Jie  Romans  governed  a  great 
part  of  the  world,  they,  either  lor 
Kioney,  or  good  deeds,  or  oi'  tree  ia- 
^our,  conierred  the  right  of  citizens 
on  such  as  were  not  of  their  nation, 
nnd  even  sometimes  on  the  inhabi- 
tant? of  a  wiiole  cily.  In  this  sense, 
Paul  and  Silas  were  Ronans,  having 
a  legal  title  to  all  the  privileges  oi 
the  citizens  of  Rome,  or  her  colonies. 
Acts  xvi.  37,  33.  and  xxii.  25,  26, 
27. 

ROOF.  The  roofs  of  houses  in 
the  cast  were  made  flat,  with  a  plat- 
form of  i-laster,  and  a  haltlement  or 
haiuilrade  to  j)revent  accidents,  Dent, 
xxii.  8.  These  roofs  were  nsed  for 
flrying  fiax,  Josh.  ii.  G.  Here  their 
owners  enjoyed  the  cool  of  the  even- 
ing, 2  Sam.  xi.  2.  and  here  they  per- 
formed their  devotions,  Isa.  xv.  3. 
Zeph.  i.  5.  Acts  x.  9.  As  this  mode 
of  buililing  rendered  them  private 
places,  the  Jews  frequent!}*  hurnt  in- 
cense to  idols,  and  performed  their 
idolatrous  devotions  on  them,  Jer. 
xix.  13.  In  the  feast  of  tabernacles 
Ihey  made  booths  on  the  roofs  of  their 
iiouses,  Nell.  viii.  ]  6.  The  grass  on 
these  roofs  must  soon  wither  and  die, 
as  having  no  root.  i.  e.  as  having  lit- 
tle or  no  moisture  to  nourish  it,  Psal. 
csxix.  6.  A  beautiful  emblem  of 
the  enemies  of  Sion. — Tiie  wordroo/" 
is  also  used  for  the  up})er  part  of 
the  mouth,  which  is  an  instrument 
of  speaking  and  tasting,  Job  xxix. 
10. 

ROOM,  (1.)  A  place,  Gen.  xxiv. 
23.  (2.)  The  stead,  or  office,  2  Sam. 
XIX.  13.  (3.)  A  state  of  liberty  and 
comfort,  Psal.  xxxi.  8.  (4.)  Cham- 
ber apartments.  As  upper  rooms 
were  most  retired,  strangers,  at  the 
passover,  and  other  solemn  feasts, 
had  the  upper  rooms  allotted  for 
their  lodging,  Mark  xiv.  15.  and 
here  the  discijjles  attended  their  de- 
votions, Acts  i.  13.  (5.)  A  seat, 
Luke  xiv.  8.  Notwithstanding  mul- 
titudes are  coming  to  Christ,  there  is 
always  room:  abundant  room  in  his 
5ove,  his  covenant,  and  his  church, 
for  their  spiritual  and  eternal  hap- 
piness, Luke  xiv.  32. 


ROOT,  (1.)  That  part  of  a  plants 
which  is  fastened  in  the  earth,  Job 
xiv.  8.  (2.)  A  foundation  which  es- 
tablished what  is  built  on  it.  Job 
XX  viii.  9.  (3.)  That  from  which  any 
thing  proceeds  ;  so  the  love  of  money 
is  the  root  or  cause  of  all  evil,  1  Tim. 
vi.  10.  A  wicked  person,  or  one 
who  imbibes  pernicious  errors,  is  a 
root  of  bilterncss,  which  secretly  in- 
fects and  corrupts  others  with  the 
poison  of  sin,  Deut.  xxix.  18.  Christ 
is  called  the  Root  of  Jesse,  or  David, 
as  he  is  the  author  of  their  being, 
and  immutably  establishes  the  glory 
iof  their  family,  Isa.  xi.  10.  Rev.  v. 
}5.  and  xxii.  16.  If  the  root  be  holy, 
'so  are  the  branches ;  if  the  ancient 
I  patriarchs,  Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Ja- 
cob, the  parents  of  the  Hebrews, 
iwere  in  covenant  with  God,  their 
children  must  be  consecrated  to  his 
service,  and  not  cast  off  for  ever, 
Rom.  xi.  16.  The  root  of  nations 
goes  up  as  rcitcnness,  and  their  blos- 
soms eis  (lust,  and  they  have  neither 
root  nor  branch  left,  when  there  is  an 
utter  destruction  both  of  parents  and 
children,  Isa.  v.  24.  Mai.  i.  4.  To 
be  rooted  and  grounded  in  Christ,  is 
to  be  firmly  united  to  him,  and  well 
established  in  the  faith  and  experi- 
ence of  his  truth,  Col.ii.  6.  The  root 
of  the  maticr  is  in  a  person,  when  he 
has  a  real  h;dnt  or  principle  of  grace, 
and  a  firm  belief  of  the  fundamental 
doctrines  of  the  gospel,  from  which 
the  fruit  of  good  works  proceeds.  Job 
xix.  21 .  To  take  root,  spread  cut  the 
roots,  or  to  haie  tlic  root  by  great  wa- 
ters, is  to  become  seemingly  fixed  in 
great  ])rosperity,  2  Kings  xix.  30. 
Job  xxix.  19.  Ezek.  xxxi.  7.  The 
roots  of  a  hypocrite  are  wrapt  about 
the  heap  eindhc  seeihthe  place  of  stones ; 
his  condition  is  apparentl>^  establish- 
ed, and  though  he  has  no  proper  root 
of  grace,  yet  he  cherishes  a  hope  of 
great  hap;)iness,  Job  viii.  17.  The 
roj^al  family  of  Judah  had  their  roots 
under  the  king  of 'Ei^y pi,  and  toward 
the  king  of  Baiiyion;  by  submission 
to  Pharaoh-necho,  Jehoiakim  obtain- 
ed the  kingdom;  and  by  solemn  en- 
gagement of  subjection,    Zedekiah 


ROT 


(     383     ) 


RUB 


got  the  crown  from  Nebuchadnezzar, 
Ezek,  xvii.  6,  7.  To  be  roolict  out, 
jiUtcked  up  I)})  Ike  roots,  or  to  have  tiic 
roots  dfuil,  or  kiUid  with  famine,  I'o 
to  meet  wilh  Ifarlul  ikstrucliori,  tliat 
ruins  (he  |>rinci|)al  men,  and  over- 
tuv'M  the  constitution  of  the  state, 
Deut.  xxix.  28.  Ilos.  ix.  0.  Isa. 
xiv.  30. 

To  put  ROPES  on  the  head,  was 
ex|>ressive  of  great  distress,  and  ear- 
nest desire  and  request  of  com  passion, 
1  Kings  XX.  31,  32. 

ROSE,  (he  name  of  a  well-known 
flower,  and  the  tree  that  bears  it. 
Rose-bushes  thrive  best  in  a  rich, 
moist,  oi)en  soil;  for  when  the  soil 
is  dry,  and  the  situation  shadowed, 
the  flowers  are  less  beautiful.  Tour- 
nefort  mentions  53  kinds  of  roses,  of 
which  the  damask  rose,  and  the  rose 
of  Sharon,  are  amon^  the  finest.  The 
essence  of  damask  roses  is  an  excel- 
lent perfume.  Roses  in  general  are 
delightiul  to  the  e\e,  agreeable  in  their 
smell,  and  useful  in  medicine,  for 
curing  consumptive  disorders,  &c. 
Jesus  Christ  is  called  the  Rose  oj 
Sharon;  how  unbountled  his  comeli- 
ness, delightfuluess,  and  efficacy,  for 
the  healing  of  our  soul!  Song  ii.  1. 
The  wilderness  blossoms  as  tlic  rose  ; 
through  the  preaching  of  the  gospel, 
the  Gentile  world  shall  be  converted 
to  Christ,  and  flourish  with  saints  and 
graces,  Isa.  xxxv.  1. 

ROAST.  The  slothful  man  roast- 
eth  not  what  he  took  in  h2intinn; ;  he 
does  not  enjoy  the  fruit  of  his  labour; 
but  Avliat  is  ill  gotten  is  unhappily 
apent,  Prov.  xii.  27. 

ROT.  The  name  of  the  ^vicked 
rots;  is  soon  forgotten,  and  becomes 
infamous,  Prov.  x.  7.  God  was  as 
rottenness  io  the  house  of  Judah,  gra- 
d\ially  wasting  their  numbers,  glory, 
and  strength,  and  rendering  them 
contemptible,  Hos.  v.  12.  A  bad 
wile  is  rottenness  to  her  husband  :  she 
greatly  destroys  his  reputation,  use- 
fulness and  wealth,  and  is  a  mean 
of  hastening  his  death,  Prov.  xii.  4. 
Envy  is  the  rottenness  of  the  bones  ;  as 
it  weakens  the  faculties  of  the  soul, 
wastes  the  natural  constitution,  and 


increases  spiritual  and  hastens  a  na- 
tural death,  Prov.  xiv.  30, 

KOVIMlS,  plundering  robliers,  or 
wandering  ravagers:  so  the  Amalek- 
ites,  who  l)urnt  Ziklag,  are  called  by 
our  trarjslators,  1  Chron.  xii.  21. 

ROUGH  [daces,  are  such  as  are 
uneven,  uiiciiltivated,aboundiiig  wilJi 
briers  and  thorns,  Deut.  x\i.  4.  By 
John  Baj)tist's  ministry,  ro»;,'^/i  placed 
were  made  plain,  and  rou^^h  ways 
smootii:  people,  even  the  very  worst, 
were  |)repared  to  regard  the  person, 
miracles,  and  doctrine  of  Christ,  Isa. 
xl.  4.  Luke  iii.  5.  A  rough  wind^  is 
one  strong  and  boisterous,  and  is  an 
emblem  of  heavy  and  irresistible  ca- 
lamities, Isa.  xxvii.  8.  Rough  cater- 
pillars, goats,  and  garments,  are  such 
as  are  hairy  and  sliaggy,  Jer.  Ij.  27. 
Dan.  viii.  21.  Zech.  xiii.  4. 

ROUSE,  to  stir  up  from  sleep  or 
rest.  Gen.  xlix.  9. 

To  ROW,  is  to  push  forward  a 
ship  or  boat  with  oars,  JMark  vi.  43. 
Thy  rowers  have  brought  thee  into 
great  7vi:ttrs  ;  thy  rulers  have,  by 
their  pride  and  folly,  plunged  thee 
into  great  difficulties,  and  thine  ene- 
mies have  driven  thee  to  the  very 
point  of  utter  destruction;  as  the  Ty- 
rians  were  by  the  Chaldean  siege, 
when  obliged  to  desert  their  city, 
and  build  another  in  the  adjacent 
island,  Ezek.  xxvii.  26. 

ROYAL,  kingly.  The  royal  city, 
is  that  where  the  king  dwells.  Josh. 
X.  2.  Royal  dainties,  are  provision 
fit  for  the  table  of  a  king,  Gen.  xlix- 
20.  The  law  of  God  is  called  roi/al, 
because  it  is  the  authoritative  will  of 
the  King  of  kings.  Jam.  ii.  1.  And 
the  saints  are  a  royal  priesthood; 
tliey  are  at  once  kings  andpritsts  unto 
God,  1  Pet.  ii.  I). 

RUCY,  a  precious  stone,  of  a  re*l 
colour,  mixed  with  purple.  In  its 
most  perfect  state,  it  is  a  jewel  of 
great  value,  and  in  hardness  is  second 
only  to  the  diamond.  Its  usual  size 
is  of  the  bigness  of  the  head  of  a 
large  pin,  but  is  found  from  that  size 
to  40  caracts.  The  i)rice  of  Jesus 
Christ  and  his  grace,  is  infinitely  su- 
|)erior  in  value  to  rubies.  Job  xsviii. 


R  U  L 


(     384     ) 


R  U  L 


!{J.  But  the  original  word  peni- 
NEM,  is  thought  by  some  to  signify 
pearls. 

RUDDER,  a  piece  of  timber  hung 
on  the  stern  post  of  a  ship  by  lour  or 
five  hinges,  to  bridle  her  motion,  and 
turns  her  to  what  side  the  steersman 
pleasetb,  by  means  of  the  position 
of  it  in  the  water.  That  piece  of  tim- 
ber in  the  inside  of  the  ship  to  which 
the  rudder  is  fastened,  is  called  the 
hdin,  or  tiller,  ami  sometimes  the  rud- 
der. The  ancient  rudders  had  four 
parts ;  the  clavus,  or  Jielm,  whereby 
the  whole  was  directed;  the  pole, 
the  wings,  and  the  handle;  and  often- 
times they  had  two,  and  sometimes 
three  or  four,  rudders  to  one  ship ; 
and  they  at  least  occasionally  fasten- 
ed their  rudders  to  the  ship  with 
cords.  Acts  xxvii.  40. 

RUDDY, orREDDisH.  See  White. 

RUDE.  It  is  hardly  probable  that 
Paul  had  any  thing  awkward  in  his 
manner  of  speech ;  but  he  hints  that 
he  was  indifferent,  suppose  the  Co- 
rinthians reckoned  him  thus  defec- 
tive, 2  Cor.  xi.  6. 

RUDIMENTS.    See  Elements. 

RUE,  a  plant  that  bears  a  rosy 
flower,  and  ^vhich  when  dried,  was 
formerly  much  used  in  medicinal  in- 
fusions, being  esteemed  an  excellent 
expeller  of  poison  or  pestilential  in- 
fluence in  fevers,  and  a  cure  for  dis- 
orders of  the  head,  Luke  xi.  42. 

RUIN,  destruction,  or  the  cause  of 
it,  Isa.  XXV.  2.  2  Chron.  xxviii.  23. 
Let  this  ruin  be  under  thine  hand; 
take  thou  care  of  this  disordered  and 
perishing  state,  Isa.  iii.  6. 

A  RULE,  is,  (1.)  Government, 
dominion,  1  Kings  xxii.  31.  (2.) 
A  canon,  or  precept  by  which  the 
thoughts  or  actions  are  directed; 
thus  the  Avord  of  God  is  our  rule,  to 
direct  us  how  to  glorify  God,  and 
enjoy  him,  Gal.  vi.  16.  (3.)  A 
boundary  or  measure  which  one 
cannot  rightly  go  beyond,  2  Cor. 
X.  13. 

To  RULE,  or  GOVERN,  is  to  direct 
and  order  by  authority,  Dan.  iv.  26, 
1  Kings  xxi.  7.  God  governs  the  na- 
tions, by  managing  them,  and  caus- 


ing them  to  act,  prosper,  or  suffer,  at 
his  pleasure,  Psal.  Ixvii.  4.  Christ  is 
a  governor,  and  has  the  government 
on  his  shoulder  ;  he  is  the  great  ruler 
of  his  church,  who  appoints  her  laws 
and  ordinances,  and  sets  up  offices 
and  officers,  and  dispenses  favours  or 
corrections  as  he  sees  meet,  Isa.  ix. 
6,  7.  Jer.  xxx.  21.  Satan  and  his 
agents  are  rulers  of  the  darkness  of 
this  world ;  they  reign  over  and  di- 
rect wicked  and  ignorant  men  in 
their  works  of  darkness,  Eph.  vi.  12. 
Judah  ruled  with  God,  when  Heze- 
kiah  and  his  princes  zealously  pro- 
moted the  reformation  of  the  king- 
dom, Hos.  xi.  12.  Men  rule  their 
own  spirit,  when  they  restrain  their 
passions  and  lusts,  and  direct  the 
motions  of  their  soul  by  the  rule  of 
God's  law,  Prov.  xvi.  32. 

As  the  Jews  had  their  rulers  civil 
and  sacred,  so  under  the  New  Tes- 
tament there  is  still  a  civil  and  ec- 
clesiastical government;  the  former 
of  which  is  of  God,  as  to  the  gene- 
ral plan;  but  the  particular  form, 
whether  of  kingdom  or  common- 
wealth, or  mixed  of  both,  as  in  Bri- 
tain, is  left  to  the  discretion  of  men ; 
and  so  is  called  an  ordinance  or  crea- 
ture of  man,  1  Pet.  ii.  13.  The  duty 
of  civil  magistrates  to  their  subjects, 
is  to  establish  good  lav/s,  and  see  to 
the  execution  of  them,  Zech.  viii.  16. 
2  Chron.  ix.  to  govern  them  wisely 
and  justly,  2  Chron.  i.  10.  to  punish 
evil  doers,  and  encourage  them  that 
do  well,  Rom.  xiii.  3.  to  protect 
them  from  enemies,  and  preserve 
to  them  their  various  rights  and 
privileges,  1  Tim.  ii.  2.  Prov.  xxviii. 
16.  As  the  true  religion  tends 
at  once  to  the  honour  of  God  and 
the  welfare  of  nations,  they  ought 
by  their  laws  and  example  to  exert 
themselves  to  the  utmost  to  promote 
the  same.  By  the  exercise  of  the 
civil  power  in  favour  of  Christianity, 
they  ought  to  i)revent  or  abolish  per- 
secution, profaneness,  idolatry,  su- 
perstition, or  lieresy,  and  remove  all 
occasions  thereof;  and  to  maintain 
for  Christians  the  whole  of  their  spi- 
ritual  privileges   granted    (hem   by 


R  U  L 


(     3C5     ) 


R  U  L 


Christ;  to  promote  I'ne  p^iMic  n«!ini- 
iiislritioii  of,  and  attnulaiict'  toeviry 
ortlinance  of  llw  Saviour;  and  to 
punish  every  c;ro?s  violation  of  the 
divine  law,  unto  confisration  n\' 
goods,  ilnp^i^on^l(■nt,  hanislinient, 
and  death,  Isa.  xlix.  23.  and  Ix.  lo,! 
10,  r{oin.  xiii.  3,  4,  1  Tim.  ii.  1,2.! 
Kxod.  xxxii.  Josh.  xxiv.  2  Chr.  xv.  | 
Hnd  xvii.  and  xix-  23.  and  xxix.  to| 
XXXV.  Ezrax.  Neh.  v.  and  xiii.  Ezra! 
vii.  2ti,  Arc.  | 

Some  writers  have  thoiislit  that  ina- 
jjistrates  have  no  concern  with  reli-, 
irion  at  all,  and  especially  with  reveal- 1 
t<l  relie;ion,  in  the  execution  of  their; 
ollice;  hut  ous:htto  leave  every  man: 
to  profess,  teach,  or  worship,  in  what 
manner  he  pleaseth,  provided  he 
doth  not  distur!)  the  commonwealth 
hy  any  civil  crimes,  and  to  protect 
men  in  their  full  liberty.  Some  have 
even  pretended,  that  civil  establish- 
ments of  the  true  religion  are  calcu- 
lated to  render  men  irreliciious,  or  at 
hest  hypocritical  dissemblers.  But 
when  we  consider  that  all  things 
ou}:ht  to  bo  done  lo  the  glor^'^  of  God, 
1  Cor.  X.  31.  1  Pet.  iv.  11.  Prov. 
xvi.  4. — That  magistracy  is  an  ordi- 
nance of  God,  and  magistrates,  mi- 
nisters or  <le()nties  of  God, /or  good 
to  men,  a[)pointed  to  be  a  terror  to 
evildoers,  and  a  praise  to  them  that 
do  iveU,  Rom.  xiii.  1 — 5.  1  Peter  ii. 
14.  with  Gal.  v.  19—21.  Phil.  iii.  2. 
Tit.  i.  10,  11.— That  every  head  of  a 
family  hath  power  to  exclude  super- 
stition and  idolatry  from  it,  and  to 
establish  in  it  the  true  worship  of 
God,  and  refuse  lodging  to  heretical 
seducers.  Gen.  xviii.  19.  Josh.  xxiv. 
15. — That  magistrates  ought  to  exer- 
cise their  [iower  as  is  most  conducive 
to  all  tiieir  subjects  living  quiclhj  in 
all  godliiuss,  as  well  as  honesty,  1 
Tim.  ii.  1 — 3. — That  magistrates 
were  often  exjjressly  commanded  to 
punish  obstinate  idolaters,  false  pro- 
[ihets,  blasphemers,  profaners  of  the 
Sabbath,  (Sec.  as  well  as  thieves,  rob- 
ber?, and  murderers,  Dent.  xiii.  5 — 7. 
and  xvii.  2 — 5.  Lev.  xxiv.  13, 16.  Ex. 
xxii.  18,  20.  Numb.  xv.  33. — That 
magistrates,    not    onlv  Jewish    but 

Vol..  J  I. 


Heathen,  hnxo  with  God's  approha- 
tion  rcfpiiied  their  sulijects  to  wor- 
siiip  tin-  (rue  (lod,  and  have  sup- 
pressed and  punislied  obstinate  ido- 
laters or  blasphemers,  (Jen.  xviii.  10. 
and  XXXV.  2 — 4.  Exod.  xxxii.  20,  27. 
.losh.  xxiv.  14.  2  Chron.  xiv.  2 — 3. 
and  XV.  13.  xviii.  xix.  xr..  xxix.  to 
xxxi.  and  xxxiii.  15,  lU.  an<l  xxxiv. 
31—33.  2  Kings  x.  30.  Ezra  vii.  13 
—27.  and  vi.  1-14.  Dan.  iii.  20.  and 
vi.  20. — That  the  fourth  command- 
ment, of  which  the  obligation  is  per- 
petual and  universal,  binds  magis- 
trates to  provide  that  the  Sabbath  be 
sanctifjed  in  ail  tlieir  gales ;  which 
cannot  be  done  by  the  teaching  of 
blasphemj',  or  practising  idolatrous 
worshij); — that  the  exercise  of  the 
magistrates'  power  in  favour  of  the 
true  religion,  and  opposition  to 
false  religion,  is  promised  as  a  bless- 
ing to  the  New  Testament  church, 
Isa.  xlix.  23.  and  Ix.  10,  10.  Psalm 
Ixxii.  10.  and  ii.  12.  Zech.  xiii.  2. 
Rev.  xvii.  14, 16. — That  magistrates 
have  power  to  appoint  Christians  lo 
observe  jiublic  fasts  or  thanksgiv- 
ings, when  the  state  of  the  nation 
requires  it,  1  Sam.  vii.  5,  6.  2  Chr. 
XX.  3.  Ezraviii.  21.  Neh.  is.  1.  Jer. 
xxxvi.  6.  Jon.  iii.  7. — And  that  the 
very  law  of  nature  requires  that  ma- 
gistrates chiefly  care  for  the  honour 
of  God,  who  is  the  sovereign  head  o( 
civil  societies,  as  King  over  all  the 
earth,  and  the  source  and  bestower 
of  all  their  happiness ; — and  that  men 
should  be  governed,  as  having  im- 
mortal souls,  not  as  mere  animals; 
— that  as  righteousness  exalteth  na- 
tions, sin,  especially  idolatry  and 
blasphemy,  is  the  reproach  and  ruin 
of  any  people; — that  sins  are  espe- 
ciiilly  hurtful  toanation,as  they  tend 
to  debnncli  men's  manners,  and  pro- 
voke God  to  wrath  against  the  na- 
tion; that  if  God  grant  men  the  be- 
nefit of  any  didy  attested  revelation, 
it  should  be  readilj-  received  as  the 
rule  of  our  conduct,  be  our  station 
w  hat  it  will : —  It  is  plain  that  magis- 
trates can  never  lawfully  exercise 
their  power,  which  they  as  his  de- 
puties received  from  God,  for  his 
3  r 


R  U  L 


(     38t)     ) 


R  U  L 


lioaour  and  the  true  welfare  of  iiian- 
kiml,  ill  giving  equal  establislimeut 
and  protection  to  idolatrous  worship 
and  ijlasphemy,  as  they  may  to  the 
religion  of  Jesus  Christ,  by  whom 
kings  reign,  and  princes  decree  jus- 
tice, Prov.  viii.  15,  16. 

The  whole  of  the  objections  against 
what  we  have  just  asserted,  are  ra- 
ther specious  declarations  than  solid 
reasoning.  To  pretend  that  civil  laws 
can  bind  only  so  far  as  they  are  de- 
pendent on,  and  regulated  by,  the  au- 
tliority  and  law  of  God,  that  magis- 
trates ought,  or  may  punish  crimes 
od}j  as  injurious  to  men,  without  any 
way  regarding  their  offensiveness  or 
injuriousness  to  God ;  to  affirm 
that  conscience,  which  derives  all 
its  authority  from  God,  can  warrant 
men  either  to  do  or  establish  what  is 
sinful,  or  protect  them  in  it ;  to  pre- 
tend that  men's  civil  liberty,  which 
is  all  derived  to  them  from  God,  as 
his  free  gift,  can  protect  them  in 
blasphemy  or  idolatry,  any  more  than 
in  theft  or  murder,  proceeds  plainl}-^ 
upon  atheistical  ])rinciples; — to  pre- 
tend that  such  as  enjoy  the  benefit  of 
revelation,  should  not  make  use  of  it 
for  regulating  the  laws  of  their  na- 
tion, or  the  administration  of  civil  of- 
fices, is  plainly  a  coutemjjt  of  revela- 
tion, and  an  ol)stinate  drawing  back 
to  Heathenism.  To  pretend  that  the 
Jewish  church  and  state  were  not 
distinct,  is  false,  and  hath  been  re- 
peatedly refuted  by  Leusden,  Gilles- 
py,  Apoloui,  and  others.  To  pre- 
tend that  the  Jewish  magistrates  be- 
ing typical,  renders  the  law  which 
were  given  to  them,  or  their  example 
useless  to  us,  is  absurd,  and  infers  that 
we  ought  to  account  almost  all  the 
Old  l^estament  useless  to  us  as  a  rule 
because  it  primarily  respected  persons 
who  were  typical.  Upon  an  accu- 
rate comparison,  it  will  be  found, 
that  after  the  Jews'  rejection  of  the 
theocracy  under  Samuel,  1  Sam.  viii. 
their  magistrates  were  in  almost  all 
things  similar  to  our  own.  No  dif- 
ficulties, that  I  know  of,  attend  ma- 
gistrates' civil  power  about  religious 
matters,  but  the  like,  if  not  greater, 


attend  church  rulers'  ecclesiastic  pow- 
er about  them. 

Both  magistrates  and  church  rulers 
ought  carefully  to  observe  the  differ- 
ence between  their  respective  pow- 
ers, and  to  act  precisely  within  the 
limits  and  according  to  the  nature 
of  their  own  department.  Neglect 
of  this  hath  been  a  fertile  source  of 
almost  all  the  blended  establishments 
and  manifold  disorders  in  both  church 
and  state.  The  civil  and  ecclesiastic 
powers  are  indeed  co-ordinate, 
which  may  beautifully  subsist  toge- 
ther, the  one  independent  of  the 
other,  and  yet  each  exercised  for  the 
advantage  of  the  other;  but  they  are 
not  COLLATERAL,  dependent  upon 
one  another,  and  which  cannot  right- 
ly subsist  if  separated  the  one  from 
the  other.  These  two  powers  differ 
in  their  foundation,  their  formal  ob- 
ject, their  ^orm,  their  proper  end, 
their  proper  effects,  their  proper  sub- 
jects, the  formal  consideration  of  the 
persons  on  whom  they  are  exercised, 
and  their  divided  execution.  Magis- 
tracy \i founded  in  God's  universal 
dominion  over  all  nations,  Psal.  xlvii. 
2,  7.  Jer.  x.  7.  and  hence  the  law  of 
nature,  common  to  all  men,  is  the 
immediate  rule  of  it,  and  all  its  ad- 
ministrations ;  and  revelation  is  in- 
troduced as  a  rule  by  the  law  of  na- 
ture, requiring  us  to  receive  what- 
ever God  is  pleased  to  reveal ;  or  by 
the  possessors  of  the  niagistratica! 
[lower  being  religious  professors  of 
revealed  truth :  but  ecclesiastical 
power  is  founded  in  the  economical 
headship  of  Christ  as  Mediator  over 
his  church,  and  so  revelation  must  be 
the  immediate  standard  thereof,  and 
the  law  of  nature  be  admitted  as  a 
rule,  by  virtue  of  the  general  rules 
of  the  scripture,  1  Cor.  xiv.  26,  40. 
Phil.  iv.  8.  In  their  object,  the 
power  of  magistrates  relates  imme- 
diately to  the  outward  man,  and  the 
external  concerns  of  mankind.  Even 
in  sacred  things,  it  hath  what  is  ex- 
ternal for  its  proper  and  immediate 
object.  Thus  the  magistrate  pro- 
vides the  church  with  external  ac- 
commodations, and  removes  external 


R  U  I. 


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R  U  L 


impediments  of  6|)irilual  exercises. 
But  ecclesiastical  power  is  exercised 
about  things  as  spiritual,  it  deals 
with  men  as  ineinlters  of  Christ's 
body,  to  come  at  their  conscience 
and  heart. — In  their  form,  magis- 
trates, though  ministers  of  God,  are 
lords  as  well  a?,  fathers  of  their  euli- 
jects,  and  may  compel  the  disobedi- 
ent, by  enforcing  their  civil  laws 
with  penalties  of  confiscation,  im- 
prisonment, ortleath;  and  they  pu- 
nish transgressions  as  crimes,  which 
insult  the  honour  of  God  as  King  of 
nations,  and  tend  to  the  hurt  of  the 
state.  The  power  of  church  rulers 
is  altogether /m/UA/rrm/,  to  give  out 
directions  or  censures  precisely  ac- 
cording to  Christ's  prescriptions;  and 
they  consider  transgressions,  even 
the  mal-administrations  of  jirofess- 
ing  magistrates  as  scandals,  wound- 
ing to  the  honour  of  Jesus  Christ, 
and  to  the  souls  of  men. — In  their 
proper  end,  magistrates  exercise  their 
office  in  order  to  promote  the  glory 
of  God  in  their  commonwealth,  and 
they  aim  at  promoting  the  welfare 
of  the  churcli,  either  as  they  are 
church-members,  or  as  it  is  an  excel- 
lent mean  of  |)romoting  the  welfare 
of  the  state.  But  the  end  of  all  ec- 
clesiastical power  is  the  spiritual 
edification  of  men's  souls  to  the  ho- 
nour of  God,  as  he  is  in  Christ,  re- 
conciling the  world  to  himself. — 
Hence  the  proper  effect  of  civil  power 
is  the  good  of  the  commonwealth, 
and  the  enjoyment  of  civil  privileges 
in  a  way  honouralile  to  God  as  King 
of  all  the  earth,  and  the  preventing 
scandals,  or  promoting  the  peace 
and  purity  of  the  church,  by  magis- 
trates impartially  encouraging  such 
as  do  well,  and  terrifying  and  pu- 
nishing such  as  do  evil,  and  encou- 
raging a  regard  to,  or  spread  of, 
sound  doctrine,  is  but  an  attendant 
or  accessory  etTect  thereof.  But  the 
proper  effect  of  church  power  is  spi- 
ritual, reaching  to  men's  conscience, 
in  a  manner  answerable  to  the  spi- 
ritual nature  of  the  kingdom  of 
Christ;  and  the  advantage  that  the 
commonwealth   reaps  from    it,    by 


the  piety,  peacefulness,  and  fervent 
prayers  of  tlie  subject,  is  hut  an  ac- 
cessory elVect  of  it. — In  the  siihject, 
in  which  it  is  invested,  and  l»y  whom 
it  may  be  exercised,  cljur<b  power, 
under  the  New  Testament,  cannot 
go  by  succession,  nor,  in  jurisdiction, 
can  it  be  exercised  by  one  person,  as 
the  civil  [)Ower  may  be.  Nor  ran  it 
reside  in  a  child  or  woman,  or  be 
exercised  by  a  deputy. — The  power 
of  magistrates  extends  to  all  their 
subjects,  whatever  be  their  charac- 
ters, and  extends  to  them  precisely 
as  members  or  subjects  in  the  common- 
wealth. But  church  power  extends 
only  to  such  as  are  professed  members 
of  ChrisVs  mystical  body,  and  precise- 
ly under  that  consideration.  Finalljs 
the  exercise  of  these  powers  is  per- 
fectly separable  or  divided.  The  one 
power  ought  to  be  exercised,  where 
the  exercise  of  the  other  is  neglect- 
ed. The  end  of  ecclesiastical  power 
being  to  gain  sinners  to  rcfientance 
and  salvation,  all  that  appear  duly 
penitent  ought  to  be  absolved  from 
censure;  but  the  end  of  civil  pHnish- 
ments  being  the  satisfaction  of  the 
law,  and  the  deterring  others  from 
crimes,  the  most  penitent  may  be 
punished,  by  fining,  banishment,  im- 
prisonment, scourging,  or  death. 
The  church  too  may  retain  under 
censure  the  imi)enitent,  suppose  they 
should  have  been  acquitted  by  the 
civil  law,  or  have  satisfied  its  de- 
mands of  punishment.  Nay,  the 
church  may  censure  professing  ma- 
gistrates for  their  unjust  wars,  ty- 
ranny, or  oppression,  notwithstand- 
ing their  having  a  colour  of  civil  law 
on  their  side.  That  Jesus  Christ 
hath  left  a  particular  form  of  govern- 
ment in  his  gospel-church,  is  plainly 
enough  laid  down  in  the  oracles  of 
Christ.  Nor  is  it  less  evident,  that 
this  power  of  spiritual  ofiiice  is  not 
allowed  to  magistrates,  diocesan  bi- 
shops, or  to  the  community  of  the 
faithful;  but  to  church-officers  of  his 
own  appointment.  The  officers  ap- 
pointed by  him  are  either  extraordi- 
nary and  temporary,  as  apostles, 
evangelists,  prophets ;  or    ordinary 


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R  U  t 


ami  standing,  as  pastors  or  teachers, 
elders  and  deacons,  Eph.  iv.  11,  12. 
1  Cor.  xii.  28.  Rom.  xii.  5 — 8.  1 
Tira.  iii.  and  v.  17.  Acts  vi.  To 
the  pastor's  peculiar  character,  it  is 
proper  to  preach  the  gospel,  and 
dispense  the  sacraments.  To  him, 
and  the  elder,  it  equally  pertains  to 
admit  members  into  communion, 
watch  over  their  morals,  censure 
the  unruly  and  erroneous,  absolve 
the  penitent  From  censure,  and  to  visit 
the  sick;  and  to  both,  erpiaily  with 
deacons,  it  jiertains  to  take  care  of 
the  poor,  and  of  what  provision  is 
made  ibr  them.  See  epistles  to  Timo- 
thy and  Titus,  1  Pet.  V.  Rev.  ii.  and 
iii.  Acts  vi. 

Many  readers  will  be  very  much  dis- 
posed to  differ  from  Mr.  Brown  in 
his  view  of  this  subject.  How  far  a 
connexion  between  church  and  state 
is  scriptural,  has  been  much  contro 


his  religion,  which  are  of  evil  tea 
dency  to  others,  and  suffer  from  the 
civil  power  on  this  account,  he  suf- 
fers justly  as  an  evil-doer,  and  as  a 
busy-body  in  other  mens  matters, 
1  Pet.  iv.  15.  But  if  a  number  of 
people,  or  any  individual,  sim[)ly 
wish  to  think  of  God  as  well  as  they 
can,  and  to  worship  him  in  their 
own  Avay,  can  auy  man  interfere  by 
coersive  measures  Avithout  exalting 
himself  in  the  temple  of  God,  and 
usurping  the  dominion  of  conscience, 
which  is  the  sacred  prerogative  of 
the  Most  High  ?  2  Thess.  ii.  4.  The 
man  wlio  Avould  tine  or  imprison 
another  for  praying  or  preaching, 
would  not  scruple  to  carry  his  point 
further,  nor  be  satisfied  bat  with  the 
death  of  those  who  oi>posed  him; 
burning  them  alive,  is  only  the  same 
principle  operating  with  greater 
energy.     It  is  in  vain  to  urge,  that 


verted.  The  preceding  paragrajjhs  I  force  may  be  of  use  to  reclaim  igno- 
state  the  one  side  of  this  subject,  we  |  rant,  refractory  people  :  persecu- 
shall  annex  a  fev/ remarks  on  the  other.  I  tion  may  make  hypocrites,  but  it 
• — It  will  readily  be  observed,  that!  never  did,  it  never  will,  make  ra- 
this  connexion,  by  many  considered  tional  converts  to  pure  and  undetilecl 
a  very  unnatural  one,  is  chielly  sup- 1  religion.  The  utmost  length  that 
porlcd  on  the  ground,  that  the  king-  mortal  beings  have  any  right  to  go, 
dom  and  priesthood  were  connected  in  striving  to  make  others  think  and 
in  Israel.  This  is  one  of  the  many!  act  as  they  do  on  religious  subjects, 
evils  which  mistakes,  as  to  tlie  na-j  is  to  reason  with  and  persuade  them, 
ture  of  the  Old  Testament  church,  j  by  affectionate  words  and  sound  ar- 
have  produced.     If  any  other  nation  '  guments. 

or  kingdom,  which  has  ever  appear- 1  While  a  man  appro A-^es  himself  a 
ed  on  earth,  can  be  conisiared  to  the  good  citizen,  have  either  (lopes  or 
nation  of  Israel,  then  let  the  reason-  bishops,  councils  or  convocations, 
ing  be  considered  as  solid — not  else.  \  parliaments  or  kings,  the  least  autho- 
To  what  othernation  has  God  so  re-  rity  from  God  to  interrupt  him  in 
vealed  himself,  as  he  did  to  Israel, :  the  exercise  of  his  religion  ?  Even 
to  whom  pertained  ti.e  adoption,!  parents,  who  are  accountable  to  God 
glory,  giving  of  the  law,  the  cove-  for  the  way  in  which  thej'^  educate 
nants,  and  the  })roniises  ?  Where  their  chiUh-en,  have  no  power  to 
are  the  people  now  on  earth  whom !  restrain  and  compel  them  in  religi- 
God  has  sejiarated  from  the  nations,  ;Ous  concerns,  after  Ihey  become  ac- 
and  set  apart  as  a  kingdom  of  j  countable  for  their  own  conduct. 
PRTK^TS — a  HOLY  NATION'  ?  |  Parents  are  commanded  to  bring  up 

It  is  the  unalienable  birthright  of!  their  children  in  the  instruction  and 
every  human  being  to  choose  his  own  j  discipline  of  the  Lord,  but  there  is 
religion,  and  to  worship  God  as  he  j  no  direction  given  respecting  them, 
pleases;  provided  that  ho  behave  I  when  they  are  able  to  judge  for 
himself  with   propri.tj/  in  all  things  |  themselves. 

that  relate  to  the  cojmnunity.  Butj  It  has  been  objected  (to  the  reproach 
if  a  man  mix  diiiercut  subjects  with  oi'  such  objectors)   that   "  civil  go- 


R  U  L 


(     389     ) 


RUN 


vernors  ouc;ht  to  force  peojilo  to  be 
relio;ioiis ;  yea,  and  to  he  of  one  rc- 
li<;ion,  because  the  kin<:;s  of  Israel 
were  authorized  to  destroy  idola- 
ters, ami  Nvere  blamed  for  their 
nei:li;j;eiice  when  they  did  not." 
But  there  is  no  resenihiauce  in  the 
cases,  and  therefore  no  arj^uinent 
can  he  drawn  from  the  comparison. 
Not  only  the  matter,  but  the  mode 
nlso  of  the  Jewish  worship,  was  [)o- 
silively  enjoined,  and  both  were  of 
a  peculiar  nature,  referring  to  a  high- 
er dispensation,  and  consisting  in 
outward  shadows  of  good  things  to 
come ;  and  it  was  necessary  to  pre- 
serve these  exactly  as  God  had  di- 
rected them,  on  the  account  of  their 
being  typical.  See  Heb.  x.  1.  But 
idolatry  tended  to  destroy  the  order 
of  these,  and  so  break  the  connexion 
and  defeat  the  design  ;  it  w  as  there- 
lore  necessary  to  destroy  idolaters  : 
whereas  Christianity  is  perfectly 
consistent  with  a  variety  of  modes 
of  worship,  and  of  different  religious 
opinions,  being  of  a  sjjiritual  nature, 
and  referring  to  no  dispensation  be- 
yond itself.  Again,  the  Jewish  re- 
ligion and  their  slate  of  policy  were 
so  interwoven,  that  to  vary  one  was 
to  endanger  both  :  and  if  no  other 
reason  could  be  assigned,  the  divine 
mandate  was  a  sutficient  authority 
for  tijeir  conduct.  But  who  can  pro- 
duce such  authority  now  for  forcing 
Christians  to  conform  against  their 
consciences  ?  Besides,  the  religion 
of  the  gos|)el  is  so  simple  and  pure, 
that  it  cannot  be  connected  with  [)o- 
litics,  without  suffering  greatly  by 
such  a  junction.  Moreover,  as  the 
"  kingdom  of  Christ  is  not  of  this 
"world,  and  therefore  his  servants  do 
not  fight,"  John  xviii.  36.  it  is  plain 
his  kingdom,  that  is,  genuine  reli- 
gion, does  not  need  the  assistance 
of  human  power,  nor  human  policy, 
either  to  support  its  being,  or  to 
further  its  ])ropagation.  Nay,  pure 
religion  is  so  far  from  standing  in 
need  of  such  helps,  that  all  the  ex- 
ertions of  human  authority,  enforced 
by  all  the  terrors  of  an  inquisition 
or  a  bishop's  court,  do  irreparable 


mischief  to  genuine  i)iely,  so  far  Af 
tl'.ey  are  suiTert'd  to  interfere. — Did 
Jesus  Christ  labour  to  unite  church 
and  state  .'  he  had  a  \Lvy  fair  oppor- 
tunity, when  they  wislu'd  lo  take  him 
by  force,  and  make  him  a  king, — 
hut  he  escaped  out  of  their  hands. 
Unfortunately,  those  who  have  pre- 
tended to  bt;  his  successors  in  his 
church,  have  discovered  no  such  dis- 
like to  worldly  power  as  the  Lord 
himself.  It  is  vain  talking, — never 
would  the  church  of  Christ  connect 
with  a  worldly  throne,  since  that 
day,  when  the  kingof  Zion  translated 
his  throne  to  heaven;  nor  will  they 
ever  be  connected,  till  the  kingdoms 
of  this  w^orld  become  the  kingdoms 
of  our  Lord,  and  of  his  Christ.  It 
is  true,  that  many,  calling  themselves 
Christian  churches,  have  connected 
themselves  with  the  kingdoms  of 
this  world  ;  but  there  has  been  some 
capital  mistake  at  the  bottom. — 
Heaven  and  earth  are  not  more  se- 
parate than  the  kingdom  of  Christ, 
and  the  kingdoms  of  this  world;  and 
the  standing  law  of  Christ's  house  is, 
Rend(r  wiio  Cesar  iJie  things  that  are 
Cesar^Sy  and  to  God  the  things  that  arc 
GoiPs. 

The  RUMP  of  rams  ofiered  in  sa- 
crifice, was  burnt  on  the  altar,  be- 
cause it  consisted  chiefly  of  fat,  Ex- 
odus xxix.  22. 

RUN,  (1.)  To  move  with  a  swift 
pace,  1  Sam.  viii.  1 1.  (2.)  To  flow 
as  water  in  a  river,  or  when  i)oured 
from  a  vessel,  Psal.  civ.  10.  and  cxix. 
130.  (3.)  To  pursue  eagerly,  as 
runners  in  a  race  do  to  obtain  the 
honour  and  reward  of  outrunning 
their  fellow-runners,  1  Pet.  iv.  4.  thus 
the  saint's  eager  following  of  God, 
and  obedience  to  his  law,  and  minis- 
ters' laborious  preaching  of  the  gos- 
pel, in  view  of  the  eternal  reward,  is 
likened  to  the  runnin:^  of  a  race, 
Heb.  xii.  1.  1  Cor.ix,  24.  Gal.  ii.  2. 
Phil.  ii.  16.  The  Galatians  did  run 
well,  while  they  were  earnest  and  ac- 
tive in  receiving  and  jjractising  the 
doctrines  of  Cliiist,  Gal.  v.  7.  God's 
word  runs  swiftly,  wlien  his  com- 
mands and  purposes  are  speedily  ful- 


R  U  S 


(     390     ) 


R  U  S 


filled,  Psa.  cxlvii.  15.  To  run  tvUh 
footmen,  and  be  in  the  land  of  peace, 
is  to  have  to  struggle  with  lesser  dif- 
ficulties and  troubles.  To  contend  with 
horses,  and  be  in  the  swellings  of  Jor- 
dan, is  to  be  exposed  to  great  trouble 
and  perplexity,  Jer.  xii.  5.  The  race 
is  not  to  the  sn^ift,  nor  the  battle  to  tlie 
strong:  things  do  not  always  succeed 
with  men  according  to  their  qualifi- 
cations or  diligence,  but  according  to 
the  will  and  providential  interposal 
of  God,  Eccl.  ix.  11. 

RUSH.     As  rushes  cannot  grow 
without  mire,  nor  flags  without  water. 


and  when  cut  down,  soon  lose  their 
greenness:  so  hypocrites  will  not 
follow  religion  without  some  carnal 
motive  and  advantage;  nor  is  their 
religious  profession  of  happiness  du- 
rable, Job  viii.  1 1 — 20.  The  common 
•)eople  of  a  land  are  likened  to  rushes, 
to  denote  their  vast  number,  and 
their  weakness,  even  in  their  pros- 
perity,  Isa.  ix.  14,  13. 

To  RUSH,  to  press  forward  with 
haste  and  fury.  Acts  xix.  29. 

RUST,  that  corrupting  dross  which 
breeds  on  iron,  especially  if  moist ; 
or  smut  among  corn,  Matt.  vi.  19. 


S 


S  A 


SAB 


SABACHTANI,  a  corrupt  read- 
ing of  the  word  hazablhani,  or 
gnasabthani,  thou  hast  forsaken  me, 
Mark  xv.  34.  Psal.  xxii.  1. 

SABAOTH,  or  tzabaoth,  ar- 
mies, Rom.  is.  29.  James  v.  4. 

SABBATH,  or  rest.  The  Greeks 
sometimes  give  this  name  to  the 
whole  week,  because  the  principal 
day  of  it  was  the  Sabbath  :  so  the 
Pharisee  boasted  that  he  fasted  twice 
in  the  Sabbath,  or  week,  Luke  xviii. 
12.  Gr.  but  the  Sabbath,  properly 
so  called,  is  that  day  of  holy  rest  in 
the  week.  God  having  finished  his 
work  of  creation  in  six  days,  rested 
from  them  on  the  seventh,  and  set  it 
apart  for  the  more  solemn  worship  of 
himself  by  men,  and  as  an  emblem 
and  pledge  of  their  eternal  blessed- 
ness. Gen.  ii.  1,  2.  No  doubt  the 
ancient  patriarchs  observed  the  Sab- 
bath, though  in  their  short  history  we 
have  no  express  account  of  it,  any 
more  than  of  their  family-worship ; 
but  that  is  no  more  than  happens 
in  the  history  from  Moses  to  the 
end  of  David's  reign,  which  was 
near  440  years,  when  it  is  grant- 
ed by  all  to  have  been  the  ap- 
pointment of  heaven.  The  end  of 
days,  when  Cain  and  Abel  offered 
their  oblations;  the  day  when  the 
sons  of  God  met  together,  in  the 
days  of  Job,  stands  fair  to   be   the 


Sabbath,  Gen.  iv.  Job  i.  6.  and  ii.  1. 
In  Homer,  Hesiod,  and  Herodotus, 
and  others  of  the  most  ancient  wri- 
ters among  the  heathen,  we  have 
hints  of  a  seventh-day  Sabbath, 
whose  observation  they  had  derived 
from  their  progenitors.  When  the 
manna  began  to  be  given  to  the  He- 
brews, Moses  mentions  the  Sabbath 
as  not  unknown  to  them,  and  warns 
them  that  a  double  portion  of  manna 
would  fall  on  the  day  preceding, 
and  ought  to  be  gathered,  as  none 
would  fall  on  the  Sabbath,  Exod* 
xvi.  23. — To  mark  the  perpetual  and 
universal  obligation  of  the  obser- 
vance of  the  Sabbath,  God  pro- 
claimed the  law  of  it  from  Sinai, 
wrote  it  in  a  table  of  stone,  along 
with  the  rest  which  are  allowed  to 
be  moral ;  and  he  enforced  it  with 
manifold  reasons,  absolutely  moral 
and  universal,  Exod.  xx.  8 — 11. 
Injunctions  to  keep  it,  and  threaten- 
ings  for  the  breach  of  it,  are  every- 
where found  in  the  law  and  the  pro- 
phets. For  gathering  some  sticks  on 
that  day,  God  appointed  a  man  to  be 
stoned  to  death,  Numb.  xv.  32 — '36. 
For  neglecting  to  observe  it,  the  Jew- 
ish nation  was  almost  destroyed,  and 
their  land  lay  70  years  desolate.  Lev. 
xxvi.  34,  35.  Nek  xiii.  16 — 18.  Jer. 
xvii.  27.  Ezek.  xx. — To  honour  his 
own  resurrection,  Jesus,  the  Lord  of 


SAB 


(     301      ) 


SAC 


the  Sabbath,  changed  it  from  the  se- 
Tcnth  to  the  first  <lay  ol"  the  week. — 
To  mark  the  divine  authority  oftliis 
change,  he,  on  that  day,  made  re- 
peated visits  to  his  disciples,  John 
XX.  15),  26,  he  bestowed  the  mi- 
raculous gifts  and  grace  of  the  H0I3' 
Gliost,  Acts  ii.  1. — This  is  called 
the  Lonts  ttay,  and  thereon  the 
primitive  Christians  met  for  their 
[mblic  \vorshi|),  and  made  their  col- 
letiions  for  the  poor,  Kev.  i.  10.  Acts 
XX.  7.  1  Cor.  xvi.  It  must  not  be 
forgotten,  that  till  the  Romans  de- 
stroyed Jerusalem,  the  Jewish  Chri3- 
tians  showed  a  respect  to  the  ancient 
Sabbath,  and  tlie  apostles  very  often 
took  the  opportunity  of  preaching  to 
the  Jews,  as  they  on  that  day  assem- 
bled in  their  synagogues.  Acts  siii. 
42.  and  xvi.  13.  and  xviii.  4.  The 
lirst  day  was  all  along  observed  by 
Christians,  as  their  Sabbath,  for  al- 
most ItiOO  years,  before  any  pre- 
tenders to  that  name,  that  I  know  of, 
oppose<l  it.  Nor  do  I  yet  know  of 
many  of  its  opposers,  whose  practjce 
is  not  a  scandal  to  the  Christian  name. 
As  the  command  plainly  discharges 
all  manner  of  civil  business,  travel- 
ling, useless  conversation,  &c.  Exod. 
XX.  8 — 11,  Isa  Iviii.  13.  it  were  to  be 
wished,  multitudes  of  this  generation 
would  consider  how  they  will  re- 
concile their  journeying,  their  shav- 
ing, their  cleaning  of  houses,  their 
vain  recreation,  their  unnecessary 
sleeping,  their  idle  chat,  or  clubbing 
in  the  tavern,  on  it  thereto ;  or  how 
they  will  answer  for  these  at  the 
judgment-seat  of  Christ. 

God,  indeed,  prohibited  the  JeVfS 
to  kindle  fire  on  the  Sabbath,  for  the 
work  of  erecting  the  tabernacle,  or 
dressing  their  manna,  or  to  travel 
through  their  tents,  Exod.  xxxv.  2. 
3.  and  xvi.  29.  but  in  our  Savi- 
our's time,  they  in  some  things  car- 
ried their  strictness  to  an  excess ; 
they  found  fault  with  his  hungry  dis- 
ciples, for  eating  a  few  ears  of  corn 
as  they  walked  through  a  field  ;  and 
quarrelled  with  himself,  for  healing 
diseases  on  the  Sabbath,  iMatt.  xii. 
?— 12.    Mark   ii.    23—28.   and  iii. 


1 — 13.  Luke  xiii.  11 — 10.  and  xiv. 
1 — 0.  John  V.  The  modern  Jews 
still  cleave  to  the  scvcntli-<lay  Sab- 
bath, an»l  boast  of  it  as  their  spouse, 
given  to  them  above  any  other  na- 
tion. They  begin  it  on  Frldaj'  even- 
ing, when  they  repair  to  the  syna- 
gogue, and  rehearse  certain  i)rayer3, 
and  after  returning  home,  tlie  fathers 
bless  their  children,  jukI  masters  their 
scholars.  On  Saturday  morning  they 
rise  later  than  usual :  w  hen  they  come 
to  the  synagogue,  they  rehearse  se- 
veral psalms  and  prayers.  A  sec- 
tion of  the  law  is  read,  and  a  cor- 
respondent one  from  tiie  prophets. 
After  which,  the  last  of  the  seven 
readers  lifts  up  the  books,  and  blesses 
the  people.  They  have  also  a  kind 
of  sermon,  some  time  of  the  day. 
Their  other  rites  we  pass  over  as  too 
trifling  for  this  work.  On  account 
of  the  rest  thereof,  the  Jewish  lesti- 
vals,  the  year  of  release,  &:c.  are 
called  Sabbaths,  Lev.  xix,  3,  30. — 
What  is  meant  by  the  second  Sabbath 
after  the  first,  whether  the  second 
Sabbath  of  the  sacred  year,  or  the  se- 
cond or  the  last  day  of  unleavened 
bread,  or  the  day  of  Pentecost,  o? 
rather  the  second  of  the  seven  Sab- 
baths between  the  passover  and  Pen- 
tecost, is  not  fully  agreed,  Luke  vi.  1. 

SABEANS.     SeeSnEBA. 

SABTAH,  a  goim^  about,  com- 
pass, old  age,  and  SAB  TEC  HAH, 
the  cause  of  wounding,  or  the  smiting 
of  old  age,  the  third  and  fifth  sons  of 
Cush.  We  suppose  both  settled  in 
Arabia  the  Hapl^3^  But  Bochart  will 
have  the  lafter  to  have  settled  in 
Kerman,  on  the  east  of  the  Persian 
gulf,  where  he  finds  ancient  vestiges 
of  his  name.  Gen.  x.  7. 

SACKBUT,  an  ancient  musical 
instrument  used  in  Nebuchadnezzar's 
concert.  It  is  thought  to  have  had 
four  strings,  and  had  a  shrill  sound. 
Athenajus  thinks  it  was  similar  to  the 
psaltery:  but  Isidore  will  have  it  a 
kind  of  flute,  or  hautboy. 

SACKCLOTH,  was  ordinarily 
worn  to  express  mourning,  as  by  Job, 
Ahab,  and  the  Syrians  who  cause  to 
implore  mercy  for  Benhadad,  and  ]\v 


SAC 


(     392     ) 


S  A  F 


Mordecai,  when  the  Jewish  nation 
was  in  danger  of  ruin,  Job  xvi.  15. 
1  Kings  xxi.  27.  and  xx.  31.  Esth. 
iv.  1 ,  2.  The  prophets  also  wore  it, 
or  like  coarse  apparel ;  and  the  false 
prophets,  to  be  like  them,  wore  rough 
or  coarse  garments,  Isa.  xx.  2.  Zech. 
xjii.  4.  In  aikision  to  which,  Christ's 
witnesses  against  Antichrist,  are  said 
to  prophesy  in  sackcloth,  to  tlenote 
their  grief,  and  their  mourning  for 
the  corruptions  and  distresses  of  the 
church.  Rev.  xi.  3.  The  sun  became 
black  as  sackcloth  of  hair,  when  the 
glor}^  and  the  principal  idols  of  the 
Heathenish  empire  of  Rome,  were 
overthrown  bj^  Constantine  the 
Great,  Rev.  vi.'l2. 

SACRIFICE,  an  offering  made  to 
God,  to  be  consumed  on  his  altar  by 
fire,  either  in  whole  or  in  part,  by  a 
minister  ap|)ointed  for  that  purpose. 
Sacrifices,  either  with,  or  without 
blood;  that  is,  animate  or  inanimate, 
were  as  early  as  Cain  and  Abe!,  who 
acted  as  priests ;  unless  we  begin 
them  with  Adam,  whose  clothing  of 
skins  was  probably  from  the  beasts 
that  were  sacrificed.  The  acceptance 
of  AbePs  sacrifice  was  manifested  by 
fire  from  heaven,  which  consumed  it, 
because  it  was  offered  in  faith,  Heb. 
xi.  4.  an<l  in  the  prospect  of  the  fu- 
ture sacrifice  of  Christ,  Heb.  xii.  24. 
Sacrifices  were  of  four  sorts,  holo- 
causts or  bural-offerings,  Exod.  x. 
25.  sacrifices  for  sin,  Lev.  iv.  3,  4. 
for  guilt,  or  trespass-otfering.  Lev. 
T.  15.  and,  lastly,  peace-offerings. 
Lev.  iii.  1.  all  of  them  {)erformed 
with  five  sorts  of  clean  animal?, 
sheep,  oxen,  goats,  turtles,  and  pi- 
geons. The  difference  between  a 
sin-offering  and  trespass-offering  con- 
sisted, according  to  some,  in  that  the 
former  was  for  averting  the  punish- 
ment d'le;  the  latter  for  quieting 
the  conscience.  Peace-offerings,  or 
eucharistical  sacrifices,  were  either 
of  praise  for  benefits  received,  Psal. 
1.  15.  or  votive,  or  spontaneous. 
The  ceremonies  accompanying  were 
the  bringing  the  sacrifice  to  the  court 
of  the  temple,  or  before  the  Lord,  Lev. 
i.  3.  xvi.  7 — 10.  the  wavinjr  it,  which 


was  performed  by  the  priest  and  the 
officer;  the  laying  on  of  the  handsel" 
the  offerer,  for  confession  of  sin,  or 
for  thanksgiving ;  the  slaying  the  sa- 
crifice ;  the  wringing  off  a  bird's  head ; 
1  he  receiving  the  blood  ;  the  sprink- 
ling or  [)ouring  it  out:  the  flaying 
and  cutting  up  of  the  sacrifice  ;  the 
parJs  brought  to  the  altar,  salted,  and 
laid  on  it,  and  burnt.  Sacrifices  are 
supposed  to  have  taken  place  from  the 
fatal  transgression  of  our  first  parents. 
Gen.  iii.  21.  intended  to  typify  the 
grand  sacrifice  of  our  Saviour  -jpon 
the  cross,  for  the  sins  of  mankind ; 
and  therefore  said  to  be  slain  from 
the  foundation  of  the  v/orld.  Rev. 
xiii.  8.     See  Offering. 

SACRILEGE,  a  species  of  theft 
conmiiited  on  things  appropriated  to 
sacred  uses,  Ma!,  iii.  8.  impiously 
unconsecrating  what  was  consecrat- 
ed to  God. 

The  SADNESS  of  the  counte- 
nance, sometimes  imports  a  show  of 
mourning  and  grief,  DIatt.  vi.  10.  but 
sometimes  it  is  put  for  real  mourn- 
ing, and  the  cause  of  it,  by  means  of 
which  the  heart  hmade  better ;  wean- 
ed from  worldly  things,  and  led  to  a 
concern  about  tliose  which  are  eter- 
nal, Eccl.  vii.  3. 

SADDUCEES.     See  Sf.ct. 

SAFETY,  (1 .)  Freedom  from  dan- 
ger, temporal  or  spiritual,  Fsal.  xii. 
5.  (2.)  Outward  freedom  from  fear; 
pros|;erity.  Job  xxiv.  23.  I  was  not 
in  safety^  nor  had  I  rest  or  quiet,  yet 
trouble  came ;  I  was  not  self-confi- 
dent, and  fearless  of  danger ;  nay, 
I  had  been  sore  afflicted,  yet  this 
uncommon  calanuty  came  upon  me. 
Job  iii.  26.  To  be  in  safe  guard,  is 
to  be  well  defended,  1  Sam.  xxii. 
23.  Safety  is  of  the  Lord,  Pro  v. 
xxi.  31.  the  safety  of  our  bodies, 
whether  I>y  land  or  by  sea,  at  home 
or  abroad,  by  night  or  by  day,  in  war 
or  peace,  is  of  the  Lord,  Psal.  xci. 
1,  (fee.  The  safety  o(  ouv  properiy  is 
of  the  Lord,  -lob  i.  10.  A  providen- 
tif*!  hedge  is  made  round  about  such 
as  trust  in  God,  about  their  families, 
and  about  all  that  thry  have. 

SAFFKON,   an  odoriferous  herb. 


SAL 


(     393     ) 


SAL 


whicli  is  planted  in  SrpUvihcr,  and  is 
in  lull  llower  in  Fclmtan/ ;  after 
which  its  leaves  sprins;  forth,  and 
continue  till  May.  Its  llower  is  of 
a  bluish  colour,  with  yellow  threads, 
and  is  of  a  very  agreeublc  smell.  It  is 
an  excellent  cordial,  and  of  i^ieat  use 
in  curins;  a  multitude  of  diseases. — 
Tournelbrt  nuMitions  40  kinds  of  if. 
Saints  and  their  graces  are  thoup:ht  to 
he  like  Saffron:  are  comely  and  de- 
lightful. Song  iv.  14. 

SAINTS,  holy  ones,  (1.)  Persons 
holy  b}'  ])rofession,  covenant-dedica- 
tion, gracious  dispositions,  and  reli- 
gious conversation,  Psal.  xvi.  3.  Heb. 
vi.  10.  (2.)  The  separate  souls  of 
lioly  men,  who  in  heaven  are  freed 
from  all  infirmities,  Rev.  xviii.  24. 
(3.)  Holy  angels.  Dent,  xxxiii.  2. 
Jude  14.     See  Sanctify. 

SAL  AMIS,  shnkcn,  tost,  beaten. 
T  here  was  an  island  of  this  name  south 
of  Athens,  where  the  Persian  fleet  re- 
roiveda  terrible  defeat  from  the  Athe- 
nians; but  the  Salamis  spoken  of  in 
scripture,  was  a  city  of  Cyprus.  Here 
Paul  and  Barnabas  preached  the  gos- 
pel. .Al)out  A.  D.  118,  the  Jews 
destroyed  it.  It  was,  however,  rebuilt, 
and  was  the  seat  of  the  principal  bi- 
sliop  of  the  isle ;  but  the  Saracens 
razed  it  to  the  ground,  when  they 
seized  on  the  island.  It  is  probable 
that  Famagusta,  which  suffered  so 
much  when  the  Ottoman  Turks  took 
the  island,  arose  out  of  its  ruins. 

SALEM,  or  Salim,  complete,  per- 
fect, peace,  where  John  baptized,  was 
probably  a  place  near  Shechem, 
whither  Jacob  came,  as  he  returned 
from  Mesopotamia :  but  some  com- 
mentators translate  the  word  Shalem, 
safe  and  sound,  or  in  peace,  John  iii. 
23.  Gen.  xxxiii.  18.  It  was  pro- 
bably here  that  Melchizedek  was 
king,  and  came  to  meet  Abraham  in 
his  return  southward  from  smiting 
Chederlaomer  and  his  allies.  It  is 
certain  Jerusalem,  which  Avas  after- 
ward by  contraction  called  Salem, 
Psal.  Ixxvi.  2.  wasthen  called  Jebus, 
and  was  far  off  the  road  betw  een  Da- 
mascus and  Sodom ;  whereas  this 
was  directly  on  it.  when  one  came 

Voj..  IF, 


south  by  the  west   side  of  Jordan, 
Gen.  xiv. 

SALMON.     See   Rahab;   ZAt- 

.MON. 

SALMONE,  Salmon  ION,  or  Sa.m- 
MONiL.'M,  a  tiowin'j;,comnioliQn,  hrcak- 
ins;  ill  pieces,  a  city  and  sea-port  on 
t  he  ea.'>t  end  of  the  isle  of  Crete,  where 
Cape  Salmone  now  is.  Acts  xxvii.  7. 

S.\L03IE,  peaceable,  or  that  re- 
wards, the  wife  of  Zebedee,  and  mo- 
ther of  James  and  John.  She  was  onw 
of  those  holy  women  who  much  fol  low- 
ed our  Saviour,  and  ministered  to  his 
necessities;  yet  she  indiscreetly  re- 
quested that  her  two  sons  might  have 
principal  posts  of  honour  in  his  tem- 
poral kingdom.  She  witnessed  his  cru- 
cifixion, brought  perfumes  for  his  dead 
body,  and  visited  his  sepulchre  on  the 
morning  he  rose  from  the  dead,  Matt. 
xxvii..')t).  and XX.  20 — 22.  and  xxviii. 
10.  Mark  xvi.  1,  2. 

SALT.  When  an  acid  is  combined 
with  an  alkali,  an  earth,  or  a  metallic 
oxide,  it  forms  what  is  called  a  salt. 
There  are  whole  mountains  of  rock- 
salt,  and  mines  of  it  in  Upper  Hun- 
gary, 180  fathoms  deep;  but  it  may 
be  obtained  by  boiling  sea  or  salt 
spring  water;  or  be  extracted  from 
other  substances ;  as  from  earth 
moistened  with  excrements,  Sec. 
The  salt  mingled  with  the  water  of 
the  sea,  is  of  use  to  preserve  it  from 
putrefaction,  and  to  render  it  strong- 
er to  bear  vessels ;  and  the  perpetu- 
al motion  of  the  ocean  is  of  use  to 
prevent  the  salt  particles  from  falling 
to  the  bottom.  There  is  scarcely  any 
substance  without  a  mixture  of  salt. 
The  use  of  culinary  salt  is  to  season 
food,  to  preserve  it  from  corruption, 
to  kill  worms,  to  heal  wounds,  and 
to  rectify  the  humours  of  animal  bo- 
dies. New-born  inlants  were  an- 
ciently rubbed  over  with  it,  to  close 
the  pores,  and  harden  their  skin,  and 
to  preserve  from  any  corruption  that 
might  follow  on  the  cutting  of  the 
navel,  Ezek.  xvi.  4.  In  a  way  con- 
trary to  nature,  Elisha  cured  the 
brackish  water  of  Jericho,  by  casting 
salt  into  the  spring,  2  Kings  ii.  21. 
The  sorving  of  scilt  on  a  place;  ot 
3  D 


SAL 


(     394     ) 


S  A  M 


liialving  it  salt,  or  salt  pits,  imports 
per,";tual  barrenness  and  desolation, 
Judg.  ix.  45.  Deut.  xxix.  23.  Zeph. 
ii.  9.  Halifax  says,  there  is  a  valley 
covered  with  salt,  that  reaches  from 
Tadmor  to  the  east  border  of  Idu- 
mea  :  but  whether  David  smote  the 
Edomites  in  tlie  north,  and  Ama- 
ziah  smote  them  in  the  south  part  ol' 
this  valley,  we  shall  not  determine. 
It  appears  the  Greeks  of  Syria  hadj 
salt  pits  on  the  west  of  the  Dead  Sea,i 
and  north  border  of  Edom,  and  where 
possibly  the  valley  of  Salt  was,  2 
Sam.  xviii.  13.  2King3xiv.  7.  There 
was  salt  made  out  of  the  Dead  Sea, 
which  was  a  stronger  caustic,  and  di- 
gested meat  better  than  other  salt. 
Salt  was  a  symbol  of  friendship  and 
fidelity  due  from  guests,  friends,  or 
servants,  to  their  entertainers  or  mas- 
ters :  so  the  Samaritans  pretended 
they  were  salted  with  the  salt  of  the 
Persian  palace  ;  they  were  under  the 
deepest  obligation,  and  had  tirmly 
resolved  to  show  their  fidelity,  to  the 
Persian  king  their  masler,  Ezra  iv. 
14.  All  the  ceremonial  oQ'erings, 
were  to  be  seasoned  rvith  salt.  Did 
not  this  mark  the  purity,  prudence, 
grace,  faithfulness,  and  love  to  God, 
wherewith  Jesus  Christ,  amidst  great 
grief  and  trou'de  offered  himself  to 
God  for  us,  and  wherev»ith  we  should 
devote  our  persons  and  conduct  to 
his  service?  Lev.  ii.  13.  Ministers 
are  the  salt  of  the  earth;  like  marie, 
or  other  saltish  substances,  that  fat- 
ten and  fructify  the  earth,  they  tend 
to  render  nations  and  persons  fruit- 
ful in  works  of  righteousness ;  and 
they  are  means  of  preserving  them 
from  sinful  rottenness  and  corrup- 
tion; but  how  useless  and  base,  if 
they  act  not  in  character !  Matt.  v. 
13.  The  grace  of  God,  and  edifying 
conversation,  are  likened  to  salt ; 
how  delightful  they  render  the  spi- 
ritual food  of  divine  truths!  and 
what  blessed  means  of  healing  souls, 
and  preserving  them  from  infectious 
corruption!  Mark  ix-.  50.  Col.  iv.  6. 
Eva'y  one  shall  he  salted  with  fire,  and 
every  sacrifice  salted  with  sail ;  every 
person  must   either  be  purified   by 


grace,  in  the  way  of  sorrow  for  sin, 
and  mortification  of  it ;  or,  he  shall 
be  for  ever  salted  with  the  torment- 
ing, but  preserving,  torments  of  hell, 
Mark  ix.  49.  A  covenant  of  salt,  is 
one  of  friendship,  firm  and  durable, 
Numb,  xviii.  19.  2  Chron.  xiii.  .*>. 
Mineral  salt ;  or  salt  that  is  dug  out 
of  mines,  is  in  form  of  a  hard  stone. 
It  is  thought  that  Lofs  wife  was 
changed  into  a  statue  of  such  mineral 
salt,  that  she  became  as  a  rock  or 
stone  of  salt.  Gen.  xix.  26.  The  salt 
sea.  Gen.  xiv.  3.  is  the  Dead  Sea,  or 
the  lake  of  Sodom,  called  likewise 
the  lake  Asphaltites,  because  of  the 
great  quantity  of  bitumen  in  it,  so 
that  no  fish  can  live  in  its  waters, 
and  a  man  cannot  without  difficulty 
sink  in  them,  by  reason  of  the  weight 
and  densitv  of  them. 

SALVATION.     See  Save. 

Sx4lLUTE,  to  paj'  friendly  compli- 
ments, whether  by  words,  kisses,  or 
letters.  Matt.  X.  12.  Kom.  xvi.  16. 
1  Cor.  xvi.  20. 

SAMARIA,  his  giiard,  a  hricr,a 
thorn,  (1.)   A  city  of  the  Ephraim- 
ites,  and  the  capital  city  of  the  ten 
t  ribes  of  Israel  for  some  ages.    \V  hen 
Omri  was  king  of  Israel,  he,  about  A. 
M.  3080,  bought  a  hill  from  Shemer 
for  684/.  Is.  6rf.  and  built  on  it  a  cit3^ 
which,  from  the  name  of  the  late  own- 
er, he  called  Shomron,  or  Samaria.  It 
stood  about  42  miles  north  of  Jerusa- 
lem, and  12  south  of  Dothaim.  Its  si- 
tuation was  very  agreeable,  and  it  had 
plenty  of  fine  water.     liCaving  She- 
jchem  and  Tirzah,  where  the  former 
I  kings  had  resided,  Omri  fixed  his  re- 
sidence at  Samaria;  Ahab  his  son 
[  built  there  a  fine  palace,  whose  prin- 
1  cipal  chambers,  it  seems,  were  boxed 
j  with  ivory,  1  Kings  xxii.  39.  Though 
he,  as  well  as  his  father,  did  what  they 
could  to  fortify  it,  yet  it  appears  that 
Benhadad,  king   of  Syria,   obliged 
them  to  allow  him  to  build  streets, 
or  places  of  trade  for  his  use  in  it. 
In  Ahob's  time,  it  sustained  a  siege 
from  Benhadad  and  his  32  tributary 
kings,  but  was  relieved  bj^  the  de- 
i  feat  of  the  Syrian?,  1  Kings  xx.    In 
I  Jehoram  his  son's  reign,  it  sustained 


S  A  M 


(     303     ) 


SAM 


another  siego  from  the  Syrians,  till 
wuiiieu  Hte  (heir  own  inlants  for 
Imager;  l}ut  il  was  niiracuhuisly  re- 
lieved ami  sii[»iiru'(l,  2  Kinc;8  vi. 
and  vii.  Not  Unxjy  after,  the  el- 
ders of  it  beheadeil  70  of  Ahah's 
ilescendants,  and  sent  their  heads  in 


Asnima;  tlie  Av'ite?,  Nihhaz  and 
Tartak;  and  the  Sepharvites  l)urnt 
their  ciuMren  in  the  fire  to  Adranic- 
lecli  and  Ananimaleeli  ;  nor  if  we 
believe  the  Jews,  were  tiu-se  their 
only  ido!^.  God  jiuniphed  tiieir  ido- 
latry in  his  lan<l,    with  the  deslruc- 


basUets  to  Jehu,  2  Kings  x.  In  the  '  tionof  niHiiy  of  them  by  lions.  Sus- 
linie  of  Jeroboam  the  2d,  it  was  meeting  the  cause,  they  entreated  king 
extremely  i>o|)idous,  and  the  iidiabi-  Esarhaddon,  (who  it  seems,  trans- 
tants  were  luxurious,  effeminate,  op-  jplanted  other  tribes  thit'iier,)  that  he 
pressors  of  tlie  poor,  and  idolatrous,  j  would  take  jiroper  methotis  to  in- 
to an  uncommon  degree,  Amos   iii.  struct  them  in  the  worship  of  the  God 


.15.  and  iv.  1,  2.  Hos.  vii.  1.  and  viii. 
5,  6.  In  A.  M.  3233,  Shalmaneser, 
after  a  siege  of  three  years,  took  it, 
and  reduced  it  to  ruins,  2  Kings  xvii. 
1  to  0.  IMic.  i.  1,  (5.  Isa.  viii.  4.  Hos. 
xiii.  16.  it  was  afterward,  but  very 
gradually  repaired.  Alexander  plant- 
ed u  colony  of  lAIacedonians  in  it. 
Hircanus  the  Jewish  king  demoliiih- 
ed  it,  and  made  the  water  run  over 
its  foundation.  About  A.  M.  3047, 
Gaoinus,  the  Roman  governor  of  Sy- 
ria, rel)uilt  it   in  part,   and  called  it 


of  their  new^  country.  Re  sent  them 
a  Hebrew  priest,  who  instructed 
them  in  the  Jewish  religion,  and  gave 
them  a  copy  of  Moses's  law.  Coj-'ies 
of  this  still  remain,  with  a  version  of 
il  in  the  Samaritan  dialect,  both  in 
the  Samaritan  characters,  but  cor- 
rupted with  sundry  mistakes,  espe- 
cially in  numbers,  and  where  the 
transcribers  mistook  one  Hebrew  let- 
ter for  iiiiother;  and  with  some  fool- 
ish things  in  favour  of  Gerizzim. 
Thus  instructed,  the  Samaiilans 
j  blended  the  Jewish  reli'ilon  with  tlieir 


Gabiniana.  Herod  the  great  restored  j 
it  to  its  ancient  lustre;  and  called  it  j  own  idolatries,  2  Kings  xvii.  When 
Sehaslc,  in  honour  of  Augustus  or  [Nebuchadnezzar  ravaged  the  eoun- 
Sebastos,  the  Roman  emperor. —  j  tries  of  Moab  and  Ammon,  it  seems 
Whatever  it  might  suffer  in  the  Jew-!  part  of  the  inhabitants  took  refuge 
ish  wars,  it  was  a  place  of  some  con-  among  the  Samaritans,  who  were 
sideration  about  .4.  D.  400.  (2.)  The  i  spared,  as  jiartly  of  a  Chaldean  origi- 
country  of  Ephraimites,  or  of  the!n:d.  When  the  Jews  returned  from 
ten  tribes,  1  Kings  xiii.  32.  In  the! Babylon,  the  Samaritans  did  all  that 
New  Testament,  Samaria  ahvays  May  in  their  power  to  oppose  their  re- 
signifies  the  territory  between  Judea  i  building  the  temj)le,  and  bribed  some 
and  Galilee;  and  where  the  tribes  of  Cyrus's  counsellors  to  do  what  they 
of  Ephraim,  Manasseh,  and  Issachar,  could  to  stop  it.  Ahasuerus,  or  Cam- 
had  dwelt.  Here  our  Saviour  cou-  byses,  had  no  sooner  mounted  the 
verted  sundry  persons,  John  iv.  here  |  throne  than  they  wrote  him  a  peti- 
Simon  Magus  deceived  the  people  ;jtion  to  that  effect,  accusing  the  Jews 
and  here  many    were  converted  by 


the  ministry  of  Philij>  the  deacon, 
and  of  Peter  and  John,  John  iv, 
Acts  viii. 


of  disloyal  designs.  In  the  short  reign 
of  Artaxerxes,  Magus, Bishlam,  Milh- 
ridath,  and  Tabeel,  and  their  com- 
panions wrote  to  him  to  procure  a 


Samaritans,    the  inhabitants   of  slop  to  the  work.     Much  about  the 
the  country  of  Samaria.  When  Shal-|  same  time,   Rehum  the  chancellor. 


maneser  carried  the  ten  tribes  out  of 
their  own  land,  he  transplanted  oth- 
ers from  Babylon,  and  places  adja- 
cent, into  it.  There  they  continued 
their  former  idolatry  :  the  Babyloni- 
ans worshipped  Succoth-benoth;  the 
Cuthites,   Nergai ;   the  Hamithites, 


Shimshai  the  scribe,  and  their  com- 
|)anions,  the  Dinaites,  Apharsath- 
chites,  Tarpelites,  Apharsites,  Ar- 
chevites,  Susanchites,  Uehavites, 
Elamites,  Babylonians,  and  others, 
wrote  him  a  letter,  wherein  they  re- 
presented the  Jew?  as  a  very  rebel- 


SAM 


(     396     ) 


SAM 


Jious  peoi)le,  who,  if  petmitted  to  re- 
build  their  city  and  tem|)le,  wouUl 
seize  on  all  the  king's  territories  on 
the  west  of"  the  Euphrates;  and  thej' 
begged    the   king    woukl    make  in- 
quiry into  the  histories  to  which  he 
had  access,  and  he  woukl  find  they 
had  been  a   rebellious  nation.     The 
Magus  returned  answer,  that  a  search 
into  (hi?  records  had  been  made,  and 
-it   had   been    found    what    powerful 
kings    had  ruled    among  the  Jews ; 
and  he  desired  them  to  stop  the  work 
by  force  ;   which  they   immediately 
did.     Soon  after,  Tatnai  the  gover- 
nor, and  Shethar-boznai,  with  their 
companions,  the  Apharsachites,  sent 
a  letfer  to  Darius  Hystaspls,  inform- 
ing  him   that  they  had  done  what 
they   could   to   stop  the  building  of 
the  Jewish  temple,  and  that  the  Jews 
had  {)retended  an  edict  of  Cyrus  ap- 
pointing them   to  build  it.      Upon 
search  the  edict  was  found,  and  Da- 
rius ratified  it,  and  ordered  the    Sa- 
maritans to  give  the  Jews  no  further 
trouble,  Ezra  iv.  v.  vi.     When  Ne- 
hemiah   began   to  promote    the   re- 
buihling  of  the  walls  of  Jerusalem, 
Sanballat  the  Horonite,  Tobiah  the 
Ammonite,    and   Geshem    the    Ara- 
bian, did  all  that  lay  in  their  j)ower, 
by  tlireatening  and  craf},   to  cut  off 
Nehemiah,    or  stop  the  work ;  but 
their  purposes  were  frustrated.     Ma- 
nasseh,  the  son  of  Jehoiadah  the  Jew- 
ish high-priest,  married  the  daughter 
of  Sanballat,  on  which  account  Nehe- 
miah  banished  him  from  Jerusalem. 
Sanballat  applied  to  Darius  Nothus, 
for  leave  to  build  a  temple  for  his 
son-in-law,  on  mount  Gerizaim.    He 
represented,  that  this  would  effectu- 
ally divide  the  Jewish  nation,  and 
render  them  incapable  to  perform  any 
noted   enterprize.     He  obtained  his 
desire ;  and  the   temple   was  built. 
Before  this,  it  seems,  the  Samaritans 
had  no  temple.     Observing  that  A- 
lexander    heaped  favours  upon   the 
Jewish  nation,  they  pretended  to  be 
a  part  of  them.      When  he  left  the 
country,    and  marched  into  Egypt, 
they  revolted,  and  burnt   Androma- 
chus  his  governor.     He  quickly  re- 


venged the  affront,  and  put  numbers 
of  them  to  the  sword.     He  placed  a 
colony  of  Macedonians  in  the  city 
of  Samaria,  and  gave  the  territories 
round    about  to    the    Jews.       This 
heightened    the    animosity  between 
them   and   the  Jews.     Whenever  a 
Jew  incurred  punishment  (or  the  vi- 
olation of  any  important  point  of  the 
divine  law,  he  took  refuge  with  the 
Samaritans,  and  emliraced  their  me- 
thod of  worship.     When  Anliocbus 
Epiphanes  persecuted  the  Jews,  the 
Samaritans      disowned     connexion 
with  them,  and  pretended  to  be  origi- 
nally Phenicians,  or  descemled  from 
Joseph  byManasseh.  Hyrcanusking 
of  Judea  ravaged  their  country,  and 
razed   Sasnaria  and  Shechem,  their 
capital   cities,  to  the  very  ground. 
When  Herod  re-established  Samaria, 
a  vast  number  of  Heathens  settled  in 
the  country;    but  a  part   still   clave 
lo  the  hall  Jewish  religion,  and  ex- 
pected the  Messiah;  but  the  conten- 
tion  between   them  and   the   Jews 
was  extremely  warm  ;  they  refused 
even  civil  dealings  with  one  another, 
John  iv.  9.    The  Samaritans  refused 
to  receive  our  Saviour  to  lodge  him, 
because  he  seemed  bound  for  Jerusa- 
lem, Luke  ix.  52,  53.      The  Jews 
imagined  the   Samaritans  to   be  the 
worst  of  men,    and  possessed  by  the 
devil,  John  viii.  48.     In  one  of  our 
Saviour's  journeys  from  Jerusalem  to 
Samaria,  he  converted  a  Samaritan 
harlot,    and  sundry  others   at  She- 
chem, John  iv.  4 — 42.     When  after- 
wards he  sent  forth  his  apostles,  he 
prohibited  them  to  enter  the  cities  of 
the  Samaritans,  Matt.  x.  5.     Much 
about  this  time,  Simon  the  sorcerer 
mightily  deluded  them,  and  was  reck- 
oned by  them,  to  be  a  wonderful  per- 
son, if  not  the  Messiah.  When  the  gos- 
pel was  preached  in  the  country  by 
Philip,  many  of  them  believed,  and 
the  Holy   Ghost   was  conferred   on 
them  by  the  laying  on  of  the  hands  of 
Peter  and  John ;  but  it  is  said,  that  by 
Simon's  means,   many  of  the  once 
professed    Christians  in  that    place 
apostatized  to  the  heresy  and  licenti- 
ousness Qf  the  GnosticJis,  Acts  viii-. 


SAM 


(     307     ) 


SAM 


Some  time  afler,  the  Samaritans,  to 
insult  the  Jens,  an;!  iiil<;iTU|it  their 
devotion,  scattereilde.ul  men's  bones 
-,in  the  court  ol'  the  temple  at  a  piiss- 
over-l'eajt.  On  other  occasions,  they 
murdered  some  Jews,  as  they  came 
from  Galilee  to  the  solemn  leasts. 
This  occasioned  a  war  hetween  the 
two  nations.  When  the  Jews  re- 
volted, the  Samaritans  continued 
their  subjection  to  the  Romans;  not- 
withstanding wJiich,  they  partly 
ahnred  in  the  calamities  of  tiieir 
neighbours.  Since  these  times,  they 
have  always  submitted  to  the  pow- 
ers that  ruled  the  country. 

At  present  the  Samaritans  are  lew 
in  number;  but  pretend  to  great 
strictness  in  their  observation  of  the 
law  of  Moses,  and  account  the  Jews 
intolerably  lax.  From  the  letter  of 
their  high  [iriest  to  Joseph  Scaliger, 
above  200  years  ago,  and  which  is 
now  in  the  library  of  the  late  French 
king,  it  appears  that  they  profess  to 
believe  in  God,  and  in  his  servant 
Moses,  and  in  the  holy  law,  the 
mount  Gerizzim,  the  house  of  God, 
and  the  day  of  vengeance  and  peace. 
They  keep  the  Sabbath  so  strictly, 
that  they  will  not  move  out  of  their 
house,  except  to  their  synagogue. 
They  always  circumcise  their  chil- 
dren on  the  8th  day  from  their  birth. 
They  do  not  marry  their  own  nieces, 
nor  allow  a  plurality  of  wives  as 
the  Jews  do.  Their  high  priest  still 
resides  at  Shechem  ;  offers  their  sa- 
crifices at  their  temjile  on  mount 
Gerizzim ;  and  declares  the  time  of 
the  feasts  to  the  Samaritans,  who 
are  scattered,  some  at  Damascus, 
some  at  Gaza,  and  others  at  Grand 
Cairo  in  Egypt. 

SAMARITAN,  the  GOOD.  The 
Jews  would  have  no  dealings  with 
the  Samaritans,  who  dissented  from 
them  in  matters  of  religion.  The  de- 
sign therefore  of  this  parable  is  to 
give  them  and  us,  a  true  notion  of 
charity  the  objects  of  which  are 
all  really  poor  and  necessitous  per- 
sons, without  excepting  any,  whe- 
ther they  be  strangers  or  enemies, 
heathens  or  heretics,  or  wicked  per- 


sons. We  are  to  do  good  to  all  men 
Gal.  vi.  10.  Christ  commemls  the 
Samaritan's  character  only,  not  his 
religion.  He  tells  one  of  them,  ye 
worsiiip  ye  know  not  what ;  and 
adds,  salvation  is  of  the  Jews.  AVe 
must  treat  peoi)le  that  are  in  error 
with  charily,  at  the  same  time  that 
we  detest  their  princi|)les,  and 
strive  to  preserve  others  from  their 
infection,  Luke  x.  30. 

SAME.  To  be  the  same,  when 
applied  to  God  or  Christ,  denotes 
immutability,  Heb.  i.  12.  Jesus 
Christ  is  the  same  yesterday,  to  day, 
and  for  ever,  under  the  law,  under 
the  gospel,  and  in  the  eternal  state, 
he  is  still  the  same  in  person  and  of- 
fice J  and  in  every  tlilTerent  ;)eriod  or 
case,  he  is  still  the  same  in  relation 
and  love  to  his  people,  Heb.  xiii.  8. 

SAMOS, /«//  of  gravel,  an  isl.nid 
in  the  east  end  of  the  Mediterranean 
Sea,  about  nine  miles  from  the  coast  of 
Lesser  Asia.  It  is  from  70  to  80  miles 
in  circumference;  but  the  soil  is  so 
fertile  that  it  would  employ  100,000 
hands.  It  w^as  famous  for  the  birth  of 
the  goddess  Juno,  and  of  Pythagoras 
and  Melissus;  and  here  the  famed 
Lycurgus  and  Pherecj^des  died.  For 
many  ages  it  w^as  a  state  of  no  small 
note,  and  was  a  commonwealth:  but 
Sj'loson,  Polycrates,  Meandrus,  and 
other  tyrants  of  their  own,  for  a 
while  laid  them  under  hard  servi- 
tude. The  Persians,  Greeks,  the 
kings  of  Pergaraos,  the  Romans,  Sa- 
racens, and  Turks,  have  for  more 
than  2,000  years  been  generally  mas- 
ters of  the  place,  in  their  turn. 
Though  Paul  touched  here  as  he  sail- 
ed to  Jerusalem,  Acts  xx.  15.  yet  we 
know  not  of  any  Christianity  here  till 
about  tiie  end  of  the  second  century, 
since  which  it  has  never  been  utter- 
ly abolished.  At  present,  the  place 
is  in  a  poor  condition.  Samo  or 
Sussan,  its  capital,  is  on  the  south- 
east coast,  and  has  a  tolerable  har- 
bour; but  is  little  frequented,  be- 
cause of  the  pirates  that  infest  the 
neighbouring  seas.  The  island  is 
inhabited  by  a  few  Turks,  with 
about  1 2,000  Christians.     These  last 


S  A  M 


(     398     ) 


SAM 


have  an  archbishop,  whose  dues,  af- 
ter deducting  his  tribute  to  the  Sultan 
and  the  Patriarch  of  Constantinople, 
can  scarcely  keep  him  alive.  Under 
him  are  about  200  [)riests,  and  a 
greater  number  of  monks,  extremely 
ignorant,  but  nevertheless  are  judges 
in  the  absence  of  the  Turkish  Cadi. 

S  A  M  0  T  H  R  A  C I  A,  /«//  of  gravel, 
or  rough,  now  Samondrachi,  is  a 
small  island  about  1 7  miles  in  circum- 
ference, on  the  coast  of  Thracia,  hav- 
ing several  good  harbours,  and  ori- 
ginally peopled  by  the  Pelasgi  and 
Athenians,  and  aitenvard  by  the  Sa- 
mians.  It  was  anciently  famous  for 
the  worship  of  the  Cabiri,  or  great 
gods  of  the  Heathen,  Ceres,  Pro- 
serpine, Pluto,  and  Mercury,  whose 
names,  in  the  Samothracian  language, 
as  well  as  other  evidences,  tempt  me 
to  believe  that  the  ancient  inhabi- 
tants came  from  Phenicia.  Here  also 
they  worshipped  Castor,  Pollux, 
Neptune,  and  the  other  sea  deities. 
Foreigners  of  the  highest  characters, 
counted  it  a  great  honouf  to  be  ini- 
tiated into  tlie  sacred  mj^steries  of  the 
Samothracian  idolatry.  Paul  passed 
by  this  island  as  he  sailed  to  Mace- 
donia, Acts  xvi.  1.  but  when  Chris- 
tianity was  here  first  settled,  we 
knoAv  not. 

SAi^lSON,/ws  service,  or  ministry, 
the  son  of  Manoah  a  Danise.  After 
his  mother  had  been  long  barren,  the 
Angel  Jehovah  appeared  to  her, 
and  informed  her  that  she  should  have 
a  son,  who  should  begin  to  deliver  Is- 
rael out  of  the  hands  of  the  Philistines, 
who  then  had  begun  to  oppress  them. 
He  ordered  her  to  drink  no  wine  or 
strong  drink  during  her  pregnancy, 
nor  to  eat  of  anj'^  thing  unclean  ;  but 
to  consecrate  the  child  to  God,  aud 
bring  him  up  as  a  Nazarite  from  his 
infancy ;  but  refused  to  tell  her  who 
he  was.  She  went  and  informed  her 
husband  Manoah  of  v.hat  had  hap- 
pened. He  prayed  to  the  Lord 
that  the  man  of  God  who  had  spoken 
to  his  wife,  would  again  appear, 
and  give  further  directions  concern- 
ing tiie  education  of  the  child.  The 
angel    again   appeared   to    the  wo- 


man, and  she  went  and  informed  her 
husband,and  he  immediately  with  her 
hasted  to  the  angel,  who  repeated  his 
former  directions.  Manoah  and  his 
wife  begged  he  would  tarry  a  little, 
till  they  pre|)ared  a  kid  for  his  enter- 
tainment. He  told  them  he  would 
eat  none  of  their  meat  suppose  it 
were  ready,  and  bade  them  offer 
their  burnt-offering  to  the  Lord. 
They  asked  his  name,  that  after  ihe 
fulfilment  of  his  predictions,  they 
might  know  whom  to  honour  as  their 
informer.  He  refused,  and  told  them 
his  name  was  secret,  or  rvondcrjid. 
Meanwhile,  Manoah  ofiered  his  kid 
and  a*meat-offering,  on  the  rock  be- 
side them,  and  the  angel  ascended 
up  to  heaven  in  thefiame.  IManoah 
and  his  wife,  who,  till  now,  had 
thought  him  a  man,  were  seized 
with  terror,  and  fell,  on  their  faces 
towards  the  ground.  Manoah  con- 
cluded, that  since  they  had  seen  an 
angel  they  must  die  ;  but  his  wife 
more  justly  inferred,  that  if  the  Lord 
had  intended  to  kill  them,  he  would 
not  have  accepted  their  offering,  nor 
given  them  such  information  con- 
cerning their  son. 

Next  year,  which  \vas  about  A.  M. 
2848  or  2872,  Samson  was  born. 
By  endowing  his  mind  with  uncom- 
Inou  bravery,  and  his  body  with  su- 
pernatural strength,  the  Holy  Ghost 
early  marked  him  out  for  some  grand 
exploits.  He  dwelt  at  Mahane-dan 
between  Zorah  and  Eshtaol.  Going 
one  day  to  Timnath,  then  in  the 
hand  of  the  Philistines,  he  saw  a 
young  woman  who  engaged  his  af- 
fection. He  requested  his  parents 
to  procure  her  for  hira  to  wife.  They 
represented,  that  it  would  be  more 
proper  he  should  marry  a  wife  of  his 
own  people.  As  he  insisted  on  his 
request  they  supposed  it  might  be 
a  motion  from  God  to  bring  about 
the  deliverance  of  their  nation,  and 
at  last  went  with  him  to  Timnath 
to  procure  him  the  woman.  By  the 
way,  Samson  turned  a  little  abidc^ 
and  a  young  lion  came  roaring  to 
devour  him.  Without  so  much  as  a 
staff  in  his  hand,  he  caught  the  furi- 


SAM 


(     399     ) 


S  A  IM 


oaa  beast,  and  rent  him  to  pitce?,  a?| 
ifjie  liad  been  a  kiil.  He  hasted  al- 
ter his  parent?,  but  ioU\  tlieni  nothitit:; 
of  his  renilino;  tlie  lion.  Sometime 
alter,  as  they  a^aia  went  toTimnatli 
to  celebrate  the  mi|itial3,  Samson 
turned  as^itle  to  see  the  carcass  of  the 
lion.  To  his  surprise,  he  found  a 
swarm  of  bees  had  hived  in  it.  He 
ate  a  part  of  the  honey,  and  carried 
some  to  his  parents;  but  to  mani- 
fest his  continued  humility,  he  still 
kept  secret  his  killing  of  the  lion. 

When  the  marriage  was  celebrated 
at  Timnuth,  30  young  men  of  the 
place  attended  him.  As  they  began 
to  entertain  one  another  with  per- 
plexing riddles  to  be  solved,  Samson 
proposed  to  give  them  a  riddle, 
which,  if  they  explained  during  the 
seven  days  of  the  feast,  they  should 
have  tliirty  sheets,  and  as  many  suits 
of  ap|)orel;  but  if  not,  they  should 
give  him  the  same.  On  their  agree- 
ing to  the  i)roposal,  he  told  them 
his  riddle,  which  was,  "Out  of  the 
eater  came  forth  meat,  and  out  ot 
the  strong  came  forth  sweetness." 
After  they  had  long,  to  no  purpose, 
endeavoured  to  guess  at  its  meaning, 
they  urged  his  wife  by  entreaties, 
and  e\en  threatenings  to  burn  her 
and  her  father's  family,  if  she  did 
not  procure  them  information,  and 
get  the  secret  out  of  her  husband. 
By  her  continued  entreaties  and 
weeping,  she  obtained  it,  and  im- 
mediately informed  her  countrymen. 
On  the  seventh  day,  just  before  sun- 
set, the)'  asked  Samson,  "  What  was 
SAveeter  than  honey  ?  or  what  was 
stronger  than  a  lion  ?"  Samson  af- 
firmed, that  if  they  had  not  i)loughetl 
with  his  heifer,  i.  e.  ticalt  with  his 
unfaithful  wife,  they  had  never  found 
it  out.  Animated  by  the  Spirit  of 
God,  he  Avent  direct!)'  to  Askelon, 
anil  killing  30  Philistines,  he  gave 
their  clothes  to  his  30  companions. 
Oflended  with  his  wife's  treachery, 
he  left  her  with  her  fatlier,  and  went 
home  wiMi  his  parents.  Her  father 
imagining  he  had  quite  forsaken  her, 
married  her  to  one  of  the  30  young 
men  who  attended  the  wedding. — 


When  Samson's  anger  subsided  lie 
\venf  back  (o  vi.-it  her,  and  compli- 
mented her  with  a  kid.  As  she  had 
luen  given  to  another,  her  father  de- 
nied liim  access  to  her  chamber,  and 
desired  hitn  to  marry  her  3ounger 
sister  who  was  more  Leauliful.  lient 
on  revenge,  Samson,  and  such 
others  as  he  employed,  caught  300 
foxes,  for  they  were  very  numerou.s 
in  that  country,  and  tying  them  to- 
gether tail  to  tail,  with  a  lire-brand 
lietween  them,  he  let  them  go  into 
the  Philistine'sfields  of  standing  c<nn. 
The  ripe  corn  took  flame,  and  was 
quickly  consumed;  the  vines  too, 
and  olive-trees,  were  scorched  or 
burnt.  Knowing  that  the  injury  he 
had  received  from  his  fatl;er-in-law 
was  the  cause  of  his  conduct,  the 
Philistines  burnt  his  treacherous  wife 
and  her  father  to  death.  Samson  as- 
sured them,  that  he  would  be  fur- 
ther avenged  on  them  before  he 
ceased.  He  smote  them  hip  and 
thigh  wherever  he  met  them,  and  af- 
ter cutting  off  great  numbers  of 
them,  retired  to  the  rock  Etam,  about 
eight  miles  or  more  south-west  from 
Jerusalem.  Informed  of  this,  the 
Philistines  invaded  the  territories  of 
Judah,  and  demanded  that  Samson 
their  destroyer  should  be  given  up 
to  them.  Three  thousand  Jews  went 
up  to  the  top  of  the  rock,  and  told 
him  they  were  come  to  bind  and  de- 
liver him  into  the  hand  of  their  Phi- 
listine masters.  I' pen  their  giving 
him  their  oath,  that  they  would  not 
kill  him  themselves,  he  allowed  them 
to  bind  him.  Great  was  the  joy  of 
the  Philistines,  as  they  received  him 
bound  ;  but  all  of  a  sudden,  he  snapt 
asunder  the  cords  wherewith  he  v,  as 
tied,  and  taking  up  the  jaw-bone  of 
an  ass  that  lay  at  his  feet,  he  there- 
with slew  1,000  of  the  Philistines. 
To  check  any  vain  ostentation  on  ac- 
count of  his  victory,  he  almost  fainted 
for  thirst.  On  his  humble  request, 
the  Lord  opened  a  Avcll  in  a  hollow- 
place  of  the  rock,  and  perhaps  just 
under  the  jaw-lx)ne,  which  he  had 
flung  from  him,  out  of  which  he 
drank,  and  allayed  his  thirst.     To 


SAM 


(     400     ) 


SAM 


coniniemorate  the  event,  the  place 
was  called  Lehi,  the  jaw-bone  ;  or 
Rainath-Lehi,  the  lifting  up  of  the 
jawbone  ;  and  the  fountain,  Euhak- 
kore,thc  well  of  him  that  cried. 

Some  time  after,  Samson  taking  a 
fancy  to  a  harlot  of  Gaza,  lodged 
in  her  house.  Informed  of  this,  the 
Philistines  set  a  watch  at  the  gates 
to  kill  him  as  he  went  out  in  the 
morning.  Having  got  notice  of  their 
designs,  he  rose  about  midnight,  and 
going  off,  carried  with  him  the  posts 
and  doors  of  their  gate,  to  the  top 
of  the  hill  before  Hebron,  Avhich  we 
can  hardly  think  could  be  less  than 
20  or  30  miles.  Not  long  after,  he 
fell  in  love  with  one  Delilah,  a  beau- 
tiful woman,  who  lived  in  the  valley 
of  Sorek,  in  the  tribe  of  Judah,  near 
the  land  of  the  Philistines,  who  be- 
came a  grievous  scourge  to  him. 
Whether  this  Delilah  was  a  woman 
of  Israel,  or  one  of  the  daughters  of 
the  Philistines,  who  at  this  time  were 
rulers  in  the  country  of  Judah ;  or 
whether  she  Avas  his  wife,  or  a  har- 
lot only,  is  not  expressed  in  scrip- 
ture: for  this  reason,  some  are  of 
opinion  that  he  was  married  to  her ; 
but  if  so,  as  BIr.  Pool  observes,  some 
mention,  one  would  think,  there 
should  have  been  of  the  marriage 
ceremonies,  in  this  as  well  as  in  his 
former  wife's  case  ;  oior  can  we  think 
that  the  Philistines  would  have  been 
so  bold  as  to  draw  her  into  their 
party,  and  to  bribe  her  to  betray  him 
into  their  hands,  had  she  been  his 
lawful  wife.  It  appears  indeed  by 
her  whole  behaviour,  that  she  was  a 
mercenary  woman,  who  would  do 
any  thing  to  get  money,  and  accord- 
ingly Josephus  calls  her  a  common 
prostitute  of  the  Philistines.  How- 
ever this  may  be,  the  princes  of  the 
Philistines  observing  Samson's  pas- 
sion for  this  woman,  came  and  pro- 1 
niised  each  of  them  to  give  her  ele- ' 
Ven  hundred  pieces  of  silver,  nearly 
700^.  sterling,  if  she  would  learn  of 
him,  and  discover  to  them,  what| 
might  be  the  cause  of  his  wonderful 
strength,  and  how  he  might  be  de- 
prived of  it,  Judg.  xvi.     This  she 


undertook  to  do,  and  failed  not  to 
employ  all  her  arts  and  solicitations 
to  get  the  important  secret  from  him. 
For  some  time  he  amused  her  with 
fictions,  and  made  her  believe  that 
his  strength  consisted  first  in  one 
thing,  and  then  in  another  ;  first  he 
j  told  her,  that  if  they  bound  him  with 
I  bands  of  green  withs  that  were  never 
'dried,  he  should  be  as  weak  as  other 
I  men;  afterwards  he  told  her,  thai 
tying  him  with  ropes  that  had  never 
been  used ;  and  again,  weaving  his 
hair  into  tresses,  would  deprive  him 
of  his  strength;  but  these  being  mere 
stories,  she,  upon  trial,  found  that 
all  signified  nothing;  wherefore  be- 
taking herself  to  all  her  arts  and 
wiles,  she  complained  of  his  false- 
ness, and  upbraided  him  with  his 
want  of  love,  since  he  withheld  a 
thing  from  her  which  she  was  so  im- 
patient to  know;  and  thus  having 
prevailed  with  him  at  length  to  tell 
her  the  secret,  viz.  that  in  the  pre- 
servation of  his  hair,  for  he  Avas  a 
Nazarite  from  his  birth,  his  strength 
and  security  lay.  Deliah  believing 
she  had  now  got  the  secret  from  him, 
sent  word  thereof  to  some  of  the 
chief  of  the  Philistines,  who  came 
and  paid  her  the  money  they  had 
agreed  to  give  her;  and  when  she 
had  cut  off  his  hair,  as  he  lay  sleep- 
ing in  her  la[),  the  Philistines  rushed 
in  and  apprehending  him,  put  out  his 
eyes,  and  carrying  him  to  Gaza,  put 
him  in  prison,  and  made  him  grind 
at  their  corn-mill,  as  a  contemptible 
slave.  When  he  had  continued  here 
about  a  year,  his  strength  returned 
with  the  growth  of  his  hair.  While 
the  Philistines  observed  a  solemn 
thanksgiving  to  Dagon  their  god,  for 
delivering  Samson  their  destroyer  in- 
to their  hand,  the  lords  appointed 
him  to  be  brought  to  their  temj)lc, 
to  make  them  diversion.  The  apart- 
ment was  cai)acious  but  was  throng- 
ed, and  not  a  few  from  the  roof  or 
from  galleries,  beheld  the  sport. 
As  the  roof  was  supported  by  two 
pillars,  Samson,  after  being  suffici- 
ently insulted,  desired  the  boy  who 
led  him,  to  guide  him  to  the  pillar?, 


I 


Pavl  S.-  Thnmn^y  Print. 


S^SMSOJV, 


■••«*: 


it  I 

i 


t^iv 


SAM 


(    ^o\    ) 


SAM 


that  he  might  lean  thereon.  Having 
«:o(  hold  ol' (hem,  ami  lu-i.ig  divinely 
warranted  to  lay  down  liiu  life  for 
the  service  ot  l)is  nation,  and  tiie  de- 
struction of  their  Phili.>^tino  foes,  he, 
after  a  shitrt  pr.iver,  pidled  down 
tlie  pillars  and  the  temple  abont  (heir 
tars,  l>y  which  means  several  thou- 
sands were  Killeil,  even  more  than 
all  he  had  .-lain  in  his  life.  Thus  fell 
Samson,  after  ho  had  judged  Israel 
'20  years,  and  lived  about  38.  His 
friends,  hearing  of  his  death,  came 
and  carried  olT  his  corpse,  and  bu- 
ried it  in  the  sepulchre  of  his  ances- 
tors, Judges xiii.  to  xvi.  That,  with 
all  his  faults,  he  was  a  real  believer, 
is  testified  by  the  Holy  Ghost;  though 
some  imagine  the  passage  only  means, 
that  he  had  that  faith  whereby  he  was 
qualified  for  uncommon  exploits, 
Heb.  xi.  32,  33. 

Did  this  Jewish  hero  typify  our  al- 
mighty Redeemer?  How  express  the 
prediction,  and  supernatural  the  man- 
ner of  his  birth !  how  solemn  his  se- 
l)aration  to  the  service  of  God  !  how 
wonderfull}'  invigorating  the  spiri- 
tual influence  he  was  possessed  of! 
how  early  and  marvellous  his  ex- 
ploits! Should  I  say,  what  rest  for 
numerous  multitudes  of  sinful  men, 
is  prepared  by  his  victory  over  sin, 
Satan,  and  death !  how^  important 
his  parables,  and  known  only  to  such 
as  have  fellowship  with  himself!  how 
basely  Judas  and  his  countrymen  be- 
trayed him,  and  delivered  him  to  the 
Gentiles,  that  he  might  be  crucified. 
His  enenues  rejoiced  to  seal  him  up, 
and  watch  him  in  his  grave;  but  he 
broke  the  bands,  and  carried  otf  the 
gates  and  bars  of  death,  and,  ascend- 
ing up  on  high,  led  captivity  cap- 
tive. All  alone  he  performed  his 
grand  exploits.  By  a  voluntary  death 
in  his  despised  manhood,  according 
to  his  Father's  will,  he  destroyed 
principalities  and  powers.  By  the 
contemned  preaching  of  the  gospel, 
he  conquers  thousands  of  souls,  and 
slays  ten  thousands  of  lusts:  how 
dreadful  his  vengeance !  By  the  Ro- 
mans, like  fire-branded  foxes,  he 
spread   ruin  among  his  Jewish  on- 

VOL.    If. 


|)0sers,  and  burnt  up  their  cities. 
By  outrageous  and  ravaging  Goths, 
Saracens,  Tartars,  Turks,  <V;c.  he  re- 
sented the  injuries  done  to  his  cause. 
And,  in  fine,  how  shall  his  fiery 
vengeance  for  ever  prey  on  the  final- 
ly impenitent ! 

SAMUEL,  or  siir.MiEii,  heard  of 
God,  aakcd  of  God,  the  son  of  Elka- 
nah  by  HANNAir,  and  the  ItJth  in  de- 
scent from  Korah,  the  seditious  Le- 
vite.  He  was  born  about  (he  same 
time  with  Samson ;  and  as  his  mother, 
after  long  barrenness,  obtained  him 
by  earnest  prayer,  she  devoted  him  to 
the  service  of  God,  as  a  Nazarite  from 
his  infancy;  and  after  he  w  as  weaned, 
was  assigned  to  Eli  the  high  priest,  to 
bring  him  up  in  the  service  of  the  ta- 
bernacle. When  Eli,  by  reason  of  age, 
could  hardly  officiate,  and  was  sin- 
fully indulgent  towards  his  sons,  who 
profaned  the  service  of  God,  the  Lord 
one  morning,  ere  the  lamps  of  the 
tabernacle  w^ere  extinguished,  called 
to  Samuel  by  his  name,  as  he  lay  in 
a  bed  very  near  to  that  of  Eli.  Sa- 
muel thought  it  had  been  Eli,  and 
ran  hastily  to  ask  him  his  will.  Eli 
bid  him  lie  down  again,  for  he  had 
not  called  him.  As  all  this  was  re- 
peated thrice,  Eli  at  last  suspected 
God  had  spoken  to  Samuel,  and  bid 
him  go  lie  down  again,  and  if  he 
was  called  any  more,  to  reply,  Speak, 
Lord,  for  thy  servant  heaieth.  Sa- 
muel did  so.  The  Lord  again  call- 
ed him,  and  told  him  what  shocking 
calamities  would  quickly  come  upon 
the  Hebrews,  and  ujjon  the  family 
of  Eli,  because  he  had  not  restrained 
the  wickedness  of  his  sons.  At  Eli's 
request,  Samuel,  not  without  reluc- 
tance, related  all  this  to  him.  From 
this  time  forth,  Samuel  was  taken 
notice  of  as  a  prophet  of  the  Lord. 
When  Eli  died,  Samuel,  now  about 
40  years  of  age,  succeeded  him  as 
judge  of  Israel.  Having  assembled 
liie  people,  probably  on  the  occasion 
of  tlieir  removal  of  the  ark  from  Beth- 
slicmesh  to  Kirjathjeariro,  he  warned 
them  to  put  away  their  idols,  and  re- 
turn to  the  Lord,  and  he  would  grant 
them  deliverance.  He  dismissed  them 
3  E 


SAM 


(     402     ) 


SAM 


for  the  present,  and  ordered  them  to 
meet  him  in  a  body  at  Mizpeh,  a 
place  about  16  or  1 8  miles  north-west 
of  Jerusalem,  or  perhaps  more  easter- 
ly. There  they  assembled  at  the  ap- 
pointed time  ;  and  as  many  of  them 
had  long,  perhaps  about  20  years, 
bewailed  the  case  of  their  country, 
and  cried  to  the  Lord  for  deliver- 
ance, they  now,  at  a  solemn  fast  ap- 
pointed by  Samuel,  confessed  and 
mourned  over  their  sins,  and  instead 
of  drink-offerings  of  wine,  poured 
out  water  before  the  Lord.  Mean- 
while, the  Philistines  dreading  their 
intentions,  marched  to  attack  them. 
The  Hebrews  begged  Samuel  would 
pray  for  them  :  he  did  so,  and  offer- 
ed a  lamb  for  a  burnt-offering.  God 
terrified  the  Philistines,  and  struck 
many  of  them  with  death.  The  rest 
fled  off  in  the  utmost  consternation  ; 
the  Hebrews  pursued  them  as  far  as 
Bethcar,  and  recovered  from  them  the 
cities  which  they  had  taken  from 
them;  nor,  after  that,  did  the  Philis- 
tines ravage  the  Hebrew  territories 
any  more  during  the  government  of 
Samuel.  To  commemorate  this  not- 
ed deliverance,  he  set  up  a  stone  or 
pillar,  calling  it  Ebenezer,  theifowc 
of  help,  because  their  God  had  help- 
ed them.  For  the  more  regular  ad- 
ministration of  justice,  Samuel  every 
year  look  a  tour  from  Ramah  to 
Bethel,  thence  to  Gilgal,  and  thence 
to  Mizpeh,  (perhaps  that  in  Gilead,) 
and  thence  returned  home  to  Ramah, 
where  he  built  an  altar  for  his  own 
devotion,  and  that  of  those  Hebrews 
who  flocked  to  him  from  the  coun- 
try round  about,  to  ask  his  direction, 
or  to  have  their  causes  decided,  1 
Sam.  i.  to  iii.  and  vii.  1  Chron.  vi. 
22.  to  28. 

He  had  two  sons,  Joel  or  Vashni, 
the  father  of  Henman  the  singer,  and 
Abiah,  Avhom,  in  his  old  age,  heap- 
pointed  judges  of  the  people.  Un- 
like to  their  father,  they  perverted 
justice,  and  received  bribes.  The 
elders  of  Israel  made  a  handle  of  this 
to  ask  a  king,  that  they  might  be  like 
the  nations  around.  Samuel  disre- 
lishing  the   motion,    consulted   the 


Lord.  Provoked  with  the  sinful  pro- 
posal, the  Lord  bid  him  grant  the 
people  their  desire,  since  they  were 
weary  of  the  divine  government ;  but 
first  to  warn  them  what  manner  of 
tyrants,  (that  would  oblige  their  chil- 
dren to  serve  in  their  wars,  or  drudge 
in  their  house  or  field,  and  would  op- 
press them  with  heavy  taxes  and 
otherwise,)  they  might  expect,  ac- 
cording to  their  own  proposal.  They 
persisted  in  their  motion.  About 
A.  M.  2909,  the  Lord  directed  him 
to  anoint  Saul,  to  be  their  king; 
and  after  that  he  confirmed  the  king- 
dom to  him  at  Gilgal.  On  that  oc- 
casion, after  their  peace-offerings 
were  finished,  Samuel  solemnly  chal- 
lenged the  assembly  to  accuse  him, 
if  they  could,  of  the  least  injustice  in 
his  administration.  They  solemnly 
declared  they  could  not  accuse  him 
of  any.  After  rehearsing  the  various 
appearances  of  God  in  their  favour, 
while  the  theocracy  lasted,  he  warned 
them  to  take  heed  to  serve  the  Lord, 
and  thus  entail  on  themselves  sig- 
nal blessings.  He  told  them,  that 
though  now  it  was  \vheat-harvest, 
when  thunder  or  rain  seldom  happen- 
ed, yet  a  storm  should  happen  that 
very  day,  to  testify  God's  dis{)leasui'e 
at  their  request  of  a  king.  At  Sam- 
uel's desire,  the  Lord  sent  the  storm. 
The  thunder  terrified  the  people,  and 
they  begged  the  forgiveness  of  their 
offence.  After  he  had  solemnly  warn- 
ed them  against  aposlacy  from  the 
service  of  the  true  God,  and  bad  en- 
gaged to  continue  his  prayers  for 
them,  he  dismissed  them,  and  return- 
ed to  his  house,  and  never  afterward 
appears  to  have  acted  as  a  judge,  1 
Sam.  viii.  to  xii.  Two  years  after, 
he  sharply  reproved  king  Saul  for 
offering  sacrifice,  and  warned  him  of 
his  losing  his  kingdom.  Almost  20 
years  after,  he,  by  the  direction  of 
God,  ordered  Saul  to  go  and  slay  the 
Amalekites,  and  what  pertained  to 
them.  At  his  return,  Samuel  sharply 
rebuked  his  rebellion  against  God's 
commandment,  in  sparing  the  best 
of  the  sheep,  and  Agag  the  king; 
and  then  hewed  the  Jatler  in  piece? 


s  A  ai 


(     403     ) 


S  A  M 


before  the  Lord.  He  (old  Saul  tliat 
lor  his  rebellion,  tiie  Lord  had  re- 
jected him,  and  would  give  the  king- 
dom to  one  of  his  neighbours.  Upon 
Saul's  earnest  desire,  he  honoured  him 
8o  Car  before  the  |)eo|)le,  as  to  join  in 
])ul)lic  \vorshi|>  with  him  ;  and  then 
leaving  him,  never  visited  him  more 
till  his  death,  but  continued  to  la- 
ment his  fate,  1  Sam.  xiii.  and  xv. 
To  comfort  Samuel  against  his 
grief,  the  Lord  ordered  him  to  an- 
oint one  of  Jesse  the  Bethlemite's 
sons  to  be  king  after  Saul.  To  con- 
ceal the  matter,  and  |)revent  Saul's 
murderous  rage  against  hin),  he  was 
directed  to  take  a  heifer  with  him, 
and  offer  it  for  a  peace-ofiering.  The 
elders  of  the  [)lace  were  afraid  of  his 
coming;  but  lie  removed  their  fears, 
and  told  them  he  came  with  a  good 
design,  and  called  them  to  pre- 
|>are  themselves  for  the  sacrifice 
which  he  intended  to  ofler.  He  him- 
self sanctified  Jesse  and  his  sons  for 
that  occasion.  After  the  sacrifice,  he 
had  a  secret  interview  with  Jesse  and 
his  sons.  When  Eliab  the  eldest  ap- 
peared before  him,  his  stately  appear- 
ance made  him  conclude  that  he  was 
the  person  a!)poiated  to  be  king.  The 
Lord  suggested  to  him  that  he  was 
not ;  and  (hat  the  Lord  did  not,  as  men 
do,  look  on  the  outward  appearance, 
but  on  (he  heart.  The  seven  of 
Jesse's  sons  that  where  pi-esent,  passed 
before  him  in  their  turns;  but  the 
Lord  suggested  to  him,  and  he  told 
Jesse,  that  no  one  of  these  was  the 
person  appointed  to  be  king.  Under- 
standing that  David  the  youngest 
was  with  the  sheep,  he  was  sent  for 
directly,  an«l  God  directed  Samuel  to 
anoint  him.  It  is  probable,  that  none 
but  Jesse,  David,  and  Samuel,  knew 
of  this  unction.  After  performing 
it,  Samuel  returned  to  Ramah,  where 
he  presided  over  a  body  of  young 
men,  who  had  devoted  themselves 
to  the  peculiar  service  of  God.  Pro- 
bably about  sixteen  or  seventeen 
years  after,  he  died,  greatly  lament- 
ed, about  A.  M.  2947,  1  Sam.  xvi. 
1 — 13.  and  xix.  18  to  24.  and  xxv. 
1.  Samuel  was  a  noted  prophet,  and 


the  first  in  the  continued  8UCces«iori 
of  prophets  that  endetl  in  Malachi. 
He  wrote  in  a  book  rules  for  the  ma- 
nagement of  the  kingdom,  [lointiug 
out  to  the  king  and  ptoide  their  pro- 
[»er  rights  ;  but  it  is  said,  some  of  the 
Hebrew  kings  afterwards  destroyed 
it,  that  they  might  rule  as  they  pleas- 
ed. He  wrote  part  of  the  history  of 
David,  and  is  supiiosed  to  have  writ- 
ten the  books  of  Judges  and  Ruth. 
He  de<licated  considerable  spoils  to 
the  service  of  God,  and  began  to  re- 
gulate the  order  of  the  priests  and 
Levitea  in  their  sacred  service,  1 
Sam.  X.  25.  1  Chron.  xxix.  29.  and 
xxvi.  28.  and  ix.  10.  Though  his 
extraordinary  character,  and  the  bro- 
ken state  of  the  church,  induced  his 
occasional  offering  of  sacrifice,  yet 
there  is  no  proper  reason  to  reckon 
him  a  priest,  more  than  Gideon,  or 
Elijah,  or  Mauoah. 

Of  the  two  books  of  Samuel,  called 
by  the  Vulgate  version  the  books  of 
Kings;  the  first  of  which,  probably 
tlie  first  24  chapters,  were  written  by 
Samuel,  contains  the  history  of  about 
120  years,  or  perhaps  less ;  the  se- 
cond contains  the  history  of  David's 
reign,  extending  to  40  years.  The 
style  of  these  books  is  extremely 
plain  and  easy  for  a  learner. 

Did  this  Hebrew  judge  and  prophet 
typify  the  blessed  Jesus?  How  ar- 
dently desired,  and  supernatural  his 
birth  '.  How  early  was  he  devoted  to, 
fitted  for,  and  employed  in  the  ser- 
vice of  God !  how  extensive  his  of- 
fice !  at  once  the  illuminated  Prophet  t 
the  extraordinary  Priest,  and  the  so- 
vereign Judge,  of  God's  true  Israel ! 
how  effectually  atoning  is  his  sacri- 
fice, and  prevalent  his  intercession, 
to  preserve  friendship  with  heaven, 
and  obtain  spiritual  and  other  victo- 
ries on  earth !  how  marvellous  his 
conquests  of  our  enemies,  and  restor- 
ation of  the  treacherously  abandoned 
worshif)  of  his  Father!  how  gracious 
his  instructions,  sharp  his  reproofs, 
and  certain  his  predictions  ;  how  by 
him  do  kings  reign  and  princes  de- 
cree justice  !  how  candid,  generous, 
and  just,  his  whole  management !  yet 


SAN 


(     404    ) 


SAN 


liow  wickedly  was  he  rejected  by] 
his  brethren  the  Jews,  who  desired! 
a  temporal  deliverer !  and  still  is  by 
carnal  professors !  But  how  broken 
and  distressing  is  their  case,  till 
they  seek  the  Lord,  and  David 
their  king ! 

How  SANBALLAT,  the  native, 
we  think,  of  Horonaim,  in  the  coun- 
try of  Moab,  with  his  friends,  To- 
biah  and  Geshem,  were  vexed  at 
Neheniiah's  coming  from  Persia,  and 
rebuilding  the  wall  of  Jerusalem ; 
what  methods  they  used  by  fraud  to 
destroy  him  ;  and  how  Sanballat  got 
a  temple  built  for  Manasseh,  his  son- 
in-law;  may  be  seen  under  NehexMI- 
AH,  and  Samaritans,  Neh.  ii.iv.  and 
vi. 

SANCTIFY,  (1.)  To  prepare  or 
set  apart  persons  or  thincs  to  a  holy 
use,  Exod.  xix.  23.  God  sanctified 
Christ,  when  he  set  him  apart,  to  his 
mediatory  office,  and  furnished  him 
with  gifts  and  graces  for  the  dis- 
charge of  it,  John  X.  36.  Christ 
sanclifiedhhnself ;  by  his  solemn  pray- 
er he  surrendered  himself  to,  and 
prepared  himself  for,  siifferiag  work  ; 
and  by  his  suffering,  he  prepared 
himself  to  be  our  complete  Saviour, 
John  xvii.  19.  He  was  sanctified  by 
his  own  blood:  by  the  shedding  of  it, 
he  was  set  apart  and  fitted  to  be  an 
everlasting  and  glorious  Intercessor 
and  Saviour,  Heb.  x.  29.  The  He- 
brews in  general  were  sanctified, 
when  separated  from  the  rest  of  the 
world,  brought  into  covenant-rela- 
tion to  God,  and  ceremonially  puri- 
fied by  atonements,  washings,  &c. 
Exod.  xxxi.  13.  God  sanctifies  the 
Sabbath,  by  setting  it  apart  for  a 
holy  and  religious  use.  Gen.  ii.  3. 
The  Jewish  tabernacle,  tem|)le,  ves- 
sels, priests,  and  Levites,  were  sa7i<;- 
tijied,  when  set  apart  to  the  service 
of  God,  and  ceremonially  prepared 
for  it  by  sprinkling  of  blood  or  oil, 
or  by  washing  with  water,  Exod. 
XXX.  29.  and  xxviii.  41.  Lev.  viii. 
12.  The  Medes  and  Persians  are 
represented  as  God's  sanctified  ones ; 
he  set  them  apart,  and  prepared 
them  as  priests,  to  make  a  bloody 


sacrifice  of  the  Assyrians  and  Chal- 
deans to  his  just  vengeance,  Zeph.  i. 
7.  Isa.  xiii.  3.  compare  Jer.  xxii.  7. 
The  Hebrew  word  which  we  render 
to  sanctify,  signifies  also  to  prepare , 
Jer.  vi.  4.  and  xii.  3.  and  li.  27,  23. 
Men  sanctify  themselves,  when  they 
set  themselves  apart  to  God's  ser- 
vice, and  prepare  to  appear  before 
him  in  a  proper  condition  and  holy 
frame,  and  study  to  be  qualified  to 
partake  of  holy  things,  Exod.  xix. 
10,  11.  Numb.  xi.  18.  Josh  iii.  5. 
Meat  is  sanctified  by  the  word  of  God 
and  hy  prayer,  when  freed  from  the 
curse  and  its  effects,  and  set  apart  to 
be  used  in  the  service  of  God,  1  Tim. 
iv.  5.  (2.)  '^Po  use  in  religious  ex- 
ercises, or  in  a  holy  manner;  so  men 
sanctify  the  Sabbath,  Deut.  v.  12. 
They  sanctify  a  fast,  when  they  set 
it  apart  to,  and  use  it  in  holy  exercises, 
Joel  i.  14.  (3.)  To  show  or  manifest 
that  to  be  holy  which  is  so,  Lev.  x. 
3.  Isa.  xxix.  13.  Ezek.  xxxvi.  23. 
GoA  sanctifies  himself  or  his  name, 
when,  by  his  providential  works,  he 
manifests  his  holiness  and  equity,  and 
orders  all  things  to  his  own  glory, 
Ezek.  xxxviii.  23.  Men  sanctify  God, 
or  his  name,  when  they  regard  and 
revere  every  thing  whereby  he  mak- 
eth  himself  known ;  when  they  con- 
fess his  holiness  and  justice,  and  by 
their  obedience  to  his  will  show  a  sin- 
cere regard  to  it,  Isa.  viii.  13.  Numb. 
XX.  12.  (4.)  To  make  holy  what 
was  before  defiled  and  sinful;  so  the 
saints  are  sanctified,  when,  by  the 
blood  of  Jesus  sprinkled  on  their 
conscience,  to  remove  the  curse,  and 
to  purge  their  heart  from  dead  works, 
and  by  the  Holy  Ghost  entering  in- 
to them,  removing  their  corruption, 
and  bestowing  on  them  his  grace, 
they  are  set  apart  to  God's  service, 
and  conformed  to  his  image,  Heb, 
X.  14.  They  are  sanctified  hy  God 
the  Father ;  he  separates  them  to  his 
service,  and  sends  his  spirit  to  make 
them  holj%  Jude  1.  They  are  sanc- 
tified in  Christ  Jesus,  and  he  is  made 
of  God  unto  them  sanctification. 
Christ  is  their  sanctification  by  im- 
parting divine  influence  to  their  souls, 


SAN 


(     405     ) 


SAN 


workin?  in  them  all  that  holiness  of 
temper  and  motive  which  is  essen- 
tially necessary  to  their  happiness 
and  usefulness  in  this  uorUI,  and 
eternal  salvation  in  that  whii-h  is  to 
come-,  1  Cor.  i.  2,  30.  They  are  simc- 
tified  by  thr  llatii  Gtiost,i\s  he,by  nieans 
of  God's  word  an»l  onliiiances,  applies 
the  !)lood  of  Christ  to  their  conscience; 
implants  and  increases  their  holy  dis- 
positions, and  directs,  excites,  and 
enables  them  to  perform  their  good 
■works,  Rom.  v.  16.  John  xvii.  17. 

Sanctification  of  men,  as  a  pri- 
rilegc,  is  [mrchased  for,  given  to,  and 
wrought  in  us,  by  a  gracious  God. 
As  a  duty  it  should  be  studied  by  us; 
and  in  order  to  attain  it,  we  must  re- 
ceive it  out  of  Christ's  fulness  by  faith 
in  his  person  an<l  promises.  Sancti- 
fication is  either  of  7iature,  whereby 
we  are  renewed  after  tlie  image  of 
God,  in  knowledge,  righteousness, 
and  true  holiness,  E[)h.  iv.  24.  Col. 
iii.  10.  or  of  practice,  whereby  we 
die  unto  siu,  have  its  power  destroy- 
ed in  us,  cease  from  the  love  and 
practice  of  it,  and  hate  it  as  abomi- 
nable, and  live  unto  righteousness, 
loving,  studying,  and  practisii^, 
good  works,  Tit.  ii.  11, 12.  Sancti- 
fication comjjrehends  all  the  graces  of 
knowledge,  faith,  repentance,  love, 
humility,  zeal,  patience,  &c.  and  the 
exercise  of  them  in  our  conduct  to- 
wards God  or  man,  Gal.  v.  22 — 24. 
1  Pet.  i.  15,  16.  Matt.  v.  vi.  and 
vii.  Sanctification  in  this  world  must 
be  complete;  the  whole  man  must  be 
sanctified,  and  the  whole  law  be  re- 
garded, Psal.  cxix.  6.  All  sin  must 
be  utterly  abolif-hed  here,  or  the  soul 
can  never  be  adtnitted  into  the  glori- 
ous presence  of  God,  Heb.  xii.  14. 
1  Pet.  i.  15.  Rev.  xxi.  27.  yet  the 
saints,  while  here,  are  in  a  state  of 
spiritual  warfare  with  Satan  and  his 
temptations,  with  the  world  and  its 
pattern  and  influence,  2  Cor.  ii.  11. 
Gal.v.  17,  24.  Rom.  vii.  23.  1  John 
ii.  15,  16.  That  the  holiness  of  our 
nature  and  practice  is  of  unspeakable 
moment,  appears  from  its  being  the 
end  of  all  the  offices  of  Christ,  Matt. 
i.  21.    Tit.  ii  11,  12,  14.    Heb.  ii. 


10,  11.  and  ix.  14.  and  x.  19—22. 
and  xiii.  12.  Psal.  ex.  the  end  of 
his  al>asenjent  and  his  exaltation, 
Tit.  ii.  14.  1  Pet.  i.  10.  and  ii.  21. 
E[di.  V.  1,4,  25—27.  the  end  of  the 
Holy  Ghost,  in  his  whole  work  on 
Christ  and  his  church,  Tit.  iii.  5,  0. 
Ezek.  XXX vi.  27.  and  the  etjd  of  all 
the  precepts,  |)romises,  and  provi- 
dences of  God,  Matt.  xxii.  37,  38. 
2  Cor.  vii.  1.  1  John  iii.  3.  Rom.  ii. 
4.  Isa.  xxvii.  9.  and  the  end  of  our 
redemption,  calling,  justification, 
adoption,  and  spiritual  comfort,  Eph. 
i.  4,  5.  1  Cor.  xvi.  19,  20.  2  Tim.  i. 

0.  Rom.  vi.  14.  2  Cor.  vi.  13.  1 
Jolm  iii.  1 — 3.    Rom.  v.  21.  and  vi. 

1,  2.  Good  works,  or  holiness  in 
practice,  are  not  neccs.sanj  to  change 
God's  purposes  relative  to  us,  Mai. 
iii.  6.  Jam.  i.  17.  nor  to  qualify  us 
for  receiving  Jesus  Christ  as  a  Savi- 
our, Isa.  Iv.  1 .  Rev.  xxii.  1 7.  but  they 
are  necessary  as  a  part  of  begun  sal- 
vation, Matt.  i.  21.  Roni.  xi.  20. 
necessary  as  corres[)ondent  to  the 
nature  of  the  divine  Person,  in  fel- 
lowship with  whom  our  happiness, 
lies,  Lev.  xi.  44,  45.  1  John  iv.  8. 
16,  19.  Heb.  xii.  28,  29.  necessary 
as  correspondent  to  what  the  Father, 
Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  do  for  us,  in 
our  redemption,  calling,  justification, 
adoption,  sanctification,  and  glorifi- 
cation, Eph.  i.  4.  Tit.  ii.  14.  John 
xvii.  15,  17.  Ezek.  xxxvi.  25 — 31. 
Acts  xxvi.  18.  necessary  as  an  obe- 
dience to  the  will  of  God,  Exod.  xx. 
2 — 18.  necessary  as  expressions  of 
our  gratitude  to  God  for  his  kindness, 
Luke  i.  74,  75.  Rom.  vi.  1,  2,  15- 
Psal.  c.  2 — 4.  and  cxvii.  16.  neces- 
sary as  fruits  and  evidences  of  our 
union  with  Christ,  and  faith  in  him. 
Col.  ii.  6.  Jam.  ii.  17 — 24.  necessa- 
ry to  adorn  our  profession,  and  so 
gain  others  to  Christ,  and  to  a  use- 
ful and  comfortable  method  of  livini; 
in  the  world.  Tit.  ii.  10.  1  Pet.  ii. 
9.  and  iii.  1,2.  1  Cor.  vi.  20.  and 
vii.  16.  Matt.  v.  6.  necessary  as 
means  of  our  growing  in  holiness  and 
happiness,  2  Cor.  i.  12.  1  John  i.  6 
Psal.  cxix.  6,  165.  Prov.  iii.  17. 
and,  ia  fine,  necessary  as  a  proper 


SAN 


C     406     ) 


SAN 


preparation  for  the  hearenly  bless- 
edness, 1  John  iii.  2,  3.  Rom.  ii.  7. 
and  viii.  9.  Heb.  xii.  14.  Gal.  v. 
22 — 25.  Sanctification  is  founded 
upon,  and  is  greatly  promoted  by,  our 
free  justification  through  Christ.  (1.) 
Justification  frees  from  the  curse  ol' 
the  law,  and  ruling  power  of  sin,  1 
Cor.  XV.  56.  Gal.  iii.  13.  Rom.  vi. 
14.  and  vii.  4.  (2.)  Herein  the  wis- 
dom, love,  power,  justice,  mercy,  and 
truth  of  God,  are  engaged  to  bestow 
sanctification  on  the  personsjustified, 
provided  they  follow  on  to  know 
the  Lord,  as  the  quintessence  of  that 
eternal  life  to  which  they  are  called 
in  justification,  Rom.  v.  21.  2 
Tim.  iv.  8.  (3.)  The  blood  of  Je- 
sus Christ  applied  to  our  conscience, 
doth  purge  it  from  dead  works,  to 
serve  the  living  God,  1  Tim.  i.  5. 
Heb.  ix.  14.  and  x.  22.  (4.)  The  per- 
ceiving the  love  of  Christ,  the  good- 
ness, greatness,  and  holiness,  of  God ; 
the  purity,  goodness,  and  indispen- 
sable obligation,  of  the  law  as  a  rule  ; 
the  amazing  vileness  and  tremen- 
dous desert  of  sin,  the  beauty  of  holi- 
ness, and  the  certainty  of  strength 
for,  and  reward  of  it;  powerfully 
excites  and  enables  us  to  holiness  in 
all  manner  of  conversation,  2  Cor.  v. 
14.  Gal.  iii.  14.  Matt.  iii.  15.  and 
T.  17,  18.  Zech.  xii.  10.  and  x.  12. 
Isa.  xlv.  24. 

SANCTUARY,  a  holy  or  sancti- 
fied place,  as,  (1.)  The  Holy  ol 
Holies,  where  the  ark  and  its  appur- 
tenances, and  the  cloud  representing 
the  divine  glory,  stood,  Lev.  iv.  6. 
or  the  furniture  of  this  holy  place, 
Numb.  X.  21.  (2.)  The  apartment 
where  the  golden  candlestick,  table 
of  show-bread,  altar  of  incense,  &c. 
stood,  2  Chron.  xxvi.  18.  (3.)  The 
whole  tabernacle  or  temple.  Josh, 
xxiv.  20.  2  Chron.  xx.  8.  It  is  called 
the  sanctuary  of  strens^th,  because  it 
was  a  strong  place,  and  easily  forti- 
fied, and  it  belonged  to  God  the 
strength  of  Israel,  Dan.  xi.  31.  a 
ivorldly  sanctuary^  as  it  was  of  a  car- 
nal and  earthly  typical  nature,  Heb. 
xi.  1.  Nay,  the  sacred  courts  are 
sometimes  included,  and  called  the 


sanctuary,  Lev.  xii.  4.  (4.)  Any 
place  appointed  for  the  public  wor- 
ship of  God,  Psal.  Ixxiii.  17,  (5.) 
Canaan,  which  was  a  holy  land, 
where  God's  people  dwelt,  where  his 
tabernacle  and  temple  were  fixed, 
and  his  favours  and  peculiar  presence 
enjoyed,  Exod.  xv.  1 7.  (6.)  Heaven, 
where  God  and  his  holy  angels  and 
saints  for  ever  dwell,  Psal.  cii.  19. 
Heb.  viii.  2.  (7.)  The  temples  of 
idols  are  called  sanctuaries,  Isa.  xvi. 
12.  Amos  vii.  9.  (8.)  In  allusion  to 
the  Jewish  sanctuary,  whose  brazen 
altar  protected  petty  criminals,  a 
place  of  refuge  and  shelter  is  called  a 
sanctuary,  Isa.  viii.  1 4.  Ezek.  xi.  1 6. 

SAND.  As  its  particles  are  innu- 
merable, great  multitudes  are  liken- 
ed to  the  sand  of  the  sea,  Gen.  xxii. 
17.  and  xxxii.  12.  As  sand  is  heavy, 
Job's  grief  is  said  to  be  heavier.  Job 
vi.  3.  and  a  fool's  wrath  is  heavier 
than  the  sand  and  gravel ;  it  is  more 
insupportable,  being  without  cause, 
measure,  or  end,  Prov.  xxvii.  3.  As 
sand  is  a  sinking  and  slippery  foun- 
dation, false  foundations  of  religion, 
or  ill-grounded  hopes  of  future  hap- 
piness, are  likened  to  a  house  built 
on  it.  Matt.  vii.  26.  Though  sand 
is  easily  washed  away,  yet  God  has 
made  it  the  boundary  of  the  raging 
sea,  Jer.  v.  22. 

SANDALS  at  first  were  only 
soles  fastened  on  the  feet  with  strings 
or  thongs ;  aftervf  ards  they  were  co- 
vered; and  finally  shoes  were  called 
by  this  name,  which  were  sometimes 
made  of  gold  or  other  precious  metal, 
Mark  vi.  9.   Acts  xii.  7. 

SANHEDRIM,  from  the  Greek 
word  "Zvve^ptov,  which  signifiesa  coun- 
cil or  assembly  of  persons  sitting  to- 
gether, was  the  name  whereby  the 
Jews  called  the  great  council  of  the 
nation  assembled  in  an  apartment  of 
the  temple  of  Jerusalem,  to  deter- 
mine the  most  im[)ortant  affairs  both 
of  their  church  and  state.  This  coun- 
cil consisted  of  seventy  senators. 
'J'he  room  they  met  in  was  a  rotun- 
da, half  of  which  was  built  without 
the  temple,  and  half  within;  that  is, 
one  semicircle  was  within  the  com- 


SAP 


(      ^07      ) 


BAR 


^tass  of  the  temple;  the  other  semi- 
circle, they  tell  us,  was  built  without, 
for  the  senators  to  sit  in;  it  hein<i 
nnlawl'ul  for  any  one  to  sit  down  in 
the  temple.  The  Nasi  or  prince  ot 
the  Sauhe<lriin,  sat  upon  a  throne  at 
the  enil  of  (lie  hall,  having  his  tle|)uty 
at  his  rit^ht  hand,  ami  his  sub-deputy 
on  his  lelt.  'i'lie  other  senators  were 
ransjed  in  order  on  each  side.  The 
king,  the  high  priest,  and  the  ])ro- 
phets,  were  under  its  jurisdiction. 
The  Jews  hr.d  an  inferior  council  ol 
twenty-three  judges  to  decide  smaller 
matters,  but  these  had  not  the  power 
of  life  or  death.  To  this  our  Saviour 
refers,  Matt.  v.  22.  The  antiquity  of 
this  council  is  matter  of  dis[)ute,  the 
Jews  making  it  coeval  with  Moses, 
but  others  no  ohler  than  the  Macca- 
bees,or  lowerstill,inthe  time  of  Gabi- 
nius,  governor  of  Judea,  who  erect- 
ed tribunals  at  Jerusalem,  Gadara, 
Amathus,  Jericho,  and  Sei)horis,  a 
city  of  Galilee.  So  that  the  origin 
of  the  Sanhe^lrim  is  very  uncertain; 
for  the  council  of  seventj'  elders,  es- 
tablished by  Moses,  is  different  from 
what  the  Jews  call  Sanhedrim.  Be- 
sides, we  find  not  that  this  establish- 
ment subsisted  either  under  Joshua, 
the  judges,  or  the  kings.  After  the 
captivity  we  find  nothing  of  it,  till 
the  time  of  Jonathan  Maccaba^us  : 
and  the  tribunals  erected  by  Gabinius 
were  still  very  different  from  the 
Sanhedrim.  It  was,  how  ever,  in  be- 
ing in  our  Saviour's  time. 

A  variety  of  ancient  states  had  also 
their  senate,  or  chief  council,  as  the 
Athenians,  Carthaginians,  and  Ro- 
mans :  but  it  could  not  make  laws, 
or  elect  magistrates,  without  the  con- 
currence of  the  people.  The  Roman 
senate  had  none  directly  under  them 
to  execute  their  orders,  and  therefore 
were  obliged  to  direct  their  decrees  to 
the  consuls  with  an  air  of  submission, 
and  often  the  tribunes  of  the  people 
8top|)ed  the  execution  of  their  man- 
<lates.  The  modern  states  of  Venice, 
Genoa,  Lucca,  Lubeck,  Holland,  Arc 
had  their  senates;  very  similar  to 
our  parliament. 

SAPPHIRE,  a  transparent  jewel, 


which,  in  its  finest  state,  is  extremely 
beautiful  and  valuable,  and  in  lut^- 
tre,  hardness,  and  worth,  second 
only  to  the  diamond,  it  is  of  a  pure 
lUuc  colour,  and  tlic  finest  are  of  a 
deep  azure,  in  the  less  fine,  it  va- 
ries into  paleness,  but  of  a  lustre 
much  superior  to  the  chrystal.  The 
best  sapphires  come  from  Pegu  in  the 
East-Indies;  nor  are  those  of  Bohe- 
mia and  Silesia  contemptible.  Thf 
ancient  sap[>hire  was  but  a  more 
beautiful  kind  of  the  Lazuli,  or  a  hall 
transparent  stone  of  a  deep  blue, 
tinged  with  white,  and  spotted  with 
stars  of  a  golden  colour.  It  was  the 
second  stone  in  the  high  priest's 
breastplate,  and  might  represent  the 
saints  as  pure  and  heavenly-minded, 
Exod.  xxviii.  18.  It  was  the  second 
foundation  of  the  New  Jerusalem, 
and  might  re|<resent  Christ  as  the  in- 
finitely holy  Lord  from  heaven.  Rev. 
xxi.  19.  Isa.  liv.  11.  God's  throne 
of  appearance  to  the  Hebrews,  was 
like  unto  sapphire,  that  is,  was  a 
sky  of  a  bright  blue  azure  colour, 
Ex.  xxiv.  10.  The  Jewish  Nazarites 
were  polished  as  sapphires  ;  they  look- 
ed fresh,  clean,  and  comely.  Lam. 
iv.  7.  The  king  of  Tyre  had  his 
crow^n  and  clothes  set  or  hung  thick 
with  sapphires,  emeralds,  and  other 
precious  stones,  Ezek.  xxviii.  13. 

SARAH,  Sarai,  lady,  or  princess 
of  a  multitude,  the  wife  of  Abraham, 
was  probably  the  same  as  I  scab,  the 
daughter  of  Haran,  Abraham's  bro 
ther,  and  the  grand-daughter  of  Te- 
rah,  but  not  by  Abraham's  mother, 
Gen.  XX.  12.  and  xi.  29.  She  perhaps 
began  to  be  called  Sarai,  nn/  mistress, 
when  she  became  the  head  of  a  fanii- 
\y,  and  was  called  Sarah,  the  lady,  af- 
ter her  being  the  mother  of  a  multi- 
tude was  divinely  secured,  Gen.  xvii. 
Her  beauty  endangered  her  chastity 
in  Egy|)t.  She  advised  Abraham  to 
go  in  to  Hagar,  that  she  might  have 
the  promised  seed  by  her  means, 
and  was  punished  with  Hagar's  con- 
tempt. This  led  her  to  angry  exj.'os- 
tulalions  with  Abraham,  and  hard 
usage  of  Hagar.  Just  before  the  de- 
struction of  Sodnni;  Sarah  overhear- 


S  A  R 


(     408     ) 


SAT 


ing  the  angel's  promise  of  a  son  to 
her,  laughed  in  a  way  of  unbeliev- 
ing contempt,  as  if  she  had  been  too 
old  (or  child-bearing,  and  was  sharp- 
ly rebuked  by  the  angel.  She  added 
to  her  guilt  the  denial  of  it.  She 
had  scarcely  conceived,  when  her 
beauty,  and  her  falsely  affirming  her- 
self to  be  Abraham's  sister,  endan- 
gered her  chastity  at  the  court  of 
Abimelech,  king  of  Gerar.  When 
she  was  almost  9 1  years  old,  she  bare 
Isaac,  and  suckled  him  for  three  years, 
At  the  time  when  he  was  weaned,  she 
was  provoked  with  IshmaePs  ill  usage 
of  Isaac,  and  never  rested  till  Hagar 
and  he  were  quite  expelled  from  the 
family.  Not  long  after  the  intended 
sacrifice  of  Isaac,  which  she  seems  to 
have  known  nothing  of  till  it  was 
over,  Sarah  died  at  Hebron,  aged 
123  years,  and  was  buried  in  the 
cave  of  Machpelah,  Gen.  xii.  xvi. 
xviii.  XX.  xxi.  and  xxiii.  Although 
she  evidenced  much  weakness  of 
mind  on  many  occasions,  yet  the 
Holy  Ghost  represents  her  as  a  noted 
believer,  an  eminent  pattern  of  ho- 
nouring her  husband,  and  an  emblem 
of  the  gospel  dispensation,  Heb.  xi. 
11.1  Pet.  iii.  6.  Gal.  vi.  22— 31 .  (2.) 
Sarah,  or  Sherah,  the  daughter  ol 
Asher,  Numb.  xxvi.  46. 

SARAPH  and  JOASH,  who  had 
dominion,  perhaps  as  David's  depu- 
ties, in  the  country  of  Moab,  were 
not  Mahlon  and  Chilion  the  sons  of 
Naomi :  they  were  poor  and  distress- 
ed; not  rulers,  1  Chron.  iv.  21. 

Sx\RDIS,  the  prince  of  pleasant- 
ness, or  song  of  joy y  an  ancient  city 
of  Lesser  Asia,  at  the  foot  of  mount 
Timolus.  It  is  said  to  have  been 
built  soon  after  the  destruction  of 
Troy,  i.  e.  about  A.  M.  3100.  In 
the  lime  of  Cyrus,  it  was  the  capital 
of  Lydia,  or  Lud,  and  was  extreme- 
ly rich  and  glorious.  It  was  taken 
by  Cyrus,  and  plundered;  but  it  con- 
tinued a  jtlace  of  no  small  conse- 
quence. After  it  had  sufl'ered  mani- 
jo!(1  disasters  by  war,  it  was  eutirelj' 
ruined  by  an  earthquake  in  tlie  time 
«>f  our  Saviour.  By  Tiberius  the  Ro- 
»iiaa  emperor's  order,  it  was  rebuilt, 


but  never  recovered  its  ancient  splen- 
dour. A  Christian  church  was  early 
planted  here,  but  the  vigour  of  in- 
ward piety  quickly  decayed.  Jesus, 
by  John,  sent  them  an  epistle,  that 
pointed  out  their  spiritual  languor 
and  hypocrisy,  and  charged  them 
quickly  to  endeavour  the  removal 
thereof,  or  they  might  expect  a  sud- 
den reckoning  with  God.  There  still 
remain  some  vestiges  of  Christianity 
here,  and  one  is  styled  their  bishop  ; 
but  since  the  place  fell  into  the  hands 
of  the  Saracens  and  Turks,  it  has 
gradually  dwindled,  and  nothing  now 
remains  but  a  tolerable  inn,  some  cot- 
tages for  shepherds,  and  heaps  of 
old  ruins.  Rev.  iii.  1 — 6. 

SARDINE,  or  Sardius,  in  He- 
brew, Odenij  a  word  which  signifies 
redness,  wherefore  some  translate  it 
Ruby,  or  Pyroptis.  The  best  comes 
from  about  Babylon.  It  was  the  sixth 
foundation  of  the  New  Jerusalem, 
and  the  first  jewel  in  the  high  priest's 
breastplate,  Rev.  xxi.  20.  Exod, 
xxviii.  1 7.  God  is  likened  to  a  Sar- 
dine stone,  perhaps  to  signify  his  ma- 
jesty, and  his  terrible  wrath  and  ven- 
geance on  his  enemies.  Rev.  iv.  3. 

SARDONYX,  as  if  it  were  a  sar- 
dius united  to  an  onyx.  The  onyx  is 
a  precious  stone,  commonly  called 
cornelian.  The  basis  of  the  corne- 
lian is  white,  as  the  nail  growing 
under  the  flesh.  It  is  the  fifth  foun- 
dation of  the  New  Jerusalem,  Rev. 
xxi.  20.     See  Onyx. 

SARGON.      See  Esar-haddon. 

SATAN,  a  name  of  the  devil,  im- 
porting him  to  be  an  adversary  or  ene- 
my to  the  honour  of  God,  and  the  true 
interests  of  men.  He  tempted  our 
first  parents  in  paradise;  bereaved 
Job  of  his  substance  and  health,  and 
tempted  his  friends  to  reproach  him  ; 
tempted  David  to  defile  Rathsheba, 
and  to  number  the  Hebrews ;  he 
caused  Ahab's  prophets  to  seduce 
him  to  war  against  Ramoth-gilead, 
Gen.  iii.  Job  i.  ii.  &c.  2  Sam.  xii.  1 
Chr.  xxi.  1  Kings  xxii.  He  tempted 
our  Saviour  to  distrust,  to  self-mur- 
der, and  to  devil-worship  ;  he  tempt- 
ed Judas  to  betray  him,  and  Peter 


SAT 


(      400      ) 


S  A  V 


to  deny  Iiiin;  and  tetnjjted  Ananiri3|l»3'  the  ancients  jis  half  a  man  and 
and  hU  wile  to  disseinhk'  \\\\h  the  hall"  a  ijoat.  It  \va?,  perhaps,  the 
apostles  concerniii'j;  the  price  ol'lheir  horned  owl,  or  a  kind  ol  ape,  pletity 


tiehl,  iMatt.  iv.  1  —  11.  antl  xvi.  23. 
.lohn  xiii.  1".  Liikc  xxii.  23.  Acts 
V.  5.  Lone  Ins  power  was  esta- 
blished in  the  worhl ;  anil  h}''  the 
erection  of  the  Assyrian,  Persian, 
(jlrecian,  and  especiuHy  the  Komkiii, 
empires,  he  attempted  to  foriily  it 
acainst  all  attacks  oi   tlie  expected 


ol"  which  liauntt'd  and  (lanced  aliout 
the  ruins  of  Jiahylon,  Isa.  xiii.  21. 
1  almost  suspect,  that  devils  often 
appeared  in  such  shapes  to  some  of 
the  Ih-athens. 

SAVK,  (I.)  'V.t  protect  or  driiver 
Irom  temporal  ilan>ier  and  distress, 
Malt.    xiv.   30.       So    Othniel    and 


Messiah:  but  God  made  th«'in  all! others,  whom  God  used  as  ins-lru- 
contribute  to  the  furtherance  and  nients  in  delivering  the  Hebrews 
spread  of  the  gospel;  and  by  the  iVo.'n  their  op|)ression  and  misery,  are 
preacliing  of  the  same,  and  working  called 6ra'?Wr,9,  Judg.  iii.  9.  Neh.  ix. 
of  miracles  by  Ghrist  and  his  apos- j  27.  Judas  Maccaba;us,  and  his  bre- 
tles,  and  by  the  overtlirow  of  Hea-  thren  and  successors,  who  <lelivered 
thenism,  his  kingdom  was  overturn-  the  Jews  from  the  slavery  and  ido- 
ed,  Matt.  xii.  26.  Luke  x.  17,  13.  latrous  impositions  of  the  Syro-Gre- 
John  xii.  31.  and  xvi.  11.  Ilev.  ii.  cians,  and  subdued  the  Edomites, 
9.     See  A.N'GKL,  Devil,.  \  were  the  savmtrs  on  mount  Ziori,  who 

Peter  is  called  SatUfi,  because,  in  judged  the  mount  of  Esau,  Obad. 
reproving  Christ's  intention  to  sutTer,  21.  (2.)  To  deliver  from  the  guilt 
he  did  Satan's  work,  and  by  his  di-  and  power  of  sin;  render  men  holy 
rection,  iMatt.  xvi.  23.  iandha|)py,   3Iatt.   i.  21.  especially 

SATIATE,  to  satisfy  and  plenti-  iin  the  heavenly  state  of  perfect  bless- 
fully  to  till,  Jer.  xxxi.  14,  25.  Thejednesg,  Matt.  x.  22.  God  saves  meny 
sword  is  satiated  with  bloody  when  \  by  delivering  them  from  distress, 
there  is  a  great  slaughter  made,  Jer.  i  temporal  or  spiritual;  and  by  pre- 
xlvi.  10.  I  serving    them    from   eternal   death, 

SATISFY,  to  give  till  there  be  |  John  xii.  27.  1  Tim.  i.  9.  He  Avas 
enough.  A  man's  appetite  is. saf/.^fr/,  ■  the  Saifo«r  of  Israel  in  the  desert, 
■when  he  gets  a  full  meal,  Prov.  \i. !  delivering  them  from  perils  and  trou- 
30.  The  mind  is  .sa</.s/ifr/,  when  one  jbles  unnumbered,  Isa.  Ixiii.  8.  He 
receives  all  the  comforts,  delights,  [is  the  Saviour  of  all  men;  he  hath 
and  blessings  he  wished  for,  Psal. '  richly  provided  lor  the  salvation  of 
xci.  16.  and  cxlv.  16.  A  good  man  the  whole  v/orld,  and  does  every 
is  salisficd  from  himself;  Christ  and  thing  consistent  with  his  truth,  "wis- 
his  Spirit  and  grace  in  his  heart,  and,dom,  and  justice,  to  bring  them  from 
not  external -things,  as  wealth  or  ho-  darkness  to  light;  and  all  ihose  Avho 
nour,  are  tlie  sources  of  his  comfort, ,  believe  and  obe^'  him,  he  rescues 
Prov.  xiv.  14.  and  xii.  14.  What  from  sin  and  misery,  and  raiseth 
wicked  men  gain  by  their  works  Aa-;them  to  everlasting  holiness  and  hap- 
tiifidh  not,  i.  e.  is  not  true  and  sub-piness,  1  Tim.  iv.  10.  He  saves  men 
stantial  happiness,  Isa.  Iv.  2.  A  man  '  iy  his  name,  and  judges  them  by  his 
is  satisfied  with  the  breasts  of  his  strength,  when,  to  the  honour  of  his 
wife,  iiin\  ravished  with  her  love,  when  [)Ower  and  other  perfections,  he  de- 
so  delighted  with  his  own  Avife,  as  livers  them  from  distress  temporal 
not  to  desire,  or  |)Ut  another  in  her !  or  spiritual,  Psal.  liv.  1.  Jesus  Christ 
stead,  Prov.  v.  19.  An  angry  foe  is!  is  the  only  aud  all-sutlkient  Savi- 
scUisfud,  when  he  takes  full  revenge,  j  oi/r;  as  a  Surety,  he  undertook  our 
Exod.  XV.  9.  The  ground  is  .saf ^v- ,  cause  :  as  a  Mediator  and  Redeemer, 
ficd,  when  it  receives  plenty  of  rain,  |  he,  by  his  blood  and  Spirit,  makes 
Job  xxxviii.  27.  laud  maintains  |)eace  between  God 

SATYR,   an  animal  represented  and  us  sinful  offenders;  and  bv  price 

Vor.  H.  3F 


B  A  V 


(     410     ) 


SAY 


aijJ  power,  he  rescues  us  from  the 
slavery  of  sin,  Satan,  the  world,  anil 
death  :  as  a  Priest,  he  gave  himself 
a  sacrifice  of  infinite  value  to  atone 
for  the  guilty,  and  he  makes  perpe- 
tual intercession  with  God  in  our  be- 
half: as  a  Prophet,  he  delivers  from 
ignorance,  and  gives  the  true  know- 
ledge of  every  thing  important ;  as 
a  King,  he  [)owerfulIy  delivers  us 
Irom  sin  and  Satan,  and  brings  us  to 
himself;  he  rules,  directs,  and  draws 
us  by  his  word  and  Spirit;  he  de- 
fends us  from,  and  restrains  and  con- 
quers our  enemies,  and,  in  fine,  trans- 
ports us  to  his  mansions  of  bliss,  1 
Tim.  i.  15.  Heb.  vii.  25.  Isa.  xliii. 
11.  2  Pet.  i.  1,  11.  He  is  the  Sa- 
viour of  the  world ;  is  every  way  suit- 
ed to  the  stales  of  sinful  men  on  earth, 
and  is  in  the  gospel-promise  given 
and  exhibited  to  them,  whether  they 
be  Jews  or  Gentiles,  1  John  iv.  14. 
John  iv.  42.  and  iii.  15,  IG. — We 
are  saved  by  the  grace  of  God,  as  it 
is  the  original  cnuse  of  our  salvation, 
and  all  the  means  thereof,  Ep'h.  ii. 
8.  We  are  saved  by  God's  word,  as 
it  exhibits  and  offers  salvation  to  us  ; 
and  by  it  the  Holy  Ghost  applies  sal- 
vation to  our  souls,  James  i.  21. 
Saved  by  faith,  as  it  discerns  and  re- 
ceives Christ  and  his  salvation,  Luke 
vii.  50.  Saved  by  baptism,  not  by 
the  outward  sign,  but  the  inward 
grace,  1  Pet.  iii.  21.  Saved  by  mi- 
nisters and  Christians,  as  they  pub- 
lish the  doctrines  and  offers  of  salva- 
tion, and  warn,  beseech,  and  ex- 
cite men  to  receive  it,  Rom.  xi.  14. 
1  Cor.  vii.  16.  Jude  23.  1  Tim.  iv. 
1 6.  Men  are  saved  as  by  fire,  when 
delivered  from  the  greatest  hazard 
of  ruin,  and  when  almost  all  their 
works  are  rejected,  1  Cor.  iii.  15. 
The  righteous  are  scarcely  saved; 
with  great  difficulty  the  Jewish  Chris- 
tians escaped  ruin  from  the  Romans, 
along  with  their  country,  and  in  all 
ages  the  righteous  have  been  saved 
with  difficultjs  not  through  any  want 
of  readiness  or  ability  in  the  Lord  to 
save  them,  but  their  backwardness 
in  applying  for  divine  aid,  or  a  slow- 
ness of  heart  to  believe  the  promises 


of  God,  1  Pet.  iv.  18.  IVotnen  are 
saved  in  child-bearing  ;  amidst  great 
danger  they  are  ordinarily  preserved 
in  the  birth  of  their  children ;  and 
though  their  sex  introduced  sin: 
many  of  them  are  saved  eternally 
(hrough  the  incarnation  and  obedi- 
ence of  Christ,  1  Tim.  ii.  15. 

Salvation,  is,  (1.)  A  deliverance 
from  outward  dangers  and  enemies, 
Exod.  xiv.  13.  1  Sam.  xiv.  45.  (2.; 
Deliverance  from  a  state  of  sin  and 
misery,  into  a  state  of  union  with 
Christ,  wherein  we  are  justified  by 
his  blood,  adopted  into  his  family, 
sanctified  by  his  Spirit,  and  com- 
forted by  his  jjresence; — a  deliver- 
ance from  spiritual  danger  and  dis- 
tress, to  a  comfortable  and  quiet 
condition,  Rom.  i.  16.  (3.)  Eternal 
hajjpiness,  wherein  men  shall  be  freed 
from  pain  and  sorrow,  and  shall  en- 
joy the  most  perfect  and  lasting  fel- 
lowship with  God,  1  Pet.  i  9.  Heb. 
i.  14.  God  is  called  salvaOon,  and 
the  God  of  salvation  ;  he  delivers 
from  distress,  and  bestows  comfort, 
temporal,  spiritual,  or  eternal,  Psa. 
xxvii.  ].  and  Ixviii.  20.  Christ  is 
called  salvation,  as  he  is  the  pur- 
chaser, bcotower,  and  great  master 
of  our  everlasting  freedom  from  evil, 
and  enjoyment  of  happiness,  Luke 
ii.  30.  Isa.  xlix.  6.  Salvation  is 
ascribed  to  God,  as  contriving  it;  to 
Christ,  as  the  purchaser,  preparer, 
and  bestower,  of  it.  Rev,  vii.  10. 
and  xix.  1.  The  gospel  is  called 
salvation,  and  the  word,  gospel,  or 
bringer  of  salvatioii :  thereby  salva- 
tion is  published,  offered,  and  ap- 
plied to  us,  Heb.  ii.  3.  Acts  xiii.  26. 
Eph.  i.  13.  Tit.  ii.  11.  Salvation  is 
of  the  Jews :  Christ  the  Saviour 
sprung  of  them  ;  the  gospel  proceed- 
ed from  them  to  the  Gentiles,  John 
iv.  22.  The  long-suffering  of  God 
to  the  Jewa  and  others,  is  salvation  : 
is  calculated  and  <lesigned  to  pro- 
mote their  everlasting  happiness,  2 
Pet.  iii.  1 5.  That  turns  to  one's  sal- 
vation, which  tends  to  promote  his 
spiritual  and  eternal  happiness,  Phil, 
i.  19.  IMen  ivork  out  their  salvation, 
when  they  receive  Jesus  the  Saviour. 


8  A  U 


(     4U     ) 


S  A  U 


ftml  walking  in  him,  prepare  for  Uie  |  lliore  was  then  a  liiili  place,  shoulil 

make  iiini  a  jtreseiit  of  two  oC  (heir 
loavep;  and  (hat  at  the  hill  of  God, 
i.   e.    where  the  ark  then   stood  at 
Kirjalh-jearim,  or  at  tJilicon  where 
the  lalternacle  was,  he  should    light 
on  a   company  of  prophets  jiraiBing 
Ciod,    and    heing  seized    with    their 
spirit,  should  Join  in  that  exercise. 
These   tokens    h;ip|)ene<i,    an<l    the 
last  occasioned  the  proverb,  /,v  Saul 
Ihc  son  of  Kish  amonsr  the  jrrophets  ? 
Almost  immediately  after,  and  A.  M. 
2900  or    2039,     Samuel    assembled 
the  Hebrews  at  Mizpeh,  to  receive 
their  new  king.     The  Lord's  choice 
was    manifested    by    the  casting  of 
lots.     The  lot  happened  to  fall  on 
the    tribe  of    Benjamin,    and   then 
on    the    family  of   Malri,    then  on 
(he  house  of  Kish,  and  in  fine  upon 
Saul.      He  had  hid  himself  among 
the    baggage  of    the   congregation; 
hut  by  the  direction  of   God,    was 
found;  and  being  presented    before 
the   poo[)le,    he   was    taller  by   the 
head  than  any  of  them.     The  peo- 
[)le  shouted,  and  wished  him  joy  of 
his  honours.     Samuel  then  declared 
to  the  assembly  the  laws    of   their 
kingdom,  and  Avrote  them  in  a  book. 
God  endowed  Saul  with  a  spirit  of 
government.     The  body  of  the  peo- 
ple went  home ;  but  a  band  of  men, 
divinely  influenced,  clave  to  him  as 
his    honorary    guard.      Meanwhile, 
some  contemned  him  as  incapable  of 
his  office;  but  he  overlooked  the  af- 
front, and  returned   to    his  wonted 
labour,  1  Sam.    ix.  and  x.     About 
a  month    after,    the   inhabitants  of 
Jabesh-gilead,  being  terribly  distress- 
ed by  a  siege  from  Nahash  the  Am- 
monite, begged  their  brethren  would 
relieve  them  before  the  seven  days  of 
their  truce  were  ended.     When  the 
news  of  their   case   came  by   their 
messengers  to  Gibeah,    the    people 
wept.     Saul,  as  he  returned  from  his 
plough,  being  informed  of  the  cause, 
hewed  a  yoke  of  his  oxen  to  pieces, 
and  sent  these  by  messengers  into  all 
the  parts  of  the  Hebrew  territories, 
charging   the  people  to  attend  him 
and    Samuel  at  Bezek  without  de 


future  iilessetlness  of  the  heaveni}' 
state,  Phil.  ii.  12.  Confession  and 
repentance  are  to  salvation,  as  (hey 
are  means  of  our  preparation  for  fur- 
ther grace  and  glory,  Horn.  x.  10. 
2  Cor.  vii.  10. 

•  SAUL,  demanded,  lent,  a  ditch, 
death,  or  the  prave,  (he  son  of  Ki:*h, 
a  Ben  janiite.  Just  about  (lie  (ime  when 
the  Hebrews  so  loudly  insis(ed  on  hav- 
ing a  king,  (o  Iw?  like  (he  nadons 
around,  Kish's  asses  wandered  astray. 
Saul  and  a  servant  were  sent  to  setk 
thenj.  After  (hey  had  searched  along 
time  without  any  success,  the  servant 
proposed  to  Saul,  that  tliey  should 
consult  Samuel  the  seer  or  prophet, 
who  lived  at  no  great  distance,  as 
be  took  him  for  a  cunning  man, 
who,  for  a  trifle,  would  inform 
them.  Some  maidens  of  the  j)lace 
directed  them  to  him.  Samuel,  who 
had  that  very  day  called  the  chief 
persons  of  that  place  to  a  sacrifice 
which  he  intended  to  oflVr,  being  di- 
rected by  God,  welcomed  Saul,  told 
him  the  asses  were  found,  and  hinted 
to  him  that  there  was  a  design  on 
foot  to  make  him  the  lung  of  Israel. 
As  Saul  belonged  to  one  of  the 
smallest  families  of  the  least  tribe 
of  the  Hebrew  nation,  he  w^as  sur- 
prised at  the  hint.  At  the  feast  on 
the  flesh  of  the  sacrifice,  Saul  was 
placed  at  the  head  of  the  table,  and 
had  a  whole  shoulder  served  up  to 
him,  to  mark  his  distinguished  ho- 
nour, and  his  need  of  strength  and 
authority.  As  Saul  lodged  with  Sa- 
muel that  night,  they  had  a  secret 
conference  on  the  toi)  of  the  house. 
On  the  morrow,  as  Samuel  conveyed 
Saul  out  of  the  place,  he  bid  the  ser- 
vant pass  on  before  them;  and  then, 
with  a  vial  of  oil  anointed  Saul  in  the 
name  of  the  Lord,  to  be  king  over 
Israel;  and  to  assure  him  of  it,  gave 
him  a  threefold  token,  viz.  that  near 
Rachers  grave  he  should  meet  two 
men  who  should  inform  him  that 
the  asses  were  found :  that  in  the 
place  of  Tabor,  a  little  distant,  three 
men  on  their  journey  to  worship 
the  Lord  at  Bethel,  where  it  seems 


S  A  U 


(     412     ) 


S  A  U 


lay,  otlierwise  their  oxen  should  in 
like  manner  be    hewed     to    pieces. 
The  people,  moved  oFGod, assembled 
so  quickly,  that  in  five  days,  or  per- 
haps less,  he  had  an  army  of  30,000 
men   of  Judah,  and   300,000  of  the 
other  tribes.     Crossing  the  Jordan, 
and  marching  all  night,  ihey,  about 
the  break  of  the  seventh  day,  in  three 
bodies  attacked  the  Ammonites,  who 
expected  no  such  thing,  and  cut  them 
to  pieces  before  the  walls  of  Jabesh- 
gilead.     This  victory    gained  Saul 
the  universal  regard  of  his    nation; 
and  they  were  for  killing  such  as  had 
formerly  contemned  him.  Saul  with- 
stood this  motion,  and  soon  after  had 
his  royal  authorit}^  confirmed  to  him 
by   Samuel  at   Gilgal.     When  Saul 
had  reigned  about  two  years,  he  le- 
vied a  standing  army  of  3000  men: 
2000  he  kept  with  himself,  and  the 
rest  were   headed  by    Jonathan  his 
eldest  son.    With  Ihese  they  attempt- 
ed to  wrest  from  the  Philistines   the 
posts   which   they  had  retained  all 
along  from  the  birth  of  Samson,  or 
perhaps  had    lately  seized  at  Mich- 
mash,    Bethel,  and  Gibeah,    in  the 
very  heart  of  the  counlr3\     On   the 
news  of  Jonathan's  defeat  of  the  gar- 
rison at    Michmash,    the    Hebrews 
took  heart,  and  in  great  numbers  as- 
sembled at  Gilgal,  to  drive  out  the 
enemj';    but   they  wanted  arms,  as 
the   Philistines  had  carried  off  most 
of  the  armour  and  all  the  smiths  out 
of  the  country.     Informed  of   their 
meeting,  the  Philistines,  perhaps  as- 
sisted by  the  Phenirian  or  Arabian 
sheidierds,  now  exj)elled  from  Egypt, 
marched  a  prodigious  army  against 
them.     The   terrified  Hebrews   dis- 
persed, and  hid  themselves  in   dens 
and  caves,  and  no  more  than  600  re- 
ma-ned  with  Saul,  in  his  panic,  Sanl 
without  wailing  full  seven  dajs  for 
Sanuie!  as  he  ought,  on  the  seventh 
day    OiTered    sacrifice    to    tlie  liOrd 
himself.      He    had    scarcely   offered 
his  obl;;tloM,  when  Samuel  came  up 
and  rebuked  him  for  his  invasion  of 
the  priest  ly  office :  he  told  him  that 
for  this  the  liOrd  should  transfer  the 
royally  to  another,  who  would  act 


more  agreeably  to  his  mind.  Samuel, 
Saul,  and   Jonathan,  with    the   600 
men    who   remained,  marched  from 
Gilgal  to  Gibeah.     Jonathan  and  his 
armour-bearer  having  climbed  up  a 
rock,  and   routed   an  advanced  gar- 
rison of  the  Philistines,  Saul's  centi- 
nels  observed  it;  and  he  finding  that 
Jonathan  and  his  armour-bearer  were 
absent,  called  Ahiah  the  high  priest, 
to  consult  the  Lord  whether  he  should 
attack  the    eneniy.     But  before  the 
priest  had  time  to  do  so,  Saul  hearing 
a  great  noise,  and  finding  that  the  ar- 
my of  the  Philistines  were  employed 
in   killing  one   another,  he   pursued 
them,  and  the  Hebrews  coming  out 
of  their  caves,  assisted    him ;    they 
pursued  the  enemy,  killing  all  along 
as  lar  as   Aijalon  on   the  west,  and 
Bethel  on  the  east.     The  rout  had 
been  still  more  fatal,  had  not  Saul, 
by  a  rash  curse,  condemned  to  death 
the  person  who  should  stop  the  pur- 
suit, bj-  taking  the  least  refreshment 
till  night.     As  Jonathan,  who  knew 
nothing  of  the  curse,  followed  the 
enem^'  through  a  wood,  he  dipt  his 
staff  in   some    honey   that    dropped 
from  a  tree,  and   tasted  a  little  of  it. 
At  even,  when  Saul's  army  conven- 
ed, he  consulted  tiie  Lord  whether 
he  should  attack  the  camp  of    the 
Philistines  by  night.     To  punish  him 
for  commencing  the  pursuit  without 
waiting  the  divine  permission,  and 
for  his  rash  abjuration,  the  Lord  gave 
him   no   answer.      Suspecting    the 
Avickedness  of  some  other  than  him- 
self to  be  the  cau^e,  he  rashly  devot- 
!  ed  the  criminal  to  death.     Lots  were 
I  cait  to  find  him  out,  and  at  the  se- 
cond throw,    Jonathan  was  laken. 
Though  his  excuse  was  good,  his  fa- 
tlier  told  him   he  must  die :  but  the 
people   would  not    suffer   him,  who 
had   been  so  instrumental    in  their 
deliverance,  to  be  slain  for  no  crime. 
I  After  this,  Saul  kept  a  standing  ar- 
mj'  under  Abner  his  cousin,  and  for- 
ced  into  it  such  valiant  men  as  he 
I  pleased  ;  and  with  considerable  suc- 
I  cess  made  war  on  the  Moabites,  Ani- 
j  monites,   Edomites,  and  Philistines, 
1  Sam.  xii.— xiv. 


S  A  U 


(     ^il3    ) 


!S   A  U 


Aliont  A.  M.  2031 ,  Saul  was  divine- 
ly oniereil  to  cut  otl'  the  entirr 
nation  of  tlie  Anialf^kitc?,  and  the 
whole  ol'  tluir  r.itlle.  MusloriiiK 
his  army  al  Tehiiiti  on  the  s^oufh  of 
Canaan,  it  consi-led  of  lO.OOO  men 
oi'Jiidah,  and  200,000  off  ho  rest  of 
the  tribe?.  With  these  he  ravaged 
the  country  of  Atnahk,  from  Shur 
on  liie  west,  to  Havilah  on  the  east, 
and  cut  off  multitudes  of  the  people, 
and  of  their  cattle,  but  saved  AfiAC. 
the  king,  and  the  best  of  the  cattle 


the  rSibconitc?,  imagining;  this  iiidi-i- 
creet  zeal  would  atone  for  his  indid- 
2;ence  in  the  alVair  of  the  Aniakkiteif, 
I  Sam.  XV. 

About  A.  M.  20:57,  Sanuiel  anointed 
David  to  be  kingof  Israel :  tin  r-|>irit 
of  government  deiiarled  from  Sjuil, 
and  an  evil  spirit  of  nulaiieliuly 
troubled  him.  To  allay  his  melan- 
choly, he  was  advised  to  get  a  skil- 
ful musician  to  divert  him.  David 
was  fixed  upon,  and  his  music  an- 
swered the  end,  and  his  good  beha- 


and  moveables.  In  his  return,  hejviour  gained  him  Saul's  afiection, 
erected  a  monument  of  his  success  land  he  became  his  armour-bearer, 
at  South  Carmel.  When  Samuel 'Saul  recovering,  David  returned  to 
canTe  tothearmy  at  Gilgal,  Saul  toldi  feed  his  flock.  Some  years  after, 
him  he  had  fully  executed  the  divine  i  when  the  Philistines  invaded  the 
orders:  What  then,  said  Samuel,!  Hebrew  territories,  and  pitched  in 
njeans  this  bleating  of  the  sheep  ?'Ephe5-dammim,  while  Saul  and  his 
Saul  told  him,  the  people  had  brought-  army  encamped  in  the  valley  of  Elali, 
the  best  of  the  herds  and  flocks  to  be:  Goliath  having  defied  and  terrified 
a  sacrifice  to  the  Lord,  and  he  had; the  Hebrews,  Saul  promised  his  eld- 
spared  Agag  the  king.  Samuel  told  est  daughter  to  the  man  who  should 
him  it  was  most  wicked  for  him,  who:  attact  and  kill  him.  David  coming 
had  been  so  divinely  placed  on  the  from  his  flock,  gained  the  prize  :  but 
throne,  to  rebel  against  the  Lord,!  the  Avomen  in  their  songs  at  the 
and  spare  what  he  thought  fit.  As  army's  return,  attributing  the  victory 
Saul  still  blamed  the  people  for  pre- 1  chiefly  to  David,  Saul  was  highly 
serving  the  cattle  for  a  sacrifice,  Sa^jdisiileased,  and  sought  a  proper  6p- 
muel  informed  him  that  God  regarded  j  portunily  to  murder  him.  One  daj-, 
obedience  more  than  sacrifice,  and  i  as  David  attempted  to  divert  his  me- 
that  their  disobedience  Avas  as  bad  as;  lancholy,  he  threw  a  Javelin  to  kill 
witchcraft  and  idolatry,  which  it! him;  but  David  avoided  the  stroke. 
seems  Saul  was  very  zealous  to  de-  With  no  good  intention,  he  gave  Da- 
stroy,  and  that  since  he  had  rejected!  vidliie  command  of  1000  of  his  Iroojis, 
the  divine  commandment,  God  had  j  and  without  any  design  to  bestow  her, 
purposed  to  dethrone  him  and  his  fa- 1  but  to  prompt  David  to  rush  upon 
mily.  At  last  Saul  confessed  his  sin,  [  danger,  he  promised  him  in  marriage 
and  entreated  Samuel  to  go  and  sup-|  Merab  his  eldest  daughter  :  but  he 
plicate  God  for  (he  forgiveness  of  it.  j  gave  her  to  Adriel  the  Meliolathile, 
43  Samuel  refused,  and  was  going  off",  to  whom  it  seems  she  bare  five  sons, 


Saul  held  his  garment  till  it  rent.  So, 
.=aid    Samuel,  shall    God    rend  the 


who  were  brought    up  by    Michal, 
and  hanged  by  the  Gibeonites,  with 


kingdom  from  thee,  an<l  give  it  to:  the  permission  of  David.  Hearing 
one  better.  Saul  then  begged  that 'that  Michal  his  younger  d;iughter 
Samuel  would  at  least  honour  him!  was  in  love  Avith  i)avi<l,  he  caused 
before  the  people,  that  they  might:  some  of  his  courtiers  to  inform  him 
not  contemn  him,  and  rebel.  Samuel  that  he  might  have  her  for  100  lore- 
complied  so  far  as  tojoin  with  him  in:  skins  ol' the  Philistines.  I^y  these 
jiublic  worship;  and  after  hewing  terms  he  intended  to  render  David 
-Agag  in  pieces  before  the  altar,  went]  odious  to  the  Philistines,  and  to  en- 
off,  and  never  visited  Saul  any  more!  danger  his  life.  David's  reputation 
during  his  own  life.  It  Avas  perhaps;  daily  increasing,Saul  resolved  to  have 
■diout  this  time  that  Saul  murdered  him  murdered    at    anv    rate.     For 


fe  A  0 


(     414     ) 


S  A  U 


au'hile,  Jonathan  diverted  it;  but  Saul 
in  his  melancholy,  again  attempted  it. 
David  however  escaped  to  his  house ; 
there  Saul  caused  a  hody  of  his  troops 
to  besiege  him;  but  Michal,  who  v/as 
juow  married  to  him,  let  David  down 
by  a  window,  and  amused  her  father's 
messengers  with  a  pretence  that  he 
was  sick,  till  he  was  out  of  their 
reach,  and  by  falsehood  excused  her- 
self to  her  father.  Hearing  that  Da- 
vid had  escaped  to  Samuel  at  Naioth 
of  Ramah,  he  sent  messengers  to  ap- 
prehend him,  once  and  again ;  but  a 
prophetic  influence  seized  them  as 
soon  as  they  came  to  the  place.  He 
then  went  thither  himself;  but  the 
like  influence  set  him  a  proj)hesying, 
and  detained  him  till  David  had  time 
to  escape.  He  was  highly  disap- 
pointed with  David's  absence  at  the 
least  of  the  new  moon,  as  then  he  in- 
tended to  murder  him ;  and  because 
Jonathan  excused  him,  he  was  out- 
rageously reproached,  and  a  jai^elin 
was  thrown  to  kill  him,  1  Sam.  xviii. 
to  XX. 

Not  long  after,  as  Saul  heavily  com- 
plained to  his  servants  that  none  of 
them  was  so  faithful  as  to  discover 
David's  accomplices,  Doeg  his  chief 
jierdsman,  an  Edomite,  reported,  that 
while  he  had  attended  at  the  taber- 
nacle for  some  purificalion,  he  saw 
Abimelech  the  high  priest  give  Da- 
vid and  his  attendants  a  refreshment 
of  the  sacred  provision,  and  inquire 
of  the  Lord  in  his  favour,  and  give 
him  the  sword  of  Goliath.  The  inno- 
cent high  priest  was  sent  for,  accus- 
ed, and  condemned ;  and  he,  and  84 
of  his  fellow-priests,  with  all  the  per- 
sons of  Nob,  and  even  the  cattle, 
were  by  Saul's  orders  put  to  death  by 
Doeg.  It  seems  he  intended  to  have 
murdered  the  family  of  Jesse;  but 
David  carrieil  his  |)arents  into  the 
country  of  Moab.  Hearing  that  Da- 
vid was  in  Keilah,  a  fortified  city, 
he  thought  to  apprehend  him  there. 
Soon  after,  on  (he  information  of  (he 
Ziphiles,  who  invited  him,  he  pur- 
sued him  with  an  arniy  in  the  Avil- 
derness  of  Maon  ;  but  when  he  Avas 
just  at  his  heels,  an  invasion  of  the 


Philistines  instantly  called  him  to 
other  work.  Soon  after  he  pursued  D  a- 
vid  in  the  wilderness  of  Engedi,  and 
had  his  skirt  cut  ofi"  by  David  in  a 
cave.  He  was  so  moved  with  Da- 
vid's generosity  in  sparing  his  life, 
when  it  was  so  much  in  his  power  to 
take  it,  that  he  wept,  and  acknow- 
ledged his  wickedness  in  seeking  to 
murder  a  person  so  innocent.  Upon 
a  second  invitation  of  the  Ziphites, 
Saul  again  searched  for  David  in  (he 
wilderness  of  Maon.  A  second  in- 
stance of  David's  generous  benevo- 
lence, in  sparing  his  life,  when  he 
penetrated  into  his  camp  in  the 
night,  and  carried  off  his  spear  and 
his  drinking  cup,  made  Saul  again 
acknowledge  his  innocence.  Soon 
after,  hearing  that  David  had  taken 
shelter  among  the  Philistines,  he  gave 
over  thoughts  of  having  him  mur- 
dered, 1  Sam.  xxii.  and  xxiii.  and 
xxiv.  and  xxvi.  and  xxvii.  About 
A.  M.  2944,  the  Philistines  invaded 
his  kingdom,  and  encamped  in  the 
very  heart  of  it,  at  Shunem  near  Jez- 
reel.  In  his  distress,  Saul  asked 
council  of  God,  but  received  no  an- 
swer. According  to  the  command- 
ment of  God,  he  had  formerly  cut  off 
witches,  wizards,  and  people  of  that 
stamp;  but  now,  when  rejected  of 
God,  he,  in  disguise,  applied  to  a 
witch  at  Endor,  to  bring  him  up  Sa- 
muel from  the  dead,  to  show  him 
what  he  should  do.  After  plenty  of 
spells  and  enchantments,  she  with 
terror  cried  out,  that  he  had  deceiv- 
ed her,  for  he  was  Saul.  Being  as- 
sured that  she  had  nothing  to  fear, 
she  told  him,  she  saw  gods  ascend- 
ing out  of  the  earth,  an  old  man  co- 
vered with  a  mantle.  Perceiving  it 
to  be  Samuel,  Saul  bowed  himself, 
and  told  the  spectre  on  demand,  that 
he  had  taken  this  course  to  consult 
him,  as  he  was  greatly  distressed  by 
the  Philistines,  and  God  refused  to 
give  him  any  direction.  Samuel  then 
told  hini,  that  he  need  expect  no- 
thing comfortable,  as  God  was  de- 
parted from  him,  and  that  his  king- 
dom should  be  quickly  taken  from 
him,  and  given  to  David :  and   the 


S  A  U 


(     413     ) 


S  A  U 


Hebrews  should  be  routotl,  and  him- 
seJCutui  his  suns  slain,  and  be  witli 
him  oil  the  morrow.  Immediately  al- 
ter having  proiu)unced  these  dread- 
ful words,  Samuel  disa|)peared,  leav- 
inj?  the  unhnpity  king  in  tiie  most 
dreadful  consternation.  Saul  most 
probably,  during  the  time  of  Samuera 
aiijiearauce,  had  been  left  alone  with 
iiim,  the  woman  having  retired.  Con- 
tinuing some  time  prostrate  upon  the 
earth,  without  power  to  move  or  speak, 
the  woman  at  length  returned  to  him, 
and  with  his  servants  persuaded  him 
to  take  some  refreshment.  The  sacred 
historian  does  not  inform  us  of  all 
that  passed.  There  is  no  doubt  but 
the  woman  was  well  paid, and  that  the 
repast  she  offered  was  not  at  her  own 
expense.  Yet  some  writers  think 
this  apparition  was  nothing  but  the 
devil,  for  it  is  absurd,  sa)'^  they,  to 
imagine  that  God  would  raise  one 
from  the  tlead  to  answer  Saul,  when 
he  refused  to  answer  him  by  more 
common  methods;  absurd  to  suppose 
a  glorified  saint  subject  to  infernal 
enchantment ;  or  that  God  would 
do  any  thing  teniling  to  honour  dia- 
bolic arts.  Nothing  in  the  history 
evinces  the  spectre  to  be  a  prophet, 
That  God  would  take  Saul's  king- 
dom from  him,  and  give  it  to  David, 
Avas  publicly  known.  From  the  pos- 
ture of  affairs,  it  was  natural  to  infer 
that  the  Hebrews  should  be  routed, 
and  Saul  and  his  family  slain;  and 
besides,  who  knows  not,  that  God 
may,  for  holy  ends,  give  devils  hints 
of  some  future  events?  Nay,  the 
very  speech  of  this  spectre  tends  to 
prove  him  a  devil.  He  never  hints 
the  sinfulness  of  dealing  with  wizards, 
though  for  this  very  sin  Saul  was  cut 
off,  1  Chron.  x.  12,  13.  He  pre- 
tends, that  Samuel  in  his  glorified 
state  had  been  disquieted  by  Saul. 
He  pretends,  that  Saul,  and  his  sons 
in  general,  should  on  the  morrow  be 
with  him,  whereas  two  of  his  sons, 
Arnioni  and  Mephibosheth, lived  long 
after,  and  were  hanged  by  the  Gi- 
bconites,and  Ishbosheth  lived  several 
years.  Nor  can  we  believe,  that 
wicked  Saul   and   godly   Jonathan 


could  be  ever  together  with  this  s|)ec- 
tre,  either  in  heaven  or  hell.  And, 
in  fine,  when  we  oonsi<ler  how  long 
Saul  tarried  with  the  witch,  and  h:id 
to  return  to  his  army  ;  and  that  mean- 
while David  was  dismissed  from  the 
cam|)  of  the  Philistines,  and  went  as 
far  as  the  south  border  of  Canaan, 
and  routed  the  Philistines,  who  had 
burnt  Ziglag;  it  can  scarcely  be  be- 
lieved that  Saul  and  his  sons  could  be 
slain  on  the  morrow  after. 

The  judicious  reader  will  readily 
perceive,  notwithstanding  the  plau- 
sible reasoning  in  favour  of  the  s[)ec 
tre's  being  the  devil,  that  according 
to  the  plain  obvious  sense  of  several 
expressions  in  this  account,  it  was 
Samuel  himself;  for  it  is  expressly 
said,  she  sarj  Samuel.  Again,  in  what 
passed  between  Saul  and  the  appari- 
tion, we  have  the  following  declara- 
tion, "  Then  jaid  Samuel,  VV^herefore 
then  dost  thou  ask  of  me,  seeing  the 
Lord  is  departed  from  thee,  and  is  be- 
come thine  enemy  ?  And  the  Lord 
hath  done  to  him  (i.  e.  David,)  as  he 
spake  by  me:  for  the  Lord  hath  rent 
the  kingdom  out  of  thine  hand,  and 
given  it  to  thy  neighbour,  even  to  Da- 
vid," 1  Sam.  xxviii.  16,  17.  If  such 
plain  assertions  as  these  be  explained 
away,  by  otherwise  excellent  authors, 
it  ma}'^  bejuslly  (eared,  that  no  proper 
bounds  w  ill  be  regarded  in  other  ca- 
ses, where  a  lively  imagination  is  suf- 
fered to  have  full  scope.  Besides,  as  a 
judicious  coiiimentator  observes,  the 
predictions  uttered  by  Samuel  evi- 
dently i)roved  that  he  spoke  by  God's 
order  ;  for  he  foretells,  first,  the  victo- 
r}'^  of  the  Philistines ;  secondlj',  the 
death  of  Saul  and  his  sons ;  and  third- 
ly, the  advantages  which  the  Philis- 
tines should  derive  from  their  victory. 
See  cha|).  xxvi.  7.  Ai:d  it  is  suqiri- 
sing,  that  atW  such  plain  predictions 
as  these,  which  could  come  onl,v  from 
God,  any  |)erson  should  iuiaginc  that 
this  apparition  of  Samuel  was  either 
a  human  or  a  dibolical  imposture. 

When  the  battle  was  fought,  the 
Hebrews  were  routed  ;  but  they  inain- 
fained  a  running  light  till  they  came 
toGiJboa:  there,  taking  the  advan- 


SAL 


410     ) 


SAT 


tage  oi"  the  ground,  they  ulteinj)te<l 
to  rally,  but  were  overpoweied  by 
the  enemy.  Jonathan,  Abinidab, 
and  Maichishua,  Saul's  sons,  were 
slciin.  Alter  Saul  had  fought  to  the 
utmost,  and  was  hard  pressed  by  the 
arroAVo  of  the  enemy,  he  begged  his 
armour-bearer  would  run  his  sword 
through  him,  and  prev^ent  his  falling 
into  the  hands  of  the  uncircumcised 
foes.  The  armour-bearer  refusing, 
Saul  fell  upon  his  own  sword,  and 
his  armour-beurer  did  the  like.  An 
Amaiekite,  who  was  near,  perhaps 
hastened  Saufs  death  with  a  thrust 
of  his  sword,  and  brought  his  crown 
and  bracelets  to  David.  Instead  of 
his  expected  reward,  David  ordered 
him  to  be  slain,  as  the  confessed 
nuirderer  of  the  king.  Next  day,  the 
Philistines  finding  Saul  and  his  three 
sons  among  the  slain,  stri!;t  off  their 
arnjour,  and  sent  it  to  the  temple  of 
their  idol  i  shtaroth  ;  cut  oif  their 
heads,  and  fixed  them  in  the  temple 
of  Dagon;  and  hung  u[)  their  bodies 
on  the  wall  of  Bethshan,  which  then 
belonged  to  the  Canaanites.  Thence 
the  valiant  men  of  .Jabesh-gilead  took 
them,  and  buried  them  in  a  grove 
near  to  their  city,  and  mourned  for 
their  death  seven  days.  David  after- 
wards removed  them  to  the  sepul- 
chre of  Kish  at  Zelah.  MeanAvhile, 
it  seems,  Abner,  Saul's  general,  and 
Isiihosheth  his  son,  had  tied  with  the 
small  remains  of  the  army  to  Maha- 
naim,  eastward  of  Jordan,  and  there 
Islibosheth  was  made  king,  and  un- 
happily reigned  a  fev/  years.  Mul- 
titudes too  of  the  Hebrews  left  their 
homes,  and  retired  beyond  Jordan, 
that  they  might  be  as  far  from  the 
Pliilistines  as  possible. 

A  considerable  time  after,  Mephi- 
bosheth  and  Armoni,  the  two  sons  of 
Saul  by  Riapah  his  concubine,  to- 
gether with  five  of  his  grandchildren 
by  Merab,  v^ere  by  David's  order 
given  to  the  Gibeonites,  that  the}' 
might  hang  them  up  before  the  Lord, 
as  an  atonement  for  tlieir  father's 
murder  of  most  of  that  people.  It 
seems  they  hung  six  month?  on  the 
gibbet,   from  March  to   September, 


when  the  Lord,  by  showers  of  rain, 
showed  that  Saul's  murder  v.-;'*,  ju 
this  manner  expiated.  All  this  time 
the  atlectionate  Rizpah  vvaited  in 
sackcloth  at  the  foot  of  the  gibbet, 
and  frayed  away  the  birds  which  at- 
tempted to  devour  them,  1  Sam. 
xxviii.  to  xxxi.  1  Cliron.  x.  2  Sam. 
i.  and  xxi.     See  Edom,  Paul. 

SAVOUR,  (1.)  Scent,  or  smell. 
Dead  flies  cause  the  apothecary's 
ointment  to  send  forth  a  stinking  sa- 
vour, or  smell,  Eccl.  x.  L  (2.)  Agree- 
ableness  to  the  taste ;  hence  we  read 
of  savouri/  meat.  Gen.  xxvii.  4.  (3.) 
That  sharp  quality  in  salt,  whereby 
it  renders  other  bodies  agreeable  to 
the  taste.  Matt.  v.  13.  (4.)  Charac- 
ter, reputation ;  thus  men's  savour  be- 
co.mes  abhorred  when  their  name  be- 
comes hateful  and  detested,  Exod.  v. 
21.  Throusrh  the  scent  of  water,  i.  e, 
by  partaking  of  the  influence  of  the 
rain  or  moisture  of  the  earth.  Job  xiv. 
9.  The  scent  of  the  church  is  as  the 
wine  of  Lebanon,  wiien  she  delight- 
fully abounds  with  saints  and  good 
works,  Hos.xiv.  7.  The  ancient  sacri- 
fices were  of  a  sivcet  savour,  or  savour 
of  rest  unto  God  :  he  accepted  of,  and 
deiiglited  in  them,  as  typical  of  the 
obedience  and  sutfering  of  Christ, 
which  sufficiently  honour  all  his  per- 
fections, by  making  an  atonement  for 
all  our  ofiences,  Gen.  viii.  21.  Exod. 
xxis.  18.  Eph.  V.  2.  'Yhe  savour  of 
ike  knowledge  and  good  ointments  of 
Christ,  is  the  refreshing  and  pleasant 
nature  of  his  truth  when  known,  and 
of  the  grace  and  virtue  that  proceed 
from  him  as  our  Mediator,  2  Cor.  ii. 
14.  Songi.  3.  Psal.  xlv.  8.  Faithful 
ministers  are  to  God  a  sweet  savour 
of  Christ,  in  their  hearers:  their  care- 
ful discharge  of  their  duty  is  accepta- 
ble to  God,  whether  men  be  saved  by 
it  or  not; — and  are  a  savour  cf  death 
unto  death  to  some,  and  a  savour  t>flife 
unto  life  to  oihers;  they  are  the  oc- 
casion of  <  rouble  and  destruction  to 
unbelievers,  and  the  means  of  eternal 
life  here  and  hereafter  to  others,  2 
Cor.  ii.  15,  10.  To  savour  the  things 
of  men,  and  not  the  things  cf  God,  is 
to  contrive,  choose,  and  delight  in 


S  C  A 


.(     417     ) 


S  C  H 


tilings  agreeable  to  carnal  ease  or  sin- 
ful luAs,  and  not  what  is  conimandiHl 
by  God,  and  tends  to  his  honour, 
Matt.  xvi.  L'3. 

SAW,  an  instrument  for  cutting 
wood,  stones,  \:c.  The  Assyrians  are 
likened  to  a  .sarv,  as  by  them  t!od 
punished,  tortured,  and  cut  asunder 
the  nations,  Isa.  x.  15. 

SAY.     See  Speak. 

SCABBAKI).     See  Sheath. 

SCALES,  (I.)  The  hard  cover- 
ings of  tish,  which  defend  the  flesh, 
Lev.  xi.  0,  10.  (2.)  A  skin  or  film 
on  the  eye  hindering  sight,  Acts  ix. 
18.  (3.)  Balances  for  weighing 
things,  Isa.  xl.  12.  To  scale  a  place 
or  wall,  is  to  climb  up  by  ladders. 
To  scale  the  city  of  the  ?nighti/  is  to 
accomplish  the  most  ditBcult  enter- 
prize,  Prov.  xxi.  22. 

SC  ALL,  a  dry  whitish  scab,  some- 
wliat  like  the  lepros}'.  Lev.  xiii.  30. 

SCALP,  the  hairy  part  of  the 
crown  of  the  head,  Psal.  Ixviii.  22. 

SCANDAL.     See  Offend. 

SCANT,  too  little,  Mic.  vi.  10. 

SCARCE,  SCARCELY,  with  no 
small  difficulty,  1  Pet.  iv.  18. — 
Scarceness,  want,  or  too  small 
measure,  Deut.  viii.  9. 

ToSCARE,to  affright.  Job  vii.  14. 

SCARLET,  a  deep  bright  and 
shining  red  colour.  Some  doubt  if  our 
translators  have  every  where  rightly 
rendered  this  word.  They  suppose 
that  toi.ahh  ought  to  be  rendered 
scarlet,  but  that  shani,  or  double  die, 
as  well  as  carmil,  ought  to  be  ren- 
dered crimson ;  but  as  these  colours 
are  near  of  kin  to  one  another,  there 
is  thelessim|)ortancein  mistaking  the 
one  for  the  other.  Scarlet  was  much 
worn  by  great  men,  2  Sam.  i.  24. 
The  scarlet  or  crimson  used  in  the 
hangings  of  the  tabernacle  and  the 
robes  of  the  priest,  some  think, 
might  denote  the  royal  dignity  of 
Christ,  and  the  bloody  sufferings  of 
him  and  his  church,  Exod.  xxv.  4. 
and  xxvi.  1.  The  scarlet  colour  of 
the  horse  and  robes  of  Antichrist, 
may  mark  out,  it  is  thought,  his  royal 
power,  the  red  hats  of  his  cardinals, 
and   his  bloody  per?ecution  of   the 

Vol.  IL 


saints.  Rev.  vii.  3,  4.  Sin  is  liken- 
ed to  scarlet  and  crimson,  to  show  its 
horrible  nature  and  aggravated  hei- 
nousncss,  Isa.  i.  18. 

SC  ATTK  R,  ( 1 .)  Tospread  abroad 
here  and  there,  Psal.  cxlvii.  15.  (2.) 
To  dispel,  dissolve,  .lob  xxxvii.  11. 
(3.)  To  drive  into  diflerent  places, 
Psal.  Ixviii.  30.  (4.)  To  overthrow, 
conquer,  confound,  tlestroy,  Psal. 
Ixviii.  14.  Lukei.  51.  (5.)  To  deal 
liberally  to  the  poor,  Psal.  cxii.  8. 
Prov.  xi.  24.  To  scatter  the  ivaij  to 
strajis^crs  under  every  green  tree,  is  to 
worship  a  number  of  idols  in  a  va- 
riety of  places,  as  prostitutes  go 
here  and  there  to  seek  their  prey, 
Jer.  iii.  13.  To  have  tlu  bones  scatter- 
ed, is  to  be  reduced  to  death  or  a  ruin- 
ous condition,  Ps.  liii.  5.  and  cxli.  7. 

SCENT,    See  Savour. 

SCEPTRE.     See  Rod. 

SCEVA,  set  in  order,  prepared, 
is  said  to  have  been  the  chief  of 
one  of  the  classes  of  the  Jewish 
priests :  he  had  seven  sons  who  travel- 
led abroad,  pretending  to  exorcise  or 
cast  devils  out  of  men.  AtEphesus 
they  attempted  to  cast  out  one,  and 
adjured  him  by  Jesus,  whom  Paul 
preached,  to  leave  the  possessed  per- 
son. The  devil  told  them,  that  he 
knew  both  Jesus  and  Paul,  but  paid 
no  regard  to  them ;  he  immediately 
handled  them  so  roughly  by  means 
of  the  possessed  person  as  his  in.- 
strument,  that  he  obliged  them  to 
flee  out  of  the  house  naked  and  sore 
wounded,  Acts  xix.  14 — 10. 

SCHISM.     See  Division. 

SCHOOL.  No  doubt  but  the 
most  ancient  patriarchs  instructed 
their  children  in  the  knowledge  of 
God  and  other  important  subjects; 
but,  for  many  ages,  we  find  no  men- 
tion of  |)iiblic  schools  for  instruction. 
In  Samuefs  time,  there  was  a  school 
at  Naioth,  and  not  long  after,  olhera 
at  Bethel  and  Jericho;  and  to  these 
it  seems  devout  persons  repaired  for 
instruction  on  the  Sabbath  and  at 
new-moon  festivals,  1  Sam.  xix.  18 — 
24.  and  2  Kings  ii.  3,  5.  and  iv.  2.T. 
It  appears  by  EzekiePs  conferences 
with  the  Elders,  that  Ihe  .^ews  ronti- 
3  G 


SCO 


(     418     ) 


SCO 


jiJied  them  in  Babylon,  Ezek.  xiv.  1 , 
2.  and  xx.  1 — 3.  They  were  still 
used  in  our  Saviour's  time,  and  after 
his  death  we  find  famous  schools  at 
Jahneh,  at  Tiberias,  and  at  Babylon. 
In  the  Jewish  schools,  the  rabbins 
had  high  seats,  and  the  students  sal 
at  their  feet  acconling  to  their  profi- 
ciency, Acts  xxii.  3.  It  seems  every 
person  who  pleased,  had  liberty  to 
ask  questions  in  their  schools,  Luke 
ii.  46.  The  Egyptians,  Chaldeans, 
Greeks,  and  Romans,  had  also  their 
schools ;  and  now  in  almost  every 
civilized  nation  there  are  schools, 
colleges,  or  academies,  for  every 
known  branch  of  science. 

SCHOOLMASTER.     See  Law. 

SCIENCE,  knowledge;  human 
learning,  Uan.  i.  4.  Science  falsebj 
so  called,  is  vain  philosophy,  or  sin- 
ful arts,  1  Tim.  vi,  20. 

SCOFF,  to  treat  with  insolent  ri- 
dicule. The  Chaldeans  scoffed  at 
kings  and  princes,  when  they  made 
such  as  they  had  conquered  the  ob- 
jects of  their  cruel  mockings,  Hab. 
i.  10.  The  scoffers  of  the  last  days, 
are  supposed  to  be  the  infidels  and 
libertines  of  the  present  day,  who 
walk  after  their  own  evil  desires, 
which  is  the  origin  of  error.  These 
ridicule  divine  revelation,  and  scoff 
at  the  method  of  creation,  provi- 
dence, and  redemption,  described  in 
the  Bible;  and  discrediting  a  future 
judgment  or  eternal  state,  give  up 
themselves  to  the  fulfilment  of  their 
lusts,  2  Pet.  iii.  3—6. 

SCORCH,  to  burn  up  with  too 
great  heat.  Rev.  xvi.  8,  9. 

To  SCORN,  to  mock,  laugh  at, 
Job  xvi.  20.  A  SCORN,  is  an  ob- 
ject of  mockery  and  disdainful  re- 
proach, Psal.  xliv.  13.  A  scorner, 
is  one  who  is  given  to  laugh  at  per- 
sons and  things  of  importance;  who 
mocks  at  sin,  and  the  judgments  of 
God  on  account  of  it ;  and  scoffs  at 
religion,  and  the  professors  and 
teachers  of  it ;  and  derides  and  hates 
wholesome  reproof  and  advice,  Psal. 
i.  1.  Prov.  ix.  8.  and  xiii.  1.  While 
he  pretends  to  possess  and  seek  after 
tvisdom,  he  finds  it  not ;  but  in  his 


haughty  and  arrogant  manner,  stirs 
up  contention,  and  exposes  himself 
and  others  to  the  distinguished  judg- 
ments of  God,  Prov,  xiv.  6.  and  xxii 
10.  and  xxix.  8.  and  ix.  14.  and 
xix.  29.  God  scorns  the  scorn€ri\ 
when  he  contemns  and  punishetb 
them,  rendering  them  ridiculous  to 
all  around,  Prov.  iii.  34.  If  thou 
scornrst,  thou  alone  shalt  bear  it,  \.  e. 
shalt  be  punished  for  thy  sin,  Prov. 
ix.  12. 

SCORPION,  a  reptile  much  re- 
sembling a  lobster,  with  a  very  ve- 
nomous sting.  It  is  of  a  sooty  co- 
lour. Its  head  is  very  close  to  its 
breast.  It  has  two  eyes  in  the  mid- 
dle of  its  head,  and  tv/o  at  the  ex- 
tremity thereof,  between  which  come 
out,  as  it  were,  two  arms,  each  of 
which  is  divided  into  other  two,  like 
the  claws  of  a  lobster :  nay,  some 
have  six  or  eight  eyes.  Its  body  is 
shaped  somewhat  like  an  egg.  It  has 
eight  feet  proceeding  from  its  breast, 
each  of  w  hich  is  divided  into  six  hai- 
ry branches,  with  a  claw  at  the  end. 
The  belly  is  divided  into  seven  rings. 
The  tail  proceeds  from  the  last,  and 
is  like  a  string  of  seven  beads ;  out 
of  the  largest,  which  is  at  the  end, 
proceed  one  or  two  hollow  stings, 
wherewith  it  squirts  its  venom  into 
the  part  stung.  It  is  very  crafty, 
and  its  tail  is  always  in  a  curl,  rea- 
dy to  strike  if  it  be  affronted. — It 
is  said  to  be  more  mischievous  to 
women,  especially  girls,  than  to 
men.  It  waddles  as  it  goes,  and 
with  its  feet  and  snout  fixed  so  fast 
on  a  person  that  it  cannot  be  pluck- 
ed off  but  with  difficulty;  but  the 
best  cure  for  their  bite  or  wound, 
is  to  squeeze  the  creature  on  it.  It 
is  said,  the  dam  brings  forth  eleven 
young  ones,  or  more,  like  worms,  at 
a  time;  and  that  after  they  are  hatch- 
ed, they  kill  their  dam.  There  were 
plenty  of  the  akrahbim,  or  scorpions, 
in  the  Arabian  desert,  Dent.  viii.  15. 
Numb,  xxxiv.  4.  Wicked  men,  the 
Jews,  the  Antichristian  priests,  and 
the  Saracens,  are  likened  to  scorpions, 
to  show  their  malicious  and  crafty 
disposition,  and  their  being  given  to 


SCR 


(     410     ) 


S  C  IT 


wound,  torment,  and  murder,  good  an«l  so  hecame  well  acquainted  willi 


theni.  Such  scrihes  appear  to  have 
existed  as  early  as  the  dayaof  Deho- 
rali,  Judi!;.  v.  11.  and  many  of  them 
were  of  the  tril)e  of  Levi,  1  Chroo. 
xxiii.  4.  and  xxiv.  0.  2  Chron.  xxxiv. 
13.  Jonathan,  Baruch,  and  Fzra, 
were  scribes  :  prohalily  they  had  their 
e(hu',alion  in  the  schools  of  the  pro- 
l)he(s,  as  we  find  no  other  schools 
in  those  times.  In  the  time  of  our 
Saviour,  the  scribes  were  notoriously 
wicked,  because  they  perverted  the 
scripture,  and  extolled  the  traditions 
of  thw  eklcrs  above  it,  I\Iatt.  xxii. 
35.  Mark  xii.  28.  Matt,  xxiii. 

SCRIP,  a  bag  or  pouch,  1  Sam. 
xvii.  40. 

SCRIPTURE,  the  inspired  word 
of  God.     See  Biblu. 

SCUM,  that  which  rises  to  the  top 
of  any  liquor  in  a  boiling  pot.  'J' he 
wicked  Jews  of  Jerusalem  are  liken- 
ed to  scum,  to  show  their  vilcness  and 
naughtiness,  Ezek.  xxiv.  G,  11,  12. 

SCURVY,  is  a  disease  very  fre- 
quent in  northern  countries,  especi- 
please  the  Jews,  and  so  gain  theirlally  in  moist  places  exposed  to  the 
consent  to  forbear  his  crucifixion,!  north.  Charleton  will  have  it  to 
Johii  xix.  1,  4,  6.  Painful  slandersi  arise  from  saline  particles  taken  into 
and  reproaches  are  called  the  scoiir£^e\  the  body  by  breathing,  by  the  use  of 
of  Ihc  tongue,  Job  v.2\.  God's  chas-|  improper  food,  or  living  in  filthy 
tisement  of  his  people,  and  punisii-] places;  or  formed  by  deep  chagrin, 
ment  of  his   enemies,  are  called  a  Quincy  will  have  it  to  arise  from  the 


nan,  and  such  as  have  lea^^t  power 
to  withstand  them,  Ezek.  ii.  6.  Rev. 
ix.  3.  Whips  knotted  or  armed  with 
pricks  like  a  scorpion's  tail,  are  call- 
mi  scorpions,  2  Kings  xiii.  11,  14. 
SCOURGE,  a  kind  of  whip  of 
cords,  leather  (hongs,  or  wands.  The 
Jews  were  prohibited  to  give  above 
40  stripes  at  once;  bnt  if  th*^*  crime 
was  reckoneci  great,  the  lashes  were 
the  more  severe,  Deul.  xxv.  1 — 3. 
2  Cor,  xi.  24.  The  Rabbins  pre- 
tend, that  all  crimes  whose  punish- 
ment is  not  specified,  incurred  scourg- 
ing, and  that  it  was  not  reckoned 
disgraceful,  but  Philo  the  Jew,  re-'; 
presents  it  as  no  less  insupjiortable  to 
a  free  man  than  death.  The  person 
scourged,  being  stri|)ped  to  his  mid- 
dle, was  tied  by  the  hands  to  a  Iov,r 
pillar,  and  then  received  the  lashes 
on  his  bended  back.  Su[»posed  cri- 
minals were  sometimes  scourged,  in 
ord(  r  to  oblige  them  to  confess  their 
crimes.  Acts  xxii.  24.  Pilate  scourg- 
ed  Jesus,    in  order  tl?at    he  might 


scmirge^    Heb.  xiii.  6.    Job    ix.  23. 
Isrt.  X.  26. 

SCRIBE,  (1.)  A  writer  that  re- 


unequal  fluidity  of  the  blood ;  the  fi- 
brous part  being  too  thick,  and  the 
serous  part  too  thin.      It  cont.iins. 


gistered  the  affairs  of  a  king.  As;  or  is  the  source  of,  diseases  almost 
lew  could  anciently  write,  this  of- j  unnumbered ;  and  as  it  arises  from 
fice  was  very  honourable,  much  thei  very  contrary  causes  at  once,  it  is 
same  as  that  of  our  secretary  of,  often  extremely  difficult  of  cure.  Its 
state.  Shemaiah,  Seraiah,  and  She-j  most  ordinary  symfitoms  are  bleed- 
va,  or  Shavsha,  were  scribes  to  king,  ings,    coughing,    difficult  breathing, 


David,  2  Sam,  viii.  17.  and  xx.  2b 
Elihoreph  and  Ahiah  were  scribes  to 
Solomon,  1  Kings  iv,  4.  Shehna  to 
Hezekiah,  and  Shaphan  to  Josiah,  2 
Kings  xix.  2.  and  xxii.  8.  (2.)  the 
commissary  or  muster-master  of  an 
army,  that  enrols,  calls  over  their 
names,  and  reviews  them,  2  Chron. 
xxvi.  11.2  Kings  xxv.  1 9.  (3.)  One 
that  is  both  a  writer  and  doctor  of 
the  law.  It  seems  that  they  tran- 
scribed the  books  of  the  scripture, 


stinking  breath,  frequent  looseness, 
sweatings,  weariness,  faintings,  pains 
of  hands  and  legs;  and  when  the 
corrupt  matter  is  thrown  outward, 
the  skin  becomes  rough  and  dry.  It, 
in  a  8[)ecial  manner,  degenerates 
into  the  dropsy,  apoplexy,  convul- 
sions, and  falling  sickness.  Gentle 
purgatives  are  good  remedies  :  sweet 
mercury  is  excellent:  nay,  perhaps 
nothing  but  salivation  by  mercury 
will  avail   in   high  degrees  of  the 


SEA 


(     420     ) 


SEA 


scurvj' ;  and  yet  that  is  far  from  be- 
ing without  danger.  Scurvy-gi-ass, 
water-trel'oi!,  horse-radish,  sorrel, 
sow-thistle,  butter-bur,  elecampane, 
juniper-berries,  mustard-seed,  water- 
cresses,  &c.  are  very  useful  reme- 
dies against  this  disease ;  but,  per- 
haps, a  well-regulated  diet  may  be 
of  as  much  use  as  them  all. 

SCYTHIANS,  twiners,  or  leather 
dressers,  a  savage  people  that  dwelt 
about  the  east  and  north  of  the  Eux- 
ine  and  Caspian  seas.     See  Gog. 

SEA,  a  large  collection  of  wa- 
ters. The  Jews,  Arabs,  and  others, 
call  large  lakes  seas;  thus  the  lake 
of  Genuesaretb,  which  is  but  13 
miles  in  length,  and  five  in  breadth, 
is  called  the  sea  of  Tiberias,  or  the 
sea  of  Galilee.  It  is  formed  by  the 
Jordan,  and  abounds  with  fish,  Matt, 
iv.  18.  John  vi.  1.  The  sea  of  Ja- 
zer,  whi<-h  is  but  a  large  lake  near  the 
head  of  the  river  Arnon,  is  still  less, 
Jer.  xlviii.  32.  The  Salt  Sea,  Dead 
Sea,  or  Sea  of  Sodom,  is  the  lake 
As[)har  or  Asphaltites,  at  the  south 
end  of  Jordan,  and  south-east  border 
of  Canaan.  Josephus  makes  it  about 
72  miles  in  length,  and  almost  19  in 
breadth  ;  but  our  modern  travellers 
make  it  but  about  24  miles  in  length, 
and  six  or  seven  in  breadth.  It  is 
sai<l  to  have  been  anciently  the  place 
of  Sodom,  Gomorrah,  Admah,  and 
Zeboim,  and  after  the  burning,  to 
have  been  sunk  by  an  earthquake ; 
and  it  is  pretended  by  some,  that 
the  ruins  of  these  cities  are  still  seen 
under  the  water  when  it  is  low;  but 
Reland  brings  no  contemptible  ar- 
guments, though  I  dare  not  say  ab- 
solately  conclusive,  to  the  contrary. 
It  is  certain  the  valley  of  Siddim, 
ivhich  was  near  Sodom,  makes  part 
of  this  sea.  Gen.  xiv.  3.  and  that 
this  lake  receives  the  river  Jordan, 
the  river  Arnon,  and  the  brook  Ki- 
drou,  besides  other  rivulets,  and  has 
no  visible  communication  with  the 
sea  ;  and  that  the  great  quantity  of 
bitumen,  slime,  or  mineral  pilch 
therein,  renders  it  improper  for  fish 
to  live  in,  or  for  men  to  drink  of 
it ;  and  the  sulphureous  steam  makes  j 


even  the  fruit  on  the  shore  not  good 
in  some  places.  The  Gentile  world 
is  thought  to  be  likened  to  this  Dead 
Sea,  to  show  how  disagreeable  and 
useless  it  is,  and  what  a  miracle  of 
grace  it  must  be  to  render  it  reple- 
nished with  saints,  Ezek.  xlvii.  9, 
10.  The  great  sea  is  the  Mediter- 
ranean sea,  w  hich  runs  between  Afri- 
ca, Asia,  and  Europe,  and  was  the 
west  border  of  Canaan,  and  is  about 
3,000  miles  in  length.  It  is  called 
the  Hinder  Sea,  while  the  Dead  Sea 
is  called  the  Former  Sea ;  and  by  these 
is  represented  the  eastern  and  west- 
ern part  of  the  world,  whither  the 
waters  of  the  gospel  and  its  influ- 
ences come,  Zech.  xiv.  8.  The  Eu- 
phrates and  the  Nile  are  also  called 
Seas,  Isa.  xxi.  1.  Jer.  li.  36.  Ezek. 
xxxii.  2.  The  Red  Sea  is  that  arm 
of  the  Indian  ocean  which  breaks  in 
by  the  straits  of  Babelmandej,  and 
runs  along  the  south-west  side  of 
Arabia,  and  the  east  of  Ethiopia  and 
Egypt,  to  the  length  of  near  1,200 
miles.  The  Hebrews  called  it  Yam- 
suph,  or  the  Weedy  Sea,  because  it 
seems  many  weeds  grew  in  or  on  the 
brink  of  it.  But  as  the  Edomites  had 
long  the  property  and  use  of  it  for 
their  shipping,  it  came  to  be  called 
the  Sea  of  Edom,  which  the  Greeks 
translated  into  the  Red  Sea,  Edom 
signifying  red.  Hence  some  came 
vainly  to  imagine,  that  tiie  water,  or 
its  bottom,  was  reddish.  There  ap- 
pears to  have  been  some  lake  on  the 
east  of  Jordan,  which  was  also  called 
the  Yam-suph  or  Red  Sea,  Numb, 
xxi.  14.  Deut.  i.  1.  The  other 
more  considerable  seas  in  the  world, 
are  the  Caspian,  and  westward  from 
that  the  Euxine  or  Black  Sea,  both 
on  the  south  of  the  Russian  empire ; 
and  the  Baltic,  between  Germany 
and  Sweden,  and  on  the  west  of 
Russia.  The  largest  seas  are  called 
oceans ;  that  on  the  west  of  Africa 
and  Europe,  and  on  the  east  of  Ame- 
rica is  called  the  Atlantic  ocean ; 
that  between  America  and  Asia  is 
called  the  Pacific  ocean,  and  is  about 
12,000  miles  in  length  or  breadth 
from  Asia  to  America;  that  on  the 


SEA 


(     -121     ) 


SEA 


?oulliof  Asia,  and  south-east  of  Afri- 
ca, is  the  liKliau  wean. 

Multitudes  of  people  are  likened  to 
the  sea,  because  of  their  noise,  and 
their  overwheimino;  force,  Jer.  li.  4. 
Wicked  men  are  like  the  troiihlctl sea, 
that  cannot  rest,  and  wiiose  waters 
cast  lortii  mire  and  dirt:  their  con- 
dition and  minds  are  (piite  unsetth  tl, 
they  make  a  great  noise  for  a  wliile, 
and  daily  pour  forth  the  lillhiness  of 
wickedness  that  is  in  them,  Isai.  Ivii. 
21.  ']L\\e  abundance  of  the  seas  will 
be  converted  to  the  church,  when 
multitudes  in  Lesser  Asia,  Euro|>e, 
and  the  isles,  shall  be  turned  to  the 
Lord  by  the  gospel,  and  consecrate 
their  trade  and  wealth  to  him,  Isa. 
Ix.  5.  Am  I  a  sea,  or  a  whale,  that 
thou  scltest  a  mark  over  vie  ?  Am  1 
like  the  sea  or  whale,  quite  ungo- 
vernable? or,  am  1  able  to  endure 
one  storm  after  another,  as  the  sea  ? 
Job  vii.  12.  See  Lavee,  Gi^ass, 
Dkep. 

To  SEAL,  is,  (1.)  To  render  or 
keep  a  thing  secret,  Dan.  xii.  4. 
Isa.  viii.  10,  Rev.  x.  4.  and  xxii.  10. 
(2.)  To  mark  as  one's  property,  and 
secure  it  from  danger,  Song  iv.  12. 
(3.)  To  fulfil,  make  complete,  Dan. 
ix.  24.  Ezek.  xxviii.  12.  Rom.  xv. 
23.  Before  the  Trojan  Avar,  it  seems, 
SEALS  or  SIGNETS,  for  making  the 
wax  wherewith  letters  were  closed, 
or  for  making  deeds  for  ratification, 
were  very  rare.  The  ancient  He- 
brews wore  their  seals,  or  signets,  in 
their  rings  or  bracelets.  God's  Spi- 
rit is  called  a  seal,  because  by  the 
impression  and  gracious  influence 
thereof,  men  are  marked  out  for 
God's  property,  are  distinguished 
from  the  world,  and  resemble  their 
blessed  Lord  as  wax  bears  the  im- 
pression of  the  seal,  Eph.  i.  13.  and 
iv.  30.  God's  sealing  of  Christ,  im- 
ports his  giving  him  a  special  com- 
mission as  our  Mediator;  his  fur- 
nishing him  for  his  work,  and  ren- 
dering his  ministry  successful  to  the 
convincing  of  sinners,  John  vi.  27. 
Rev.  vii.  2.  God's  scaling  of  his 
people,  denotes  his  marking  them 
with  his  Spirit  and  grace;  hi?  en- 


abling them  to  avow  his  truth  ;  and 
his  preservation  of  them  amidst  the 
general  abounding  of  error  and  |)er 
secution.  Rev.  vii.  3 — i).  and  ix.  4. 
The  fiKindation  of  (.Jod  having  this 
seal.  The  [jonl  knowcth  thtm  that  arc 
his,  import?  that  the  truths  and  iaith- 
fulness  of  God  can  never  be  over- 
thrown, being,  as  it  were,  sealed 
with  a  seal  which  has  an  inscription 
on  each  side:  on  the  one,  the  Lord 
knotvclh  than  that  arc  his:  on  the 
other,  let  every  one  that  naniclh  the 
name  of  Christ,  depart  from  iniquity, 
2  Tim.  ii.  1 9.  The  sealing  of  God's 
book  of  purposes  with  seven  seals, 
imports  the  deep  obscurity  and  se- 
crecy thereof,  till  discovered  by 
Christ,  and  gradually  opened  in  the 
course  of  his  providence  towards  the 
church.  The  first  six,  it  is  thought, 
relate  to  the  state  of  the  church,  and 
the  Romish  empire,  between  the  be- 
ginning of  Christ's  ministry  and  ^.Z>. 
323,  when  heathenism  was  over- 
turned :  the  seventh  is  supposed  to 
reach  from  thence  to  the  end  of  the 
world.  Rev.  v.  and  vi.  and  viii.  1. 
God  seals  7}icn''s  instructions,  when  he 
deei)ly  imprints  it  on  their  mind. 
Job  xxxiii.  1 6.  he  seals  up  their  trans- 
gressions as  in  a  bag,  when  he  ap- 
pears firmly  determined  to  punish 
them,  and  every  one  of  them.  Job 
xiv.  7.  he  seals  up  their  hand,  when 
he  deprives  them  of  power  and  op- 
portunity for  labour.  Job  xxxvii.  7. 
he  seals  up  the  stars,  when  he  hides 
them  with  clouds,  Job  ix.  7.  The 
saints  5cf  to  their  seal  that  Godis  true, 
when  they  believe  his  promises,  and 
receive  his  oGered  gifts,  John  iii.  33. 
they  are  set  as  a  seal  on  CInist's 
heart  and  arm  ;  great  is  his  love  and 
care  of  them ;  constant  is  his  re- 
membrance and  tender  support  of 
them,  and  intimate  their  fellowship 
with  him.  Song  viii.  6.  Circumci- 
sion was  a  seal  of  the  righteousness  of 
faith;  it  was  an  assurance  on  God's 
part,  J  hat  he  accounted  Abraham 
righteous  upon  his  believing  before 
he  was  circumcised,  Rom.  iv.  11. 
The  Corinthian  converts  Avere  the 
seal  of  Paul's  apo?t!eship  in  the  Lord ; 


B  E  B 


(     422     ) 


SEC 


the  exertion  of  the  power  of  God, 
in  the  change  of  their  state  and  na- 
ture, by  means  of  his  ministrations 
of  the  gospel,  clearly  evinced  that  he 
had  a  true  mission  from  God,  1  Cor, 
ix.  2.  Satan  will  be  sealed  up  during 
the  Millennium  ;  by  the  providence 
of  God  he  will  he  restrained  from 
tempting  and  ruling  over  men  as  he 
did  before.  Rev.  xx.  30. 

SEARCH,  (1.)  To  examine  care- 
fully, and  seek  fully  to  understand. 
Lev.  xxvil.  33.  John  v.  39.  (2.) 
To  view  with  great  care,  in  order  to 
know  the  nature  of  a  thing.  Numb, 
xiii.  2.  (3.)  To  seek,  to  find,  or  ap- 
prehend, 1  Sam.  xxiii.  23.  God's 
searching  for  things,  denotes  his  per- 
fect knowledge  of  them,  and  his  dis- 
covery of  them  to  others,  Zech.  i.  1 2. 
Rev.  ii.  23.  1  Cor.  ii.  10.  His  search- 
ing for  persons,  imports  his  care  to 
deliver  them,  or  his  zeal  to  punish 
them  effectually,  Ezek.  xxxiv.  11. 
Amos  ix.  3.  God  did  not  find  out  the 
idolatry  and  wickedness  of  the  Jews 
by  diligent  search,  for  it  was  so  open 
and  manifest  as  not  to  need  to  be 
searched  for,  Jer.  ii.  34.  The  search 
of  the  fathers,  is  a  diligent  inquiry 
into  their  sentiments,  and  the  events 
that  befell  them.  Job  viii.  8. 

SEARED,  burnt  oiT,  or  burnt  hard, 
as  flesh  is  with  a  hot  iron. — Men 
have  their  conscience  seared,  when 
it  is  so  stupified  with  the  load  of  un- 
pardoned guilt,  and  power  of  inward 
corruption  that  it  sticks  at  nothing, 
however  horrid  and  abominable,  and 
?o  is  as  bad  as  no  conscience  at  all, 
J  Tim.  iv,  2. 

To  SEx-iSON  a  thing  with  salt,  or 
gpice,  &c.  that  it  may  keep  fresh,  or 
taste  well,  Lev.  ii.  13.  Speech  is  sea- 
soned whh  the  salt  of  grace,  when  it 
proceeds  from  holy  wisdom  and  love, 
and  tends  to  the  honour  of  God,  and 
the  profit  of  our  neighbour,  Col.  iv.  6. 
See  Time. 

SEAT.     See  Sit. 

SEBA.     See  Sheba. 

SEBAT,  or  SHEBET,thejth  month 

of  the  Jewish  civil,  and  the  11th  of 

their  sacred  year:  it  consisted  of  30 

«l'ciy3,  and   the   beginning  of  it  an- 


j  swered  to  part  of  our  January,  Zech. 
ji.  7.  On  the  lOth  day  of  it,  the  Jews 
]  fast  for  the  death  of  the  elders  that 
outlived  Joshua.  On  the  23d,  they 
fast  in  commemoration  of  the  resolu- 
tion taken  to  punish  the  inhabitants 
of  Gibeah,  Judg.  xx. 

SECRET,  what  is  hidden,  or  is^ 
known  only  to  few,  Mark  iv.  22. — 
In  secret,  is  in  such  a  place  or  man- 
ner as  but  few  know  it,  or  where  one 
cannot  be  hurt.  Job  xl.  13.  Psalm 
xxvii.  5.  The  secret  of  God  is,  (1.) 
His  purpose  concerning  persons  and 
nations,  and  the  reasons  of  his  dis- 
pensing his  mercy  and  judgment  in 
such  a  manner  and  time,  Deut.  xxix. 
29.  Amos  iii.  7.  (2.;  His  secret  fa- 
vour and  blessing,  is  his  instructing 
men  ia  the  mysteries  of  his  word  and 
providence,  and  his  directing,  suc- 
ceeding, and  protecting  them  in  their 
station  and  work,  Psal.  xxv.  14.  The 
secrets  of  men  are,  (1.)  That  which 
few  do,  or  ought  to  know ;  such  se- 
crets tale-bearers  reveal,  Prov.  xx. 
19.  (2.)  The  meaning  of  a  dream 
or  vision  which  is  hard  to  be  known, 
Dan.  iv.  9.  (3.)  Their  inward  pur- 
poses, dispositions,  aims,  and  acts, 
which  are  known  only  to  God  and 
themselves,  1  Cor.  xiv.  25.  Eccl.  xii. 
14.  Rom.  ii.  16.  (4.)  Those  parts  of 
the  human  body  w!iich  nmdesty  re- 
quires to  be  covered,  Deut.  xxv.  11. 
The  secrets  of  wisdom,  are  the  un- 
searchable de;>ths  of  God's  provi- 
dence in  dealing  with  his  creatures, 
Job  xi.  6.  God's  scci'ct  place,  is 
where  his  peculiar  presence  is,  but 
himself  is  unseen,  as  amidst  the  flames 
of  Sinai,  Psal.  Ixxxi.  7.  And  in  the 
temple,  chiefly  its  most  holy  place, 
Ezek.  vii.  22.  or  his  Christ,  and  in- 
timate fellowship  through  him,  by 
which  one  has  secret  instruction,  and 
great  happiness  and  safety,  Psa.  xci. 
1.  and  xxvii.  5. 

SECT,  a  party  distinguished  by 
some  particular  tenets.  Among  the 
Jews,  in  the  time  of  our  Saviour,  we 
find  the  Pharisees,  Sadducees,  Es- 
senes,  and  Herodians.  It  is  hard  to 
say  what  was  the  particular  rise  of 
the   Pharisee?,   whether  from  the 


SEC 


(     423 


SEC 


famed  Hillel,  adoctorofthe  law, about 
150    years    before   IJhrisf,    or    from 
the  Hebrew    word  Phansh,    whiili 
sisriiifieb  to  separate  or  nit  apart,  be- 
cause they  distin^^uished  tJieinselves 
from  others  in  their  professed  regard 
to  strictne;?.      They    were   numer- 
ous   and   powerful,     and   soniefimcs 
fonni<lable  to  the  kings  of  their  na- 
tion,   |)articularly    to  Hircanus  and 
.lainia-'us,  with  tlie  last  of  whom  tlieir 
contentions  rendered  tiie  nation  not' 
a  little  miserable.  They  believed  the! 
imniortality  of  the   soul,  and  the  re- 1 
surrection,  and  future  reward  of  the: 
riehleous,    whom  they   reckoned  to! 
be  only  the  .lews;  and  that  thoughl 
the  souls  of  the  wicked  went  direct- 
ly to  hell  at  their  death,  yet  their! 
bodies  never  rose  again.     They  be- 
lieved that  all  things,  except  the  fear 
of  God,  were  subject  to  fate.    They, 
and  all  the  other  sects,  looked  only 
for  a  Messiah  to  be  a  temporal  prince 
and  mighty  deliverer.  But  that  which: 
as  much  as  any  thiug  marked  them 
Wis  their  supererogatory  attachment; 
to  the  ceremonial  law,  their  frequent  I 
washings,    fastings,    and     prayings, 
their  public  al.ns-deeds,   their  hunt- 
ing after  proselytes,  their  scrupulous,' 
tithings,    their    affected    gravity    ofj 
dress,   gesture,  and  mortified   looks, 
their  building  tombs  for  the  prophets,! 
to  show  themselves  more   righteous! 
than    their   fathers    who    murdered | 
them  ;  their  over-scrupulous  observ- 
ance of  the  Sabbath,  to  the  cxclusioni 
of    works    of    charity    and    mercy. 
Meanwhile,  they    neglected  mercy,  i 
charity jjustice,  humility,  and  the  like, 
indispensable  virtues.  The  very  best: 
©f  them  indulged  themselves  in  every ; 
thought  and   sinful  indulgence  that 
oame  short  of  the    finishing  act  of 
sin ;  while  others,  under  a  cloak  of 
religion,     indulged     themselves    in 
cruelty,  dishonesty,  and  oppression, 
even  of  widows.     They  were  exces- 
sively zealous  for  the  [)retended  oral 
law,  and  the  superstitious  traditions 
of  the  elders,  and  preferred  them  to 
the  oracles  of  God.     They  heartily 
hated  and  opposed  our  Saviour,  and 
tHd  all  they  could  to  entrap  him,  ami 


were  severely  rebuked  by  him,  Mati . 
XV.  and  xxiii.  and  v.  20.  and  ix.  14, 
34.  and  xvi.  tJ.  Luke  v.  30.  and  vi. 
7.  and  vii.  30.  andxi.  39.  and  xvi.  14. 
and  XV.  2.  and  xviii.  11,  12.  .lohn  i. 
24.  and  vii.  32,  4H.  ami  xi.  47,  57. 
At  [)resent,  most  of  the  .lews  are  a 
kind  of  Pharisees.  (2.)  The  Sad- 
DUCF.ES  had  their  name  from  one 
Zadok  or  Sadoc,  who  lived  al)out 
280  years  before  Clirist.  His  master 
Antigonus  taught,  that  our  service  of 
God  should  be  wholly  disinterested, 
proceeding  from  pure  love,  without 
any  regarc?  to  future  rewards  or  punish- 
ments. Zadok  inferred  from  thence, 
that  there  were  no  rewards  at  all  ai- 
ter  this  life,  no  resurrection,  nor  any 
future  state.  The  Sadducees  believ- 
ed, that  God  was  the  only  imma- 
terial being,  and  that  there  was 
no  created  angel  or  spirit;  that  there 
was  no  resurrection  of  the  dead. 
They  reckoned  man  absolute  master 
of  all  his  actions,  and  that  he  needed 
no  assistance  to  do  good,  or  to  for- 
bear evil,  and  lience  were  very  severe 
judge-?.  They  rejected  all  traditions, 
and  stuck  to  the  text  of  the  sacred 
books,  but,  like  the  rest  of  the  .lews, 
preferred  the  five  books  of  Moses  to 
the  rest.  Some  have  imagined,  that 
they  rejected  all  the  sacred  booke 
but  those  of  Moses,  because  our  Lord 
chose  to  conlute  them  from  these ; 
but  this  reasoning  is  inconclusive. 
Had  they  done  so,  it  is  not  probable 
that  Josephus,  their  zealous  enemy, 
would  have  passed  it  in  silence:  nor 
could  they  have  been  admitted  to  the 
office  of  high  priests  and  judges, 
as  it  is  certain  they  were.  The  Sad- 
ducees were  generally  men  of  the 
greatest  ojjulence,  and  chose  to  live 
at  their  pleasure,  without  apprehen- 
sions of  any  future  accounts.  Hir- 
canus, the  royal  high  priest  of  the 
Jews,  it  is  .9aid,  threatened  his  sub- 
jects with  death,  if  they  would  not 
become  Sadducees.  His  sons,  Aris- 
tobulusand  .lannaeus,  were  notmuci; 
less  zealous;  and  during  the  reign 
of  the  latter,  the  whole  sanhedrim, 
except  one  Simon,  are  said  to  have 
been  Sadducees;  Caiaphas,  and  Ana- 


8  EC 


{     424     ) 


SEC 


nias  the  murderer  of  James  the  Less, 
were  Sadducees.  The  Sadducees 
were  cealous  opposers  of  Christ  and 
his  apostles,  Matt.  xxii.  33 — 42.  Acts 
V.  17.  and  iv.  I.  At  the  destruction 
of  Jerusalem  the  Sadducees  were 
much  reduced  :  they,  however,  made 
some  figure  in  the  beginning  of  the 
<hird  century.  In  tlie  sixth,  Justinian 
the  emperor  condemned  (hem  to  ba- 
nishment, and  other  severe  penallies, 
as  persons  impious  and  atheistical. 
}n  the  eighth,  Naclimanides,  and  in 
the  twelfth,  Alpharag,  famous  rab- 
bins, were  strenuous  defenders  of  this 
sect.  Still  there  are  some  Sadducees, 
especially  in  Africa,  but  they  seldom 
ileclare  their  opinions.  To  our  Deists 
it  may  not  be  improper  to  observe, 
that  we  never  heard  of  one  Sadducee 
converted  to  the  Christian  faith. 

The  EssENEs,  or  Asdanim,  appear 
to  have  been  little  else  than  a  party 
of  rigid  Pharisees,  that  lived  sonje- 
what  in  the  manner  of  the  Romish 
monks,  and  had  their  rise  about  200 
years  before  Christ.  As  they  lived 
in  solitary  places,  and  came  seldom 
to  the  temi>le  or  public  assemblies, 
they  are  never  mentioned  in  the  New 
Testament.  They  believed  the  im- 
mortality of  the  soul,  and  the  exist- 
ence of  angels,  and  a  state  of  fu- 
ture rewards  and  punishments ;  but 
scarcel3%  that  there  would  be  any  re- 
surrection of  the  dead.  They  believ- 
ed every  fhlsig  to  be  ordered  by  an 
eternal  fatality,  or  chain  of  causes. 
They  disallowed  oaths,  and  their 
word  they  reckoned  every  whit  as 
binding.  They  observed  tlic  Sab- 
bath so  strictly,  as  not  to  move  a  ves- 
sel, and  scarcely  to  ease  nature. 
Some  of  them  quite  disallowed  of 
marriage,  and  the  rest  made  but  lit- 
tle use  of  the  marriage-bed.  They 
fasted  much,  lived  on  very  little  and 
simple  provision.  They  despised 
riches  and  finery  of  apparel,  and 
wore  out  their  clothes  before  they 
changed  them.  They  lived  quietly, 
without  noise ;  and  some  were  given 
to  mere  contemplation,  while  others 
cultivated  the  field  for  their  support. 
They   were  kind    to  strangers,  but 


admitted  none  into  their  society  till 
they  had  given  proof  of  their  tem- 
perance and  chastity.  They  e:spel- 
led  criminals  from  it,  but  not  in  the 
presence  of  fewer  than  a  hundred. 
When  ten  of  them  sat  together,  none 
spake  but  with  the  leave  of  the  other 
nine.  They  chose  rather  to  sutfer 
torture  than  to  speak  evil  of  their 
legislators,  Moses,  &c.  and  punished 
with  death  such  as  did.  They  in- 
quired much  into  the  cures  of  dis- 
eases, and,  by  means  of  their  temper- 
ance, many  of  them  lived  to  a  great 
age. 

Herodians.     See  Herodians. 

Whether  the  Karaites,  or  adherents 
to  scripture,  Avere  formed  into  a  sect 
before  the  birth  of  our  Saviour,  and 
about  the  time  of  king  Jaunasus,  or 
rather  more  lately,  we  know  not. 
They  look  on  the  canonical  books  of 
the  Old  Testament  to  be  the  only 
rule  of  their  faith :  they  expound 
scri[)ture  by  scripture,  and  count  the 
traditions  of  the  elders  of  no  more 
than  human  authority,  and  reckon 
the  affair  of  the  oral  law  a  mere  fa- 
ble: they  read  the  scriptures  in  their 
synagogues  in  the  originals,  as 
every  translation  is  imperfect;  they 
likewise  pray  in  HebreAV,  with  great 
fervency,  and  with  their  face  toward 
Jerusalem :  they  believe  the  perfec- 
tions ami  providence  of  God,  and 
allow  a  portion  of  his  grace  to  be 
necessary  to  determine  men's  will  to 
good :  they  expect  a  temporal  Mes- 
siah, and  attribute  the  delay  of  his 
coming  to  the  slowness  of  Saturn's 
motion,  or  to  the  sin  of  their  nation ; 
they  condemn  phylacteries,  and  all 
kinds  of  pictures  or  statues  used  in 
religion :  their  practice  is  much  the 
same  as  that  of  the  Essenes,  but  less 
austere  and  rigid;  and  they  have  a 
profound  respect  for  their  teachers, 
who  for  the  most  part  give  their  in- 
structions gratis.  There  are  but  a 
few  thousand  of  this  sect  about  Po- 
land, Germany,  &:c.  and  they  are 
haled  by  the  traditionist  Jews,  as  if 
almost  infernals. 

The  Christians  were  called  the  acct 
of  the  Nasarenc!^,  and  were  every- 


SEE 


(     -125     ) 


SEE 


where  spoken  against,  Acts  xxiv.  5. 
and  xxviii.  22. 

SECURE,  (1.)  Not  exposed  to 
ap[)arent  danger,  Jol)  xii.  ti.  (2.) 
Without  fear  of  daujjer,  Judg.  viii. 
11.  Mic.  ii.  8,  And  to  secure  one, 
is  to  keep  him  free  from  danger,  and 
the  fear  of  it.  Matt,  xxviii.  \4.  To 
take  .sicuriiif  of  one,  is  to  get  bail  for 
his  good  beiiaviour,  or  his  appear- 
ance at  court,  Actsxxvii.  9.  Alen's 
i^eciirc  fearlessness  of  danger,  is  either 
sinful,  when  they  are  not  afraid  on 
account  of  their  state,  or  of  the  Just 
judgments  of  God;  or  holy,  when  one 
by  a  .•imi  faith  commits  himself  and 
all  his  concerns  to  God  in  Ciu'ist,  as 
his  own  God,  Job  xii.  U.  and  xi.  1 8. 

SEDITION,  a  rebellious  uproar 
in  a  city  or  country,  contrary  to  the 
command  and  authority  of  the  civil 
magistrate,  Gal.  v.  20. 

SEDUCE,  to  decoy,  or  draw 
away  a  person  from  proper  |)rinciples 
or  practice,  1  Tim.  iv.  1.  The  way 
of  the  wicked  scdiicdh  them;  leads 
them  on  to  further  impiety,  and 
keeps  their  conscience  quiet,  while i 
they  hasten  to  eternal  wo,  Prov. 
xii.  20.  God's  people  are  sf.duce<!,\ 
when  taught,  advised,  or  command- 
ed, to  forsake  what  is  true  and  law- 
ful, and  to  follow  w'hat  is  sinful,  2 
Kings  xxi.  9.  Ezek.  xiii.  10.  The 
Egy[)tians  were  seduced  by  their  ru- 
lers, when  led  to  worship  idols,  work 
wickedness,  and  follow  schemes  ru- 
inous to  the  nation,  Isa.  ix.  13.  Se- 
ducers or  jus;f^lcrs  wax  worse  and 
worse,  when  God  justly  leaves  them 
to  proceed  from  one  error  or  wicked 
way  to  another  still  worse,  and  to 
become  more  bold  in  their  seducing 
work,  2  Tim.  iii.  13, 

SEE,  (1.)  To  behold,  or  perceive 
with  the  e^'es,  Exod.  xxiii.  5.  (2.) 
To  hear,  Exod.  xx.  18.  Rev.  i.  12. 
(3.)  To  feel,  Psal.  xc.  1 5.  Nay,  sec- 
in<j;  is  put  for  all  the  senses,  as  it  is 
one  of  the  most  excellent  means  of 
knowledge.  (4.)  To  look  upon 
things  with  careful  ol)servation, 
Matt.  xxii.  11.  (5.)  To  know, 
learn,  by  natural  observation,  Gen. 
xxxvii.   14.   by  experience,   Exod. 

Vol..  \\. 


V.  19.  Rora.  vii.  23.  by  divine  te' 
velation,  Isa.  ii.  1.  or  by  a  believ- 
ing of  God's  word,  and  resting  on 
him,  John  xiv.  9.  Heb.  xi.  27.  or 
by  enjoying  the  inmiediate  discover 
ries  of  his  glory  in  heaven.  Job  xix. 
2(3.  (U.)  To  have  enough  of  know- 
ledge, so  as  not  to  need  instruction  in 
(hat  case,  John  ix.  41.  (7.)  'I'o  en- 
joy, possess,  John  iii.  3,  <6.  (8.)  To 
pay  a  visit,  1  Sam.  xv.  3.'».  (9.)  To 
l)ear  with,  Ezra  iv.  14.  (10.)  To 
beware,  Rev.  xix.  10.  God's  seting 
persons  or  things,  imports  his  per- 
fect knowledge  of  them  as  shown 
in  a  Avay  of  approbation,  i)ity,  or 
care;  or  in  a  way  of  disapproi)ation, 
and  of  preparation  to  punisli,  Gen.  i. 
4.  2  Kings  xix.  16.  Gen.  vi.  5.  Christ's 
being  seen  of  angels,  imports  not  only 
their  steadfast  beholding  him  in  his 
debased  estate,  but  their  whole  work 
of  ministration  to  him  and  his  people, 
as  in,  and  subjected  to,  him,  1  Tim. 
iii.  16.  In  seeing,  men  see  not,  Avhen 
they  have  rational  discoveries  of  God 
without  any  saving  kno\vledge  of 
him,  Matt.  xiii.  14.  Isa.  vi.  9.  i\Ien 
willnot  see,  will  not  understand  God's 
word  or  work,  and  act  agreeably; 
but  they  shall  see,  shall  feel  the  fear- 
lul  accomplishment  of  his  word,  and 
the  execution  of  his  wrath,  Isa.  xxvi. 
11.  The  Jews  seeing  many  things^ 
many  miracles  performed  by  Christ, 
did  not  observe  or  consider  them ; 
and  opened  the  ear  to  hear  his  doc- 
trines, but  did  not  hear  and  receive 
them  with  their  heart,  Isa.  xiii.  20. 
To  be  seen  of  men,  is  to  be  gazed  at 
as  those  who  act  on  a  theatre  in  a 
stage  play,^  Matt.  vi.  1 .  To  see  one's 
face,  im[)orts  sometimes  not  only 
clear  discovery  of  him,  but  great  in- 
timacy with  him;  and  in  Persia, few 
but  the  privy  counsellors  saw  the 
king\'i  face.  Rev.  xxii.  4.  Esth.  i.  14. 
At  Sinai,  indeed,  the  Hebrew  elders 
saw  the  tokens  of  God's  presence,  or 
the  Son  of  God  in  the  resemblance 
of  a  man;  but  when  the  law  was 
given,  they  saw  no  similitude  at  all, 
Exod.  xxiv.  10.  Deut.  iv.  15.  To  see 
God  as  he  is,  and  knorv  him  even  as 
we  5ire  known,  is  to  have  a  clear  and 
3  H 


S  B  E 


(     426     ) 


S  E  I 


immediate  view  of  his  excellencies, 
without  the  least  mistake,  1  John 
iii.  2.  1  Cor.  xiii.  12. 

Sight,  is  either,  (1.)  The  power 
or  act  of  seeing,  which  is  either  na- 
■  tural,  with  the  bodily  eye,  Matt.  xi. 
5.  or  rational,  with  the  mind,  Heb. 
iv.  13.  ov  gracious,  which  perceives 
Christ,  and  God  in  him,  through  the 
glass  of  the  scripture,  and  ordinances 
of  the  gospel,  Luke  iv.  18.  2  Cor. 
iii.  18.  or  the  immediate  view  of  God 
in  heaven,  in  respect  of  which  our 
present  knowledge  is  as  blindness,  2 
Cor.  v.  7.  Or,  (2.)  The  object  seen, 
especially  if  wonderful  and  striking, 
Luke  xxi.  11.  and  xxiii.  48.  Exod. 
iii.  3.  In  sight;  in  view,  in  ap- 
pearance. Josh,  xxiii.  5.  Lev.  xiii.  3. 
20.  in  one's  sight,  is  ex{)Osed  to  the 
view  of  his  natural  eyes,  Deut.  xxvii. 
19.  in  his  presence,  Eccl.  viii.  3. 
1  Tim.  vi.  13.  or  in  his  knowledge 
or  reckoning,  Heb.  iv.  13.  Ezek. 
xxxvi.  31.  Eccl.  ii.  26.  What  may 
be  seen  with  the  bodily  eye,  is  called 
VISIBLE ;  and  what  may  not,  is  called 
INVISIBLE,  Col.  i.  15,  16.  And  the 
discoveries  of  God,  or  the  things  of 
another  world,  or  the  emblematic 
discoveries  of  future  things,  and  even 
declarations  to  the  ear,  are  called 
VISIONS  or  sights,  Isa.  i.  1,  and  xxi. 
2.  In  this  manner  Christ  often  ap- 
peared under  the  Old  Testament, 
and  revealed  his  will;  and  to  Ste- 
phen, Paul,  and  John,  under  the 
New,  Acts  vii.  60.  Rev.  i.  a>:d  iv. 
&:c.  but  it  seems  the  Father  never 
discovered  himself  in  any  visible  si- 
militude, John  i.  18.  Angels  also 
appeared  in  visions,  Malt,  xxviii.  1 
Kings  xix.  And  because  the  j)ro- 
phets  saw  visions,  and  knew  more 
than  others,  they  were  anciently 
palled  SEERS,  1  Sam.  is.  9. 

SEED.     See  Sow. 

SEEK,  to  endeavour  to  obtain, 
whether  by  searching  for,  Gen.i 
xxxvii.  16.  asking  by  prayer,  Ezrai 
viii,  21.  or  by  the  use  of  any  other; 
means  that  tend  to  procure  the  en-! 
joyment  of  a  thing.  Gen.  xliii.  18.; 
God  seeks  men,  when  by  the  ministry 
of  his  word,  and  the  efficacy  of  hisi 


Spirit,  he  recovers  them  from  their 
miserable  state  or  condition,  Ezek. 
xxxiv.  16.  Psal.  cxix.  176.  Luke 
XV.  4 — 9.  and  xix.  10.  To  seek 
God  or  his  name  or  face,  is  to  ask  his 
direction,  pray  for  his  favours,  and 
depend  on  him  as  our  helper  and  por- 
tion, Psal.  Ixiii.  1.  and  Ixxxiii.  16. 
I  Hypocrites  seek  him,  when  they  pre- 
Itend  to  be  sensible  of  their  wants, 
:  and  to  pray  for  and  desire  the  enjoy- 
[  ment  of  himself  and  favours ;  or  ra- 
ther such  as  have  long  trifled  with 
the  offers  of  divine  mercy,  and  sin- 
ned presumptuously,  discovering  at 
length  their  awful  state  of  danger, 
seek  mercy  when  loo  late,  Prov.  i. 
28.  The  Jews  sought  Christ  after 
his  ascension,  but  found  him  not; 
they  had,  to  no  pur{)Ose,  an  eager 
desire  to  enjoy  the  appearance  of 
their  Messiah,  John  viii.  21.  To 
seek  to  an  altar  or  temple,  is  to  fre- 
quent it  religiously,  2  Chron.  i.  5. 
Deut.  xii.  5.  Amos.  v.  5.  To  seek 
God's  works,  is  to  endeavour  to  un- 
derstand them,  Psal.  cxi.  2.  To  seek 
God's  precepts,  is  to  endeavour  to 
know  and  obey  them,  Psal.  cxix.  115, 
155.  To  seek  judgment  or  viischief 
is  to  employ  one's  self  in  practising 
justice,  or  in  doing  mischief,  Isa.  i. 
17.  Prov.  xi.  27.  and  xvii.  11,  19. 
To  seek  peace,  is  to  endeavour  to  pro- 
mote it,  Psal.  xxxiv.  14.  Jer.  xxix. 
7.  To  seek  onc'*s  scul  or  life,  is  to  de- 
sire and  use  all  possible  means  for 
murdering  or  ruining  him,  Psal. 
XXXV.  4.  and  xxxviii.  12. 

SEEM,  to  look  like.  Gen.  xxvii. 
12.  Seemly,  tit,  comely,  Prov. 
xix.  10.  and  xxvi.  11. 

SEIR,  hairi/,  a  goeit,  deemon,  (1.) 
The  lather  of  the  ancient  Horites, 
Gen.  xxxvi.  20.  (2.)  A  noted  moun- 
tain on  the  south  and  south-west  of 
the  Dead  Sea,  in  the  land  of  Edom  : 
but  whether  it  had  its  name  from  Seir 
the  Horile,  who  peopled  that  country, 
or  if  it  was  called  Seir,  or  heiiry,  be- 
cause it  was  covered  witJi  shaggy 
bushes,  even  as  another  mountain  was 
called  Halak,  because  without  bushes, 
we  know  not.  (3.)  A  small  hill  near 
Kirjath-jearim,  Josh.  xv.  10. 


S  E  L 


(    ■i*-^    ) 


SEN 


SEIRATH,  hairif,  a  kid;  Avhere 
Ehud  gtopped  alter  the  slauu;!itcr  of 
Eglon,  was  prol)ably  near  Gilgul  or 
Bethel,  Judg.  iii.  20. 

SELA,  a  rock,  the  cn|)ital  of 
the  EdomitPs,  called  also  Joktheel. 
It  was  no  doulit  so  called  tVoiii  its 
rocki/  bitiialioii;  and  if  it  was  the 
Petra  of  t:ie  Arabs,  it  was  situated 
in  a  plain  surrounded  with  terri- 
ble rocks.  Aniaziah  took  it,  and 
cruelly  murdered  a  great  pirt  of  the 
people  found  in  it,  2  Kings  xiv.  7. 
Whether  it  was  this  that  was  then 
possessed  by  the  iMoabites,  or  another 
place  of  the  same  name  in  the  country 
of  Moab,  that  the  king  of  Moab  is 
directed  to  send  tribute  from  to  the 
Hebrews,  and  sacritices  to  their  God, 
is  uncertain,  Isa.  xvi.  1.  The  rock 
whence  Saul  was  called  olF  from 
pursuing  David  to  withstand  the 
Philistines,  was  called  Sda-hamale- 


dren  for  slaves.  Creditors  tec  sold 
insolvent  debtors  and  their  children, 
till  they  got  payment,  and  some- 
times a  man  sold  himself:  but  it  was 
a  cAPiT.vi-  eiiiME  to  .steal  a  man  and 
sell  him,  Exod.  xxi.  7 — lt3.  1  Tim. 
i.  10.  See  Skrvant.  God's  ac/Vjh^' 
his  grace  and  favours,  imports  his 
wise,  but  free,  bestowal  of  them  on 
such  as  need  and  willingly  receive 
the  same.  Matt.  xxv.  9.  He  sells 
his  professed  peojjle,  when,  to  |)unish 
their  sin,  he  gives  them  up  to  the 
harassment  and  slavery  of  their  ene- 
mies, Dent,  xxxii.  20.  Judg.  ii.  14. 
Men  sell  all  that  they  have,  to  buy  the 
pearl  of  great  price,  when  they  pre- 
ler  Christ  and  his  fulness  to  every 
thing  beside,  and  are  content  to  part 
with  sinful  lusts,  and  every  thing 
worldly  to  enjoy  the  same,  and  to 
live  to  his  honour,  Matt.  xiii.  40. 
Men  sell  (he  truth,  when  they  con- 


koth,    the    rock  of    separations,    orUemn,  renounce,  or  forsake   the  in- 

divisions,  1  Sam.  xxiii.  28.  spired  truths  of  God  in  their  profes- 

SELAH,  a  word  used  in  the  Songlsiou  or  practice,  for  the  sake  of  some 

of  Habakkuk,  and  often  in  the  Psalms  'carnal  case,  jdeasure  honour,  or  gain, 


of  David.  Whether  it  be  a  name  of 
God,  and  imports  an  address  to  him; 
or  whether  it  signifies  the  same  thing 
as  Amen  ;  or  denotes  a  lifting  up  of 
the  voice,  or  change  of  the  tune,  or 
a  great  pause  in  the  music,  as  at  a 
])oint  worthy  of  the  deepest  atten- 
tion ;  is  not  agreed.  It  is  j)lain  the 
omission  of  it  noway  interrupts  the 
sense,  Hub.  iii.  3,  9,  13. 

SELEUCI  A,  broken,  or  beaten,  by 
the  waves,  jiotvins^  over.  There  were 
many  cities  of  this  name  in  Asia ;  but 
the  scripture  mentions  only  that  of 
Syria,  near  the  river  Orontes,  which 
was  built  by  Seleucus  Nicator,  the 
first  Syro-Grecian  monarch.  Here 
Paul  and  Barnabas  embarked  for  Cy- 
prus, Acts  xiv.  4. 

SELF,  not  only  denotes  one's  own 
person,  but  whatever  is  dear  to  us, 
Matt.  xxii.  39.  and  xvi.  24.  See 
Deny. — Self-wili^,  is  a  disposition 
to  follow  our  own  fancy  and  inclina- 
tion, in  opposition  to  every  thing 
else.  Gen.  xlix.  0.  Tit.  i.  7. 

SELL.  Among  the  Hebrews,  pa- 
rents   had  power   to  sell  their  cliil- 


Prov.  xxiii.  23.  Men  sell  themselves 
to  work  wickedness,  when  they  wil- 
fully give  up  themselves,  soul  snd 
body,  to  be  the  slaves  of  their  own 
sinful  inclinations,  and  of  Satan  and 
his  agents,  spending  their  wisdom, 
strength,  and  time,  in  his  service,  1 
Kings  xxi.  20.  2  Kings  xvii.  17--— 
Professors  are  sold  under  sin,  when 
overpowered  by  their  corruptions, 
they  are  led  to  think  and  act  in  a 
manner  very  similar  to  that  of  the 
open  slaves  of  sin,  Rom,  vii.  14. 
Esau's  selling  his  birthright  was  very 
sinful,  as  it  implied  a  contempt  of 
the  promised  Messiah  and  hischurch, 
and  of  the  privileges  of  spiritual  adop- 
tion and  eternal  life,  Heb.  xii.  16. 

SELVEDGE,  the  edge  of  a  web 
of  cloth,  Exod.  xxvi.  4. 

SEN  A  AH,  a  bramble,  an  en- 
emy, a  person,  whose  posteritj', 
to  the  number  of  3630,  returned 
from  Babylon,  and  were  very  active 
in  rebuilding  the  wall  of  Jerusalem, 
Ezra  ii.  35.  Neh.  iii.  3. 

SENATE.      See  Saniieduim. 

To  SEND,  n.)  To  appoint  lo  go. 


SEN 


(    a: 


SEN 


Deut.  i.  22.  (2.)  To  cause  to  come, 
Dent,  xxviii.  20,  48.  (3.)  To  con- 
vey, Acts  xi.  30.  God's  smding 
Christ,  imports  his  appointing  him 
to  assume  our  nature,  suffer  and  die 
for  our  offences,  and  to  save  us  from 
our  sin  and  misery,  Gal.  iv.  4.  Christ 
and  his  Father's  sending  the  Holy 
Ghost,  imports  a  willing  him  to  show 
his  power  and  presence  in  working 
miracles,  and  in  his  convincing,  con- 
verting, sanctifying,  and  comforting 
influences,  for  the  erection  and  es- 
tablishment of  the  church,  and  the 
salvation  of  men,  John  xiv.  26.  and 
xvi.  7.  God's  smding  prophets, 
apostles,  and  ministers,  imports  his 
authorising  and  enabling  thetn  to 
execute  such  an  ofl&ce,  in  the  place 
and  manner  he  appoints,  Rom.  x.  15. 
SENNACHERIB,  (he  bramble  of 
destruction,  king  of  Assyria,  began 
to  reign  about  A.  M.  3290,  and  reign- 
ed about  four  years,  constantly  at- 
tempting to  extend  his  empire.  Being 
informed  ol  Hezekiah's  revolt,  he  in- 
vaded his  kingdom.  Almost  all  the 
fenced  cities  of  .Judah  were  obliged 
to  surrender  to  him.  To  prevent  his 
taking  the  rest,  Hezekiah  agreed  to 
retiiri!  to  his  former  subjection,  and 
paid  him  300  talents  of  silver,  and 
So  ol'  gold.  Contrary  to  agreement, 
Sennacherib  continued  the  war. 
While  he  besieged  Lachish,  he  sen' 
his  generals.  Tartan,  Rabsaris,  and 
Rahshakeh,  with  a  considerable  ar- 
my to  summon  Hezekiah  and  the  in- 
ha'.)itants  of  Jerusalem  to  a  surrender: 
they  halted  in  the  Fuller's  lield,  and 
thither  Hezekiah  sent  Eliakim,  Sheb- 
n;*,  iuid  Jotih,  to  confer  with  them. 
In  the  Hebrew  tongue,  and  with  the 
haughlieit  an-s,  Rabshakeh  told  these 
ami.assadors,  that  it  was  vain  for 
them  to  expect  help  from  Pharaoh 
king  of  Egypt,  or  from  God,  whose 
altars  Hezekiah,  he  said,  had  broken 
down,  and  who  had  ordered  the  As- 
syrians to  invade  the  country.  Elia- 
kim and  his  brethren  desired  him  to 
speak  to  them  in  the  Syrian  language, 
and  not  in  the  Hebrew,  lest  the  peo- 
ple assembled  on  the  wall  should 
kuow  their  conference.     Rabshakeh 


then  lifted  up  his  voice  the  more,  and 
told  the  people,  that  unless  they  sur- 
rendered themselves  to  his  master, 
he  would  quickly,  by  a  furious  siege, 
oblige  them  to  eat  their  own  dung, 
and  drink  their  own  urine  for  want 
of  other  provision  ;  but  if  they  sur- 
rendered, they  should  be  allowed  to 
dwell  peaceably  in  the  land  till  they 
were  transported  to  another  as  good. 
Meanwhile,  Sennacherib  raised  the 
siege  of  Lachish,  and  invested  Lib- 
nah.  Receiving  no  answer  to  his 
message  by  his  generals,  who  re- 
turned to  him  at  Libnah,  he  wrote 
Hezekiah  a  most  blasphemous  letter, 
boasting,  that  he  would  as  easily  sub- 
due Jerusalem  and  her  God,  as  he 
had  done  other  nations  and  their 
idols ;  and  sent  his  messenger  to  rail 
against  the  God  of  Israel,  and  terrify 
the  })eopleintoa  surrender.  Leaving 
Libnah,  he  gave  battle  to  Tirhakah, 
king  of  CusH  or  Ethiopia,  and,  it 
seems,  routed  him,  if  he  did  not  also 
ravage  a  part  of  Egypt.  Returning, 
he  marched  up  to  the  walls  of  Je- 
rusalem, and  encamped  in  the  val- 
ley of  Tophet  on  the  east,  but  some 
think  the  north-west  of  the  city. 
There  an  angel  of  the  Lord,  pro- 
bably by  a  kind  of  fiery  pestilence, 
killed  185,000  of  his  principal  forces, 
and  we  suppose  Rabshakeh  among 
them,  though  it  seems  Tartan  sur- 
vived the  catastrophe,  and  afterwards 
took  Ashdod,  Isa.  xx.  1.  Senna- 
cherib hasted  home  with  the  poor 
remains  of  his  army ;  and  had  not 
been  long  there,  when  Adrammelecli 
and  Sharezer,  two  of  his  sous,  whom 
perhaps  he  intended  to  sacrifice; 
killed  him  as  he  worshipped  Nisroch 
his  idol.  Herodotus's  narrative  of  the 
•  ruin  of  Sennacherib's  army  near  Pe 
lusim  on  the  north-east  of  Egypt, 
as  if,  by  the  god  Vulcan's  iulluence, 
swarms  of  rats  had  eaten  all  their 
bow-strings  in  the  night,  and  so  dis- 
qualified them  for  war,  is  unworthy 
of  this  work ;  but  what  better  could 
we  ex])ect  him  to  receive  from  the 
Egyptian  priests?  Isa.  xxx.  27 — 3'.i. 
and  xKxisi.  and  xxxvi.  and  xxxvii. 
SENSE.  (1.)  Our  various  meaiis 


SEN 


(     ^129     ) 


SEP 


of  perception,  by  seeing,  llea^ins^ 
tasting,  smelling,  feeling,  are  our 
hodily  senses  ;  in  allusion  to  which, 
the  powers  ol  our  soul,  where!))'  we 
discern  good  and  evil,  are  called 
Sfrt.sr5,  Heb.  v.  14.  (2.)  Sense  sig- 
nities  the  meaning  of  a  sentence  or 
discourse.  Nil.  viii.  8.  The  Fa|>i8ls 
attribute  a  five-fold  sense  to  the 
scripture,  (1.)  A  grammatical,  which 
is  what  is  naturallj-  exhibited  by  the 
express  words;  but  it  is  plain,  thi? 
must  not  be  always  rested  in,  other- 
■wise  we  must  believe  God  to  be  cor- 
poreal, having  eyes,  ears,  feet,  and 
yet  to  be  a  s|)irit.  (2.)  Literal  or 
historical,  wherein  a  narrative  is  ta- 
ken according  to  the  express  terms 
of  the  text,  as  that  Abraham  had  a 
son  called  Ishmael  by  Hagar.  (3.) 
The  allegorical,  whereby  the  terms 
and  events  of  a  history  are  taken 
to  signify  something  spiritual,  as 
Hagar  to  signify  the  Jewish  dispen- 
sation, Sarah  the  Christian,  and  Ish- 
mael  those  who  lived  under  the  for- 
mer, and  Isaac  such  as  are  favoured 
with  the  latter.  (-1.)  The  anagogical, 
whereby  we  understand  terms  and 
things  relating  to  this  world,  as  re- 
lating also  to  the  world  to  come;  as 
the  Sabbath  to  the  heavenly  rest, 
Canaan  to  heaven.  (5.)  Tropologi- 
cal,  wherelTj'  we  understand  a  text 
as  hinting  some  instruction  of  moral 
duty;  as  the  not  muzzling  the  mouth 
of  the  ox,  to  import  that  ministers 
should  have  due  subsistence  from 
their  iiearers.  Thus  the  word  Jcni- 
sakm,  according  to  them,  grammati- 
cal h'  signifies  the  vision  of  peace; 
historically,  the  chief  city  of  Judea; 
cdlegorically,  the  church  militant; 
anagogically,  the  church  triumphant; 
and  tropologically,  a  faithful  soul. 
But  to  imagine  we  can  find  all  these 
senses  in  every  passage  of  scripture, 
is  to  suppose  the  oracles  of  God  to  be 
a  perplexed  chaos.  It  is  true,  the  same 
text  may  be  improved  to  manifold 
uses ;  for  every  word  of  God  is  pro- 
fitable for  doctrine,  for  reproof,  for 
correction,  for  instruction  in  right- 
eousness; but  the  simplicity  of  di- 
vine truth,  and  the  necessary  inteili- 


gibleness  of  scripture,  require  lli^ 
real  sense  of  every  passage  to  be  li- 
teral, unless  the  literal  sense  be  ab- 
.vM/v/or  manifestly  dfcclive  ;  in  either 
of  these  cases  it  must  be  taken  in  a 
figurative  sense,  as  if  the  terms  used 
to  express  it,  if  distorted  from  their 
connexion  with  other  passages,  could 
iiear  no  othrr;  but  that  it  is  that 
which  was  in  such  words  intended  by 
the  Holy  Ghost.  Nay,  as  far  as  the 
analogy  of  faith  and  the  context  will 
admit,  we  must  stick  to  the  natural 
signification  of  the  very  words  of 
scrii)ture.  The  sense  however  is  often 
complex ;  the  same  phrase  relating  to 
more  olijecls  (ban  one.  Nothing  typi- 
cal is  rightly  understood,  except  we 
consider  it  as  both  descriptive  of  the 
type,  and  of  the  antitype.  In  meta- 
phorical passages,  the  material  images 
are  not  at  all  the  sense,  but  are  to  be 
uiulerstood  merely  as  a  mean  of  j)oint- 
ing  to  the  true  objects  intended.  Pro- 
phecies, as  has  been  hinted,  have  va- 
rious steps  of  fulfilment,  which  are  not 
ditferent  senses,  but  different  steps  of 
the  same  complex  sense. 

SENTENCE,  (1.)  A  speech  or 
saying.  (2.)  Opinion  or  Judgment 
concerning  a  controverted  point,  Acts 
XV.  19.  (3.)  The  determination  of 
a  .judge,  in  deciding  a  cause  or  plea, 
Deut.  xvii.  0 — II.  Eccles.  viii.  11. 
(4.)  The  vindication  of  one's  inno- 
cency,  Psal.  xvii.  2.  Hard  or  dark 
sentences,  are  sayings  not  easily  ex- 
plained, Dan.  viii,  23.  and  v.  12.  A 
divine  sentence,  is  a  decision  becoming 
the  dignity  and  honour  of  God,  Prov. 
xvi.  10.  To  have  the  sentence  of  death 
in  ourselves,  is  to  lay  our  account 
with  sufierings  or  death  as  at  haud» 
2  Cor.  i.  9. 

SEPARATE,  SEVER,  (1.)  To 
part  asunder,  Gen.  xxx.  40.  Lev.  xx. 
20.  (2.)  To  scatter  into  ditferent 
corners  of  the  world,  Deut.  xxxn.  8. 
(3.)  To  set  apart  from  among  oihers 
to  a  particular  office,  use,  or  end, 
Paul  and  Barnabas,  the  Jewish 
priests,  Levites,  and  Nazarites^,  were 
separated,  i.  e.  set  apart  to  the  spe- 
cial servif-e  o' G(hI,  Aclsxiii.  2.  Lev. 
xxii.  3.  Numb.  viii.  14.  and  vi.  2. 


S  E  R 


(     430 


S  E  R 


The  Hebrews  were  separated}  set 
apart  from  the  rest  of  the  world  to  be 
the  distinguished  people  of  God,  en- 
joying his  favours,  and  employed  in 
his  service,  1  Kings  viii.  53.  The 
cities  of  refuge  were  separated;  set 
apart  for  protecting  involuntary  man- 
slayers,  13eut.  xix.  2,  Men  are  se- 
paraled  to  evil,  when  threatened  and 
justly-deserved  punishment  is  inflict- 
ed, and  they  are  given  up  to  endure 
it,  Deut.  xxix.  21.  (4.)  To  forsake, 
or  be  cast  out  from  the  communion 
of  the  church,  Jude  19.  Luke  vi.  22. 
(5.)  To  be  disregarded  and  forsaken. 
So  the  poor  is  separated  from  his 
neighbour,  having  none  obliged  or 
ready  to  help  him,  Prov.  xix.  4.  The 
Lord  severed  between  the  cattle  of 
the  Hebrews  and  of  the  Egyptians, 
in  saving  the  one  and  destroying 
the  other,  Exod.  viii.  22.  and  ix.  4. 

SEPHAR,  abook,  a  scribe,  a  mount 
in  the  east  of  Arabia,  or  the  south- 
west parts  of  Chaldea,  Gen.  x.  30. 

SEPHARVAIIVI,  the  twobooks,  or 
the  two  scribes,  or  Sepharvites  ;  a 
tribe  of  the  Samaritans.  Calmet 
thinks  them  the  Saspires  on  the  north 
of  Media  :  Gill  will  have  them  the  in- 
habitants of  Sippohrfe,  a  city  of  Syro- 
Phenicia.  The  names  of  their  gods, 
viz.  Adramiiielech  and  Anamme- 
lech,  and  the  nations  with  whom  they 
are  jointly  mentioned,  incline  me  to 
think  they  had  their  original  resi- 
dence about  Sis)hora  or  Sipparaon  the 
Euphrates,  where  the  language  was 
Chaldean,  mixed  with  Arabic.  They 
had  anciently  kings  of  their  own, 
and  they  burnt  their  children  in  sa- 
crifice to  their  idols.  They  were 
partly  cut  oiT  by  the  Assyrians  ;  and 
the  rest  weie  transplanted  to  the 
country  of  the  ten  tribes,  2  Kings 
xix.  13.  and  xvii.  24,  31. 

SEPULChflE.     See  Grave. 

SERAI  AH,  i/ic  Lord  is  my  prince, 
or  song  of  the  Lord,  (1 .)  A  high  p»riesi 
of  the  Jews,  son  of  Azariah,  and  Joz- 
adak  the  father  of  Joshua.  He  Avas 
taken  prisoner  at  Jerusalem,  and  was 
at  Ril)!ah  niunlered  by  Nebuchad- 
nezzar, with  70  others  of  the  prin- 
cipal  men  of   Judah,   Jer.    lii.    24 


to  27.  (2.)  The  son  of  Neriah,  and 
brother  of  Baruch.  He  is  called 
Shar-mcnuchah  ;  hut  whether  that 
means,  that  he  was  a  prince  quiet  in 
his  temper  and  carriage,  or  that  he 
was  prince  of  a  place  called  Menu- 
chah,  or  was  prince  of  the  bed- 
chamber, or  was  the  king's  almoner, 
or  was  the  chief  direetor  of  the  pre- 
sents which  he  carried  from  Zedekiah 
to  Nebuchadnezzar,  about  7  years 
before  the  destruction  of  the  city,  is 
not  certain.  Jeremiah  sent  with  him 
a  copy  of  the  prediction  of  Babylon, 
and  charged  him  to  bind  a  stone  to 
it  when  he  came  to  Babylon,  and 
cast  it  into  the  Euphrates,  saying, 
thus  shall  Babylon  sink,  and  shall 
not  rise  again  from  the  eril  that  the 
Lord  will  bring  upon  her,  Jer.  li. 
59—62. 

SERAPHIM,  burniuff,  fiery,  in  a 
vision,  Isaiah  saw  seraphims  standing 
above,  or  near  to  the  Lord's  throne  ; 
each  had  six  wings ;  with  twain 
they  covered  their  face,  with  twain 
their  feet,  and  with  twain  they  did 
fly  :  they  cried.  Holy,  holy,  holy  is 
the  Lord  God  of  hosts,  the  whole  earth 
isftdl  (fhis  s,lory,  till  the  house  shook 
with  the  sound.  When  the  prophet 
bewailed  his  pollution,  one  of  them 
took  a  live-coal  from  the  altar,  and 
laid  it  on  his  mouth,  and  told  him  that 
his  iniquity  was  {turged.  Did  these 
seraphims  signify  angels,  who  are 
near  to  God;  active  and  humble  in 
his  praise,  but  not  capable  to  behold 
the  brightness  of  his  glory,  and  wha 
minister  to  the  purging  and  com- 
fort of  the  saints  ?  Or  did  they  repre- 
sent ministers,  humble  and  active  in 
the  work  of  the  gospel,  for  the  glory 
of  God,  and  the  holiness  and  com- 
fort of  Men  ?  Isa.  vi.  1 — 7. 

SERGEANTS,  officers  who  car- 
ried a  bundle  of  rods  before  magis- 
trates, for  whipping  malefactors,  as 
they  received  orders,  Actsxvi.  35, 36. 

SERGHJS.     See  Barjescs. 

SERPENT,  is  a  general  name  for 
various  kinds  of  amphibious  animals 
that  live  in  flie  sea  and  on  theearth. 
According  to  Ray,  serpents  have  a 
long  body  covered  with  a  kind  of 


a  E  R 


(     -131     ) 


S  E  R 


scales,  breathe  by  lungs,  and  have 
only  (me  ventricle  in  I  lie  heart;  tl»eir 
vital  warmth  is  small,  they  take  in 
us  much  air  nt  ouce  as  can  serve 
them  for  breath  a  consiiileralilc  time. 
During  the  winter-coKI,  they  often  lie 
torpiil  and  half  tiead,  nceiliiig  no 
food,  and  perhaps  no  air;  but  they 
revive  in  the  sjiring.  Most  ol  the 
serpents  are  of  the  jjoisonous  kind, 
their  bite  leaving  a  venomous  li- 
(juor  in  the  wound,  which  quickly 
mixes  with  the  blood  ;  but  the  whole 
body  of  serpents  may  be  eaten,  and 
even  the  poisonous  liquor  tasted, 
without  hurt.  Such  serpents  as  are 
poisonous,  have  long  teeth,  with  this 
poisonous  liquor  at  their  root.  All 
ser[)ent3  appear  to  be  oviparous,  i.  e. 
produced  from  eggs;  but  some  lay 
their  eggs  in  dunghills,  and  the  like 
places,  to  be  hatched  by  the  exter- 
nal heat :  others  retain  them  in  their 
own  body  till  they  be  hatched.  As 
the  hearts  of  serpents  are  very  near 
their  head,  they  are  most  easily  kill- 
ed by  a  stroke  on  it.  They  are 
famed  for  subtlety  ;  are  saitl  to  wrap 
up  their  head  in  the  rest  of  their 
body,  that  their  heart  may  be  safest ; 
and  to  vomit  up  their  poison  belbre 
they  drink,  that  it  may  not  go  down 
with  the  water,  and  hurt  them  ;  to 
renew  their  sight  by  looking  on  fen- 
nel ;  to  cast  their  skin  every  year;  to 
shun  the  breath  of  deer;  and  some 
of  them  to  shut  their  ears  against  en- 
chantments, laying  the  one  ear  close 
to  the  ground,  and  stoi)ping  with 
their  tail  the  other;  but  we  suspect 
the  truth  of  some  of  these  things. 
The  serpents  we  find  mentioned  in 
scripture,  are  theEphehh,  Achshub, 
Pethen,  Tzeboah,  Tzephahh,  Tzi|)h- 
boni,  Saraph,  which  we  translate  vi- 
per, asp,  adder,  cockatrice,  and  fiery 
flying  serpent.  Prodigious  numbers 
of  tiying  speckled  serj)eut3  abound 
in  Arabia  and  Lybia,  and  have  wings 
like  bats.  It  is  said  the  young  ones 
kill  their  dam;  but  it  is  more  cer- 
tain, that  if  the  birds  Ibis  did  not 
watch  their  entrance  into  Eygpt,  at 
the  season  thereof,  they  would  ruin! 
(hat  country.     The  rattlesnake,  and 


some  other  serpents,  are  very  artful 
in  decoying  birds  and  other  animals 
into  their  power;  but  we  cannot  with 
certainly  ex[)lain  the  manner  how 
they  attack  them.  The  bubalous  ser- 
pent is  sometimes  about  2ti  feet  long, 
and  has  been  known  to  swallow  a 
woman  with  child,  nay  a  wild  ox  ; 
but  they,  and  other  serpents,  use  to 
break  the  bones  of  their  prey,  and 
slaver  it  over  with  saliva  before  they 
swallow  it.  It  is  said,  Abisarus,  an 
Indian  prince,  had  two  serpents,  the 
one  1 40  cubits  long,  and  the  other  P.O. 
The  serpent  which  Regulus  the  Ro- 
man killed  with  marchines  near  Ba- 
grada  in  Africa,  is  said  to  have  been 
12Q  feet  long.  Inthe  German  Ephe- 
merides,  we  read  of  a  serfient  that 
swallowed  a  woman  big  with  child, 
and  of  another  that  swallowed  a  buf- 
falo, or  large  wild  ox.  Not  many 
years  ago,  Mr.  Edwin,  the  English 
resident  in  the  East  Indies,  saw  a 
serpent  in  the  isle  of  Ceylon,  that 
measured  in  length  33  feet  4  inches. 
It  was  all  covered  with  scales,  ridg- 
ed in  the  middle.  Its  head  was 
green,  with  large  black  spots  in  the 
middle,  and  yellow  streaks  around 
bis  jaws,  and  a  yellow  circle  like  a 
golden  collar  around  his  neck,  and 
behind  that  was  another  black  spot. 
Its  head  was  flatlish  and  broad;  its 
eyes  monstrously  large,  and  very 
bright  and  terrible.  Its  sides  were 
of  a  dusky  olive  colour.  Its  back 
was  very  beautiful,  a  broad  streak  of 
black  curled  and  waved  at  the  sides, 
running  along  it :  on  the  edges  of 
this,  ran  a  narrow  streak  of  a  fleshy 
colour ;  on  the  outside  of  which  was 
a  broad  streak  of  a  bright  yellow, 
waved  and  curled,  and  spotted  at 
small  distances,  with  roundish  and 
long  blotches  of  a  blood  colour. 
When  it  moved  in  the  sun,  it  ap- 
peared exquisitely  beautiful.  It  had 
perched  itself  on  a  large  palm-tree. 
As  a  kind  of  fox  passed  by,  it  dart- 
ed down  u|)on  him,  and  in  a  few  mi- 
nutes sucked  him  into  its  belly.  Next 
morning,  a  monstrous  tiger,  about 
tlie  height  of  a  heifer,  passing  by, 
it  darted  down,  seized  him  by  the 


S  E  R 


(     ^32     ) 


S  E  R 


back  with  its  teeth,  anil  twined  it-j 
self  three  or  four  times  around  his 
body.  It  then  loosed  its  teeth  from 
his  back,  and  seized  his  head,  tearing 
and  grinding,  and  choaking  him  at 
once,  while  the  furious  tiger  resisted 
to  the  utmost.  Finding  him  hard  to 
be  conquered,  and  his  bones  not  ea- 
sily broken,  it,  by  winding  its  tail 
around  his  neck,  dragged  him  to  the 
tree,  and  then  setting  him  against  it, 
twined  itself  about  both  him  and  the 
tree,  and  crushed  him  against  it,  till 
his  ribs,  and  the  bones  of  his  legs, 
and  at  last  his  skull,  were  broken  and 
bruised.  After  it  had  killed  him  with 
this  inexpressible  torture  of  about  a 
day's  continuance,  it  coated  over  his 
body  with  slaver,  till  it  became  like 
a  lump  of  red  flesh,  and  at  last,  with 
a  labour  of  some  hours'  continuance, 
sucked  up  the  whole  carcass  into  its 
belly.  While  it  was  gorged  herewith, 
and  no  doubt  fatigued  with  the  late 
toil,  Mr.  Edwin,  and  his  Ceylouese 
companion,  killed  it  with  clubs.  Its 
flesh  was  whiter  than  veal,  and  had 
a  fine  taste.  And  indeed,  in  Brazil, 
and  many  other  places,  serpents' 
flesh  is  eaten  for  food.  Leviathan 
is  called  a  crooked  and  piercing  ser- 
pent, Job  xxvi.  13.  In  the  form 
of  a  serpent,  perhaps  a  beautiful 
one,  and  it  seems  either  very  simple 
or  subtle.  Satan  seduced  our  first 
parents,  and  for  that  as  well  as  his 
craft,  malice,  and  ruinous  influence, 
is  called  the  oJd  serpent.  Gen.  iii. 
Rev.  XX.  2.  It  is  probable,  that  a 
more  painful  motion,  and  an  enmity 
with  mankind,  have  judicially  mark- 
ed at  least  that  kind  of  serj)ents  in 
which  Satan  seduced  our  first  pa- 
rents. Gen.  iii.  14.  and  to  commemo- 
rate his  conquest,  Satan  has  seduced 
multitudes  to  worship  him  under  the 
form  or  by  means  of  serpents.  When 
to  |iunish  the  Hebrews  for  their  con- 
tempt of  the  manna,  tht-y  were  bit- 
ten by  fiery  flying  seroents,  which 
we  take  to  have  been  the  hydri, 
whose  bite  is  mortal  if  the  part  be 
not  immediately  cut  off,  God,  by  the 
form  of  a  brazen  serpent  lifted  up  on 
a  pole,  miraculously  healed  such  as 


looked  at  it  in  faith.  Did  not  tliis  pre- 
figure Jesus  as  assuming  the  likeness 
of  sinful  flesh,  and  being  lifted  up  on 
the  cross,  and  in  the  gospel,  that  we 
wretched  sinners,  looking  to  him  by 
faith,  might  become  every  whit 
whole  ?  Numb.  xxi.  John  iii.  14 — 1 6. 
The  brazen  serpent  was  destroyed  by 
Hezekiah  about  800  years  after,  be- 
cause it  was  idolized,  2  Kings  xv. 
4.  Saints  are  charged  to  be  wise  as 
serpents  ;  they  are  to  put  ofl"  their  old 
man,  and  vain  conversation;  are  to 
be  daily  renewed  in  the  spirit  of  their 
minds ;  are  to  regard  the  honour  of 
Christ  their  head,  and  the  safety  of 
fiiith  and  charity,  their  chief  graces; 
they  are  to  avoid  hurtful  company  and 
influence,  and  carefully  shun  every 
seductive  allurement,  Matt.  x.  16. — 
The  Chaldeans  and  other  wicked 
men  are  represented  as  serpents,  be- 
cause of  their  craft,  malice,  and  ruin- 
ous influence,  Jer.  viii.  17.  Matt, 
xxiii.  33.  and  so  they  are  represent- 
ed as  biting,  as  having  poison  un- 
der their  tongue,  &c.  Serpents  and 
scorpions,  are  put  for  things  extreme- 
ly dangerous,  Luke  x.  19.  Kings 
Uzziah  and  Hezekiah  are  likened  to 
serpents,  because  they  terribly  ha- 
rassed and  destroyed  the  Philistines, 
Isa.  xiv.  29.  See  Bite,  Dragon, 
Leviathan. 

SERVANT.  The  Hebrews  had 
several  kinds  of  servants :  ( 1 .)  Some 
were  mere  slaves  for  life,  and  were 
sold  or  disposed  of  by  their  masters 
as  they  thought  fit.  Such  were  the 
strangers  bought  or  taken  in  war, 
Lev.  XXV.  44,  &c.  Such  are  also 
called  bodies,  because  their  masters' 
ri'i:our  reaches  only  to  their  body, 
Rev.  xviii.  f  13.  (2.)  Hebrew  slaves, 
or  bond-servants,  Avho  could  only  at 
the  first  be  bound  six  years,  and  at 
the  end  thereof  were  to  be  dismissed 
with  presents  from  their  master:  but 
Ihcir  children  born  during  their  ser- 
vitude, continued  to  be  their  master's 
proi)erty  ;  but  if  they  declined  to  go 
free,  their  master,  with  an  awl,  bored 
their  ear  to  the  door-post,  as  a  token 
they  could  not  afterward  have  their 
freedom,  at  least  till  the  year  of  ju- 


S  E  R 


(     433     ) 


S  E  R 


bilee.     If  a  master   slruck  a  bond-; 
seri'ant  till  he  tUed,  lie  was  only  |)ii-| 
nis^lied,  not  coudoiniu'd  to  death.     If 
an  ox  gored  to  death  a  bond-servant,; 
the  owner  paid  30  shekels  of  silver 
as  his  [jrice,  and  the  ox  was  stoned., 
If  a  master  struck  out  the   eye  of  a 
slave,  he  was  to  give  him  his  liberty 
as  a  compensation.    Females  had  no  , 
right  to  a  release  at  the  seventh  year ;  j 
but  it  a  master  had  defiled,  or  he  or 
bis  son  had  betrothed  a  maid-slave,  | 
and  not  kept  her  as  a  wife,  she  was! 
to  have  her  liberty,  as  a   com|)ensa- 
tion  of  the  injury   done  her,  Exod. 
xxi.  1—1 1,  20',  24,  26,  27.  Deut.  xv. 
1 — 18.    (3.)  Hired  servants  or  hire-, 
lings,  whose  term  of  service,  it  seems, 
was  ordinarily  three  full  years;  and 
30  a  servant  of  six  years  was  worth 
a  double    hired  servant.  Job  vii.  1. 
Isa.  xvi.  14.  Deut.  XV.  18.     As  hire- 
lings from  among  the  Heathen  did 
not  eat  of  Uie  passover,  so  Hebrews 
of  other  families  hired  into  the    fa- 
mily of  the  priests,  were  not  allow- 
ed to  eat  of  the  holy  food;  but  all 
servants  were  to  have  their  wages  as 
soon  as  due,  Lev.  xix.  13.  Did  these 
represent  carnal  and  selfish  pretend- 
ers to  the  service  of  Christ,  who  have 
no  true  title  to  the  seals  of  the  new 
covenant,  or  fellowship  with   God  ; 
and  who  have  their   portion  in  this 
present  life  ?    Exod.    xii.  45.  Lev. 
xxii.  10.  (4.)  Voluntary  servants  :  so 
Joshua  was  the  servant  of  Moses; 
Elisha  of  Elijah;    and  the  apostles, 
of  Christ.     (5.)  Subjects  of  a  prince, 
especially  if   reduced  to  a  kind   of 
slavery   and  bondage,  are   servants, 
2  Sam.  viii.  0.     God's  servants  are, 
(1.)  Christ,  who  in  obedience  to  his 
will,  assumed  our  nature,  fulfilled  the 
law,  and  administers  the  blessings  of 
the  covenant  to  us,  Isa.  liii.  1.  and 
xlix.  3.     (2.)  Such  as  are  employed 
in  a  particular  calling  in  chiirch  or 
state ;  so  Moses  and  Paul,  &c.  w  ere 
his  servants,  Deut.  xxiv.  5.     Rom. 
i.  1.  (3.)  j)istingui  shed  instruments 
of  his  mercy  or  wrath ;    so  Nebu- 
chadnezzar and   Cyrus  ■were  his  ser- 
vants, Jer.  xxv.  9.  Isa.  xlv.   1.  (4.) 
The  saints,  who  are  servants  of  ohc- 

VOL.    II. 


(Hence  unto   righteousness ;   they  be- 
ing delivered  from  the  slavery  of  sin 
and   Satan,  obey,  serve,    and    wor- 
ship (»od  in  holiness  and   righteous- 
ness, Rom.  vi.  Hi,  18,  19,  22.     The 
servants oj'man,  in  an  emphatic  sense, 
are  such  as  submit  to  their  lusts,    1 
Cor.  vii.  23.     A  servant  of  servants^ 
is  one  debased  to  the  lowest  slavery, 
Gen.  ix.  25.  Paul  became  servant  to 
all;  to  the  Jews,  as  a  Jew;  to  them 
who  were  under  the  ceremonial  law, 
as  under  the  law  ;   and  to  them  that 
were  not  under  if,    as  without  law; 
i.  e.    he  denied  himself  his  liberty, 
and  complied   with  every  innocent 
custom  and  infirmity  among  his  hear- 
ers,   that   he    might  gain    them   to 
Christ,  1  Cor.  ix.  19 — 21.     Servants 
also  signify  persons  of  a  base  tem- 
per, unfit  for  government,  Eccl.  x. 
7.     To  mark  the  dilferent    degrees 
of  freedom  under  the   old   and  new 
dispensations   of    the   covenant    of 
grace,  Jewish   professors   are  repre- 
sented as  servants,  whose  service  is 
carnal  and  burdensome ;   and  Chris- 
tians, as  children,  whose  labour  is  free, 
honourable,  and  easy.  Gal.  iv.  3,  7, 
22,  31 .     Wicked  men  are  servants  of 
sin,  as  they  are  under  its  ruling  pow- 
er, and  fulfil  its  lusts,  John  viii.  32. 
Servant,     unmerciful.     Two 
things  are  particularly  intended  by 
this  parable :  first,  the  method  God 
takes  in  his  dealings  with  mankind, 
expressed  by  the  king's  taking   ac- 
count  of  his  servants  ;  and,  secondly, 
his   great  displeasure  against  those 
who  will  not  imitate  his  example  in 
forgiving  such  as  have  injured  tliem, 
expressed  by   the  king's    being  an- 
gry with  his  unmerciful  servant.  The 
prodigious  debt  of  ten  thousand  ta- 
lents   (above    a    million    sterling.) 
and  the  impossibility  of  paying  it, 
shows  the  greatness  of  our  offences 
against  God,    and    our  inability  to 
make  him  satisfaction.    The  sad  con- 
sequence of  this  is  expressed  by  the 
lord's  commanding  the  debtor  to  be 
sold,  and  all  that  he  had,  and  pay- 
ment to  be  made.     The  great  mercy 
of  God  in  forgiving  sin,  is  signifiei' 
bv  the  lord's  being  moved  with  com- 
3  I 


SET 


(     434     ) 


S  E  V 


passion"  to  forgive  the  debt;  and  our 
duty  to  be  merciful ;  and  the  conse- 
quence of  not  being  so,  is  shown  by 
what  followed, — he  was  delivered 
over  to  tormentors.  Matt.  xvii.  23. 
SERVICE,  is  work  done  at  the 
command  of  a  superior,  or  the  i)eing 
useful  as  a  means  to  answer  an  end. 
Service  isf  our-fold  :  (1  )  Civil,  as  of 
a  servant  fulfilling  his  master's  task 
of  dutj^  laid  upon  him,  Gen.  xxix.  29. 
(2.)  Sinful ;  thus  we  serve  inward 
lusts,  by  yielding  to,  and  acting  ac- 
cording to  (hem,  Tit.  iii.  3.  Eph.  ii.  3, 
(3.)  Religious,  when  attached  to  God's 
law  as  our  binding  rule,  we  study  to 
act  according  to  it  in  oar  office  and 
station,  and  worship  him  as  our  su- 
preme Lord  and  portion.  Josh.  xxii. 
.3.  and  xxiv.  15.  This  service  is  to 
be  performed  in  the  spirit,  Roin.  i. 
9.  without  servile,  but  with  filial 
fear,   Luke.  i.  74.  Psalm  ii.  11.  with 


17.  (2.)  To  mark  out,  rear  up; 
Exod.  xix.  12,  (3.)  To  apooint. 
Gen.  xli.  33,  41.  (4.)  To  be  ear- 
nestly bent  or  inclined  to,  Exod. 
xxxii.  12.  (5.)  To  extend,  Exod. 
xxiii.  31.  (b.)  To  march.  Numb, 
ii.  9.  To  set  the  Lord  before  us,  is 
to  regard  his  authority,  live  as  in 
his  presence,  follow  his  pattern,  trust 
in  him  as  our  frien^^  and  protector, 
and  endeavour  to  enjoy  him  as  our 
portion,  Psal.  xvi.  8.  To  set  a  thing 
before  a  person,  is  to  explain  it,  ta 
sl'iow  it,  especially  that  he  may  take 
his  choice,  Exod.  xxi.  1.  Deut.  xi.  26. 
To  set  forth,  is  to  manifest,  Rom.  iii. 
26.  or  to  preach  up,  Acts  xvii.  18. 
To  set  one's  heart  to  a  thing,  is  dili- 
gently to  consider  it,  Exod.  vii.  2J. 
Mennreset  on  fire,  when  filled  with 
outrageous  malice  and  envy,Psal.  Ivii. 
4.  Man's  tongue  setteth  on  jire  the 
course  of  nature,  and  is  set  on  fire  of 


gladness,  Psairn  c.  2.  and  in  newness |hel I  ,*  with  its  angry  and  otherwise 


of  life,  Rom.  vii.  6.  (4.)  Idol- 
atrous, when  one  has  his  heart  ad 
dieted  to  creatures,  or  gives  them 
outward  worship,  Matt.  vi.  24.  Rom. 
i.  25.  Eye-service,  is  that  which  ser- 
vants take  care  to  perform  when 
their  master  is  present,  while  they 
neglect  his  work  when  he  is  absent, 
Eph.  vi.  6.  The  old  men  advised 
Rehoboam  to  serve  the  Hebrews,  that 
is,  to  yield  a  little  to  their  humours 
in  speaking  and  acting  mildly  to- 
wards them,  1  Kings  xii.  7. — Ser- 
vile work,  is  what  is  ordinarily 
donf;  on  labouring  da3's,  as  ploughing, 
reaping,  &c.  SERViTiroE,  is  hard 
service,  slavery.  Lam.  i.  3.  Servi- 
tor, a  servant,  2  Kings  iv.  43. 

SERUG,  a  bow,  a  plant,  twin- 
ing, (he  son  of  Reu  or  Ragau,  and 
father  of  Nahor,  the  grandfather  of 
Abram,  Gen,  xi.  20—22.  It  is  said 
that  he  first  after  the  flood  set  on  foot 
the  idolatrous  worship  of  creatures, 
and  maintained,  that  images  of  men 
who  had  been  remarkably  useful, 
might  be  adored.  This  introduced 
the  worship  of  dead  men,  and  by 
consequence,  all  kinds  of  idolatry 
and  polvtheism. 

SET.  (1.)  Fix  in  a  place,  Gen.  i. 


mischievous  words  it  does  great  hurt, 
and  stirs  up  mischief  all  around, 
James  ii.  8.  Jeremiah  was  set  over 
the  nations,  to  root  out,  pull  down, 
and  to  build  and  plant  tiiem ;  that  is, 
to  foretell  their  ruin  or  deliverance;^ 
Jer.  i.  10. 

SETH,  or  Sheth,  set,  fixed,  or 
put,  (1.)  The  son  of  Adam,  born 
A.  M.  131,  and  father  of  Enosh;  he 
lived  912  years.  For  a  long  time,  his 
posterity  followed  the  true  worship 
and  service  of  God ;  but  at  last  ming- 
ling with  the  wicked  posterity  of  Gain, 
they  brought  the  flood  upon  them- 
selves, Gen.  iv.  25,  26.  and  v.  2  to 
8.  and  vi.  1 — 4i,  (2.)  A  noted  per- 
son or  place  in  the  land  of  Moab, 
Numb.  xxiv.  1  7. 

SETTLE,  (1.)  To  make  steadfast 
on  a  proper  foundation,  1  Pet.  v.  10. 
(2.)  To  mark  out,  appoint.  Psalm 
Ixv.  10.  The  settle  of  the  altar,  ^VK^ 
the  projection  or  jutting  out  of  it, 
Ezek.  xliii.  14 — 20. 

SEVEN.  As  from  the  beginning 
this  was  the  number  of  days  in  the 
week,  it  has  alwa3'^s  had  a  kind  of 
emphasis  annexed  to  it,  and  is  by 
some  called  a  number  of  perfection. 
God  added  seven  days  to  his  pro- 


S  E  V 


(     435     ) 


S  H  A 


mised  patience  towards  the  oI<l  worltl : 
dean  beiists  were  taken  into  (he  ark 
by  sevens;  the  year*  of  [tleiily  and 
famine  in  Ejrypt,  and  their  enihleni?, 
were  marked  hy  sevens.  Gen.  vii.  and 
xli.     With  the  Jews,  not   only  wa^ 
tliere   a    seventh-tlay    Sal)I)ath,    hut 
every  seventh  year  was  a  Sahl)ath  ol 
rest,and  every  sevcntimes seventh  year 
was  a  jubilee.     Their  p;reat  leasts  of 
unleavened  bread,  andoltabernacle-i, 
were  observed   for   seven   da)'s;  (ho 
number  of  animals  in  sundry  of  their 
oblations,  were  stinted  to  seven.     The 
golden  candlestick  had  seven  branch- 
es; .?ft;f/j  priests,  withsarn  trumpets, 
surrounded  the  wall  of  Jericho  seven 
da3'3,  and  seven  times  on  the  seventh 
day.      In  John's    New    Testament 
Revelations,  we  find  seven  churches, 
seven  candlesticks,  seven  spirits,  seven 
stars,  seven  seals,  seven  trumpets,  seven 
thunders,  seven  vials,  seven  plagues, 
and  seven  angels  to  pour  them  out 
on   the  seven-headed  monster,  Anti- 
christ.    Seven  often  signifies  a  great 
many,   a  complete    number,    Malt. 
xii.  45.  Prov.  xxvi.  10,  25.  Isa.  iv.  1. 
1  Sam.  ii.  5.  Jer.  xv.  7.  Job  v.  19. 
Sevenfold,    frequently    means,    com- 
pletely, Lev.  xxvi.  24.  Psal.  Ixsix. 
12.  Gen.  iv.  15,  24.  Psal.  xii.  6.  and 
seven  times  seven,  or  seventy  times  se- 
ven, imports  very  often.  Matt,  xviii. 
21,22.  Thus  Chrisfs.stfven  horns  may 
denote  his  great  and  perfect  power; 
his  seven  eyes,  bis  perfect  knowledge. 
Rev.  V.  6.  his  seven  lamps  and  seven 
pipes,  his  fulness  of  revelation,  and 
gracious   influence,  Zech.  iv.  2.  his 
seven  pillars,  the  fulness  of  fundamen- 
tal truths  and  promises,  Prov.  ix.  1. 
The  Holy  Ghost  is  called  seven  spirits, 
seven  lamps  of  fire,  to  denote  his  per- 
fect knowledge,  and  diversified  gifts 
and  operations,    Rev.  i.   4.  and  iv. 
5.     So  seven  eyes  on   Christ,  denote 
many,    Zech.  iii.  9.  seven  llmndcrs, 
many  troubles;  and  seven  stars,  many 
ministers,    Revelation  x.  3.   and  i. 
16. 

SEVERAL,  one  by  itself,  2  Chron. 
xi-  12.  and  xxvi.  11.  Severally,  to 
one  by  one,  1  Cor.  xii.  1 1 . 

SEVERITY,  a  puaishing  of  evil- 


doers according  to  (he  rigour  of  the 
law,  Rom.  xi.  22. 

The  word  rendered  SEWED,  ne- 
cessarily signifies  no  more  than  to 
fix  upon.  Job  xvi.  15.  Gen.  iii.  '• 

SHAALIJON,  or  Sr.LuoN, />fr- 
tainin'z  to  foxes,  a  place  on  the  east 
of  Jordan,  and  which  gave  name  to 
the  Canton  Selbonilis.  Here  Eliah- 
ba,  one  of  David's  niightics,  was 
born,  2  Sam.  xxiii.  32. 

SHADRACH,  a  fine  or  soft  field, 
thy  sendino;  jMESHACH,  and 
ABEDNEGO,  were  originall}' prin- 
ces of  Judah,  and,  when  very  young, 
were  carried  caplive  to  Babylon,  and 
there  educated  for  the  king's  service 
in  all  the  lawful  wisdom  of  (he  Chal- 
deans. Having  hy  prayer  assisted 
Daniel  in  the  relation  and  inter- 
pretation of  the  king's  dream,  they 
were  made  governors  in  the  jiro- 
vince  of  Babylon.  Some  time  af- 
ter, for  refusing  to  worship  king  Ne- 
l)ucliadnczzar's  image  which  he  had 
?et  up,  they  were  cast  into  a  burn- 
ing fiery  furnace;  but  being  miracu- 
lously delivered,  Avere  further  advan- 
ced in  the  government  of  the  pro- 
vince of  Babylon,  Dan.  i.  to  iii. 
See  Daniel,  and  Nebuchadnez- 
zar. • 

SHADOW,  the  representation 
which  any  solid  body  interposing  be- 
tween the  sun,  or  light,  and  another 
body,  makes  of  itself.  In  allusion  to 
this,  the  ancient  ceremonies  are 
called  a  shadow  of  good  things  to 
come :  they  were  rude  draughts,  and 
unsubstantial  resemblances,  of  the  fu- 
ture incarnation,  obedience,  death, 
resurrection,  glory,  and  blessings 
of  Jesus  Christ,  and  of  the  form  and 
state  of  his  church,  Heb.  x.  1.  As 
a  shadow  follows  the  sun  or  inter- 
posing body,  and  is  perpetually  vary- 
ing, till  at  last,  perhaps  of  a  sudden, 
it  comes  to  an  end,  we,  and  our  days, 
are  likened  to  a  shadow,  to  mark  how 
unsubstantial  our  mortal  appearances 
are,  how  transient  our  life,  and  sud- 
den our  death,  1  Chron.  xxix.  15. 
Job  xiv.  3.  and  xvii.  7.  As  dark- 
ness and  gloominess  attend  shadows, 
so  terrible  darknessytrouble,  or  death, 


S  H  A 


(     436     ) 


S  H  A 


are  called  a  shadow  of  death,  Job  iii. 
5.  and  xvi.  16.  and  xxiv.  17.  Psal. 
xxiii.  4.  As  in  warm  countries  it  is 
very  agreeable  to  be  shaded  from  the 
scorching  heat  of  the  sun,  so  govern- 
ment, protection,  and  refreshing  in- 
fluence, are  called  a  shadow,  Lam. 
iv.  20.  Ezek.  xxxi.  6.  Song  ii.  3. 
Fsal.  xci.  1.  and  Ixiii.  7.  Christ  and 
liis  Father  are  a  shadow,  because  thej' 
govern,  protect,  and  refresh  persons 
and  churches,  Isa.  iv.  6.  and  xxv.  4. 
and  xxxii.  2.  Make  your  shadow  as 
the  flight  in  the  midst  of  noon  ;  in  the 
Jews'  troubles,  protect  and  conceal 
them,  ye  Moabites,  to  the  utmost  of 
your  power,  Isa.  xvi.  3.  The  even- 
ing, or  time  when  shadows  abound, 
is  called  the  shadow.  Job  vii.  2.  The 
signs  of  approaching  desolation  and 
ruin,  are  called  shadows  of  the  even- 
ing, Jer.  vi.  4.  The  shadowsjlee  away, 
when  Old  Testament  ceremonies  are 
abolished ;  and  at  last  all  troubles, 
and  even  instituted  ordinances,  give 
place  to  tlie  day  of  everlasting  glory. 
Song  ii.  1 7.  Shadow  also  is  put  for 
anjf  small  appearance  of  a  thing.  Jam. 
i.  17.  Shady,  or  shadowing,  is 
what  casts  a  shadow  over.  Job  xl. 
21.  or  covering,  Ileb.  ix.  5. 

SHAFT,  (i.)  Thai  part  of  the 
golden  candlestick  from  Avhence  the 
seven  branches  proceeded ;  and 
Avhich  might  represent  the  iJcrSson  of 
Christ,  from  whence  all  diversified 
illuminations  in  every  church  do  pro- 
ceed, Exod.  xxv.  31.  (2.)  An  ar- 
row, Christ  isa  polished  shaft :  fully 
qualified  to  execute  every  saving  of- 
fice, and  fulfil  every  divine  purpose 
of  grace,  Isa.  xlix.  2. 

SHAIIAUAIM,  gates,  tempests, 
goats,  dcemojis,  a  descendant  of  Ben- 
jamin, who,  it  seems,  either  sojourned 
in,  or  governed  the  country  of  Moab. 
By  his  wives  Hushimand  Hodesh  he 
had  a  very  numerous  posterity,  v/ho 
distinguished  themselves  in  the  build- 
ing and  peopling  of  Lod  or  Lydda, 
Ouo,  ami  Aijalon ;  from  the  last  of 
which  they  drove  the  Philistines  of 
Gath,  and  after  the  captivity  dwelt 
partly  at  Jerusalem,  1  Chron.  viii. 
8—28. 


SHALEM,  Shalim;  see  Salem, 
not  Jerusalem,  Gen.  xxxiii.  18.  1 
Sam.  ix.  4, 

SHAKE:  so  leaves  of  a  tree  are 
shaken  with  the  wind.  The  shaking 
of  the  heavens  and  the  earth,  or  of 
the  foundations  of  the  earth,  or  of 
the  nations  or  isles,  denotes  great  re- 
volutions and  distress,  Heb.  xii.  26. 
Isa.  xxiii.  13.  Hag.  ii.  6,  21.  and 
xxiv.  18.  Matt.  xxiv.  29.  Rev.  vi. 
13.  Ezek.  xxxviii.  19.  A  nation  is 
as  the  shaking  of  the  olive-tree,  when 
its  inhabitants  are  distressed  with  re- 
peated calamities  till  few  be  left,  Isa. 
xxxiv.  13.  The  shaking  of  dry  bones, 
in  order  to  come  one  to  another,  may 
import  the  peculitu-ly  earnest  activity 
of  the  captive  Jews  to  prepare  for  a 
return  to  their  own  land  from  Baby- 
Ion,  and  the  trembling  exercise  of  sin- 
ners under  the  convincing  operations 
of  God's  Spirit,  Ezek.  xxxvii.  7.  The 
things  shaken  were  removed,  that  the 
things  which  cannot  be  shaken  might 
remain,  when  the  Jewish  state  and 
ceremonies  were  overturned,  that  the 
unchangeable  person,  office,  and  me- 
diation of  Christ  might  appear,  Heb. 
xii.  27.  To  shake  onc^s  self,  is  to 
begin  to  be  active,  particularly  in 
attempting  to  obtain  deliverance,  Isa. 
Iii.  2.  Shaki?ig  of  hands,  imports 
threatening  of  ruin,  or  easy  accom- 
plishment of  it,  Isa.  X.  32.  Zech.  ii. 
9.  To  shake  the  hand  from  hold- 
ing of  bribes,  is  to  be  free  from  receiv- 
ing them,  and  to  refuse  and  detest 
them,  Isa.  xxxiii.  15.  See  Dust, 
Head. 

SHALLTJM,  or  Shillem,  peace- 
able, perfect,  (1.)  A  son  of  Naph- 
tali,  and  father  of  the  Shilleniites,  1 
Chron.  vii.  13.  Numb.  xxvi.  49.  (2.) 
The  son  of  Jabesh,  a  king  of  Israel, 
v.'ho  murdered  king  Zechariah,  and 
almost  all  the  family  of  Jehu ;  and  af- 
ter a  month  was  murdered  by  Me- 
nahem,  2  Kings  xv.  10 — 12.  See 
Jehoahaz. 

SHALMAN,  or  Shaljianeser, 
peaceable,  or  ivho  rewards,  king  of 
Assyria,  and  probably  the  sameas 
Enemessar,  Avhom  we  suppose  to  have 
been  the  son  as  well  as  the  successor  of 


SUA 


(     437     ) 


S  IT  A 


Tiglath-pilescT.  He  began  his  reign 
about  J.  M.  3270,  and  reigned  12 
or  14  years.  He  subdued  the  king- 
dom of  Israel,  and  obliged  Hofbea 
their  king  to  pay  tribute.  Inlonn- 
ed,  about  three  years  after,  that 
Hoshea  had  concerted  measures 
with  the  king  of  Egypt  to  render 
himself  free,  he  marched  a  power- 
ful army  into  the  land  of  Israel, 
took  and  ravaged  the  fenced  cities, 
murdering  the  inhabitants  in  the 
mopt  inhuman  manner.  After  three 
years'  siege,  he  took  Samaria  the 
capital,  and  Hoshea,  and  transported 
most  of  the  people  to  IMedia,  and 
other  eastern  parts  of  his  empire; 
but  if  we  may  credit  the  history  of 
Tobit,  he  was  not  unfavourable  to 
the  captives,  2  Kings  xvii.  1 — 10. 
Hos.  X.  14.  Invited  by  the  men  of 
Gath,  he  commenced  a  war  against 
the  Tyrians,  and  after  besieging  their 
capital  five  years,  he  died  without 
taking  it,  and  was  succeeded  by 
Sennacherib. 

SHAMBLES, the  flesh-market,  1 
Cor.  X.  25. 

SHAME,  (1.)  That  affection 
which  appears  from  an  inward  ap- 
prehension of  guilt,  dishonesty,  or 
filthiness.  In  the  state  of  innoceucy 
there  was  no  shame,  nor  any  occa- 
sion for  it.  Gen.  ii.  23.  (2.)  Trou- 
ble and  perplexity  of  mind  on  ac- 
count of  guilt  and  disappointment, 
Ezra  ix.  6.  Rom.  vi.  21.  and  v.  5. 
(3.)  Derision,  contempt,  harass- 
ment, Ezek.  xxxvi.  6.  (4.)  What 
is  shameful ;  as  an  idol,  whose  wor- 
ship is  abominable,  and  tends  to 
bring  its  practisers  to  shame,  Hos. 
iv.  10.  or  those  parts  of  the  body 
which  modesty  requires  to  be  co- 
vered, Isa.  XX.  4.  or  scandalous  cor- 
ruptions, of  which  men  ought  to  be 
asliamed,  Jude  12.  or  disgrace,  dis- 
honour, Prov.  ix.  7.  or  a  base  and 
disgraceful  condition,  Isa.  xlvii.  3. 
The  shame  of  sinners'  nakedness,  is 
their  abominable  guilt  and  corrup- 
tion, Rev.  iii.  18.  When  pride  Com- 
eth, then  conieth  shame  of  others, 
and  at  last  shame  to  the  proud  per- 
son, Prov.  xi.  2.     To  shame,  or  put 


to  shame  is,  (1.)  to  render  a  person's 
condition  disgraceful,  and  to  fill  him 
with  shame,  Psal.  xliv.  7.  2  Sam. 
xix.  5.  (2.)  To  make  transgressors 
blufh  at  (heir  conduct,  by  chastising 
and  reproving  them  for  it,  Judg. 
xviii.  7.  (3.)  To  mock  at,  Psal. 
xiv.  6.  (4.)  To  disappoint,  Prov. 
xiii.  6.  SHAMr.FAci:nM:ss,  is  an 
agreeable  modesty,  whereby  a  per- 
son behaves  in  a  proper  and  ilccent 
manner,  ready  to  blush  at  the  small- 
est ap|)roach  to  any  thing  obscene,  1 
Tim.  ii.  0. 

SHAMGAR,  desolalionof  a  stran- 
ger, strivmg,  the  son  of  Auath,  and 
thirdjudge  of  Israel.  The  Philistines 
having  invaded  his  country,  he  slew 
GOO  of  them  with  an  ox-goad,  Judg. 
iii.  31. 

SHAMMAH,  loss,  desolation,  as- 
tonishment, the  son  of  A  gee  the  Ha- 
rarite,  the  third  of  David's  mighties. 
Accompanied  by  Eleazar  the  sou  of 
Dodo,  he  routed  the  Philistines  on  a 
field  of  lentiles,  and  killed  prodigious 
numbers  of  them.  They  also  breaking 
through  the  host  of  the  Philistines, 
together  with  Jashobeam,  brought 
David  water  from  the  well  of  Bethle- 
hem, 2  Sam.  xxiii.  11 — 17.  Two 
others  of  David's  worthies  were  called 
Shammah,  the  one  a  Harodite,  the 
other  an  Hararite,  2  Sam.  xxiii.  25,33. 

SHAPHAN.     See  Josiaii. 

SHARON,  Sauon,  his  plain,  jiehl, 
or  his  song,  the  name  of  several  de- 
lightful spots  in  Canaan;  the  first  lay 
between  Cesarea  and  Joppa,  on  the 
west  of  the  promised  land.  Acts  ix.  35. 
A  second  lay  between  Tabor  and  the 
sea  of  Tiberias ;  this  Avas  perhaps  but 
a  continuation  of  the  other.  A  third 
lay  on  the  east  of  Jordan,  1  Chron. 
V.  16.  Sharon  was  noted  for  its  ex- 
cellent roses,  and  pasture  for  flocks, 
Song  ii.  1.  It  is  made  an  emblem  of 
a  fruitful  countr3s  Isa.  xxxiii.  9.  and 
of  the  church  of  Christ,  fruitful  in 
the  beauties  of  holiness,  and  abound- 
ing with  the  sheep  or  flocks  of  Christ, 
Isa.  XXXV.  2.  and  Ixv.  10. 

SHARP,  (1.)  Fit,  easily  to  cut 
or  penetrate  into  matter,  Isa.  v.  24. 
Psal.  Iii.  2.  (2.)  What  is  very  pow- 


SHE 


(     438     ) 


SHE 


crfnl  and  piercing,  Isa.  xlix  2.  Psal. 
siv.  (3.)  Vehement  and  eager,  Acts 
XV.  39.  (4.)  Very  pernicious  and 
hurtful,  Psa!.  Ivii.  b.  Prov.  v.  4.  To 
SHARPEN,  make  sharp.  Men  sharpcii 
ihcir  tongues  like  serpents,  when  thej- 
utter  slander  in  a  malicious  and  out- 
rageous manner,  Fsal.  cxK  3.  Thej- 
eharpcn  their  eye  upon  a  person  wlwn 
they  look  at  him  with  malice  and 
contempt,  Job  xvi.  9.  We  sharpen  a 
friend,  vvheiQ  v.e  stir  him  up,  and  ren- 
der him  more  ready  for  action,  Prov. 
xxvii.  17.  Sharply,  (1.)  Ai^gri- 
ly,  vehemently,  .Judg.  viii.  1.  (2.) 
In  a  cutting  and  convincing  manner. 
Tit.  i.  13.  Sharpness,  very  cut- 
ting admonitions  and  censures,  2 
Cor.  xiis.  10. 

SHAVE.     See  Beard,  Hate. 

SHAVEH,  denotes  a  valley  or 
dale,  such  as  that  belonging  to  the 
kings  of  Salem,  and  that  of  Kirjath- 
aim,  Gen.  xvi.  5,  17. 

SHEAF,  a  bundle  of  corn.  To 
take  the  sheaf  from  the  hungry,  is  (o 
deprive  the  poor  of  their  just  and 
Jiecessary  provision,  Job  xxiv.  10. 
To  bring  home  sheaves,  is  to  enjoy 
the  happy  fruit  of  one's  labour;  or 
to  receive  abundant  consolation, 
after  a  season  of  peculiar  affliction 
and  distress,  Psal.  cxxvi.  6.  See 
Feast  of  unleavened  bread. 

SHEAR,  (1.)  To  cut  off  hair,  1 
Cor.  xi.  6.  but  particularly  to  take  off 
the  wool  of  sheep.  In  China  they 
shear  their  sheep  thrice  a  year.  The 
Jews  used  to  shear  them  in  June 
or  July,  and  had  houses  for  that  pur- 
pose, and  a  feast  on  the  occasion,  2 
Kings  X.  12.  1  Sam.  xxv.  4 — 11. 
and  xiii.  23,  24. 

SHEATH,  or  scabbard,  the  case 
or  covering  of  a  sword,   1  Sam.  xvii. 

SHEBA,  captivity,  an  old  man, 
or  repose,  or  Seba,  the  son  of 
Cusn,  who  also  gave  name  to  a 
country  in  Arabia,  or  Abyssinia, 
Gen.  X.  7.  Psal.  Ixxii.  10.  Isa.  xliii. 
.0.  (2.)  Sheba  the  son  of  Raamah, 
and  grandson  of  Cush,  Gen.  x.  7. 
(3.)  The  son  of  Joktan,  Gen.  x.  28. 
/4.)  The  son  of  Jokshan,  and  grand- 


son of  Abraham,  Gen.  xxv.  3.  AH 
these  seem  to  have  taken  up  their 
residence  in  Arabia,  and  perhaps 
most  of  them  in  the  south  part  of  it. 
One  or  more  of  these  Shebas  gave 
name  to  a  country,  whose  queen 
came  to  visit  Solomon,  and  brought 
him  large  presents  of  gold,  spices, 
and  precious  stones  ;  but  where  this 
Sheba  was  situated,  whether  in 
Arabia  the  Happy,  or  in  Abyssinia,  is 
not  agreed.  It  is  certain,  that  tioth 
of  them  lie  southward  of  Canaan; 
and  as  Arabia  was  bounded  with 
the  ocean,  and  Abyssinia  was  then 
the  southmost  known  country,  both 
may  be  called  the  iittermost  ends  of 
the  earth.  Spices,  gold,  and  pre- 
cious stones,  were  produced,  or  might 
easily  be  had,  in  both.  In  Abyssinia, 
their  language,  and  their  ancient, 
nay,  their  present  religion,  are  not 
a  little  similar  to  the  Jewish;  and 
they  pretend  to  give  us  an  account 
of  a  queen  of  theirs,  who  visited  So- 
lomon, and  had  by  him  a  son,  whose 
posterity  continued  on  their  throne 
1930  years,  if  they  do  not  so  still, 
1  Kings  X.  Matt.  xii.  42.  Luke  xi. 
31.  The  inhabitants  of  Sheba  traded 
with  the  Tyrians  in  spices,  precious 
stone?,  and  gold,  Ezek.  xxvii.  22. 
I  suppose  there  might  be  one  or  more 
Shebas  in  Arabia,  and  another  in 
Abyssinia;  but  it  is  more  certain 
that  the  men  of  Sheba  and  Seba 
were  in  the  primitive  ages  of  Chris- 
tianity, and  shall  in  the  millennium, 
be  turned  to  the  Lord,  Psal.  Ixxii. 
10,  15.  Isa.  Ix.  6.  No  doubt  the 
Sabeans  were  the  offspring  of  some 
of  the  above-mentioned  Shebas  or 
Sheba.  We  find  one  tribe  of  them 
in  Arabia  the  Desert,  near  the  land 
of  Uz,  who  carried  off  Job's  cattle ; 
Job  i.  1 5.  and  to  whom  the  Jews 
sold  the  Tyrian  slaves  which  they 
bought  from  Alexander's  troops, 
Joel  iii.  8.  They  were  conquered 
by  Cyrus,  Isa.  xlv.  14. 

SHEBA,  the  son  of  Bichri,  who 
decoyed  11  of  the  Hebrew  tribes  in- 
to a  revolt  from  king  David,  imme- 
diately after  the  death  of  Absalom^ 
but  Joab  following  him  at  the  heels 


SHE 


(     439     ) 


3  H  E 


with  an  army,  liis  parlizans  were 
soon  scattered,  and  the  inhahitants 
of  Abel-beth-maachah,  whitlier  he 
fled,  cut  ofl"  his  head,  and  delivered 
it  to  Joab,  who  then  raised  Iiis  siege 
of  the  place,  2  Sam.  xx. 

SHEBA,  the  name  of  a  well  or 
city,  is  the  same  as  Beershel)a,  ften. 
xxvi.  33.  and  Josh.  xix.  2.  where 
the  text  should  he  read  Bccrshcba  or 
i>luba,  and  then  we  have  just  13  ci- 
ties, as  is  said  ver.  6. — 

SHEBAM.     See  Sibmah. 

SHEBARIM,  breakings,  hopes, 
a  place  near  Ai,  Josh.  vii.  5. 

SHE  BET,  a  sceptre,  or  Shebat, 
the  tilth  month  of  the  civil,  and  ele- 
venti)  of  the  ecclesiastical  year 
among  the  Hebrews,  answering  to 
our  January.     See  Judges  vii.  lo. 

SUEBN  A,  who  rests  himself,  or  is 
now  a  captive,  a  treasurer  and  secre- 
tary to  king  Hezekiah.  He  was  one 
of  those  who  with  Eliakim,  were  sent 
to  hear  Sennacherib's  proposals.  He 
was  extremelj'  proud,  aflfecting  the 
most  sumi)tuous  buildings.  He  had 
prepared  himself  a  magnificent  sepul- 
chre; but  being  carried  into  capti- 
vity, either  by  Sennacherib,  or  by 
Esarhaddon,  he  died  in  a  miserable 
exile,  2  Kings  xviii.  18.  Isa.  xxii. 
15—20. 

SHECHEM,  SicpiEM,  or  Sychem, 
a  part,  portion,  the  back,  shottldcr, 
early  in  the  morning,  a  son  of  Hamor 
the  Canaanite,  and  prince  of  She- 
chem,  Sychem,  or  Sychar,  who,  by 
defiling  Dinah,  the  daughter  of  Ja- 
cob, and  in  order  to  have  her  in  mar- 
riage, consenting  that  he  and  all  the 
males  of  his  city  should  be  circumcis- 
ed, occasioned  the  death  of  himself, 
his  father,  and  all  the  inhabitants  of 
the  city.  Gen.  xxxiv.  See  Jacob. 
The  city  called  by  his  name  stood  on 
mount  Ephraim,  about  10  miles  north 
from  Shiloh,  and  30,  or  rather,  ac- 
cording to  Reland,  35  north  of  Je- 
rusalem. Near  this  place,  Jacob 
bought  a  piece  of  ground,  and  had 
it  afterwards  to  recover  by  force 
from  the  Canaanites.  This  he  be- 
queathed to  Joseph,  who  was  long 
after  buried  in  it,  Gen.  xxsiii.  19. 


and  xlix.  22.  Acts  vii.  16.  J'oahv 
xxiv.  32.  It  fell  to  the  tribe  of 
Ephraim,  was  given  to  the  Levites, 
and  was  a  city  of  refuge.  Here 
Joshua,  just  before  his  death,  con- 
vened the  Hebrews  to  give  them  a 
solemn  charge,  Josh,  xx  7.  arid 
xxiv.  The  people  of  this  city,  with 
the  family  of  Millo,  set  up  Abime- 
LP.cH,  the  bastard  of  Gideon,  for  their 
king;  but  in  about  three  years  af- 
ter, he  rewarded  them  with  \\w. 
murder  of  the  inhabiLTuts,  and  the 
total  ruin  of  their  city,  Judg.  ix. 
It  was  however  rebuilt;  and  here 
Rehoboam  was  rejected,  and  Jero- 
boam was  made  king  of  the  ten 
tribes.  He  further  repaired  it,  and, 
it  seems,  made  it  bis  capital  for  a 
time,  1  Kings  xii.  1 — 25.  Long  after, 
the  Samaritans  made  it  their  capital, 
and  on  account  of  tlieir  dmnkcnness, 
as  some  sup[)ose,it  was  called  Sj'char, 
About  A.  M.  3870,  Hircanus  king 
of  the  Jews,  took,  and  pillaged,  and 
razed  it.  It  was  rebuilt  by  Vespa- 
sian about  40  years  after  Christ's 
death,  and  called  Flavia  and  Nea- 
polis,  or  the  New  City.  At  present 
it  is  called  Naplouse,  and  is  the  ca- 
pital of  a  small  government  under 
the  Turks;  and  here  the  remaining 
Samaritans  chiefly  reside.  Near  to 
this  place  was  Jacob's  well,  where 
our  Saviour  conversed  with  a  wicked 
woman,  and  over  which  superstition 
erected  a  church  that  was  standing 
about  900  years  ago,  John  iv. 

SHED,  See  Pour. 

SHEEP,  a  most  cleanly,  patient, 
harmless,  useful,  and  exposed  animal. 
Anciently  the  great  wealth,  even 
of  kings  and  princes,  lay  in  sheep, 
goats,  &c.  2  Kings  iii.  4.  In  some 
countries,  their  tails  are  said  to 
be  very  large,  and  all  covered 
with  fat.  In  Madagascar,  these 
tails  sometimes  weigh  about  16/Z». 
In  Arabia  a«d  Syria,  it  is  asserted 
some  of  them  are  three  cubits  long, 
and  weigh  about  25  or  30lb.  and 
are  said  to  have  little  boards  below 
them,  lest,  by  trailing  along  the 
ground,  they  should  become  ulcerat- 
ed.    Kinson  says,  there  are  some  iw 


SHE 


(     440     ) 


SHE 


Tarlaiy  whose  tails  weigh  80/6.  but 
I  cannot  believe  all  this,  itams  are 
the  uucastrated  he-sheep,  ami  which 
are  strong  and  violent  fighters.  In 
Mesopotamia,  Italy,  &c.  the  ewes 
bring  forth  their  j^ambs  twice  a  year. 
All  the  sheep  offered  in  the  ancient 
sacrifices,  represented  Christ.  He 
and  his  people  are  likened  to  sheep, 
to  show  their  innocence,  patience, 
harn»le«5ness,  usefulness,  and  expo- 
sure to  manifold  troubles  and  enemies, 
Isa.  liii.  7.  John  x.  1 — 2G.  and  xxi. 
15 — 17.  Christ  is  called  the  Lamb  of 
God,  prophesied  of,  Isa.  liii.  7.  and 
tj'pificd  b)'  the  paschal  lamb,  and  the 
daily  sacrifice,  John  i.  29.  Men  in 
general  are  compared  to  sheep,  to 
denote  their  stupidity,  their  Aveak- 
ness,  exposure  to  danger,  and  need 
of  government,  1  Kings  xxii.  17. 
Hos.  iv.  16.  Isa.  !x.  7.  or  for  their 
innocency  and  harmlessness  as  to  a 
particular  sin,  2  Sam.  xx\v.  17. 
Sinners  are  likened  to  sheep,  to  in- 
timate tlieir  thoughtlessness,  their 
readiness  to  wander,  their  danger  of 
ruin,  their  inability  to  defend  or  re- 
cover themselves,  and  their  need  to 
be  saved,  led,  and  nourished,  by 
Jesus  the  great  Shepherd,  Psal.  xlix. 
14.  Isa.  liii.  6.  1  Pet.  ii.  25.  Luke 
XV.  4 — 6.  The  ratn,  goats,  anxl 
lamhs,  denote  the  various  classes  ol 
jicople  in  a  country;  great  and  pow- 
erful, or  poor  and  weak,  and  less  or 
more  innocent,  Isa.  xxxiv.  0,  7.  and 
Ix.  7.  Ezek.  xxxiv.  17.  and  xxxix. 
18.  Darius,  and  his  two  kingdoms 
of  Persia  and  Media,  are  likened  to 
a  two-horned  ram,  pushing  its  con- 
quests northward,  westward,  and 
southward,  but  destroyed  by  the 
Greeks,  Uan.  viii.  3 — 7. 

BaUerin!::-rams  were  instruments  of 
war  anciently  used  for  making 
breaches  in  walls.  They  were  huge 
beams  like  the  niasts  of  ships,  cap- 
ped w'ith  an  iron  head,  somewliat  like 
a  ram's  head.  Being  hung  by  ropes 
to  another  cross-beam  su[)ported  on 
poles,  and  equally  balanced,  a  num- 
ber of  men  thrust  it  backward  and 
forward,  and  so  beat  the  wall  with 
its  iron  head  trll  they  made  a  breach 


in  it.  The  workers  of  the  ram  were 
meanwhile  covered  with  a  vinea,  to 
protect  them  from  the  arrows  of 
the  besieged,  or  the  stones  thrown 
by  them.  They  afterwards  had  bat- 
tering rams  that  ran  on  wheels. 
Whether  these  rams  were  invented 
by  Epaeus  the  Greek  at  the  siege  of 
Troy,  or  by  the  Carthaginians  at 
the  siege  of  Cadiz,  we  know  not. 
It  is  certain  that  no  author  before 
Ezekiel  mentions  them,  Ezek.  iv.  2. 
and  xxi.  22. 

SHEET.  Probably  the  Jews  used 
linen  sheets  in  the  same  manner  as 
our  country  people  do,  Judg.  xiv.  12. 
12.  Mark  xiv.  15,  The 'sheet  full 
of  all  kinds  of  beasts,  thrice  let  down 
Irom  heaven,  and  then  taken  up  for 
good  and  all,  which  Peter  saw  in  his 
vision,  some  think  might  represent 
the  Christian  church  as  constituted 
of  all  nations,  Jews  and  Gentiles, 
thrice  eminently  enlarged,  in  the 
apostolic  age,  in  Constantine's  time, 
and  then  in  the  millennium,  and  at 
last  received  up  into  heaven,  Acts  x. 
11—16. 

SHEKEL,  weighing,  the  name 
both  of  a  weight  and  a  coin  among  the 
ancient  Hebrews,  from  the  custom  of 
[)aying  money  by  weight  which  is 
the  literal  signification  of  the  term 
shekel.  The  silver  shekel  is  said  to 
be  worth  2s.  3f  r/.  sterling.  The  gold 
shekel  to  be  worth  1/.  lbs.  Qd.  Some 
distinguished  between  the  coinmon 
shekel  and  that  of  the  sanctuary, 
which  last  is  made  double  the  former; 
but  most  authors  make  them  the 
same.  Moses  says.  Numb,  xviii.  6. 
and  Ezek.  xiv.  12.  that  the  shekel  is 
worth  20  gerhas  orobili.  Lr.  Arl)uth- 
not  makes  the  weight  of  the  shekel 
equal  to  9  dwt.  2-*-  gr.  English  troy 
weiglit. 

SHEKINAH,  a  rabbinical  term, 
by  which  is  understood  a  vi^iible  sym- 
bol of  the  divine  presence  which 
rested  over  the  pro!)itiatory  or  mercj'- 
seat,  the  covering  of  the  ark,  in  the 
shajie  of  a  cloud.  It  was  from  this 
that  God  gave  forth  his  oracles  in  an 
articulate  and  audii-ie  voice,  when 
consulted  by  the  high  priest;  hence 


SHE 


(     4AI     ) 


S  H  I 


a  is  said  in  scrii)(iire,  tliat  God 
duelleth  between  the  clu'rul)iin,  Ps;i. 
Ixxx.  1.  that  lie  sitteth  between  the 
cherubim,  Psal.  xcix.  1.  Tlie  ral)- 
bins  tell  us,  that  the  shekinah  first 
resided  in  the  tabernacle  er^-cted  by 
Moses  in  the  wilderness,  dcseendinij 
on  the  day  of  its  consecration  in  the 
figure  of  a  cloud  ;  and  that  it  passed 
thence  into  the  sanctuary  of  Solo- 
mon's temple  on  the  day  of  its  dedi- 
cation by  that  nrincej  where  it  con- 
tinued down  to  the  destruction  ot 
Jerusalem  and  of  the  temple  by  the 
Chaldeans.     See  Ezek.  ix.  3. 

SHEM,  or  Se.m,  name,  renown, 
the  second  son  of  Noah,  born,  A.  M. 
1558.  To  reward  his  filial  duty  in  as- 
sisting his  brother  Japheth  in  the  co- 
vering of  liis  father's  nakedness,  he 
had  his  father's  signal  blessing,  which 
imported,  that  in  his  posterity  the 
church  of  God  should  long  remain, 
and  Canaan  should  be  his  servant; 
but  at  last  the  posterity  of  Japheth 
should  dwell  in  his  tents.  By  his 
sons  Eii.vM,  AsnuR,  Arpiiaxad, 
Li;d,  and  Aram,  he  peopled  most 
of  the  south  part  of  Asia,  ami  the 
isles  adjacent.  In  Shem's  posterity, 
especially  the  Hebrew  nation,  the 
church  almost  wholly  continued  for 
about  2000  years  before  Christ; 
since  which,  multitudes  of  the  pos- 
terity of  Japheth  are  entered  into  it. 
See  Canaan  and  Japheth.  Per- 
haps Shem  was  the  Pluto  or  Typhon 
of  the  Heathen  ;  and  from  him  the 
city  Zama,  near  the  head  of  the  Ti- 
gris, seems  to  have  had  its  name. 

SHEMAIAH,  hearing,  or  obeying 
the  Lord.  See  Kehoboam,  Jeremiah, 
Nehemiah.  There  are  about  18  of 
this  name  in  scripture. 

SHEMER,  a  keeper,  or  guardian, 
the  name  of  him  who  sold  the  mount 
of  the  same  name  to  Omri  king  of  Is- 
rael, upon  which  that  prince  built 
Samaria,  1  Kings  x\'\.  24.  This  hill 
was  famous  before  the  building  of 
Samaria  upon  it,  for  the  battle  foiight 
there  between  Abijah  king  ©f  in- 
dah,  and  Jeroboam,  king  of  Israel, 
2  Chron.  xiii. 

SKEMimTH,  tiie  eighth  a  mn- 


sical  instrument  of  eight  strings;  biit 
others  think  it  was  a  certain  musical 
air,  Psal.  vi.  and  xii.  title,  1  Chron. 
XXV.  21. 

SHEPHERD.     See  Pastor. 

SHKKl),  (1.)  A  piece  of  a  broken 
|)otter's  vessel,  Exod.  xxiii.  34.  ('2.) 
A  small  remnant,  Isa.  xxx.  14, 

SHERIFF.  We  cannot  say  that 
tile  TiPTAYE  had  the  same  kind  of 
power  in  the  Chaldean  kingdom  that 
our  sherirts  have,  Dan.  iji.  2. 

SHESHACH,  thy  Jlax,  or  linen, 
thy  joy,  a  name  given  to  Babylon. 
It  was  |)robably  derived  from  one  of 
their  idols,  which  might  be  the  same 
as  the  moon,  and  to  which  they  ob- 
served their  Saca^an  feasts  much  ia 
the  manner  of  the  Roman  Saturnalia, 
in  revelling,  drunJienness,  and  all 
manner  of  debaucheries,  Jer.  xxv.  26. 
and  li.  41. 

SHESHBAZZAR.    See  Zerub- 

CABEL. 

SHETHER-BOZNAI.  See  Sa- 
maritans. 

SHIBBOLETH.     See  Ephraui. 

SHIELD.     See  Buckler. 

SHIGGAION,  or  Shiggionoth, 
a  song  of  trouble,  ov  comfort,  it  either 
denotes  a  musical  instrument,  or  tune 
whose  notes  were  exceedingly  di- 
versified, and  perhaps  also  that  those 
songs  varied  in  their  matter  from  one 
opposite  to  another,  as  from  deep 
sorrow  to  exultation  and  triumph, 
PsaJ.  vii.  title,    Hab.iii.  1. 

SHI  HON,  or  Seon,  a  sound,  a 
noise,  the  wall  of  strength,  a  city  of 
the  tribe  of  Issachar,  near  tlie  foot  of 
mount  Tabor,  and  which  was  of  some 
note  about  J,  D.  330. 

SHILOAH,  or  Siloam,  sent,  ox 
who  sends  a  dart,  weapon,  armour, 
spoiled,  is  said  to  have  been  the  sanoe 
as  the  Gihon,  and  to  have  had  its 
spring  on  the  we^t  of  the  city.  It  is 
said  to  have  had  two  pools;  tlie  pool 
of  Siloam  near  the  south-east  of  the 
temple,  and  the  pool  of  Shelah  or 
Shiloh,  somewhere  to  the  westward, 
Neh.  iii.  iJ.  Sometimes  the  stream 
of  Shiloah  is  said  to  be  on  l;||i|§,  south 
of  the  city,  and  yet  in  the  Talmud 
mention  i^^  made  of  Shiloah  ia  the 
3  K 


S  H  I 


(     442 


) 


S  H  I 


midst  of  the  city.  I  am  apt  to  tiiink, 
the  water  which  came  from  fountains 
jiear  the  same  place  for  ordinary,  ran 
{larlly  through  the  city  eastward,  and 
partly  along  the  south  side  of  it,  and 
met  near  the  pool  of  Siloam,  where 
oar  Saviour  healed  the  blind  man, 
John  ix.  The  family  of  David  in 
their  weak  condition,  and  Jesus  in 
his  humiliation,  and  his  spirit  and 
rjrace,  are  likened  to  the  soft  flowing 
waters  of  Shiloah,  Isa.  viii.  6.  Psalm 
xlvi.  4. 

SHiLOH,(l.)  A  name  of  the  Mes- 
s^iah.  Some,  hy  a  mistake  of  the  last 
letter,  render  it  sent.  Some  render 
it  his  son :  others,  he  io  whom  it,  viz. 
the  kingdom,  belongs.  Le  Clerk  im- 
properly enough  renders  it  the  end ; 
and  makes  the  passage  run  thus  :  The 
sccplre  shall  not  depart  from  Jttdah — 
till  the  end  of  it  co^ne,  i.  e.  it  shall 
not  depart  till  it  depart.  Gousset 
explains  it  of  the  Messiah,  as  a  wea- 
ried sujj'cnr.  But  as  the  word  comes 
from  SiiALAiT,  which  signifies  quiet- 
ness, Jo!)  iii.  2t).  and  prosj>erity. 
Psalm  cxxii.  6,  7.  it  is  most  proper- 
ly rendered,  The  prosperous  aiiihor  of 
salvation  and  rest:  and  the  whole 
text  might  run  thus.  The  power  of 
government  shall  7iot  depart  from  Ju- 
dah,  nor  a  Judge  from  among  his  de- 
scendants, till  the  prosperous  Saviour 
come,  and  to  him  shall  the  gathering 
and  obedience  of  the  Gentiles  be.  Gen. 
xlix.  10.  The  accomplishment  of 
this  prediction  is  evident.  Nothing 
is  more  i)lain,  than  that  the  offspring 
of  Judah  preserved  their  distinct 
existence  as  a  tribe,  together  with  a 
power  of  government,  and  judging 
of  causes,  till  Jesus  came  in  the  fiesh. 
The  tribe  of  Judah  were  most  nu- 
merous when  they  came  out  of 
Egyt't ;  they  led  the  van  in  the  wil- 
derness ;  they  v/ere  divinely  order- 
ed to  make  the  first  attack  on  the 
remaining  Canaanites,  Judg.  i.  2. 
and  against  the  Benjamites  at  Gi- 
beah,  Judg.  xx.  18.  Othniel,  the 
first  of  the  judges,  was  of  this  tribe, 
Judg.  iii.  9.  Long  the  family  of  Da- 
vid, who  belonged  to  this  tribe,  had 
the  royal  power.     Even  under  the 


Chaldeans  and  Persians,  JehoiaJsin, 
Zerubbabel,  and  Nehemiah,  all  of 
this  tribe,  held  a  superiority,  2  Kings 
XXV.  Ezra  i.  to  vi.  Neh.  i.  to  xiii. — 
For  about  160  years  before  Christ, 
the  Maccabean  priests,  and  the  fa- 
mily of  Herod,  ruled  over  the  Jews, 
both  of  which  were  in  a  manner  in- 
corporated with  the  tribe  of  Judah; 
and  besides,  the  sanhedrim  of  Jewish 
elders  had  much  power  in  their 
haml.  Not  long  after  our  Saviour's 
incarnation,  Judea  was  reduced  to  a 
Roman  j)rovince.  Not  long  had  the 
Gentiles  begun  to  gather  to  and  obey 
him,  when  the  Jewish  church  and 
state  were  quite  overfurned,  and  the 
distinction  of  tribes  for  ever  finish- 
ed, the  genealogies  being  lost.  It 
is  true,  they  pretend  since  to  have 
had  heads  of  their  captivity;  but 
where  is  their  evidence  ?  or  where 
is  the  nation  wherein  they  have  au- 
thority to  judge  and  determine  in 
any  important  point  ?  If  they  cau~ 
not  produce  tokens  of  power  for 
more  than  1 700  years  past,  the  Mes- 
siah must  certainly  be  come,  and  Je- 
sus of  Nazareth  must  be  the  per- 
son. 

(2.)  SiiiLOH,  a  famous  city  of  the 
tribe  of  Ephraim,  about  ten  miles 
south  of  Shechem,  and  25  north  of 
Jerusalem.  Here  Joshua  divided  the 
Western  Canaan  to  the  nine  tiibes 
and  a  half :  and  here  he  fixed  the  ta- 
bernacle of  God  ;  and  here  it  conti- 
nued about  310  years,  if  not  350.  Af- 
ter the  Philistines  carried  off' the  ark, 
it  was  never  returned  to  Shiloh,  an(l 
the  place  gradually  dwindled  away, 
till  its  ruinous  condition  became  a 
proverb  and  a  pattern  of  desolation. 
Josh,  xviii.  Psal.  Ixxviii.  60.  Jer. 
vii.  12, 14.  and  xxvi.  6,  9.  The  in- 
habitants of  it  are  perhaps  called  Shi- 
lonites,  1  Chron.  ix.  5.  At  least  Ahi- 
jail  the  prophet  was  one,  1  Kings 
xiv.  2.  Though  a  sufficient  number 
of  the  daughters  of  Israel,  to  furnish 
with  wives  the  200  men  of  the  Ben- 
jamites who  escaped  the  sword,  were 
<iaught  as  tliey  danced  in  their  vine- 
yards, Judg.  xxi. 

SHIMEI,  thxit  iKars,  or  obeys,  or 


8  H  I 


(     443     ) 


8  H  1 


the  HMiic  of  the  heap,  one  }vho  dtslroys 
the  heap,  the  sou  of  (icra,  a  Beiija- 
niite,  and  a  kinsman  ol  Saul.  When 
Davidan  a  mo>t  laiMeiitalilci-oiulilion 
fled  from  Jerusalem  U>r  fear  of  Ab?:a- 
loin,  Shitnei  met  him  at  Jialiurim,  and 
bitterly  enrsed  him  as*  a  murderer  and 
wicked  monster,  and  tlireiv  stones 
at  him.  David  \s'0uld  not  snlVer  him  to 
be  killed  for  hi:*  insolence.  After  Ab- 
salom's deatli,  Shimei,  with  ]l>00  men 
of  his  tribe,  came  uith  the  first,  pur- 
tic  ularly  of  the  three  tribes  of  the  cam  [) 
of  Epbraim,  to  welcome  David  home 
to  his  capital.  He  confessed  his  crime, 
and  begged  forgiveness.  Notwilh- 
standing  Abishai's  pleading,  David 
«^ave  Shimei  hisoatli,  tiiat  he  would 
spare  his  life,  and  never  put  him  to 
(loath,  2  Sam.  xvi.  .5  to  1 1.  and  xix. 
10 — 23.  But  as  it  was  dangerous  to 
let  such  an  atVront  of  royal  majesty 
go  unpunished,  David,  on  his  death- 
bed, charged  Solomon  to  resent  it  as 
he  thought  jiroper.  In  lull  consisten- 
cy with  his  father's  oath,  Solomon  or- 
dered Shimei,  under  pain  of  death, 
not  to  go  without  tlie  limits  of  Jeru- 
salem. Shimei  was  content  with  the 
restriction.  About  three  years  after 
Eome  of  his  slaves  fled  off,  and  took 
shelter  Avith  Achish,  king  of  Gath. 
Being  informed  of  this,  Shimei  went 
after  them,  and  brought  them  back  to 
Jerusalem.  Solomon  having  heard  of 
it,  called  Shimei  before  him,  and  after 
convicting  hira  of  his  wickedness, 
ordered  Benaiah  to  despatch  iiim  with 
his  sword,  1  Kings  ii.  36 — 46. 

SHINAR,  the  changing  of  ei  city, 
the  province  of  Babjiou,  where  the 
famed  lower  was  built.  It  was  pro- 
bably so  called,  because  then  the  Lord 
shook  out,  or  dispersed  the  nations, 
Gen.  xi.  2.  Dan.  i.  2.  In  this  country 
we  find  the  mountains  Zagrfei,  or 
Singares,  and  the  city  and  river  of 
Singara.  Shinar  may  not  only  mean 
Babylonia,  but  the  whole  countries 
whither  the  Jews  have  been  for  many 
ages  <lispersed,  and  from  whence  they 
shall  be  brought  back  at  last,  Zech. 
V.  11.  Isa.  xi.  11. 

SHINE,  to  appear  bright  as  the 
sun  in  a  clear  day,    Job  xxxi.  20. 


God  ahincs  forth  when  he  manifeslB 
his  glorious  excidlencie?,  and  confers 
his  favours  I'sal.  I.  2.  and  Ixxx.  1. 
and  c.xix.  1:35.  His  gospel  or  truth 
shine,  when  they  are  clearly  publish- 
ed, and  powerfidly  applied,  Isa.    ix. 

2.  2  Tet.  i.  29.  I\Ien  shine,  when 
Ihey  are  sound  in  doctrine,  holy 
in  practice,  and  abound  in  good 
Work?,  honour,  and  jiower,  l\[atf. 
v.   15,    10.    Job  xi.    17.   Dan.    xii. 

3.  The  light  or  candle  of  prospe- 
rity shines  on  men,  when  they  enjoy 
nuicli  of  it,  Jol)  xxii.  2'J.  and 
xxix. 

SHIPHllAH,  kamhomc,  trumpet, 
doing  well,  goodness,  and  PIJAH, 
were  two  noted  midwives  in  the  land 
of  Goshen;  hut  whether  they  were 
Hebrews  or  Egyptians,  we  know 
not.  To  prevent  the  increase  of  the 
Israelites,  Pharaoh  sent  forthera,  and 
charged  them  to  stifle  in  the  birth  all 
the  Hebrew  male  children.  They 
neglected  to  obey  his  orders.  He 
sent  for  them  again,  and  expostulat- 
ed with  them.  They  told  him,  that 
the  Hebrew  women  were  not  like 
the  Egyptians,  but  could,  and  often 
did,  bring  forth  their  infants  without 
the  help  of  midwives.  Possibly  there 
might  be  great  deal  of  truth  in  this. 
But  w'hatever  falsehood  was  in  their 
speech,  God  did  not  reward  it;  but 
he  rewarded  their  fear  of  him,  and 
their  love  to  the  Hebrews,  and  he 
built  them  houses,  that  is,  he  reward- 
ed them  with  numecous  and  prosper- 
ous families.  Though  Cahnet  thinks 
it  was  not  the  houses  of  the  mid- 
wives,  hut  of  the  Hv'?brews,  that 
God  built  up,  Exod.  i.  15—19. 

SHIPS.  Probably  Noah's  ark 
nas  the  origin  of  shipping.  The 
tribes  of  Zebuluu  and  Dan  appear 
to  have  early  iiegun  a  sea-trade, 
Gen.  xlix.  13.  Judg.  v.  I".  Solo- 
mon, and  after  him  Jehoshaphat,  set 
on  foot  a  considerable  trade  by  ship- 
[)ing,  1  Kings  x.  and  xxii.  Tiic  Tro,- 
jans  were  early  powerful  at  sea; 
but  the  Tjuians  and  Sidonians  for 
many  ages  were  much  more  so.  Nor 
was  their  colony  at  Carthage  infe- 
rior in  shipping.     Tlie  Greeks^  bo^h 


S  H  I 


C     444     ) 


SHI 


in  Asia  and  Europe,  were  also  in 
their  turn  famous  by  sea;  particular- 
ly those  of  Miletus,  Rhodes,  Athens, 
Sicily ;  and  the  Alexandrians  in 
Egypt.  After  the  Saracens  had  ruin- 
ed the  Grecian  sea-trade,  the  Vene- 
tians, Pisans,  and  Genoese  in  Italy, 
becaine  famous  in  that  vva3\  About 
280  years  ago,  the  Spaniards  and 
Portuguese,  by  pushing  their  Afri- 
can, Indian,  and  American  disco- 
veries, engrossed  much  of  the  sea- 
trade  :  but  at  present  the  English 
cut  by  far  the  greatest  figure  at  sea. 
Some  of  the  ancient  ships  were  enor- 
mously big.  Ptolemy  Philadelphus, 
king  of  Egypt,  had  one  of  a  stupen- 
dous magnitude  and  form,  presented 
to  him  by  Hiero,  king  of  Syracuse. 
Ptolemy  Philopater  had  one  of  280 
cubits  long,  38  broad,  and  48  high, 
large  enough  to  stow  3300  men. 
Ships  of  Tarsnish,  are  put  for  the 
merchants  and  mariners  concerned 
in  them,  Isa.  xxiii.  14.  and  for  the 
glory  and  strength  of  God's  enemies, 
Isa.Vi.  1 6.  PsaL  xlviii.  7.  The  Chal- 
deans cried  in  Ike  ships,  when  busied 
in  their  trade,  on  the  river  Euphrates, 
and  when  hastening  to  flee  away  from 
Cyrus  as  he  took  the  city  and  the 
water  of  the  river  was  diverted,  Isa. 
xliii.  1 4.  The  church  is  likened  to 
a  tossed  ship,  to  denote  her  troubled 
and  unsettled  contlition  in  this  world, 
Isa.  liv.  1 1 .  The  Assyrian  kingdom 
is  likened  to  a  ship,  whereof  the 
king  was  the  mast,  the  princes  and 
rulers  the  tacklins;s,  an^  the  common 
peojde  and  army  the  sails,  Isa.  xxxiii. 
23,  24.  The  third  part  of  the  ships 
dcstroxjcd  under  the  second  trumpet, 
may  denote  the  ships,  islands,  and 
martitime  cities,  destroyed  by  the 
Goths  and  Huns,  about  the  end  of 
the  4th,  and  beginning  of  the  5th 
centuries  of  Christianity ;  and  the 
corruittion  of  multitudes  of  useful 
ministers  in  the  church,  troubled  bj' 
the  Arians,  and  other  heretics.  Rev. 
viii.  9.  J^Ian's  life  is  likened  to 
swift  ships,  or  ships  of  pleasure;  how 
quickly' it  hastens  to  an  end  !  Job 
ix.  20.  Shipwreck,  is  the  loss  of 
a  ship  and  its   loading,  by  storms, 


rocks,  or  the  like.  Men  make  skip, 
wreck  of  faith  and  a  good  conscience, 
Avhen  they  totally  apostatize  from 
the  love,  profession,  and  practice  of 
divine  truths,  Avhich  they  once  be- 
lieved, 1  Tim.  i.  19. 

SHISHAK,  Ihejlax  or  linen,  ihif 
joy,  king  of  Egyjit,  and  we  suppose, 
brother-in-law  to  king  Solomon.  We, 
with  Sir  Isaac  Newton,  believe  him 
to  be  the  same  as  Sesostris,  Bacchus, 
Osiris,  and  the  Egyptian  Hercules, 
and  perhaps  the  Belusof  the  Chalde- 
ans, and  Mars,  or  Mavors,  of  the 
Thracians.  Offended  with  Solomon, 
perhaps  for  dishonouring  his  sister 
by  his  iusatialtle  lust  after  new  wives, 
he  protected  Jeroboam  when  a  fu- 
gitive in  Egypt.  After  enlarging 
his  kingdom  to  the  west,  probably 
to  the  ocean,  he  turned  his  arms 
against  Asia,  with  1200  chariots  of 
war,  60,000  horsemen,  and  an  innu- 
merable znultitude  of  Egyptians,  Lu- 
bims,  Lukims,  and  Cushims ;  he  in- 
vaded the  kingdom  of  Judah,  took 
Jerusalem,  and  carried  otf  the  riches 
of  the  palace  and  temple :  but  he 
does  not  appear  to  have  distressed 
the  kingdom  of  Israel,  probably  be- 
cause Jeroboam  was  his  ally.  After 
ravaging  Asia  from  the  north  of  In- 
dia to  the  Black  Sea,  he  crossed  over 
into  Greece,  and  was  there  routed 
by  Perseus;  or  rather  was  obliged 
to  hasten  home  to  chastise  his  bro- 
ther Danaus,  who  being  left  go- 
vernor of  Egypt,  had  assumed  the 
royalty  On  his  return,  Danaus  was 
forced  to  flee;  he  sailed  to  Greece, 
and  was  there  celebrated  by  the 
names  of  Nei)tune,  Python,  Ty- 
plion,  if  not  also  Japetus.  In  his 
arrogancy,  Shishak  is  said  to  have 
caused  his  captive  kings  to  draw  his 
chariot,  till,  one  day  he  observed  one 
of  them  in  his  draught  keep  his  eye 
steadily  fixed  on  the  wheel :  and  being 
asked  the  reason,  said,  that  he  took 
tlie  turning  of  the  wheel  to  suggest 
how  quickly  those  in  high  station 
^\ould  be  brought  low,  and  tlwse  in 
low  stations  be  exalted.  This  speech 
affected  Shishak,  and  indeed  was  veri- 
fied in  his  kingdom ;  for  not  long  af- 


S  H  O 


(     445     ) 


S  H  O 


(er  his  »lcath,  his  empire  fell  to  pieces, 
anil  the  Ethio|)ian9  or  C'lishims  were 
masters  of  Egypt,  2  Chrou.  xii.  1 
Kings  xiv. 

SlilTTIM-WOOn,  a  kind  of 
timber  very  valuable,  and  nnicii 
used  by  Moses  in  the  formation  of 
the  tal)ernaclo  and  its  furniliire. 
Jerome  represents  it  as  similar  to 
the  white  thorn.  It  is  most  likely 
to  have  been  the  black  Acacia, 
which  is  said  to  be  the  only  tree 
that  grows  in  the  Arabian  tlesert. 
Its  wood  is  smooth,  lieautilul,  tough, 
hard,  and  almost  incorruptible.  As 
used  in  the  tabernacle,  some  think 
it  might  denote  the  excellency  of 
Christ's  manhood,  and  the  strength 
and  beauty  of  his  true  saints,  it 
was  probably  from  the  plenty  of 
this  \vood  growing  there,  that  a 
place  on  the  east  of  Jonlan  was 
called  SuiTTi-M,  and  where  the  He- 
brews encamped  a  considerable  time, 
Numb.  XXV.  1.  Mic.  vi.  5.  Josh, 
ii.  1.  In  Joel  iii.  18.  it  may  repre- 
sent the  dry,  barren  Gentile  world, 
Avhen  watered  by  the  word  and 
Spirit  of  Christ. 

To  be  broken  to  SHIVERS,  or 
very  small  pieces,  is  to  be  utterly 
ruined,  Rev.  ii.  27. 

SHOBACH,  orSiiopnACH.  See 
Hadadezsr. 

SHOBI.     See  Nahasii. 

SHOCK,  slieavesof  cornset  up  in 
the  field  for  drying  them.  A  man 
comes  to  his  grave  as  a  shock  of  corn 
in  his  season,  when,  being  well  jire- 
pared  for  death,  he  dies  in  a  good 
old  age.  Job  v.  26. 

SHOE.  Among  the  Hebrews, 
slaves  went  barefooted  :  others  gene- 
rally had  their  feet  and  legs  covered 
when  they  went  abroad;  and  their 
women  of  quality  liad  these  parts 
covered  with  materials  very  rich  and 
beautiful.  Song  vii.  1.  Ezek.  xvi. 
10.  but  it  seems  their  shoes  were 
ordinarilyofno  great  value,aud  hence 
a  pair  oj  shoes  denotes  a  very  incon- 
siderable bribe,  Amos  ii.  6.  Pro- 
bably their  soldiers  often  wore  shoes 
of  iron  and  brass;  and  to  this  day; 
many  ol  the  eastern  peojile  wear  iron 


plates  on  the  heels  and  the  fore-soIcs 
of  their  shoes:  but  Asher's  .v/iocv  lie- 
ing  of  iron  and  brass,  may  denote,  the 
abundance  of  tln'?c  metals  in  their 
territory,  and  tluir  strength  lo  con- 
quer anil  crush  (liiir  enemies,  Deut. 
xxxiii.  25.  The  Meltrews' eating  of 
the  lirsf  passover  wilh  lheir,s7<o<^.v  en, 
loins  ecirilcil,  and  staff  in  Uuir  haniL 
importeil  thnt  Uiey  ^(■ereimmtllia(ely 
after  to  begin  their  journey,  Esod. 
xii.  11.  ruUin<(  rff  shoes,  imported 
reverence  of  the  presence  of  Cod, 
Exod.  iii.  5.  Josh.  v.  5.  IVunt  of 
shoes  imported  mourning,  debase- 
ment and  slavery,  2  Sam.  xv.  30. 
Ezek.  xxiv.  17,  Isa.  xx.  2,  4.  The 
plucking  off'  a  slioc^  and  giinng  it  to 
another,  imported  resignation  of 
right  to  him,  Ruth  iv.  7.  But  a 
widow's  loosing  the  shoe  from  his 
foot  who  refused  to  marry  her,  and 
raise  up  seed  lo  his  deceased  brother, 
imported  that  he  deserved  to  be 
treated,  as  a  slave  and  base  person, 
Deut.  XXV.  9.  To  bear  or  unloose 
o«t'6"  shoes,  imports  doing  him  the 
meanest  offices.  Matt,  iii.  11.  Luke 
iii.  1 6.  David  cast  his  shoe  over  Edoni, 
when  he  took  jiossession  of  the 
country,  and  used  the  people  as 
slaves,  Psal.  Ix.  8,  and  cviii.  9.  The 
saints  have  their  feet  beautiful  with 
shoes,  have  shoes  of  badger's  skins, 
and  are  shod  tvith  the  preparation  of 
the  gospel  of  peace,  when  by  the  truths 
of  the  gosjiel,  their  souls  are  made 
free,  are  enabled,  and  disposed  to, 
and  ready  in  all  holy  obedience, 
Song  vii.  1.  Ezek.  xvi.  10.  Eph. 
vi.  15. 

SHOOT,  (1.)  To  move  quickly, 
Exod.  xxxvi.  33.  (2.)  To  launch 
arrows  from  a  bow,  2  Kings  xiii.  17. 
(3.)  To  sprout,  grow  up  as  corn, 
Jobviii.  10.  Isa.  :!;xvii.  8.  Godskools 
at  men  when  he  suddenly  destroys 
them,  Psal.  cxliv.  t).  and  Ixiv.  7. 
3Ien  shoot  at  the  saints,  when  they 
oppress  and  persecute  them,  Psal.  xi. 
2.  and  Ixiv.  3,  4. 

SfTOPHAN,  orZAPHON,  arai.'/i/, 
hid,  laid  vp,  a  city  of  the  Gadites  a 
little  eastward  of  the  sea  of  Tiberias, 
Numb,  xxxii.  35.  Josh.  xiii.  27. 


S  H  O 


(     446     ) 


S  H  \^ 


SHORE,  the  bank  of  land  at  the 
side  of  a  sea  or  river,  Matt.  xiii.  2. 

SHORT,  (1.)  Of  small  length  and 
duration,  Job  xx.  5.  Job's  light  or 
prosperity  seemed  short,  because  of 
the  darkness,  the  sore  trouble  that 
followed  it,  Job  xvii.  12.  (2.)  Of 
small  power  and  ability,  Numb.  si. 
23.'  ShortnctiS  of  spirit,  imports 
grief,  vexation,  Exod.  vi.  9.  To 
come  short,  is  not  to  obtain,  Roui. 
iii.  23.  To  cut  short,  is  to  destroy, 
consume,  2  Kings  x.  32.  For  the 
preservation  of  the  righteous,  called 
elect,  and  in  answer  to  their  prayer, 
among  the  Jews,  the  days  or  time  of 
the  Roman  ravages  were  shortened. 
Matt.  xxiv.  22.  The  seventh  head 
of  the  Roman  government  ctrntiuued 
bet  for  a  short  space.  The  Christian 
emperors  there  continued  scarcely 
1 60  years,  till  J.  D.  476.  The  king- 
dom of  the  Ostrogoths  continued 
about  00  years,  till  553 :  the  exarchs  of 
Ravenna  continued  about  160  years, 
till  727,  when  the  city  fell  under  the 
power  of  the    pope.  Rev.  xvii.  10. 

SHOULDER,  (1.)  A  part  of  the 
animal  body  tit  for  bearing  bur- 
dens. Hence  burdens  on  the  shoul- 
der import  labour,  servitude,  oppres- 
sion. Gen.  xlis.  15.  Isa.  ix.  4.  and 
X.27.  Psal.  Ixsxi.  6.  To  serve  with 
one  shoulder,  is  to  do  it  with  one 
consent,  Zeph.  iii.  9.  Topullaniaj/ 
the  shoulder,  is  rebel  liously  to  refuse 
sulijection  to  God's  law,  as  an  unruly 
beast  refuses  to  draw  in  a  yoke,  Neh. 
ix.  27.  Zech.  vii.  II.  To  be  carried 
on  the  shoulder,  is  to  be  carried  ho- 
nourably as  royal  persons,  Isa.  xlix. 
22.  (2.)  Ability  to  execute  an  of- 
fice. The  government  is  on  Christ's 
shoulder:  the  whole  care  and  rule 
of  the  church  is  committed  to  hie 
power,  and  wisdoitr,  and  love,  Isa. 
ix.  6.  As  badges  of  honour  and 
rule  were  worn  on  the  shoulders,  keys 
on  the  shoulder  denote  the  power  ol 
government.  Job  xxxi.  36.  Isa.  xxii. 
22.  (3.)  The  border  of  a  country, 
as  perhaps,  Isa.  xi.  15.  God  dwelt 
between  Benjamin's  shoulders,  as  his 
temple  stood  on  Moriah,  in  their  bor- 
der, Dent,  xxxiii.  12. 


SHOUT,  a  great  noise  of  alarm, 
1  Thess.  iv.  16.  of  joy  and  trium|)h, 
Exod.  xxxii.  18.  Psal.  xlvii.  of  la- 
mentation and  eaniest  prayer,  Lam. 
iii.  8.  of  encouragement  and  excite- 
ment, 1  Sam.  xvii.  20.  of  terror, 
given  to  affright  an  enemy,  Jer.  1. 15, 
and  li.  14.  or  of  applause,  1  Sam, 
X.  24.  Actsxii.  12. 

SHOV\^,  (l.)To  make  known;  to 
set  a  thing  as  before  one's  eyes, 
Exod.  ix.  16.  (2.)  To  bestow,  to 
show  favour,  Psal.  cxii.  5.  A  snow 
is  an  appearance.  Psalm  xxxix.  6. 
Christ  mdxle  a  show  of  principalities 
and  powers,  ojienly  on  his  cross :  he 
openly  triumphed  over  evil  spirits  as 
conquered  by  him,  even  as  conquer- 
ors did  over  those  they  had  conquer- 
ed, leading  them  along  by  their  cha- 
riot, Col.  ii.  15.  To  make  a  fair 
sho7v  in  thefiesh,  is  to  make  a  specious 
eippearance  in  opposing  the  truth, 
and,  in  conformity  to  the  Jews,  in  or- 
der to  avoid  persecution,  Gal.  vi.  12. 

SHOWER.     See  Rain. 

SHRED,  to  cut  in  pieces,  and  cast 
into  a  pot,  1  Kings  iv.  39. 

SHRINES,  either  small  forms  of 
the  temple  of  Ephesus,  with  Diana's 
image  on  them;  or  medals  with  the 
figure  of  the  temple  impressed  there- 
on. Acts  xix.  24. 

SHROUD,  a  covering,  top,  a 
grove,  Ezek.  xxxi.  3. 

SHRUB,  such  wood  as  grows,  or 
is  grown  but  to  a  small  height,  as 
bushes, 

SHULAIvIITE,  peaceable,  perfect, 
that  recompenses,  a  name  given  to  the 
church,  to  denote  that  she  pertained 
to  Jerusalem ;  or  rather  was  reconciled 
to  God,  peaceable  in  <lisposition,  and 
made  perfect  through  Jesus's  comeli- 
ness put  upon  her.  Song  vi.  13. 

The  family  of  the  SHUMATH- 
ITES,  were  so  called  either  from  one 
Shumath  their  chief,  or  from  one  She- 
ma,  a  city  of  Judah,  1  Chron.  ii.  53. 

S  H  U  N  E  RI,  their  change,  their  sleep, 
their  second,  a  city  of  Issachar,  about 
(iverailessouthofTabor,Jo3h.xix.  18. 
Here,  in  a  great  plain,  the  Philistines' 
army  encamped,  while  Saul's  lay  at 
Gilboah,  1  Sam.  xxviii,  4.     AbisUag, 


SHU 


(     447     ) 


S  I  B 


David's  concubine,  ^vas  a  native  of  it, 
1  Kings  i.  3.  Here  Elijlia  ua3  kind- 
ly entertained,  and  [>rayed  tor  a 
child  to  hi?  kind  hostess,  and  after- 
wards restored  him  to  life,  2  Kings  iv. 
See  Ei.isiiA,  Jehukam. 

8HIJR,  or  Si  a,  a  tvall.  an  ox,  he- 
hoUinai,  a  city  of  A  raliia,  on  the  north- 
east side  of  the  lied  Sea,  and  whicli 
gave  name  to  the  adjacent  part  of  the 
ileserl,  which  consisted  of  about  the 
4tii  part  of  tlie  wilderness  of  Etham, 
Uen.  xvi.  7.  Exod.  xv.  22.  It  appears 
to  have  been  the  west  border  of  the 
Ainalekites,  1  bam.  xv.  7.  and  xxvii. 
6.  here  the  Suraitte  of  Ptoleaiy 
stoo<l. 

SHUSH  AN,  or  Srs.v,  a  Wi/,  a 
rose,  joy,  on  the  bank  of  the  river 
Ulai,  and  the  capital  of  Siisiana  or 
Shusistan  in  Persia  ;  it  seems  to  have 
had  its  name  from  the  plenty  of  lilies 
growing  about  it.  It  is  said  to  have 
been  built  by  iVIemnon,  a  little  before 
the  Trojan  war.  It  was  the  winter 
residence  of  the  Persian  kings,  from 
the  time  of  Cyrus,  as  a  high  ridge  of 
mountains  sheltered  it  from  the  north- 
east wind  :  but  the  sun  so  scorched 
it  in  the  summer,  that  Iheinliabitanls 
were  obliged  to  cover  their  houses 
with  earth,  to  about  the  depth  of  a 
yard ;  and  if  a  lizard  or  serpent  crept 
out  of  its  hole  in  the  streets,  it  was 
almost  sure  to  be  burned  to  death. 
Here  Daniel  had  his  vision  of  the 
ram  and  he-goat,  Dan.  viii.  Da- 
rius Hystas()is,  or  Ahasuerus,  ex- 
ceedingly adorned  this  place  From 
hence  he  issued  his  decree  for  per- 
fecting the  rebuilding  of  the  temple, 
in  gratitude  for  which,  the  Jews  call- 
ed the  eastern  gate  of  their  temple, 
the  gate  of  Shushan,  and  had  a  kind 
of  resemblance  of  it  carved  thereon. 
Here  also  he  kept  his  splendid  feast, 
Esth.  i.  6.  When  Alexander  seized 
this  city  he  found  in  it  50,000  talents 
of  gold,  besides  jewels,  and  gold 
and  silver  vessels,  of  an  immense  va- 
lue. It  now  lies  in  ruins,  and  I  sup- 
pose has  for  about  1100  years  back, 
and  is  called  Valdak;  but  Tavernier 
thinks,  that  the  present  Shnstera  is 
Hirilt  near  to  the  spot. 


SHUT,  to  close  u|i,  bar,  Jiidg.  i..\, 
5.  To  shut  mil,  is  to  |>ut  out  to  ano- 
ther place,  to  refuse  to  regard,  N  um. 
xii.  11.  Lam.  iii.  8.  'i'o  aliut  up,  or 
shut  in,  implies  imprisonment,  re- 
straint. Job  xii.  II.  Ilev.  xx.  3.  To 
shut  the  ei/cs,  imports  an  opposition 
to  (he  means  of  conviclion,  Prov, 
XV ii.  30.  or  an  abhorrence,  Isa. 
xxxiii.  15.  To  shut  the  tips,  is  to 
speak  sparingly,  Prov.  xvii.  18.  To 
shut  the  hand,  is  to  deny  alms,  and 
refuse  assistance,  Deut.  xv.  7.  To  he 
shut  of  a  hand,  is  to  be  lame  of  it, 
Judg.  iii.  t  15.  To  shut  up  mercies 
and  bowels,  is  to  show  no  pity,  sym- 
pathy, or  help,  Psal.  Ixxvii.  9.  1  John 
iii.  1 7.  ^roshut  up  a  vision  or  word, 
is  to  conceal  it,  or  the  meaning  of  it, 
from  most  people,  Dan.  viii.  20.  and 
xti.  4.  Heaven  ijs  shut  up,  when 
eitherrainor  heavenly  influence  is  de- 
nied, 1  Kings  viii.  35.  Rev.  xi.  6.  Men 
shut  up  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  when 
they  misrepresent  the  true  method  ot 
access  to  everlasting  happiness,  and 
hinder  and  discourage  others  from  the 
use  of  proper  means  of  .''alvation, 
Matt,  xxiii.  13.  Men  areshidupin 
unbelief,  when  God,  for  the  punish- 
ment of  former  sin,  justly  gives  them 
up  to  Satan,  and  tlieir  own  corrupt 
lusts,  till  they  be  further  fixed  in  their 
disregard  of  Christ,  Rom.  xi.  32.  Men 
are  shut  up  to  the  faith,  when  God's 
providences,  ordinances,  and  influ- 
ences, concur  to  promote  their  be- 
lieving in  Jesus  as  the  only  Saviour, 
Gal.  iii.  23.  The  doors  are  shiU  in 
the  streets,  when  the  dying  man's 
teeth  are  gone,  or  he  can  scarcely 
open  hia  lips;  or  when  betwixt  his 
death  and  interment  business  in  the 
house  is  sto[hped,  Eccl.  xii.  4. 

SHUTTLE,  an  instrument  used 
by  weavers,  for  intermingling  their 
woof  with  the  warp.  As  it  very 
quickly  moves  from  one  side  of  the 
web  to  the  other,  eur  days  are  repre- 
sented as  STviflcr  than  a  rveaver\s 
shidtle,  to  denote  the  shortness  of  life, 
and  quick  motion  of  time.  Job  vii.  6. 

SIBMAH,  SHEEMAn,or  Shekam, 
conversion,  return,  eld  age,  rest,  a 
city  about  half  a  mile  from  Heshbon, 


S  I  D 


(     448     ) 


S  I  H 


The  very  best  vines  grew  near  this 
place,  Isa.  xvi.  8.  It  was  originally 
the  property  of  the  Moabite^ ;  but  Si- 
hon  having  taken  it  from  them,  it  fell 
to  the  Keuijenites  after  his  overthrow, 
Numb,  xxxii.  31.  Josh.  xiii.  19. 
During  the  tlecline  of  the  kingdom 
of  Israel,  the  Moabites  seized  on  it. 
It  was  destroyed  or  pillaged  bj'  the 
Assj'^rians,  Isa.  xvi.  8.  and  afterwards 
by  the  Chaldeans,  Jer.  xlviii.  32. 

SIBRAIM,  a  city  or  |>lace  on  the 
north-east  of  Canaan,  between  Ha- 
math  and  Damascus,  Ezek.  xlvii.  1 6. 

SICHEM,    Sydiiau.      See    She- 

CHEM. 

SICK.  A  person  is  sick,  when  dis- 
eased. Gen.  xlviii.  1.  A  kingdom 
or  nation  is  sick,  when  corrupted 
by  sin,  and  oppressed,  perplexed, 
and  almost  ruined,  Isa.  i.  15.  Mic. 
vi.  13.  Hos.  V.  13.  A  soul  is  sick, 
when  distressed  with  trouble,  or 
with  the  want  of  things  hoped  for, 
Prov.  xiii.  12.  when  conscious  of  guilt 
and  corruption.  Matt.  ix.  12.  when 
pained  with  ardent  love  to,  and  de- 
sire after  fellowship  with  Christ, 
Song  V.  8.  and  when  overpowered 
and  ravished  with  the  sweet  enjoy- 
ment of  Christ  and  his  fulness,  Song 
ii.  5. 

SICKLE,  an  instrument  for  cut- 
ting down  corn,  Deut.  xvi.  9.  God's 
judgments,  whereby  he  destroj^s  An- 
tichrist and  other  nations,  are  likened 
to  it,  Rev.  xiv.  14 — 17.  Joel  iii. 
13. 

SIDE,  (1.)  The  margin  of  a  thing. 
Josh.  viii.  33.  (2.)  Party,  Exod. 
xxxii.  26.  (3.)  The  frontiers  of  a 
country,  or  gates  of  its  cities,  Ezek. 
XXV.  9.  To  know  the  signification 
of  the  plirases,  on  this  side,  on  that 
side,  or  on  the  other  side,  we  must 
know  where  the  speaker  or  Avriter 
was  at  the  time ;  Moses  being  on  the 
east  of  Jordan,  calls  the  east  side  of 
it,  on  this  side.  Numb,  xxxii.  19.  and 
XXXV.  14.  In  Joshua,  Judges,  Sa- 
muel, Isaiah,  Chronicles,  on  this  side 
of  Jordan,  denotes  the  west  side. 
Josh.  ix.  10,  &c.  As  Ezra  and 
Nebemiah  were  written  on  the  west 
of  the  Euphrates,  on  this  side  of  the 


river,  denotes  the  west  of  the  Ea- 
phrates,  Ezra  v.  3.   Neh.  iii.  7. 

S1D0N,ZID0N.  SeePHKNicu. 

SIEGE,  the  surrounding  of  a  city 
or  castle  with  an  army,  in  order  tO 
starve  or  force  the  inhabitan'.s  to  a 
surrender.  The  scriptures  mention 
the  sieges  of  Samaria,  Nineveh,  Ba- 
bylon, Jerusalem,  and  Tyre,  as  most 
noted.  The  other  famed  sieges  of 
antiquity,  are  those  of  Troy,  Ashdod, 
Tyre,  Alexandria,  and  Numantium. 
The  more  noted  sieges  of  modern 
times  are  those  of  Constantinople, 
Ostend,  and  Graves,  but  especially 
that  of  Candia  in  Crete.  The  sur- 
rounding judgments  of  God,  reduc- 
ing men  to  great  hardships,  are  call- 
ed a  siege,  Isa.  xxix.  3. 

SIEVE,  an  instrument  for  separat- 
ing the  finer  parts  of  powdc,  &rc. 
from  the  coarser :  or  for  cleansing 
corn  from  sand,  chatT,  or  light  grain. 
God^ifls  his  people  in  a  sieve,  when 
by  his  judgments  he  scatters  and 
tosses  them  till  the  hypocritical  part 
be  separated  from  them,  Amos  ix.  9. 
He  sifted  the  Assyrians  tvilh  a  sieve 
of  vanity,  that  passes  every  thing, 
when  he  almost  cut  off  their  whole 
army,  Isa.  xxx.  28.  Satan  sifts  men 
as  wheat,  when  he  tempts  and  ha- 
rasses them,  studying  to  shake  them 
from  their  steadfastness  in  religion, 
til!  they  are  in  imminent  danger  of 
losing  all,  Luke  xxii.  31. 

SIGH,  to  show  grief  for  sin  or 
misery  by  a  kind  of  groaning,  Isa. 
xxxiv.  7.  To  sigh  jvith  the  breaking 
of  loins,  is  to  be  in  extreme  grief. 
Ezek.  xxi.  6.  All  tJie  sighing  there- 
of I  have  made  to  cease.  Babylon's 
destruction  shall  come  so  suddenly,. 
as  that  they  shaJl  have  scarcely  time 
to  sigh;  and  then  shall  the  Jews  and 
other  captives  cease  from  their  sor- 
row, and  be  glad,  Isa.  xxi.  2. 

SIGHT.     See  See. 

SIGN.     See  Mark. 

SIGNET.     See  Ring. 

SIGNIFY,  (1.)  To  mean,  point 
out.  Acts  XXV.  27.  IPet.  i.  11.  (2.) 
To  foretell,  Acts  i.  28.  Rev.  i.  1. 

SIHON,  a  plucking  vp,  a  conclu- 
sion,^ king  of  the  Amorites,  ou  the 


8  I  L 


(     449     ) 


S  I  L 


tho  Amorile?,  on  the  east  of  .Tordnn. 
Aljout  J.  M.  2340,  he  invaded  the 
kingdom  of  Moab,  and  seized  a  con- 
siderable part  of  it  about  xi.  M. 
2552.  He  refused  a  passage  to  the 
Hebrews  through  his  coiinlry.  Mo- 
ses thorofoie  atfackcd  liitii  in  war. 
took  his  country  from  him,  and  gave 
it  to  the  tribe  of  Reuben,  jNunib. 
xxi.  and  xxxii.  Dent.  ii.  26 — 37. 
.losh.  xiii.  Psal.  cxxxvi.  19,21. 
SIHOR,  SinrroR.  See  Nile. 
blUOR,  or  SICIIOK,  hhick,  Irou- 
iilc,  carlii  in  the  luorniiisr,  the  Nih?  is 
aometimes  so  called  in  scripture;  ils 
waters  are  generally  troubled  or  tur- 
bid, Josh.  xiii.  3.  See  Nile.  (2.) 
BiifOR-i.iBNATH,  a  ])lace  near  Car- 
niel,  Josli.  xix.  20.  in  the  west  part 
of  the  tribe  of  Asher,  according  to 
soaie.  Reland  imagines  it  to  be  either 
tiie  city  or  river  of  Crocodiles,  phiced 
by  Slrabo  and  Pliny  in  this  country. 
Hut  Calmet  takes  Libnath  to  be  the 
white  promontory  between  Ecdip[)c 
and  Tyre,  and  Siiior  to  bo  a  rivulet 
in  this  district. 

SILAS,  Syi.VAXts,  or  Tertius, 
considering,  marking,  or  the  third. 
It  is  thought  that  he  and  Carpus 
wecc  John's  two  messengers  to  Je- 
sus, Matt.  xi.  2,  3.  He  wars  a  chief 
Dian  among  the  priaiilive  preachers, 
and  a  faithful  compunioii  of  Paul. 
He  was  sent  with  him  Irom  Antioch 
to  the  synod  at  Jerusalem;  and  he 
and  Judas  were  sent  by  the  synod 
witii  Paul  and  Baniabas,  to  bear 
their  decrees  to  the  churches.  Acts 
XV.  22.  He  went  with  Paul  to  Lyca- 
onia,  Phrygia,  Galatia,  Macedonia, 
and  at  Philippi  was  his  fellow-jiri- 
soner,  Acts  xv.  and  xvi.  He  and  Ti- 
mothy remained  at  lierca,  instruct- 
ing the  disciples,  after  Paul  was 
obliged  to  flee.  Nor  does  it  appear 
that  they  came  up  with  him,  till  he 
came  to  Corinth  :  and  there  Silas  fer- 
vently preached  the  gospel,  Acts 
xvii.  15.  and  xviii.  5.  2  Cor.  i.  19. 
It  is  thought,  Silas  is  the  brother 
whose  ])rai3e  was  in  all  the  churches, 
and  was  chosen  with  Paul  to  bear  the 
charitable  contributions  to  Jerusa- 
lem, and  who  with  Titua  carried 
Vol.  it. 


Paul's  second  epistle  to  llie  Corin- 
thians, 2  Cor.  viii.  I'J,  10.  Reing  with 
Paul,  he  send.',  his  salutations  to  the. 
Thc^^alouian?,  in  both  ejiistlcs  di- 
rectly to  them,  lie  wrote  the  copy 
sent  to  the  Romans,  and  sends  his  sa- 
lutation, Rom.  vi.  22.  R\'  him,  Peter 
lAvrote  his  first  epistle  to  the  dispers- 
ed Jews,  1  Pet.  V.  12.  He  is  said 
to  h.ave  died  in  i\Iacedonia ;  but  whe- 
ther by  martyrdom  or  not,  we  are  not 
certain. 

SILENCE,  (1.)  Without  speech 
or  noise,  Job  xxix.  21.  Jer.  viii.  14. 
(2.)  Quietness,  submission,  absti- 
nence from  murmuring,  Zech.  ii.  12. 
(3.)  Inactivit}',  stillness,  Prov.  xxvi. 
t  20.  Isa.  xx{ii.t2.  Death,  and  the 
utter  ruin  of  cities,  are  called  ailcncCy 
as  noise  has  ceased ;  and  in  the  grave 
and  ruined  city,  there  is  a  dreary  si- 
lence. Psalm  xciv.  17.  Jer.  viii.  14. 
Isa.  XV.  1.  Silence  in  heaven  for  the 
space  of  half  an  hour,  is  thought  to 
denote  the  calui  in  the  Christian 
church  between  A.  D.  323  and  338, 
Kev.  viii.  1.  God  keeps  ^iViviCf,  when 
he  dela3'3  to  grant  his  people's  re- 
quest. Psalm  xxviii.  1.  or  to  punish 
the  wicked  for  their  sins,  Psal.  xxxv. 
22.  and  i.  21.  Men  are  put  to  si- 
lence, when  they  are  so  baffled,  by 
the  force  of  argument,  or  holy  con- 
versation, that  they  have  nothing  to 
say,  Matt.  xxii.  34.  1  Pet.  ii.  15. 

SILK.  Perhaps  the  ancient  He- 
brews knew  nothing  of  silk ;  for  their 
sHESir,  which  is  so  rendered,  may 
be  rendered  cotton  nv  fine  linen.  Gen. 
xli.  42.  Prov.  xxxi.  22.  Ezek.  xvi, 
10,  13.  Silk  is  a  commodity  much 
traded  in  bj'-the  Antichristians,  Rev. 
xviii.  12.  It  is  now  well  known  that 
a  certain  kind  of  worms  spin  the  silk 
out  of  their  bowels ;  and  it  is  only 
twisted  and  woven  by  us.  There  are 
some  very  curious  mills  for  winding 
and  twisting  it.  The  Seres,  perhaps 
the  same  as  the  Chinese,  were  the 
first  improvers  of  it.  Thence  the  art 
was  introduced  into  Persia.  Nor  tiU 
after  the  conquests  of  Alexander,  was 
silk  known  in  Europe ;  and  even 
then,  it  was  valued  at  its  weight  in 
gold.  Tiberius  the  emperor  prohibit- 
3  L 


b  I  L 


(     450     ) 


S  I  M 


ed  his  male  subjects  to  Avear  any  oF 
it :  and  about  200  years  after,  Aure- 
lian  obstinately  refused  his  empress 
a  gown  of  it,  as  too  costly  and  luxu- 
rious for  her  high  station-  TiH  about 
A.  D.  555,  the  art  of  manufacturing 
it,  was  kept  a  close  secret  in  the  east. 
At  last,  Justinian  the  emperor  got 
some  of  the  worms  to  Constantino- 
ple. They  succeeded  so  well,  that 
very  soon  silken  manufactures  were 
established  there,  and  at  Athens, 
Thebes  and  Corinth.  At  present, 
silk  is  so  common,  both  in  Asia  and 
Europe,  and  pride  of  apparel  so  ex- 
travagant, that  it  is  hard  to  say  how 
quickly  our  kitchen-girls  may  daily 
wear  what  was  once  thought  loo 
grand  for  a  Roman  empress. 

SILL  A,  an  exalting,  a  treading  un- 
der foot,  a  place  near  the  house  of 
Millo  in  Jerusalem.  Some  think  it  was 
a  part  or  suburb  of  the  city;  but  I  am 
apt  to  think  it  was  a  terrace,  or  raised 
way,  between  the  two  hills  on  which 
the  city  was  built,  2  Kings  xii.  30. 

SILO  AM.     See  Shiloah. 

SILVANUS.     See  Silas. 

SILVER.  We  read  nothing  of  it 
before  the  flood,  as  in  use ;  but  in 
Abraham's  time  traffic  was  carried 
on  with  it,  though  it  was  not  coined 
till  long  after.  See  Money.  Its  ore 
is  considerably  impure,  and  it  must 
be  often  purged  to  render  it  fine. 
Psalm  xii.  7.  It  is  found  mingled 
with  lead,  tin,  &c.  The  fine  silver 
of  the  ancients  was  found  in  the  mines 
of  Tarshish,  Jer.  x.  9.  Great  quan- 
fities  of  it  were  used  in  the  building 
of  the  JewisU  temple  by  Solomon, 
1  Chron.  xxix.  4.  It  is  put  for  all 
temporal  wealth,  Hos.  ix.  6.  As  an 
emblem,  it  denotes  what  is  usefnl, 
precious,  pure,  and  glorious.  Rulers 
of  church  and  state  are  likened  to 
silver,  to  show  liow  precious  and 
useful  they  ought  to  be,  Isa.  i.  22, 
23.  Saints  are  like  tried  silver,  to 
note  their  true  excellency ;  and  they 
are  proved  in  the  fire  of  manifold 
tribulations,  Isa.  Ixvi.  10.  Zecb.  xiii. 
9.  Wisdom,  and  her  revenue,  or 
merchandize,  that  is,  Christ  and  his 
graces,    are    more    pure,   precious, 


comely,  and  useful,  than  silver.  Job 
xxviii.  15.  Prov.  xvi.  16.  and  viii.  10, 
19.  and  iii.  14.  The  Jews  were  like 
reprobate  silver,  not  able  to  abide  the 
trial :  they  had  the  appearance  of 
goodness ;  but  when  tried  by  the  law 
or  providence  of  God,  their  naughti- 
ness and  dross  became  evident,  Jer. 
vi.  30.  The  tongue  of  the  just  is  as 
choice  silver ;  their  speech  is  pure, 
useful,  and  edifying,  Prov.  x.  20.  To 
seek  a  thing  as  silver,  and  dig  for  it 
as  hid  treasures,  is  to  seek  it  earnest- 
ly, and  by  all  proper  methods,  Prov. 
ii.  4.  They  that  hear  silver  are  the 
wealthy,  the  merchants,  the  exchan- 
gers, Zeph.  i.  11.  A  siLVERLiNG,  or 
piece  of  silver,  is  the  same  as  a  she- 
kel. Lost  sinners,  especially  the 
Gentile  nations,  are  represented  as 
a  lost  piece  of  silver,  sought  out  by 
Christ  in  the  day  of  their  visitation^ 
Luke  XV.  8. 

SIMILITUDE.    See  Likeness. 

SIMEON,  feeaWn^-,  obedient,  oris 
heard,  the  second  son  of  Jacob,  was 
born  about  A.  M.  2247.  When  he  was 
about  18  years  of  age,  he  and  Levi 
his  younger  brother,  contrary  to  trea- 
ty, murdered  the  people  of  Sheehem, 
while  they  were  at  the  sorest,  by 
their  circumcision.  Gen.  xxxiv.  Af- 
ter Joseph  had  kept  all  his  brethren 
in  prison  for  three  days,  he  liberated 
the  rest,  but  retained  Simeon,  per- 
haps because  he  was  of  a  violent  teni- 
])er,  or  because  he  had  been  most 
inhuman  to  him.  Gen.  xlii.  17 — 24. 
On  his  death-bed,  Jacob  cursed  not 
the  persons,  but  the  rage  and  mur- 
der of  Simeon  and  Levi,  in  the  case 
of  the  Shechemites ;  and  prophesied, 
that  their  combination  in  sin  should 
issue  in  their  perpetual  dispersion 
among  the  rest  of  the  Hebrew  tribes. 
Gen.  xlix.  5,  6.  The  sons  of  Simeon 
were  Jemuel  or  Nemuel,  Jamin, 
Ohad,  Jachin,  Zoar  or  Zerah,  and 
Shaul.  Ohad  seems  to  have  died 
childless ;  but  by  the  rest  he  had  a 
numerous  issue.  When  this  tribe 
came  out  of  Egypt,  they  amounted 
to  59,300  men  capable  of  war,  un- 
der the  command  of  Shelumiel  the 
son  of  Zurishaddi,  and  miarched  the 


S  I  ^l 


(     451     ) 


S  I  M 


;ill)  in  onlrp  of  the  friheii.  Shaphat 
(lip  son  of  Hori  was  tlieirspy  to  view 
(he  promised  lanti,  and  Shemuel  the 
son  of  Amtnihud  was  their  ni;ont  to 
divide  it,  (ien.  xlvi.  10.  Exotl,  vi. 
15.  Nunih.  xxvi.  12 — 14.  and  ii.  12. 
13.  and  xiii.  5.  and  xxxiv.  20.  It 
seems  they  had  heen  si?;nally  jjiiilty 
in  tlie  affair  of  Peor,  as  well  as  Zimri 
their  chief  prince;  and  that  the  2J 
thousand  cut  off  in  that  affair,  were 
mostly  of  this  tribe  :  for  at  the  reck- 
oning immediately  after,  it  was  de- 
creased to  22,200,  Numb.  xxv.  and 


desire  of  immediate  death,  n.s  lie  had 
seen  the  Saviour,  llie  lif^ht  to  li<rhleii 
the  Gentiles,  and  the  nlory  of  Israel : 
he  blessetl  Joseph  and  Mary,  and  told 
them  that  tiieir  cliiid  was  set  up  as  ail 
occasion  of  tiie  ruin  and  as  the  author 
of  the  salvation,  of  many  Israelites, 
au<l  aa  a  sign  to  be  every-where 
spoken  against :  he  assured  IMary, 
that  her  li<;art  should  be  pierced  with 
grief  at  the  sight  of  the  mal- treatment 
and  death  of  her  Son,  and  that  strange 
discoveries  should  by  the  gospel  be 
made  of  men's  hearts,  Lake  ii.  25 — 


xxvi.  14,  15.  This  their  recent  wick-  35.  It  has  been  said,  that  this  Si- 
edness  was  perhaps  the  reason  wh}"^  meon  was  the  son  of  the  famed  Hil- 
Moses  did  not  expressly  bless  them  lei,  and  the  teacher  of  Gamaliel, 
when  he  did  the  other  tribes,  Deut.  SIMON,  that  hears  or  obet/s,  the 
xxxiii.  They  got  their  portion  out  Cyreniau,  and  father  of  Alexander 
of  the  inheritance  of  Judah;  and  they  I  and  llufus,  who  it  seems,  were  al- 
and the  tribe  of  Judah  assisted  one  tervvards  noted  Christians.  He  is 
another  in  the  clearing  their  lot  j  thought  by  some  Ix)  be  the  same  as 
of  the  Canaanites,  Josh.  xix.  1 — 8.1  Niger,  the  teacher  at  Antioch,  Acts 
Judges  i.  1 — 20.  'J'he  Simeonitesixiii.  1.  We  know  not  whether  he 
never  made  any  distinguished  figure. j  was  a  Jew  or  a  Gentile;  but  it  is 
We  scarcely  find  a  noted  person  j  certain  that  the  Jews  who  led  Jesus 
among  them  :  but,  it  is  said  that  the  j  to  be  crucified,  finding  him  read}'  to 
narrow  limits  of  their  inheritance >ink  under  his  cross,  and  meeting 
obliged  many  of  them  to  become  i  with  Simon  as  he  came  in  from  the 
scribes,  and  dis|)erse  themselveslcountrj^  compelled  him  to  assist  in 
among  the  other  tribes.  At  David's  (bearing  one  end  of  it,  Matt,  xxvii. 
coronation  to  be  king  of  Israel,  7, 100  i  32.  It  is  said  that  he  was  afterwards 
of  them  were  present,  1  Chron.  xii.  bishop  of  Bostra,  or  Bezcr,  and  died 
25.  They  revolted  to  Jeroboam  with! a  martyr  for  the  faith, 
the  other  nine  tribes;  but  many  of  Simon  Zelotes,  or  the  Canaan- 
fhem  afterwards  submitted  to  Asa,jite;  one  of  Christ's  apostles.  AVhy 
king  of  Judah,  2  Chron.  xi.  and  xv.j  he  was  called  Zklotes,  is  not  hard 
9.  When  Canaan  was  ravaged  by.  to  guess.  It  seems  he  had  been  one 
the  Assyrians,  it  seems  a  body  of  the  of  those  Galileans,  or  furious  bigots 
Simeonites  retired  southward,  and  who  obstinately  refused  to  pay  tri- 
seized  on  the  country  of  the  Ama-  bute  to  the   Romans.     Perhaps  his 


lekites,  aI)out  the  west  end  of  mount 
Seir,  1  Chron.  iv.  39—43.  Josiah 
purged  their  country  from  idols,  2 
Chron.  xxxiv.  G. 

2  Si.AiEOK,  an  old  saint  at  Jerusa- 


name  Canaanitc,  signifies  no  more 
than  that  he  was  such  a  zealot,  or 
that  he  was  of  Cana  in  Galilee,  Luke 
vi.  15.  Matt.  x.  4.  It  is  said  that  he 
preached  the  gospel  in  Egypt,  Cyre- 


lem,  who  earnestly  waited  for  the  in-!  niaca,  Lybia,  and  Mauritania,  if  not 
carnation  of  the  Messiah.  God,  by  j  also  in  Britain.  Others  will  have 
liis  Spirit,  assured  him  that  he  should,  him  to  have  been  murdered  at  Luuir 
not  die  till  he  had  seen  him.  Moved  in  Persia,  along  with  Jude. 
bj' a  supernatural  impulse,  became  to}  Simon,  the  brother  or  cousin  of 
the  temple,  just  as  Mary  and  Joseph  our  Saviour,  and  the  sonof  Cleophas. 
presented  the  infant  Saviour.  He}  He  is  said  to  have  been  bishop  of 
clasped  him  in  his  arms,  and  blessed!  Jerusalem,  after  the  death  of  hio  l)ro- 
God  lor  hie  coming  :  he  declared  his  ther  Janu  s  the  Loss;  and  that  whoa 


S  I  M 


(     ^52     ) 


S  I  N 


1*ra]ah  made  strict  inquiry  for  all 
those  of  the  family  of  David,  he  was 
for  some  days  terribly  tortured,  and 
then  crucifieil,  A.  D.  107,  after  he 
had  for  above  40  years  governed  the 
dhurch  at  Jerusalem  :  but  as  niost  of 
that  time,  that  city  lay  in  mere  rub- 
Ibish,  there  ^vas  very  little  occasion 
for  a  bishop  in  it. 

SiMOiV  the  Pharisee,  who  having 
invited  our  Saviour  to  an  entertain- 
ment, though  he  scarcely  showed 
Mm  due  civility  When  ire  came,  3'et 
^ook  offence  at  hia  suffering  Mary 
"Slagdalene  to  wash  and  anoint  his 
feet :  but  Jesns,  by  the  parable  of 
Ihe  tAvo  debtors,  convinced  him  of 
Iiis  mistake,  Luke  vii.  36 — 50.  Whe- 
ther it  was  he  whom  Jesus  healed  of 
a  leprosy,  and  in  whose  house  at  Be- 
Ihauy  Jesus  supjred  a  few  days  be- 
fore his  death,  and  had  his  head 
anointed  by  Mary  the  sister  of  La- 
7:arus,  is  not  certain,  Mark  xsvi.  6. 
John  xii.  3 — 5. 

Simon  Magus,  or  the  sorcerer. 
By  his  enchantments  he  acquired 
liimseir  a  great  fame  in  his  country 
of  Samaria,  as  some  very  extraordi- 
iiary  person.  He  was  so  affected 
with  the  doctrine  and  miracles  of  the 
apostles  Feter  and  John,  that  he  pro- 
fessed himself  a  Christian,  and  was 
baptized.  Observing  how  they  con- 
ferred the  singular  gift  of  the 
Holy  Spirit,  by  the  laying  on  of 
hands,  he  offered  them  money  for  a 
■share  of  their  power.  Peter  bid  his 
money  |)erish  with  him,  because  he 
jiad  thought  to  purchase  the  free 
gif  of  God  wi!h  money  ;  and  told 
him,  he  had  need  to  ask  the  forgive- 
ness of  such  wicked  thoughts,  as  they 
shrewdly  marked  him  to  be  still  in 
an  unregeneraled  state.  Struck  with 
{error  at  this  reply,  Simon  begged 
he  would  intercede  with  God  for 
him,  that  the  evils  threatened  him 
might  lie  averted.  Acts  viii.  5 — 24. 
It  seems,  that  afterwards  he  did  what 
he  could  to  oppose  the  gospel,  and 
ihe  preachers  of  it.  He  appears  to 
have  abaudoned  himself  1o  the  vilest 
whoredoms,  and  is  ?hk\  to  have 
founded  the    sect  of    the  Gn«3''cs, 


who  believed  men  would  be  saved 
by  their  knowledge,  be  their  lives 
as  vicious  as  they  would ;  and  held 
a  vast  number  of  Eons,  or  inferior 
gods.  It  is  said  that  he  gave  out 
himself  to  be  a  divine  person,  and  the 
Messiah  sent  to  the  Samaritans,  as 
Jesus  of  Nazareth  was  to  the  Jews ; 
and  that  Helena  his  kept  mistress  was 
the  Holy  Ghost,  and  the  Pagan  Mi- 
nerva, Helena,  &c.  His  follov^ers 
pretended  to  be  a  sort  of  Christians, 
and  yet  worshipped  him  and  her 
under  the  notion  of  Jupiter  and  Mi- 
nerva. Nay,  Justin  Martyr  gays, 
that  about  A.  D.  150  almost  all  the 
Samaritans  worshipped  him  as  their 
god.  The  senseless  fable  of  bis  con- 
flict with,  and  overthrow  by  the 
apostle  Peter  at  Rome,  is  unworthy 
of  a  place  here. 

SIMPLE,  (1.)  Harmless,  free 
from  deceit:  and  to  be  simple  con- 
cerning evil,  is  to  have  little  know- 
ledge of  the  art  of  committing  it,  and 
to  be  ready  to  shun  the  least  appear- 
ance of  it,  Rom.  xvi.  19.  The  sim- 
jjliciiy  that  is  in  Christ,  is  either  the 
plain  self-consistent  truths  of  the  gos- 
pel which  centre  in  Christ;  or  an 
unfeigned  faith  in,  and  obedience 
to  these  truths,  2  Cor.  xi.  3.  Men 
live  in  godly  simplicity,  when  with 
a  single  view  to  the  glory  of  God, 
they  live  in  a  fair,  open,  and  candid 
manner  of  profession  and  practice  of 
gospel-truths,  2  Cor.  i.  12.  (2.)  Ig- 
norant, credulous,  and  easily  cheat- 
ed by  men,  by  Satan,  and  by  their 
lusts,  Prov.  xiv.  15.  and  ii.  23.  and 
ix.  4.  and  so  this  simplicity  lies  in 
a  silly  easiness  to  be  deceived,  2  Sam. 
XV.  11.  Prov.  i.  22. 

SIN,  is  that  conduct  whereby  we 
miss  the  mark  of  God's  law,  and  our 
own  happiness;  it  is  called  iniquity, 
or  UNRIGHTEOUSNESS,  as  it  implies 
a  withholding  of  what  is  due  to  God 
or  men.  It  is  called  wickedness 
and  UNGODLINESS,  as  it  implies  an 
obstinate  opposition  to  the  nature, 
worship,  and  service  of  God.  It  is 
called  TBE?"PASS  and  transgres- 
sion, as  it  is  a  contrariety  to  the 
j.'recepts  of    'he   divine  law«     Sin, 


S  I  N 


(     ^153     ) 


S  I  N 


iiiiquity,  or  wickedness,  deuotes, 
(1.)  What  in  generiil  is  coutrary  to 
the  law  ol"  God,  1  John  iii.  5.  jNlatt. 
vii.  23.  Ezek.  iii.  19.  (2.)  Original 
sin,  wheref)y  our  whole  nature  is  de- 
J'lled,  and  rendered  contrary  to  I  lie 
nature  and  law  of  God,  Fsal.  li.  5. 
and  hence  the  inward  part  i?  sai<I  to 
be  ven/  wickedncsfi ;  the  heart  is  fdled 
Avith  enmity  against  God,  and  malice 
against  men,  Psal.  v.  9.  This  cor- 
ruption of  nature  is  the  sin  that  dwells 
in  us,  Rom.  vii.  1 7,  20.  and  works 
in  us  all  manner  of  concupiscence, 
Rom.  vii.  8.  wars  in  us,  Rom.  vii. 
23.  reigns  in  and  over  us,  Rom.  vi. 
11,  12,  IJ.  and  deceives  and  slays 
us,  Rom.  vii.  11.  It  is  called  lust, 
James  i.  15.  the  Jle.sh,  Rom.  viii.  1. 
the  bodi/  of  sin,  Horn.  ri.  6.  the  bodi/ 
i>f  death,  Rom.  vii.  24.  Wm  law  of  the 
immhcrs,  Rom.  vii.  23,  the  la7V  of  sin 
and  death,  Roi^.  viii.  2.  (3.)  Ac- 
tual sin,  or  a  particular  kind  of  it, 
.tames  i.  15.  Psal.  vii.  3.  Actual 
vin  is  that  which,  proceeding  from 
our  inward  corruption,  is  daily  com- 
mitted in  onr  thoughts,  words,  and 
deeds ;  and  is  formed  according  to 
Ihc  particulai- Justs  that  reign,  or  are 
in  our  heart,  whether  of  the  flesli  or 
mind,  Tit.  iii.  3.  Eph.  ii.  3.  and  it 
is  called  the  iniquity  of  the  heels,  or 
ronversation,  Psal.  xlix.  5.  Actual 
sins  are  either  secret,  or  open  and 
scandalous,  Psal.  xix.  13,  1  Tim.  v. 
22.  They  are  eitiier  of  infirmity 
done  through  ignorance,  inattention, 
and  hurrj'of  temptation;  ox  presump- 
tuous, done  boldly,  and  against  light 
and  conviction,  Psal,  xix.  13.  Un- 
belief, or  tlie  rejection  of  Christ  and 
his  truths  "wlien  revealed  and  offer- 
ed, is  the  worst  of  actual  sins,  and 
in  comparison  of  which  other  sins 
are  as  it  were  no  sins,  John  ix.  41. 
and  XV.  22.  and  this  carried  on  to 
the  highest  degree  of  presumption 
and  malice,  is  equal  to,  if  not  the  very 
thing,  hlasjyhcmy  ai^ainst  the  Holy 
Ghost,  as  it  rejects  and  tramples  on  all 
his  evidence  and  convictions.  (4. )The 
v/icked  among  men  who  commit  sin. 
Job  V.  16.  hence  tlie  Jews  seem  to 
be  called  tvickcdncss,    Zech.   r,  8. 


and  evil  angels  are  called  spiritual 
wickedness  in  hi<:h  places^  as  \\llh 
great  power  and  vigour  they  work 
wickedness,  Eph.  vi.  11.  (5.)  The 
punishment  of  iniquity.  Gen.  iv.  7. 
and  xix.  10.  ijcv.  v.  1.  so  God  lays 
up  men's  iniquity  for  tlieir  children, 
wheji  he  delays  (Iio  Innporal  punish- 
ment of  it  till  it  be  executed  on  their 
children.  Job  xxi.  If). — In  allusion 
to  this,  sin  is  taken  lor  the  offering 
which  makes  atonement  for  sin;  aai! 
what  we  render  sin-qfj'crins;,  is  often 
the  same  in  the  Hebrew  as  what  we 
remler  sin,  Lev.  iv.  4,  25, 29.  and  the 
priests  are  said  to  cat  sin,  that  is, 
they  feed  on  sin-offerings,  Hos.  iv. 
8.  God,  for  sin,  that  is,  by  the 
sin-offering  of  his  Son,  condemned 
sinin  the  flesh,  Rom.  viii.  3.  Christ 
is  said  to  be  made  sin,  that  we  might 
be  made  the  righteousness  of  God  in 
hiiij,  that  is,  he  was  made  a  sin-offer' 
ing  for  us,  when  he  suffered  without 
the  gates  of  Jerusalem,  that  we 
might  be  made  righteous  by  faith  in 
him,  and  be  conformed  to  his  law  ifi 
all  things,  2  Cor.  v.  21.  Psal.  xl.  12. 
1  Pet.  ii.  24.  Isa.  liii.  6.  He  died 
unto  sin,  i.  e.  to  make  full  satisfaction 
for  it,  Rom.  vi.  10.  and  all  saints  are 
dead  to  it,  freed  from  the  reign  and 
curse  of  it,  Rom.  vi.  11.  (6.)  Idols, 
idolatrous  altars,  and  high  places,  and 
the  like,  are  called  sin,  because  they 
are  the  occasions  of  committing  it, 
Amos  viii.  14.  Hos.  x.  8.  and  viii. 
11.  Jer.  xvii.  3. — The  simmto  dcatJif 
mentioned  by  the  apostle,  1  John  v- 
16.  is  a  sin  which  is  punished  in  the 
death  of  the  body,  but  not  in  the 
damnation  of  the  soul.  What  sin  a 
man  is  peculiarly  addicted  to,  is  em- 
phatically called  his  own,  Psal.  xviii. 
21,23.  Whatsoever  is  not  of  fajUh 
is  sin:  whatever  a  man  doth,  which 
he  doubts  the  lawfulness  of,  is  sin- 
ful to  him ;  whatever  proceeds 
not  from  true  faith  in  Christ,  is 
sinful  in  its  source,  motive,  manner, 
and  end,  Rom.  xiv.  93.  The  plough- 
ing of  the  wicked  is  sin,  and  their 
prayer  and  sacrifice  an  ahominaJiGn, 
as  it  is  not  done  in  faith,  and  from  a 
principle  ef  love  to  God,  and  regard 


SIN 


(     454     ) 


S  I  N 


to  h\s  authority,  nor  uifh  a  superla- 
tive i«iin  to  his  glory,  Prov.  xxi.  4. 
and  XV.  8.  The  prayer  of  the  wick- 
ed hcccmes  sin,  when  God  rejects  it, 
and  punishes  them  for  a  wickedness 
included  in  it,  Psal.  cix.  7.  To  cast 
iniquily  on  men,  is  to  cliarge  them 
falsely  with  crimes,  Psal.  Iv.  3.  Ini- 
quity is  found  hateful,  when  its  facts 
and  abominable  nature  are  clearly 
discovered;  when  men  are  permit- 
ted to  run  on  in  gross  acts  of  it, 
and  when  severe  punishment  is  in- 
flicted on  account  ofit,  Psal.  xxxvi.  2. 
To  be  serrants,  o\'  iiii/^uity  unto  iniqui- 
ly, is  to  commit  the  worst  crimes  with 
the  worst  ends,  or  to  proceed  from  one 
sin  to  a  worse,  Rom.  vi.  IP.  God 
sets  7nen''s  sins  tJi  the  tight  of  his  cotm- 
tenance,  when  they  are  fully  known, 
and  openly  punished,  Psal.  xc.  8. 

To  SIN,  or  do  iniquity,  or  wickedly, 
is  often  taken  for  disobedience  to 
God's  law  in  general,  Eccl.  vii.  20. 
But  sometimes  in  an  emphatic  sense, 
it  signifies  to  live  in  a  course  of  sin 
with  constant  pleasure  and  delight. 
la  this  sense,  he  that  committcth  sin 
is  of  the  devil,  and  is  the  servant  of 
sin;  and  the  children  of  God  do  not, 
cannot  thussan,  Johnviii.  32.  1  lohn 
iii.  6,  9.  and  v.  18.  Thou  shalt  vi- 
sit thine  habitation  and  not  sin,  that 
is,  thou  shalt  succeed  in  thine  endea- 
rouFS,  and  not  be  destitute  of  a 
house,  which  thou  shalt  visit  or  regard 
without  sin,  Job  v.  24 — Sinners  and 
wicked  persons,  are  such  as  are  guli- 
iy  of  sin,  and  under  the  power  of  it, 
1  Tim.  i.  15.  Psal.  ix.  17.  but  em- 
phatically,  such  as  are  notorioush'- 
wicked  before  men  to  a  high  degree, 
Lruke  vii.  37,  39.  Numb.  xvi.  38. 
and  ix.  10.  Luke  vi.  32,  33.  Gen. 
xviii.  23.  Isa.  liii.  12.  Satan  is 
Called  the  wicked  one,  because  he, 
in  the  most  malicious  manner,  ex- 
erts himself  to  the  utmost  against 
God  and  his  law,  1  John  ii.  13, 
14.  and  iii.  12.  and  v.  18.  By 
one  man's  disobedience,  many  were 
tnade  sinners;  by  the  disobedience 
of  Adam,  we  were  constituted  semi- 
nally  guilty  persons;  and,  in  conse- 
quence of  it,  our  whole  man  was  laid 


under  the  reigning  power  of  sin^ 
Rom.  V.  19.  1  Cor.  xv.  56. 

SIN,  or  SiNi.M,  (1.)  A  strong 
city  in  the  land  of  Egypt,  perhaps 
<he  same  with  Pelusium,  now  called 
Damietta,  near  the  north-east  border. 
It  was  ravaged  hy  the  Chaldeans, 
and  has  been  often  since  pillaged, 
Ezek.  XXX.  15.  From  hence  some 
Jews  returned  to  Canaan,  and  many 
of  the  inhaDitants  embraced  the 
Christian  faith,  Isa.  xlix.  12.  Whe- 
ther the  SiNiTES,  who  descended 
from  Canaan,  dwelt  near  Lebanon, 
where  Strabo  mentions  a  castle  called 
Sinnse,  or  whether  they  dwelt  at 
Trij)oli  in  Phenicia,  or  whether  they 
lived  about  Sin,  in  the  north-east  of 
Eg3'pt,  we  cannot  determine.  Gen.  x. 
1 7.  (2.)  The  wilderness  of  Sin,  on 
the  east  side  of  the  western  gulf  of 
the  Red  Sea,  and  to  the  north-west 
of  Sinai,  Exod.  xvi.  1. 

SINAI,  SiNA,  or  HoREB,  bramble, 
or  enmity,  a  famous  mountain  of 
Arabia  the  Rocky;  it  stands  on  the 
south  corner  of  the  bosom  of  the  Red 
Sea,  between  the  gulf  of  Colzum  on 
the  west,  and  the  Elanitic  gulf  on  the 
east.  It  is  about  260  miles  east- 
ward of  Cairo  in  Egj'^pt.  The  de- 
sert on  the  south  and  west  of  it,  is  a 
pretty  high  ground  for  about  1 2  miles, 
and  is  distinguished  with  a  variety 
of  lesser  hills.  This  mountain  is  of 
a  small  extent,  but  very  high,  and 
hath  two  tops,  the  western  of  which 
is  called  Horeb;  ftnd  the  eastern, 
which  is  a  third  higher,  is  properly 
called  Sinai.  It  is  said  there,  are 
some  springs  and  fruit-trees  on  Ho- 
reb ;  but  nothing  but  rain-water  on 
the  top  of  Sinai.  'J^he  ascent  of  both 
is  very  steep,  and  is  by  steps,  which 
the  empress  Helena,  the  mother  of 
Constant! ne  the  Great,  caused  to  be 
cut  out  of  the  marble  rock.  At  the 
top  of  Sinai  there  is  an  uneven  and 
rugged  place,  sufficient  to  hold  00 
persons.  Here  stands  a  chapel  sacred 
to  St.  Catharine,  and  near  to  it,  on 
the  brow  of  the  barren  rock,  is  a 
fountain  of  fresh  water.  The  labo- 
rious monks  that  dwell  here,  have, 
with  ashes  and  sweepings,  made    a 


S  I  s 


(     455     ) 


S  I  T 


iviiiil  of  soil  for  a  garden.  From  the 
foji  of  the  mount,  tJocl  proclaimed 
liis  law  to  the  Hehrews,  from  amid.st 
terrible  tlames  of  fire ;  and  here  Mo- 
ses had  long  and  almost  immediate 
fellousliij*  uilhCiod;  and  hence  the 
jilace  came  to  be  called  I'le  mount  oj' 
God ;  ami  here  he  spoke  to  Elijah, 
1  Kings  xix.  S.  At  present,  the 
Arabs  call  it  iMoses'a  hill,  Exod.  xix. 
XX.  and  xxiv.  It  was  a  mount  that 
miglil  be  touched;  though  the  He- 
brews were  forbiilden  to  touch  it, 
yet  it  was  touchable,  and  not  of  a 
spiritual  nature,  as  the  mount  Zion 
of  (he  church,  Heb.  xii.  18.  It  is 
made  an  emblem  of  the  IMosalc  dis- 
pensation, which  gendered  to  bond- 
age, aflecting  all  that  were  under  it 
with  a  spirit  of  bondage,  Gal.  iv.  24. 

SINCERE,  (1.)  Pure  and  unmix- 
ed with  error,  deceit,  or  dross,  1  Pet. 
ii.  2.  (2.)  Single,  candid,  and  up- 
right; the  heart,  speech,  and  actions, 
all  harmoniously  agreeing  together, 
Phil.  i.  10.  And  sincerity  or 
SINGLENESS  of  heart,  Is  pure  upright- 
ness and  candour,  without  any  sin- 
ful bias  to  a  side.  Josh.  xxiv.  14.  2 
Cor.  i.  12.  Acts  ii.  46.   Ejjih.  vi.  5. 

SINEWS,  are  the  cords  where- 
by the  bodies  of  animals  are  bound 
together,  and  which  are  the  great 
means  of  feeling.  They  shrink  when 
they  become  short  or  benumbed, 
Gen.  xxxii.  32,  Sinews  may  be 
taken  for  power,  strength,  Ezek. 
xxxvi.  6,  8.  Men's  neck  is  as  an 
iron  shicrv,  when  they  are  obstinate 
in  their  sinful  courses,  Isa.  xlviii.  4. 

SING.     See  Song. 

SIRION.     See  Hermo??. 

SIRNAME,  a  name  added  to  a 
man's  principal  one,  denoting  his  fa- 
Dtiily^&c.  Men  sirname  themselves 
by  the  name  of  Israel  when  they  hum- 
bly and  sincerely  join  themselves  to 
Je3usChristandhischurch,Isa.xliv.5. 

SISERA,  seeing  a  swallow,  a 
horse,  a  moth,  general  of  the  Ca- 
naanites,  under  king  Jubin  the  2d. 
After  his  army  was  quite  routed 
by  Deborah  and  Barak,  and  mul- 
titudes of  them  drowned  in  the 
river  Kishon,  Sisera,  to  avoid  disco- 


very, (led  away  on  foot  towards  Ha- 
rosheth.  As  he  passed  the  tent  of 
Ueber  the  Kenite,  who  was  then  at 
peace  with  his  master,  .lael,  the  wile 
of  Heber,  invited  him  into  herhouae 
to  hide  himself.  After  she  had  given 
him  some  nulk  to  refresh  him,  he  laid 
himself  down  to  sleep,  and  desired 
her  to  watch  in  the  door,  and  to  de- 
ny him  if  any  body  asked  for  him. 
He  had  scarcely  fallen  into  a  deej* 
sleep,  through  his  excessive  fatigue, 
when  Jael,  in  order  lo  destroy  lliis 
murderous  idolater,  and  devoted  Ca- 
naanite,  drove  a  nail  through  his 
temples,  ami  fastened  his  head  to 
the  ground,  that  he  died.  Barak 
[Hirsuiug  him,  had  a  sight  of  him  in 
this  condition.  For  a  while,  liis 
mother  and  her  ladies,  though  Avea- 
ried  in  waiting  for  his  return,  com- 
forted themselves  with  the  fancy  that 
he  would  be  taken  up  in  dividing  the 
spoil,  chiefly  the  fine  robes,  ami  in 
receiving  his  share  of  the  captiv*; 
girls,  for  the  gratification  of  his  lust, 
Judg.  iv.  and  v. 

SISTER.     See  Brother. 

SIT,  a  well-known  posture  of  the 
hotly,  used  in  taking  rest.  Gen-  xviii. 
1 1.  in  taking  meat.  Gen.  xxxvii.  25. 
in  giving  judgment,  Ruth  iu.  1.  1 
Kings  ii.  12.  in  grief,  Ezra  ix.  1,  4. 
in  teaching  and  hearing,  Blatt.  xxiii. 

2.  Luke  X.  39.  2  Sam.  vii.  18.  Judg. 
XX.  26.  Sitting  also  denotes  fixed 
continuance,  IMic  iv.  4.  2  Kings  v. 

3.  Acts  viii.  28.  To  sit  with  one, 
imports  intimate  fellowship  with 
him,  Psal.  xxvi,  5.  To  sit  in  dust  or 
darkness,  imports  being  in  great  po- 
verty, contempt,  ignorance,  and 
trouble,  Isa.  xlvii.  1.  Luke  i,  79. 
Mic.  vii.  8.  To  sit  on  thrones,  im- 
ports permanent  glory,  power,  au- 
thority. Matt,  xix.  28.  Sitting, -A^cii])- 
ed  to  God,  or  to  Christ  as  Mediator, 
imports  their  undisturbed  rest  and  au- 
thority, Psal.  xlvii.  8.  and  xxix.  10. 
or  their  judging  and  punishing 
men,  Dan.  vii.  9,  26.  Joel  iii.  12- 
Matt.  xxvi.  64.  Christ's  sitting  at 
God's  right  hand,  imports  his  fixed 
possession  of  the  nearefct  fellowship 
with  God.,  and  his  coatinued  power 


8  I  T 


(     456     ) 


S  1  V 


of  governing  the  church  and  her  con- 
cerns, Psal.  ex.  1.  Eph.  i.  20.  The 
saints  sit  together  in  heavenly  places  ; 
in  Christ  their  head,  they  are  already 
possessors  of  the  celestial  glories,  and 
shall  quickly  enjoy  them  in  their  own 
person,  Eph.  ii,  6.  Antichrist's 
silling  in  the  temjile  of  God,  imports 
his  residence  in  the  church,  and  his 
pretence  to  rule  the  consciences  of 
her  members,  2  Thess.  ii.  4. 

Skat,  a  place  for  sitting  in,  for 
rest,  or  for  judgment,  1  Sam.  iv.  18. 
Job  xxix.  7.  A  magnificent  seat  for 
a  king  to  sit  upon,  in  receiving  the 
liorndge  of  his  subjects,  or  in  giving 
audience  to  ambassadors,  and  in  dis- 
pensing justice,  is  called  a  throne. 
Solomon  had  one  very  grand :  it  was 
all  ofivor}^  and  overlaid  with  gold; 
ji  had  six  steps,  at  the  tv/elve  ends 
of  which  were  carved  lions;  the  top 
was  round  beliind ;  and  it  had  two 
arms,  supported  by  two  carved  lions, 
1  Kings  X.  18,  19.  Seat,  also  de- 
notes a  station  of  authority,  Eslh. 
iii.  1.  and  a  throne,  the  royal  au- 
thority of  kings.  Gen.  xli.  13.  An- 
^•els  are  called  thrones  and  dominions, 
because  of  their  great  power  and  au- 
thority, Coi.  i.  1(3.  The  ceremonial 
mercy-seat  that  covered  the  ark  with 
a  cherubim  on  either  side,  typified 
•lesHs's  atonement,  as  the  rest  and 
tiironc  of  grace,  for  a  reconciled  God 
ready  to  declare  his  love,  and  bestow 
his  blessing  on  jjoar  sinful  men,  2 
Kings  xis.  15.  Heb.  iv.  16.  God's 
seat  or  throne,  is  also  either  the  Jew- 
ish temple,  Avhere  the  symbols  of  his 
presence  resided,  Jer.  xvii.  12.  Psal. 
ixxviii.  69.  or  heaven,  where  his 
glory  and  authority  are  chiefly  ma- 
niijested,  Isa.  Ixvi.  1.  or  a  symbol  of 
his  glorious  presence,  Rev.  iv.  9. 
or  his  sovereiga  power  and  autho- 
rity to  execute  judgment,  or  bestow 
favours.  Job  xxiii,  3.  Psal.  Ixxxix. 
14.  Heb.  iv.  16.  or  the  high  degree  of 
his  authority  and  happiness,  Ezek. 
xxvii.  2.  And  the  Jewish  royalty, 
and  the  state  of  emperor  of  the  Chris- 
tian world,  is  called  God''s  throne,  as 
he  bestows  it,  2  Sam.  xiv.  9.  Rev, 
«ii.   5.     Christ's   sitting  on  his  Fa- 


ther''s  throne,  at  the  right  hand  of  tt, 
ior  in  the  midst  of  it,  imports  his  fixed 
j  exaltation  to  the  highest  dignity,  au- 
jthority,  and  ha|)piness,  Rev.  iii.  21. 
j  and  V.  6.  Heb.  xii.  2.  The  saints 
j  sit  on  thrones,  or  scats  before  the  throne, 
!  and  7vith  Christ  oi  his  throne ;  they 
j  have  an  honourable  station  in  their 
i  new  covenant  union  with  Christ; 
1  they  have  honourable  offices  or  sta- 
tions in  the  militant  church :  chiefly 
jin  heaven,  they  have  as  much  holi- 
j  uess,  rest,  honour,  neiirness  to  God, 
;  vision,  and  fruition  of  him,  and  joy 
j  in  him,  as  they  can  desire,  Rev.  iv.  6. 
j  and  xi.  1 6.  Luke  xxiii.  30.  Rev.  iii. 
j21.  Moseses  scat,  is  the  station  of  ci- 
!  vii  power  and  authority  among  the 
(Jews,  and  of  judging  according  to 
i  Moses's  law,  Matt,  xxiii.  1.  Salan''s 
j  scat,  is  the  place  Avhere  he  hath  great 
power  and  authority.  Rev.  ii.  15. 
The  seat  of  the  dragon,  or  of  hea- 
thenish power,  and  of  Antichrist,  is 
Rome,  where  their  authority  was  or 
is  established,  Rev.  iii.  2.  and  xvi. 
10.  The  seat  of  violence  comes  nigh, 
when  men  hold  courts,  and  exercise 
their  authority,  to  commit  injustice 
and  oppression,  Amosvi.  3.  To  sit 
in  the  seat  of  scorncrs,  is  to  have  an 
habitual  and  fixed  intimacy  .with 
them,  and  to  act  after  their  manner 
with  pleasure,  Psal.  i.  1.  Eliakim 
and  Cln-ist,  are  a  glorious  throne  to 
their  Father's  house ;  their  adminis- 
tration was,  or  is,  an  eminent  honour 
to  him  that  employed  them,  Isa. 
xxii.  23. 

SITUATE,  placed.  The  situa- 
tion, or  placing  of  the  temple,  was 
very  beautiful,  as  it  stood  on  a  moun- 
tain, whence  it  was  seen  all  around, 
Psal.  xlviii.  8. 

S[VAN,  hush,  or  thorn,  the  third 
month  of  the  Jewisli  sacred  year,  and 
ninth  of  their  civil,  answering  to  part 
of  our  May  and  June,  and  consisting 
of  30  days.  On  the  sixth  day  Avas  the 
feast  of  Pentecost.  On  the  15th  and 
1 6th,  is  a  feast  to  connnemorate  the 
victor}^  of  theMaccabees  over  theHea- 
theas  of  Bethshan.  On  the 23d,  a  fast, 
to  bewail  Jeroboam's  stopping  of  the 
first-fruits  from  being  brought  to  Je- 


S  K  I 


(     ^S7     ) 


SLA 


Hisalem.  There  are  in  it  some  other 
superstitious  festivala  of  small  note, 
Esth.  viii.  7. 

SKILL,  knowIecl<2;e  of  any  prac- 
tice, especially  wiiat  is  gained  l)y 
study  and  experience,  Dan.  i.  1 7. 
and  V.  18.  PshI.  Ixxviii.  72. 

SKIN,  (1.)  The  natural  corer- 
U12;  of  llesh,  Lev.  vii.  8.  The  hu- 
man skin  is  covered  with  scales  so 
fine  that  the  naked  eye  cannot  per- 
ceive them,  and  each  foot  square 
contains  about  1-J4  millions  of  pores. 
Men's  first  clothing  was  of  skins  of 
beasts.  Gen.  iii.  21.  Propliets,  perse- 
cuted saints,  and  barbarous  nations, 
have  ofte  i.^ince  used  coats  of  skins, 
Heb.  xi.  37.  (2.)  The  outward  co- 
lour of  the  skin,  Jer.  xiii.  23.  To 
flai/  off'  the  skin,  to  pluck  off  skin  or 
flesli,  imports,  to  oppress  men  till  no- 
thing but  the  mere  life  is  left  Iheui, 
Mic.  iii.  2,  3.  To  escape  with  the 
skin  of  one's  teeth,  is  to  escape  with 
nothing  but  life,  having  as  it  were., 
the  very  teeth  dashed  out,  and  scarce 
a  mouth  left  to  complain,  Job  xix. 
20.  Skin  for  skin,  was  an  ancient 
proverb,  importing  that  a  man  will 
gladly  save  his  own  life  at  the  ex- 
pense of  the  death  of  relations,  or 
any  other  outward  loss,  Job  ii.  4. 

SKIP.     See  Leap. 

SKIRT,  that  part  of  an  upper  gar- 
ment which  is  below  the  waist.  A 
man's  spreading  his  skii't  over  a  wo- 
man, imported  his  taking  her  under 
his  care  and  protection,  by  making 
her  his  wife,  Ruth  iii.  9.  God's 
spreading  his  skirt  over  the  Hebrews 
imported  his  taking  them  into  a  spe- 
cial relation  to  himself  as  his  peo])le, 
and  giving  them  his  kind  and  ho- 
nourable protection :  his  spreading 
his  skirt  over  persons,  imports  his 
uniting  them  to  Christ,  clothing  them 
with  righteousness,  and  grautitig 
them  his  spiritual  protection  and 
comfort,  Ezek.  xvi.  8.  Jerusalem 
had  filthiness  and  blood  in  her  skirts; 
her  shameless  sinning  was  marked  in 
her  disgraceful  afflictions,  Lam.  i.  9. 
Jer.  ii.  34.  The  Lord  discover- d  the 
Jews'*  skirts  on  their  faces,  when  he 
removed  every  covering  of  their  eio, 

Vol.  II- 


and  reduced  them  for  it  to  a  mo«^ 
wretched  and  shameful  condition, 
Jer.  xiii.  20.  A  miin\  uncovering  (f 
hisfiUhcr^s  skirt,  imported  lewd  be- 
haviour with  his  8tep-iuotber,  Deut* 
xxii.  30. 

SKY,  the  region  which  surrounds 
this  earth  beyond  the  atmosphere : 
it  is  likened  to  ainolten  looking-glass^ 
because  of  its  bluish  ami  trans|)arent 
colour.  This  bluish  azure  colour. 
Sir  Isaac  Newton  thinks,  is  owing 
to  tlie  thin  vapours  in  the  upjter  part 
of  the  atmosphere,  reflecting  only  the 
most  reflexible  rays  of  light,  which 
are  those  of  a  violet  colour :  but 
Leonardo  and  La  Hire  think  it  is 
owing  to  our  viewing  a  dark  space  be 
yond  the  atmosphere  through  a  white 
and  lucid  mediuan.  Stars,  clouds, 
and  thunders,  are  represented  as  in 
the  sky,  Heb.  xi.  12.  2  Sam.  xxii.  12. 
Psal.  Ixxvii.  17.  God's  riiling  on  the 
skies,  imports  his  entire  command 
and  easy  control  of  the  elements,  and 
the  quick  and  majestic  work  of  his 
providence,  Deut.  xxxiii.  2ti.  Righ- 
teousness poured  down  from  the  skies, 
or  heaven,  imports  God's  abundant 
communication  of  his  gracious  influ- 
ences, and  the  fruits  of  his  Son's  righ- 
teousness to  men,  Isa.  xlv.  9.  Judg- 
ments are  lifted  up  to  the  skies,  when 
they  are  very  terrible  and  conspicu- 
ous, Jer.  Ii.  9. 

SLACK,  inactive  and  remiss, 
Josh,  xviii.  3.  God  is  not  slack  con- 
cerning his  promises  or  judgments; 
but  fulfils  the  one,  and  executes  the 
other,  with  projjer  energy,  and  in 
due  time,  2  Pet.  iii.  9.  Deut.  vii.  10. 
Let  cot  thy  hands,  O  Zion,  be  slack, 
but  be  active  in  rebuilding  the  tem- 
[)le,  and  settling  the  aflairs  of  religion 
and  liberty,  Zeph.iii.  16.  He  becomes 
poor  that  deals  with  a  slack  hand: 
that  is,  who  is  lazy  or  lingering  in  his 
business,  Prov.  x.  4. 

SLANDER.  False  invective 
against  our  neighbour,  to  the  preju- 
dice of  his  fame,  safely,  and  welfare; 
and  that  out  of  malignitj',  vanity, 
rashness,  ill-nature,  or  bad  design.  Of 
all  characters  in  society,  a  sl.mderer 
is  the  most  odious,  and  the  most  likely 
3  M 


S  L  A 


(     458     ) 


SLA 


to  produce  mischief.  Tlie  word  for  a 
slanderer  is  the  same  in  Greek  as  that 
for  a  devil,  1  Tim.  iii.  11.  Yet  what 
multitudes  of  men  seem  ambitious  of 
the  character !  Meals,  and  civil  fel- 
lowship, are  seasoned  with  slander, 
as  if  men  had  their  tongues  for  no 
other  end  but  to  speak  evil  of  their 
neio;hbours.  in  respect  of  this  sin, 
our  tongue  is  full  of  deadly  poison ; 
lias  underneath  it  the  poison  of  asps; 
is  a  world  of  iniquity  set  on  fire  of 
hell,  and  setting  on  fire  the  course  of 
nature ;  it  is  a  deceitful  razor ;  is  like 
a  sword  and  spear,  a  bow  of  lies 
shooting  bitter  Avords,  James  iii.  6, 
8.  Psal.  cxl.  3.  and  Iii.  2.  and  Iv.  21 
and  Ivii,  4.  and  cii.  3.  and  Ixiv.  3,  4. 
Prov.  xii.  18.  Jer.  ix.  3. 

SLAVERY,  a  state  of  servitude, 
in  which  the  slave  or  servant  is  at 
the  absolute  disposal  of  his  master. 
The  term  is  usually  a[)iilied  to  the 
most  horrid,  most  disgraceful  of  all 
commerce,  that  of  trafficking  in  the 
human  species.  Surely  the  ali-wise 
Creator  of  mankind  never  intended, 
that  one  part  of  the  human  race 
should  sell  for  lucre  the  other.  This 
is  evident  from  the  scriptures,  for, 
Exod.  sxi.  16.  it  is  said,  "  He  that 
^Icalcih  a  man  and  scllelh  iiim,  or  if 
he  be  foiinlm  his  hand,  he  shall  siire- 
ly  be  put  to  death."  The  trading  in 
the  persons  of  men,  Ezek.  xxvii.  13. 
in  the  manner  that  several  European 
nations  do  in  the  persons  of  the  Afri- 
cans, is  altogether  repugnant  to  the 
doctrines  taught  by  our  Lord  himself, 
and  to  the  dictates  of  the  glorious 
gospel  of  peace,  which  preaches  uni- 
versal and  general  jdiilanthropy  and 
good  will  to  men.  Paul,  with  refer- 
ence perhaps  to  the  detestable  cus- 
tom of  Iddnapping  men,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  carrying  them  into  slavery, 
says,  "  The  law  is  not  made  for  a 
righteous  man,  but  for  ?mirdcrcrs  of 
fathers  and  murderers  of  mothers,  for 
manslciycrs,  —  for  men-stkalers," 
&c.  \\\  this  passage,  man-stealing 
is  classed  v/ith  such  crimes  as  are 
most  detestable  in  the  eyes  of  God, 
most  pernicious  to  society,  and  most 
Reserving  of  death  by  the  sword  of  the 


magistrate.    Man-stealing,  therefore, 
must  be  considered  as  a  gross  evil, 
in  every  age,  and  every  nation.  This 
practice    is  not  merely  an  evil,  or 
trifling   crime,  but   one  of  the  first 
magnitude    against    our    neighbour. 
If  he  who  pilfers  another's  property, 
steals  a  sheep,  robs  on  the  high  road, 
or  conimits  a  burglary,  be  consider- 
ed and  treated  as  a  thief,  a  robber, 
a  pest  to  society, — of  what  enormous 
viilany  must  he  be  guilty,  who  kid- 
naps my  honest  neighbour,  my  faith- 
ful servant,  my  dutiful  child,  or  my 
alTectionate   wife,   to  transport   the 
one  or  the  other  to  a  country  entire- 
ly unknown,  and  never  thence  to  re- 
turn !    This  outrage  on  the   sacred 
rights  of  liberty,  of  justice,  and  of 
humanity,  is  greatly  enhanced,  if  that 
worst   of  thieves   intend,  either  to 
treat  them  himself  as  the  most  abject 
of  slaves,  ^ike  those  in  the  British 
West-India  Islands;  or  to  sell  them 
for  that  most  inlamous  and  cruel  pur- 
pose.    In  either  of  these  cr.ses,  and 
much  more   when  both  are  united, 
reason  and  conscience,  the  common 
sentiments  and  feelings  of  mankind, 
will  all  unite,  if  not  debauched  by 
avarice,  or  blunted  by  habit,  in  ap- 
jjroving  this  law  of  Jehovah  as  just : 
"  He  that  stealcih  a  man,  and  scllcth 
him;  or  if  he  he  found  in  his  hand; 
he  shall  surely  he  put  to  death."  Nor 
is  there  a  man  U])on  earth,  not  even 
among  those  who  are  grown  hoary 
in  the  iniquitous  trade  of  kidnai)ping 
and  man-stealing,  or  in  the  bartering 
brandy  and  baubles  for  human  flesh 
and  blood,  that  would  not  execrate 
the  character  of  him,  to  whose  pow- 
er or  subtlety  he  had  fallen  a  victim 
for  similar  purposes,  and  that  would 
not  {jronounce  him  tvorlhy  of  death. 
But  as   the    vulgar  saying  imports, 
"  If  there  were  no  receivers,  there 
would  )>e  no  thieves;"  and  he  who 
receives   the  stolen  bodies  of  men, 
ought  to  be  punished  with  death,  ac- 
cording to  .the  laAV  of  tlie  TiOrd,  be- 
cause they  are  found  in  his   hand. 
How  insulting  to  moral  justice,  and 
how    atiVonting   to   common    sense, 
that  those  persons  who,  in  England, 


SLA 


(     ^^9     ) 


SLA 


\>oul(I  be  flog£;ed  at  (lie  carfs  tail, 
or  be  trausporli'd  to  Botany  Bay,  lor 
secretly  |)urcliasiiig  a  few  shillinift*' 
worlh  of  jiroperty,  know  in;;  it  (o 
have  been  stolen,  slioulii  liave  it  in 
their  power  publicly  to  buy  and  sell 
vliole  families  of  stolen,  innocent 
Africans,  with  complete  im|»unily, 
and  without  violatin;;any  i>robibitory 
law  of  the  land !  as  if  nctituile  and 
ro!)bery  were  local  thinirs '.  the  {'or- 
jner  losing;  its  respectability,  and  the 
latter  its  tur|)itude,  whenever  the  li- 
]>erty  and  the  lives  of  harmles:<  ne- 
groes become  the  object  of  avarice  ! 
or  as  if  it  were  consistent  with 
])rivate  justice  and  national  honour, 
annually  to  lit  oat  a  number  of  ships, 
furnished  with  manacles,  chains, 
and  fetters,  for  cargoes  of  harm- 
less men,  women,  and  children ! 
The  Bible  is  not  in  any  manner  a  fa- 
vourer of  the  absurd  system  of  en- 
slaving mankind,  ft  forbids  nothing 
(o  the  African,  that  is  equitable  in 
the  conduct  of  the  European.  It 
knows  no  more  of  a  white  man  buy- 
ins:  and  enslaving  a  hlack  one^  thjui 
it  does  of  a  hlack  man  buying  and 
enslaving  a  while  one.  In  its  impar- 
tial estimate,  and  under  its  command- 
ing power,  Africans  and  Eurojieans, 
Pagans  and  Christians,  are  all  on  a 
level.  If  the  lawfulness  of  purchas- 
ing innocent  persons,  for  the  most 
degrading  and  cruel  slavery,  exist 
among  men,  it  must  be  a  common 
right,  and  equally  possessed  by  all 
nations.  It  Avould  then  be  as  equita- 
ble, benevolent,  and  humane,  for  the 
Africans,  laden  with  i)roductions  of 
their  own  country,  annually  to  visit 
our  English  ports  as  we  do  theirs, 
and  for  similar  purposes.  Yes,  they 
might,  if  it  were  in  their  power, 
with  equal  justice  and  less  dishonour, 
fit  out  a  fleet  of  ships,  for  London, 
Bristol,  or  Liverpool,  adapted  to  the 
stowage  of  man,  and  furnished  with 
a  frightful  apparatus  to  render  the 
confinement  of  Britons  completely 
miserable,  as  well  as  perfectly  se- 
cure. The  officers  of  those  ships 
might  practise  all  the  arts  they  might 
l)P  master.?  of,  to  got  carjroe?  of  men, 


women,  and  children  ;  the  peaceable 
and  innocent  inhabitants  of  whole 
villages  might  be  captured  ;  so  that 
(he  ships,  at  every  returning  season, 
might  be  freighted  with  -10,000  Bri- 
tons, who  mi>;ht  be  taken  to  the  best 
market  for  human  species;  exposed 
in  the  most  indecent  manner  to  pub- 
lic sale;  handled  and  examined  like 
so  many  head  of  cattle  by  their  pur- 
chasers; consigned  over,  with  their 
unborn  posterity,  to  the  most  cruel 
slavery,  from  generation  to  gene- 
ration ;  and  all  for — what '?  Here  let 
humanity  blush,  let  mercy  weep, 
and  let  justice  be  roused  into  indig- 
nation :  but  let  not  Britons  forget, 
that  tliis  is  a  picture  in  miniature 
only,  of  their  own  base  behaviour 
to  the  poor  inhal)itants  of  Alrica. 
Were  the  conduct  of  our  men-mer- 
chants lawful,  neither  the  princijIeB 
of  morality,  nor  of  religion,  could  lie 
in  the  way  of  their  purchasing,  and 
selling  for  slaves,  the  innocent  natives 
of  Holland,  France,  Germany,  or  any 
other  neighbouring  nations.  For,  as 
it  is  impossible  to  prove  that  the  na- 
tural rights  of  humanity  are  not 
equally  sacred  in  Africa  as  they  are 
in  Europe ;  so  the  cruel  and  bloody 
hand  of  rapacity  mieht  with  equal 
justice  lay  hold  of  the  Dutchman,  the 
Frenchman,  or  the  German,  as  ol  the 
swarthy  Guineaman.  Nay,  would 
the  law  of  this  country  permit,  as  it 
did  a  few  years  ago,  (he  tratTicker 
in  men  would  no  more  scruple  to  en- 
courage kidnapping  in  England  than 
in  Africa,  and  be  as  ready  to  purchase 
the  son  of  his  next-door  neighbour, 
as  he  would  the  inhabitant  of  a  re- 
mote continent.  It  was  not  uncom- 
mon in  England  for  people,  when  re- 
duced to  poverty,  to  expose  their 
children  to  sale;  but  this  barbarous 
commerce  was  prohibited  in  a  great 
council  of  the  nation  hel  I  at  St.  Pe- 
ter's, Westminster,  A.  D.  1102,  in 
these  words  :  "  Let  no  man,  for  (he 
future,  presume  to  carry  on  (he  wick- 
ed trade  of  selling  inen  in  markets, 
like  brute  be^ists,  which  hitherto  hath 
been  the  common  cusfo.n  of  Eng- 
land."    But  at  the  clo^e  of  the  eigh- 


SLA 


(     460     ) 


S  L  I 


lecntli  century,  the  great  council  of 
the  nation  could  permit,  nay,  even 
sanction,  the  detestable,  the  disgrace- 
ful commerce  in  the  human  species  ! 
In  Ireland,  so  long  ago  as  1171,  the 
following  decree  was  passed  :  "  That 
all  the  English  slaves  in  the  whole 
island  of  Ireland,  be  immediately 
emancipated,  and  restored  to  their 
former  liberty." 

"  All  things  whatsoever  ye  would 
that  men  sliould  do  to  you,  do  ye  even 
so  to  them,"  is  a  golden  rule  which 
ought  to  be  const:nitly  in  the  minds 
of  ail  men;  it  recommends  itself  to 
every  man's  reason  and  conscience, 
as  compk'teiy  wise  and  good.  Every 
one  imi»licitly  appeals  to  it  as  worthj'^ 
of  the  highest  regard,  when  his  own 
rights  are  violated  by  his  neighbour: 
nor  must  the  slave-merchants  be  con- 
sidered as  insensible  to  the  excellence 
of  this  mora!  prece[)t,  when  their  own 
persons,  families,  or  interests,  are 
concerned.  Nay,  would  not  the  in- 
dignation and  anguish  of  the  slave- 
merchant  himself  he  almost  inexpres- 
sible, were  his  affectionate  wife  and 
dutiful  children  stolen  from  his  bo- 
som, and  sold  as  slaves  for  the  re- 
mainder of  their  lives  :  and  surely  if 
any  man  upon  earth  deserve  to  be 
treated,  it  must  he  he  who  has  made 
it  his  business  to  trade  in  the  per- 
sons of  men,  Ezek.  xxvii.  13.  and  to 
enslave  his  innocent  fellow-creatures. 
But  if  the  sovereign  Lord  of  all  re- 
gard the  cry  of  the  prisoner,  the  voice 
of  the  captive,  the  lamentation  of  hu- 
man misery  :  if  he  avenge  the  Idood 
of  his  servants  so  cruelly  tortured  and 
murdered  in  the  West  India  islands, 
by  the  cruel  hard-hearted  task-maslers 
apj)ointed  over  them :  if  he  say,  "  O 
earth,  earth,  earth,  cover  not  thou 
their  blood,"  Job  xvi.  IB.  To  the 
honour  of  the  united  kingdom,  this 
horid  traffic  is  noAV  prohibited,  and 
all  persons  directly  engaged  in  it,  are 
liable  to  be  treated  SiS  Jelons,  and  to 
be  transported  for  the  term  of  four- 
teen years.  Surely  this  example  will 
be  followed  by  other  European  na- 
tions.    See  Servant. 

^LAY.     See  Kill. 


SLEEP,  or  SLUMBER,  is  fourfold. 
d.)  Natural,  when  the  life  of  the 
animal  body  continues,although  there 
is  a  suspension  of  the  mental  and  cor- 
poral powers,  for  the  purpose  of  re- 
storing their  exhausted  vigour,  Gen. 
xxviii.  11.  (2.)  Spiritual,consistingof 
ignorance,  indolence,  stupidity,  and 
unconcern,  in  a  sinful  state  or  course, 
Eph.  V.  14.  (3.)  Civil,  when  men  are 
inactive  in  their  work,  or  careless 
about  it,  Isa.  v.  27.  Nah.  iii.  18.  (4.) 
The  sleep  of  death,  wherein  man's 
soul  being  sej)arated  from  the  body, 
the  body  becomes  quite  insensible, 
Jer.  li.  30.  Dan.  xii.  2.  .lohn  xi.  11.  1 
Cor.  XV.  51.  God's  sleeping,  imports 
his  seeming  unconcern  and  inactivity 
to  deliver  his  people,  or  punish  their 
enemies,  Psal.  xliv.  23,  and  Ixxviii. 
65.  I  sleep,  but  my  heart  arvaketh  ;  my 
soul  was  under  the  |)revalence  of  great 
dulness;  yet  there  v.-as  a  secret  work- 
ing of  my  conscience,  desire,  and  af- 
fection towardf  Christ,  Song  v.  2, 

SLEIGHT,  cunning  artitice ;  dex- 
terous practice,  Eph.  iv.  14. 

SLIDE,  (1,)  To  forsake  God  and 
his  truths,  and  our  duty,  and  to  fall 
into  sin,  Jer.  viii.  5.  Hos.  iv.  16. 
(2.)  To  lose  happiness  and  comfort, 
and  to  fall  into  misery  and  dreadful 
calamifies,  Deut.  xxxii.  35.  Both 
significations  are  joined  in  the  word, 
Psal.  xxvi.  1.  and  xxxvii.  31. 

SLIGHTLY.  The  false  prophets 
healed  the  hurt  of  the  Jews  slightly, 
Avhen  they  insinuated  to  them  that 
their  sins  were  but  small,  and  so  their 
calamities  would  be  light,  and  soon 
over,  Jer.  vi.  14.  and  viii.  11. 

SLIME,  or  BiTL  MEN,  is  a  kind  of 
clayey  pitch,  got  out  of  the  earth. 
The  river  IS  carried  down  a  great 
deal  of  it  in  ancient  times,  and  min- 
gling with  the  Euphrates,  carried  it 
to  the  very  walls  of  Babylon.  The 
tower  of  Babel  was  built  with  it,  in- 
stead of  mortar  ;  and  Diodorus  tells 
us,  that  the  peojde  thereabout  not 
only  built  their  walls  of  it,  but  dried 
and  burnt  it  instead  of  coals.  There 
was,  and  is,  a  great  deal  of  the  finest 
of  it,  very  heavy  and  of  a  shining 
purple    colour,    and    strong    smell, 


S  L  O 


(      461      ) 


S  M  1 


about  the  Dead  Sea;  and,  it  seems, 
they  had  vast  numhcr  of  pits  out : 
of  which  they  dug  it,  ere  the  valley 
of  Siddiin  was  turned  into  a  hike,! 
Gen.  xiv.  10.  Jochelied  pitclied  her 
ark  with  this  slime;  and  j)erha|)s 
Noah  did  so  too,  Exod.  ii.  3.  The 
bitu:i)en,  or  asphaltiis,  sold  in  our 
shops  under  the  name  of  Jewish,  is 
not  really  of  tliis  kind  of  slime,  but 
is  a  composition  of  oil,  brimstone, 
and  ()itch. 

SLING,  an  instrument  of  cords 
for  throwing  stones  with  great  vio- 
lence. The  invention  of  it  is  ascrib- 
ed to  the  Phenicians  or  their  colonies 
in  Majorca  and  Minorca,  anciently 
called  the  Baleares,  or  7nasteis  of  the 
ding.  It  is  certain,  that  not  long 
after  the  death  of  Joshua,  the  He- 
brews, particularly  some  of  the 
Benjamites,  were  such  expert  sling- 
ers  that  they  could  hit  their  mark 
almost  to  a  hair's  breadth,  Judg. 
XX.  10.  and  some  of  them,  in  the 
time  of  David,  could  sling  with  both 
hands,  1  Chron.  xii.  2.  Uzziah  had 
slings  on  the  walls  of  Jerusalem,  for 
throwing  great  stones,  2  Chron. 
xxvi.  14.  The  Lord  slings  out  mm 
when  he  suddenly  destroys  them,  or 
drives  them  from  their  country, 
1  Sam.  XXV.  29.  Jer.  x.  18. 

SLIP.  (1.)  To  fall  off,  Deuteron- 
omy xix.  5,  12.  (2.)  To  fall  in- 
advertently, or  suddenly,  into  sin 
and  trouble,  Job  xii.  5.  Psalm  xvii. 
5.  We  let  the  things  which  we 
liave  heard  slip  out  of  onr  minds, 
when  we  are  not  careful  to  re- 
tain   them,  Heb.  ii.  1. 

SLIPPERY,  unstable,  ready  to 
make  one  fall  at  every  turn,  Pgal. 
XXXV.  6.  and  Ixxiii.  18. 

A  SLIP.     See  Twic. 

SLOTHFUL,  lazy  and  inactive, 
dull  of  motion,  with  respect  to  the 
concerns  of  time  or  eternity,  Judg. 
xviii.  19.  Slothful  persons  desire, 
but  are  at  no  pains  (o  obtain,  Prov. 
xxi.  25.  Every  thing  alTrights  them, 
as  if  it  were  a  thorn-hedge,  or  a  lion  in 
their  way,  Prov.  xx.  -i.  and  xv.  19. 
and  xxii.  They  retain  not  what  they 
procured  by  hunting  or  labour,  Prov. 


xii.  1 7,  21.  They  hide  their  hand  in 
their  bosom,  and  will  hardly  taku 
pains  to  use  what  thoy  have,  Prov. 
xix.  2-1.  and  yetareextremely  wise  in 
their  own  conceit,  Prov.  xxvi.  16. 
lience  it  is  no  wonder  if  their  houses 
go  to  ruin,  their  vineyard  or  buf-iness 
be  mismanaged,  Eccl.  x.  18.  Prov. 
xxiv.  30.  and  they  he  under  tri- 
bute, dertrivcd  of  their  liberty, 
Prov.  xii.  2-1.  and  their  soul  suffer 
hunger,  and  they  come  to  deep  po- 
verty, Prov.  xviii.  19.  and  xxiii. 
21.  and  be  cast  into  a  deep  sleep, 
rendered  more  and  more  inactive 
and  stupid,  Prov.  xix.  15. 

SLOW.  To  be  slow  of  speech 
or  tongue,  is  to  speak  in  a  stam- 
mering or  lingering  manner.  Exodus 
iv.  10.  To  be  slow  to  anger  is  to 
be  very  meek,  bearing  many  injuries 
without  revenging  them,  Nehemiah 
ix.  17.  A  man  who  is  slow  to  ivrath, 
shows  nujch  wisdom  to  be  in  him, 
Proverbs  xiv.  29.  Men  are  sIopj 
of  heart  to  believe,  when  they  re- 
fuse to  do  it,  without  uncommon, 
or  even  improper,  evidence,  Luko 
xxiv.  25.  John  xx.  25. 

SLUICE,  a  dam  for  catching  fish, 
Isa.  xix.  10. 

SLUMBER.     See  Sleep. 

SMALL.     See  Little. 

SMELL.     See  Savour. 

To  SMITE,  (1.)  To  give  a  per- 
son  or  thing  a  stroke,  Exod.  xxi.  26. 
and  xvii.  6.  (2.)  To  distress,  afflict, 
Deut.  xxviii.  22,  27.  Prov.  xix.  25. 
(3.)  To  kill,  Deut.  xiii.  15.  To 
smite  an  armij,  is  to  rout  it,  Deut. 
xxix.  7.  To  smite  with  the  tongue, 
is  to  utter  rejiroach,  Jer.  xviii.  18. 
To  smile  the  hands,  im|)oris,  to  give 
and  alarm,  to  mourn  or  to  rejoice,  Ez. 
xxi.  14.  To  smite  on  the  thigh  or 
breast,  is  exfiressive  of  repentance, 
grief,  .ler.  xxxi.  18.  Luke  xviii.  13. 
To  smile  on  the  checks,  imports  in- 
solent contempt,  Mic.  v.  1.  A  man's 
heart  smites  him,  when  hia  con- 
science, charging  him  with  guilt, 
affects  him  with  remorse  and  grief, 
1  Sam.  xxiv.  6.  Smiling  bij  the 
righteous,  is  faithful  and  friendly 
reproof,  Psal.  cxli.  5.     To  smite  mcri^ 


b  IVI  Q 


(     462     ) 


S  M  T 


oji  the  cheek-bone.,  is  to  confound  and 
destroy  them,  Psal.  iii.  7. 

SMITH,  (1.)  A  worker  iu  me- 
tal, gold,  silver,  iron,  &:c.  Acts  xix. 
24.  (2.)  An  executioner  of  God's 
judgments,  Isa.  liv.  16. 

SMOKE.  The  glorious  display 
of  God's  excellencies  is  likened  to 
smoke;  it  is  mysterious  and  incom- 
prehensible, Isa.  vi.  4.  His  pro- 
tection of  his  people  is  likened  to 
SMOKE ;  it  is  terrible  to  their  ene- 
mies, and  conceals  them  from  hurt, 
Isa.  iv.  5.  It  being  usual  for  angry 
persons  to  breathe  hard,  and  emit 
irom  their  mouth  a  kind  of  smoke, 
God's  wrath  is  likened  to  smoke  ;  it 
is  very  awful  and  confounding, 
Psal.  xviii.  8.  Terrible  calamities 
are  like  smoke  ;  they  proceed  i'roin 
the  tire  of  God's  wrath,  and  bring 
on  fearful  perj)lexity,  darkness,  ami 
desolation,  Isa.  xiv.  31 .  The  smoke 
in  the  temple  at  Antichrist's  downfall 
is  either  God's  full  protection  of  his 
church,  barring  out  his  enemies  from 
hurting  her,  or  the  terrible  cala- 
jnities  that  shall  deter  people  from 
praying  for  the  Papists;  and  till 
"which  be  over,  men  shall  be  afraid  (o 
join  themselves  to  the  true  church, 
Rev.  XV.  8.  Saints,  and  their  pray- 
ers and  praises,  are  likened  to  the 
smoke  asccndinp!;  from  the  sacred  in- 
cense of  old;  how  heaven-tending, 
and  how  acceptable  to  God  ?  Rev. 
viii.  4.  See  FijAx.  The  Jewish 
Pharisees,  and  other  hypocrites,  are  a 
smoke  and  burning  fire  m  God's  nose  ; 
are  very  offensive  and  disagreeable  to 
him,  Isa.  Ixv.  5.  Men  and  their 
devices  are  likened  to  smoke,  to  de- 
note how  unsubstantial,  short-lived, 
easily  destroyed,  and  full  of  per- 
plexed and  darkness  they  are,  Psal. 
xsxvii.  20.  and  Ixviii.  2.  and  cii.  3. 
Isa.  ix.  13.  Ignorance  and  delusion 
are  a  smoke  arising  from  hell,  and 
sttupifying  men,  that  they  know  not 
what  they  do,  or  v.'here  they  are,  or 
what  is  going  forward  around  them, 
Rev.ix.  2, 17.  In  allusion  to  the  case 
of  Sodom,  and  its  neighbouring  cities, 
the  smoke  of  the  land  is  said  to  ascend 
np  unto  heaven,  v,  hen  the  judgments 


inflicted  on  it  are  very  visible  and 
terrible,  Isa.  xxxiv.  10.  Rev.  xviii. 
9,   10. 

SMOOTH,  is  spoken  of  stones, 
1  Sam.  xvii.  40.  of  such  idolg 
were  made;  or  men  worshipped 
them,  as  they  saw  them  by  the 
sides  of  brooks  or  rivers,  Isa.  Ivii. 
6.  A  smoolk  skin  is  one  not  over- 
grown with  hair,  Gen.  xxvii.  11, 
It).  Smooth  ways  are  such  as  are 
plain  without  any  thing  to  make 
one  stumblo,  Luke  iii.  5.  Smooth 
words,  or  mouth,  denotes  flattering 
s[)eech,  that  has  no  tendency  to  con- 
vince or  alarm,  Isa.  xxx.  10.  Jer. 
xxiii.  31.  Psal.  Iv.  21.  Prov.  v.  3. 

SMYRNA,  inyrrh,  a  city  of  Les- 
ser Asia,  on  the  east  shore  of  the  Me- 
diterranean Sea,  and  about  46  miles' 
north  of  Ephesus.  It  was  built  by 
the  Eolians,  and  destroyed  by  the 
[onians;  but  quickly  after  rebuilt, 
and  was  a  famous  city  as  early  as  the 
time  of  Homer.  About  jl.  M.  3400, 
the  Lydians  destroyed  it;' but  Anti- 
gonus,  one  of  Alexander's  succes- 
sors, rebuilt  it,  near  300  years  after. 
About  the  time  of  our  Saviour's  birth, 
it  was  one  of  the  most  wealthy  and 
populous  cities  in  Lesser  Asia  :  nor, 
except  Ephesus,  was  any  one  more 
honoured  and  favoured  by  the  Ro- 
mans; nor  did  the  inhabitants  of  any 
other  show  equal  regard  to  Rome. 
Besides  a  variety  of  sieges,  Smyrna 
has  suffered  six  dreadful  earthquakes 
which  destroyed  the  most  part  of  it 
but  its  delightful  situation,  and  con- 
veniency  for  sea-trade,  occasioned  its 
being  always  rebuilt.  A  Christian 
church  was  planted  here  very  early  ; 
and  whatever  persecution  they  suf- 
fered from  .lews  or  Gentiles,  they 
maintained  the  Christian  faith  with 
such  exactness,  that,  in  the  divine 
epistle  sent  them  by  John,  there  is 
not  a  sentence  of  reproof,  but  of 
praise  and  direction.  Rev.  ii.  8,  9, 
10.  and  ever  since,  Christianity  has 
continued  in  this  place.  About  A.  D. 
1676,  this  city  wasrepr/ired  by  Ach- 
met  the  Turkish  vizier.  At  pre- 
sent, it  is  one  of  the  most  flouri.shing 
places  in  all  the  Levant,  or  east  side 


SNA 


(     ^63     ) 


8  N  O 


of  the  Mediterronenn  Sen,  and  is  re- 
sorfeil  to  by  (he  (rariersin  Asia,  Afri- 
ca, and  Europe.  It  contains  about 
28,000  souls,  of  wliicb  above  10,000 
are  Chris^tiaus  of  the  (ireek  church, 
and  thv  rest  are  Turks  and  Jews. 

SNAILS  are  well-known  animals, 
exceedingly  fat,  and  easily  parched  to 
death  by  a  scorching  sun,  or  by  the 
application  of  salt.  iNay,  they  waste 
their  substance  by  their  own  motion, 
leaving  always  a  moisture  where  they 
«reep.  They  are  not  a  little  hurt- 
ful to  corns  and  garden  herbs.  They 
have  their  eyes  in  their  horns ;  and 
it  is  said,  that  each,  at  least  of  those 
snails  that  live  in  shells,  formed  of 
the  moisture  of  their  own  bodies, 
has  in  itself  the  qualities  of  both 
male  and  female.  The  Romans  and 
others  have  used  them  as  food  :  but 
they  were  forbidden  to  the  ancient 
Jews.  Men  pass  away  as  a  snail, 
when  quickly,  easily,  and  even  by 
Iheir  own  fneans,  they  are  destroyed, 
Peal.  Iviii.  8. 

SNARE,  Tr.vp,  Gin,  Grin,  a  de- 
vice for  catchinj  fishes,  fowls,  <*:c. 
Job xl.  24.  Amcsiii.  5.  Prov.  vii.  23 
and  in  metaphoric  language,  signifies 
whatever  tends  to  entangle  a  man 
to  his  hurt.  Jesus  Christ  is  a  gin  and 
snare,  and  stumbling-block,  and  rock 
of  offence  to  men,  when  on  account 
»f  his  appearance  so  opposite  to  our 
sinful  corruption,  he  is  rejected,  and 
so  our  guilt  and  ruin  are  increased, 
Isa.  viii.  14.  God  rains  snares 
on  men,  when,  by  his  providence, 
he  involves  tliem  in  such  perplexing 
straits,  that  they  cannot  get  out ; 
and  their  own  conduct  plunges  them 
deeper  and  deejjerinto  misery,  Psal. 
xi.  C.  Ezek.  xii.  13.  The  Jewish 
priests  and  rulers  were  a  snare  on 
Mizpah,  and  a  net  spread  upon  Tabor  ; 
they,  in  the  most  open  manner,  by 
their  example  and  enticemejit,  tempt- 
ed the  people  to  idolatry  and  other 
wickedness,  Hos.  v.  1.  The  Ca- 
naanites  which  were  sinfully  left  in 
their  land,  were  snares  and  traps  to 
the  Hebrews,  and  scmo'ges  in  their 
sides  and  thorns  in  their  ei/es,  and 
their  idols  and  idolatries  were  snares 


to  them  ;  they  were  meanlofdecoyf 
iiig  them  into  sin,  and  instruments 
by  which  God  punished  them,  Josh- 
xxiii.  13.  Exod.  xxiii.  33.  Psal.  cvi. 
30.  The  Jewish  talile,  or  ceremo- 
nies, ^vere  a  snare  and  trap  to  the 
.lews,  as  leaning  on  these,  they  en- 
couraged themselves  to  desfiise  the 
promised  Messiah,  Psal.  Ixix.  22. 
Rom.  xi.  9.  The  temptations  of 
Satan,  the  lips  or  speech  of  a  fool, 
breach  of  vows  by  sacrilege,  bad 
example,  slavish  fear  of  men,  and 
the  flattering  tongue  of  an  harlot, 
are  snares  and  traps,  Prov.  xviii.  7. 
and  XX.  25.  and  xxxix.  6,  25.  Eccl. 
vii.  26.  Men  are  snared,  when^ 
by  the  devices  or  traps  laid  for  thek 
hurt,  they  are  decoyed  into  sin, 
and  exjKtsed  to  punishment,  Deut. 
vii.  25.  Psal.  ix.  IG.  Eccl.  ix.  12. 
Scornful  men  bring  a  city  into  a 
snare,  by  their  bad  example  and 
enticement,  or  by  provoking  their 
superiors  or  neighbours  against  them, 
Prov.  xxix.  8. 

SNATCH,  to  catch  at,  to  rend  off 
a  piece  to  eat  it.  Thet/  shall  snatch  on 
the  right  hand,  and  be  lningry,emdeat 
on  the  left,  and  not  be  scUisfied;  they 
shall  greedily  seize  on  whatever 
comes  in  their  way,  but  find  no  com- 
fort therein,  Isa.  ix.  20. 

SNORT,  to  make  a  noise  through 
the  nostrils,  as  a  mettlesome  horse. 
To  mark  the  terror  of  the  Chaldean 
invasion  of  Judah,  it  is  said  that  the 
snorting  of  their  horses  was  heard 
from  Dan,  a  place  about  150  miles 
distant,  Jer.  viii.  IG. 

SNOW  is  formed  of  vapours  fro- 
zen in  the  air.  It  is  soft,  and  some- 
times broad  as  locks  of  wool,  Psal. 
clxvii.  16.  It  and  rain  are  very  un- 
seasonable in  summer  or  harvest, 
Prov.  xxvi.  1.  It  is  moat  pure  ami 
white ;  and  its  whiteness  and  purify 
are  made  an  emblem  of  freedom 
from  guilt  and  corruption,  Isa.  i.  18. 
Psal.  li.  7.  and  of  glorj'"  and  excel- 
lency, I^am.  iv.  7.  God's  scattering 
of  the  Canaanitish  kings,  and  their 
armies,  wns  white  as  snow  \n  Salmon; 
the  providence  was  most  just  and 
glorious;  and  the  carcasses  lay  deep 


s  o 


(     464     ) 


SOD 


oa  the  surface  of  the  ground,  Psal. 
Ixviii.  15.  Sometimes  God  has  made 
snow  an  instrament  of  his  judgments, 
by  burying  towns  and  armies  in  it. 
Job  xxxviii.  22,  23.  Snow-nater  is 
reckoned  excellent  for  washing  with, 
Job  ix.  30.  and  for  refreshing  the 
earth,  and  rendering  it  fruitful,  Isa. 
Iv.  10.  at  least,  that  of  the  snow  of 
Lebanon  was  esteemed  an  excellent 
and  refreshing  drink.  God  is  com- 
pared to  the  snow  of  Lebanon,  and 
the  cold  flowing  waters  that  proceed 
from  it,  so  useful  to  refresh  men  in 
those  hot  countries ;  for,  how  delight- 
ful, how  refreshing,  his  goodness  and 
grace!  and  how  foolish  to  forsake 
him  for  other  enjoyments!  or  the 
words  might  be  translated,  Will  a 
man  leave  pure  waters,  springing  from 
a  rock,  for  the  melted  snow  of  Leba- 
non, that  is  mixed  with  mud  ?  IVill 
they  ever  dig  up  the  dirty  waters  of  an 
inundation,  rather  than  waters  flow 
ingfrom  a  fountain !  i.  e.  Will  ever 
men  forsake  the  true  God,  for  mere 
dross  and  dung?  Jer.  xviii.  14, 
15. 

Ta  SNUFF,  (1.)  To  draw  up  the 
air  into  the  nose,  Jer.  ii.  24.  and 
xiv.  6.  (2.)  To  show  contempt,  by 
a  sneer,  or  the  like,  Mai.  i.  13. 

SNUFFERS,  a  kind  of  tongs  for 
snuffing  of  burning  lamps,  and  mak- 
ing them  burn  more  brightly  :  and 
the  smiff-dishes  were  small  dishes  for 
holding  what  was  snuffed  off,  tliat  it 
might  not  pollute  the  floor  of  the 
sanctuary.  Both  were  a[>pointed  of 
Godj  and  were  formed  of  gold.  Did 
they  figure  out  to  us  the  divinely- 
instituted  ordinance  of  church-dis- 
cipline, whereby  the  purity  of  the 
church  is  preserved,  and  the  truths 
of  God,  and  practice  of  his  people, 
made  to  shine  clear  and  bright  ? 
Exod.  xxxvii.  23.  and  xxv.  38. 

SO,  a  7neasure  for  grain,  or  vail, 
a  king  of  Egypt,  who  engaged  to  assist 
Hoshea  against  Shalmaneser  king  of 
Assyria,  but  it  seems  did  not,  at  least 
not  effectually,  2  Kings xvii.  4.  Pro- 
bably this  So  is  the  same  as  Sabachon 
the  Ethiopian,  who  burnt  to  death 
Bocchoris  the  former  king  of  Egypt ; 


and  after  retaining  the  government  of 
the  country  for  50  years,  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Sevechus  or  Sethon,  who 
it  seems  was  priest  of  Vulcan,  and 
whose  prayers,  the  Egyptians  pre- 
tended to  Herodotus,  brought  ruin  on 
the  Assyrian  host. 

SOBER,  considerate,  thoughtful,, 
humble,  grave,  and  temperate,  Rom. 
xii.  3.  Tit.  ii.  4,  12.  Soberness, 
soundness  of  mind.  Acts.  xxvi.  25. 
Sobriety  includes  prudence,  gravi- 
ty, humility,  and  temperance,  1  Tim. 
ii.  9,  15.  'YoWve  soberly, righteously, 
and  godly,  is  to  live  to  the  right  ma- 
nagement of  ourselves,  doing  justice 
to  our  neighbours,  and  duly  honour- 
ing, worshipping,  and  serving  our 
God,  Tit.  ii.  12. 

SOCHO,  or  Shochoh,  tents,  a 
covering,  a  bough,  the  name  of  two 
cities  belonging  to  the  tribe  of  Ju- 
dah ;  one  in  the  valley,  and  another 
in  the  hill-country,  westward  of  Je- 
rusalem, Josh.  XV.  35,  48.  Near  to 
one  of  thein,  David  killed  Goliah, 
and  occasioned  the  rout  of  the  Phi- 
listines, 1  Sam.  xvii.  1.  Shochoh  was 
one  of  the  fifteen  cities  which  Reho- 
boam  repaired  and  fortified,  2  Chron. 
ix.  7. 

SOCKET,  a  kind  of  foot  in  which 
erect  pillars  are  fixed  by  hollow  mor- 
tices. A  vast  number  of  sockets  were 
made  for  the  tabernacle;  of  which 
100  were  of  silver,  a  talent  to  each, 
Exod.  xxxviii.  27.  The  five  sock- 
ets at  the  entrance  of  the  sanctuary, 
and  the  60  which  supported  the  pil- 
lars around  the  court,  were  of  brass, 
Exod.  xxvi.  37.  and  xxvii.  the  weight 
of  these  sockets  tejided  to  make  the 
pillars  stand  firni.  They  might  re- 
present, as  some  think,  the  glorious, 
fixed,  and  lasting  purposes  of  God, 
whereon  Jesus's  mediatory  oQiceand 
church  are  founded  and  estainlished. 
Song  v.  15. 

SODER,  or  Soidex,  to  make  dif- 
ferent pieces  of  metal  join  fast  toge- 
ther, Isa.  xli.  7, 

SODOiM,  their  secret,  their  cement, 
Gomorrah,  Admah,  Zei)oim,  .ind 
Zoar,  were  5  of  the  ancient  citie^  of 
the  Canaanites,  which  stood  south- 


SOD 


(    'itis    ) 


SOL 


east  of  the  mouth  of  the  brook  i 
Kidron.  In  the  days  of  Abraham,' 
they  had  each  a  king,  viz.  Bera  ofj 
Sodom,  Birsha  of  Gomorrah,  Shi-| 
nab  of  Admah,  Shemeber  of  Zebo- 
im,  and  one,  whose  name  is  not 
mentioned,  of  Bela  or  Zoar.  Chedor- 
laomer  reduced  tliem  all  to  be  his  tri- 
butaries. After  twelve  years  servi- 
tude, they  rebelled;  but,  in  the  1  Jth, 
were  attacked,  and  had  been  almost 
totally  ruined,  had  not  God,  by 
Al)raham,  routed  the  conquerors.  As 
ihey  proceeded  in  their  wickedness, 
particularly  in  abuse  of  themselves 
Avith  mankind,  God,  about  16  years 
after,  told  Abraham  and  Lot,  who 
now  dwelt  in  »Sodom,  of  his  inten- 
tion to  destroy  the  city.  Lot  and  his 
two  daughters  were  preserved,  and 
the  city  of  Bela,  or  Zoar,  i.  e.  the 
little  one,  was,  at  his  request,  pre- 
served for  shelter  to  him :  but  the 
other  four  were  destroyed  with  fire 
and  brimstone  from  heaven.  As  So- 
dom stood  near  to  Zoar,  it  seems  to 
Iiave  been  situated  near  the  south 
point  of  the  Dead  Sea.  Strabo  talks 
of  the  ruins  of  Sodom,  as  seven  miles 
and  a  half  in  compass.  The  ecclesi- 
astical writers  mention  a  bishop  of 
Sodom,  in  the  primitive  ages  of 
Christianit}' :  but,  with  the  judicious 
Reland,  we  cannot  believe  that  So- 
dom ever  was  rebuilt,  or  any  city  of 
that  name  built  near  to  the  spot. 
Most  writers  believe,  that  the  place 
where  these  cities  stood,  was  swal- 
lowed up  by  an  earthquake ;  and 
that  now  the  Dead  Sea  occupies  the 
spO: :  and  some,  we  supi'ose  without 
ground,  pretend  that  the  ruins  of 
them  are  still  to  be  seen  at  low  water. 
But  as  the  scripture  represents  the 
country  as  sufiferiiig  the  vengeance 
of  continued  fire;  as  neither  ploughed 
nor  sown;  as  a  dry  desert  inhabited 
by  owls  and  Avild  beasts ;  as  a  dry 
place  for  breeding  nettles,  and  as 
heaps  of  salt,  Jude  7.  Ueut.  xxix,  22. 
Jer.  xlis.  18.  and  I.  38.  Zeph.  ii.  9. 
Relaad  thinks  their  place  is  not  co- 
vered with  the  Dead  Sea,  but  is  at 
the  side  thereof.  Whenever  the  sa- 
cred prophets  would  mark  some  fear- 
VcL.  IL 


ful  and  lasting  destruction,  they 
com|>are  it  to  that  of  these  four  ci- 
ties, as  Hug.  xi.  Amos  iv.  11.  Isa. 
i.  0.  Zeph.  ii.  9.  Jer.  xlix.  18.  Isa. 
xiii.  19.  Jer.  I.  38—40.  Nay,  the 
terrible  ruin  of  these  cities  is  used 
as  an  emblem  of  the  torments  of  hell, 
Jude  vii.  Hcv.  xx.  12 — la.  Those 
men  who  in  alter-times  abused  mjiles 
for  the  gratification  of  their  filthy 
lust,  were  called  Sodomites.  They 
were  not  only  common  among  the 
Heathens,  Kom.  i.  2t»,  27.  bat  num- 
bers of  them  were  among  the  Jews. 
Asa  and  Jehoshaphat  cut  off  multi- 
tudes of  them,  and  Joshua  demolished 
the  houses  where  they  practised  that 
horrible  villany,  1  Kings  xiv.  34. 
and  xxii.  4t).  2  Kings  xxiii.  7. 
The  Jewish  rulers  and  people  are 
likened  to  those  of  Sodom  and  Go- 
morrah, on  account  of  their  great 
wickedness,  Isa.  i.  10.  Jer.  xxiii.  14. 
Rome,  or  the  Antichristian  state,  is 
called  So(lo7n,  because  of  the  wicked- 
ness, [)articularly  of  the  fleshly  kind, 
that  there  abounds,  Rev.  xi.  8. 

SOFT  clothing,  is  what  is  fine  and 
gorgeous.  Matt.  xi.  8.  A  soft  heart, 
is  one  that  is  tender,  and  broken  with 
grief,  Job  xxiii.  16.  Soft  words,  are 
either  such  as  are  mild  and  gentle, 
Prov.  XV.  1.  and  xxv.  15.  or  such  as 
are  flattering  and  deceitful,  PsaK 
Iv.  21.  Softly,  (1.)  Slowly,  Gen. 
xxxiii.  14.  (2.)  Mildly,  gently,  with- 
out any  noise,  Acts  xxvii.  13.  (3.) 
In  a  debased  and  humble  manner, 
Isa.  xxKviii.  15.  1  Kings  xxi.  17. 

SOJOURN,  to  dwell  in  a  land 
without  any  fixed  al)ode  or  posses- 
sion, as  the  Hebrew  patriarchs  did 
in  Canaan,  Egypt,  &c.  Gen.  xx.  1. 
Psal.  cv.  23.  Saints  are  sojourners 
on  earth;  they  have  no  portion  here, 
Ijut  only  tarry  in  this  world  till  they 
be  ready  for  their  {)roper  country  in 
heaven,  Psal.  xxxix.  12.  1  Pet.  i.  17. 

SOLACE,  to  comfort,  delight, 
Prov.  vii.  18. 

SOLDIERS,  stated  warriors  for 
protecting  or  preserving  the  peace 
of  a  country,  and  fighting  with  the 
enemy.  We  find  no  stated  warriora 
among  the  Hebrews  till  the  time  of 
3N 


SOL 


(     466     ) 


SOL 


Saul.  Ministers  and  saints  are  sol- 
diers, enlisted  under,  armed  and  di- 
rected by,  Jesus  the  ca|»tain  of  our 
salvation:  they  tight  tor  him  and 
his  cause,  in  a  spiritual  manner, 
against  sin,  Satan,  and  the  world, 
2  Tim.  ii.  3.     See  Army. 

SOLEMN,  suited  to  a  particular 
occasion,  done  with  awe  and  reve- 
rence. Numb.  X.  10.  Psal.  xcii.  3. 
Solemnity,  the  time  of  an  appoint- 
ed feast,  and  the  meeting  of  the  peo- 
ple at  it,  as  at  the  feast  of  the  Pass- 
over, Pentecost,  Tabernacles,  &c 
Isa.  XXX.  29.  Ueut.  xxxi.  10.  So 
liEMNLY,  in  a  grave,  firm,  and  ear- 
liest manner,  1  Sam.  viii.  1. 

SOLITARY.  See  Desolate. 
SOLOMON,  peaceable,  perfect,  or 
Tvho  recompenses,,  the  son  of  king 
David,  by  Bathslieba,  born  about  A. 
M.  2971.  He  was  called  Solomon,  to 
signify  his  peaceable  temper  and 
reign,  and  Jedidiah,  to  denote  him  the 
beloved  of  the  Lord,2  Sam.  xii.  24, 25. 
His  father  knowing  that  he  was  to 
buiid  the  temple,  made  great  prepara- 
tions for  it,  and  trained  him  up  with 
great  care.  As  his  brother  Adonijah 
thought  to  usurp  the  throne,  David, 


his  government,  he  and  his  nobfe? 
oftered  1000  burut-ofterings  at  Gi- 
beon,  where  the  tabernacle  then  was. 
That  night  the  Lord  appeared  to 
him,  and  promised  to  grant  him 
whatever  he  should  ask.  He  re- 
quested wisdom,  to  qualify  him  for 
the  government  of  so  great  a  people. 
His  request  pleased  the  Lord,  and  he 
granted  him  such  wisdom,  honour, 
and  wealth,  as  none  before  or  after 
him  ever  possessed.  Rising  from  his 
sleep  he  came  to  Jerusalem,  and 
offered  a  great  number  of  sacrifices 
before  the  ark,  and  then  made  a  feast 
for  his  family.  Soon  after,  he  had 
an  opportunity  of  trying  his  wis- 
dom. Two  harlots  lived  together  in 
one  house,  and  were  brought  to  bed 
about  the  same  time.  One  of  them 
killing  her  own  child  by  overlaying 
it,  laid  it  in  the  other's  bosom, 
and  took  the  living  child  into  her 
own.  Her  companion,  on  viewing 
the  dead  infant,  knew  it  was  not 
her's,  and  claimed  the  living  one. 
The  other  no  less  vehemently  denied 
the  dead  babe  to  be  her's,  and  claimed 
the  quick  one.  The  cause  caine  be- 
fore Solomon ;  and  as  parties  on  both 
by  the  direction  of  BathshebaandNa-j  sides  were  equall}'  stiff,  and  the  mat- 
than,  caused  Solomon  to  be  anointed  her  admitted   of    no  formal    proof, 


king,  while  he  himself  yet  lived, 
which  was  done  with  great  solenmity. 
After  his  father  had  directed  him  con- 
cerning the  temple,  concerning  Joab 
and  Shimei,  and  solemnly  charged 
liim  to  walk  in  the  Avay  of  tiie  Lord, 
and  blessed  him,  he  died,  Prov.  iv.  1 
Kings  i.  and  ii.  1  Chron.  xxii.  sxviii, 
and  xxix.  Solomon,  who  about  two 
years  before  had  married  Naamah 
the  Ammonitess,  and  had  Rehoboam 
by  her,  was  now  about  1 8  years  of 
age,  when  he  entered  on  the  sole  go 
vernment  of  the  kingdom.  Having 
put  Adonijah,  Joab,  and  Shimei,  to 
death,  and  confined  Abiatharthe  high 
priest,  for  their  respective  W'imes, 
he  married  the  daughter  of  Pharaoh 
king  of  Egypt,  who  seems  to  have 
become  a  Jewish  proselyte ;  for  So- 
lomon appears  not  to  have  fallen  into 
the  idolatry  ©f  her  country.  To  pro- 
cure Divifie  assistance  and  success  in 


Solomon  conceiving  that  the  real 
mother  would  show  a  distinguished 
regard  for  the  life  of  her  child,  call- 
ed for  a  sword,  that  he  might  cut  the 
living  infant  in  two,  and  give  each 
of  the  claimants  a  half.  The  [)re- 
tended  mother  was  content  it  should 
be  so;  but  the  other  begged  that  the 
life  of  the  babe  might  be  preserv- 
ed, and  given  to  her  competitor. 
By  this  evidence  of  affection.  Solo-  ' 
mon  knew  her  to  be  the  real  mother, 
and  ordered  the  child  to  be  given  to 
her,  1  Kings  ii.  and  iii. 

Solomon's  kingdom,  which  ex- 
tended from  the  north-east  border  of 
Egypt  to  the  Euphrates,  if  not  a  little 
beyond,  was  altogether  peaceful  and 
affluent.  He  divided  it  into  cantons, 
under  the  direction  of  proper  govern- 
ors, who,  each  in  his  month,  |)ro 
vided  for  the  subsistence  of  the  royal 
family,  which  might  amount  to  thirty 


« 


SOL 


(     4(i7     ) 


SOL 


or  (orly  thousaiul,  nay,  the  Jews  say 
60,000  persons.    His  horses  and  cha- 
riots, which  were   many,  were  pro- 
perly (lisposeil  of.  lliinselfcxceeiled 
all  men  in  wi?(loni  and  knowleilc;!'. 
He   collerlod   or    framr<l   3000  pro- 
verbs, and  100 J  sonp;3.     He  sensibly 
explained    the  nature  of  vejielables 
and    animals    of    every    kin«l    then 
known.   His  lame  made  all  the  kings 
around,  who  were   ijenerally  either 
his   tributaries  or  allies,  send  to   in- 
quire of  his  wisdom.     Bj'  his  trade 
with  Egypt  he  introduced  plenty  of 
fine    horses,  and   a   manufacture    of 
linen ;  and  by  his  trade  with  Ophir, 
and  other  places,  he  rendered  gold 
and  silver  as  connnon  in  Jerusalem, 
as  the  stones  of  the  street,  and  cedar 
trees  as  plentiful  as  sycamores.  The 
fleet  which  he  sent  from  Elah,  on  the 
Red  Sea,  and  managed  by  Tyrian  ma- 
riners, once  in  three  years,  brought 
him    from    Ophir    near    2,000,000/. 
sterling,  1  Kings  iv.  and  ix.  28.  and 
X.  1 4,  20 — 28.  2  Chron.  i.  and  ix.  27 
When  Hiram,   king  of  Tyre,  heard 
tliat  Solomon  succeeded  his  father, 
he   sent   him  a  solemn   embassy,   to 
congratulate    his    accession    to    the 
throne.     Solomon  returned  him  ano- 
ther, requesting  his  assistance  to  build 
a  magnificent  temple   for  the  Lord, 
as  his  people  were  more  skilful  in 
cutting  timber  and  stone.    Hiram  re- 
turned him  word,  that  he  would  cause 
his  subjects  to  cut  cedars  in  Lebanon, 
and  bring  them  to  Joppa  in  (loats.  To 
reward  which,  Solomon  gave  Hiram 
for  the  maintenance  of  his  family, 
and   workmen,  20,000    measures  of 
wheat,  and  as  much  of  barley,  and 
20,000  baths  of  oil,  wliich  last   are 
also   called  20   measures;    or  there 
were  20  measures  added  to  them  for 
some  other  use.     In  the  4th  year  of 
his  reign,   A.  M.  2993,  the  temple 
began  to  be  built,  and  was  finished 
in  seven  ^''ears.  Besides  the  servants 
of  Hiram,  there   were   153,600  Ca- 
naanites   employed   in    this    work ; 
70,000  of  whom  were  bearers  of  bur- 
dens, and  80,000  diggers  and  cutters 
of  stone;  and  3,300  were  overseers, 
and  300  more  were  a  reserve,  to  sup- 


ply the  places  of  such  officers  as  fell 
sick.     All   the   nniteriais  were  pre- 
pared at  a  distance,  so  that  there  was 
nothing  to  do  on  the  spot  biit  to  join 
them  together.     Hirani,  an  excellent 
;irtist  from  'I'yre,  had   the  charge  of 
(he  foundi-ry.   In  the  pe\enth  month, 
//.  M.  3,001,  it  was  finished,  and  de- 
dicated with  great  solemnity,  Solo- 
mon, and   the  elders  of  Israel,  and 
almost  all  the  people,  being  [iresent. 
After  carrying  in  the  ark,  and  some 
presents   which   David  had  left   for 
it,  and  fixing  its  various  utensils  and 
ornaments  in  their  [)roper  places,  the 
temple  was  filled  with  the  cloud  of 
the  Divine  glory,  which  obliged  the 
()riest3   for   a    while   to   discontinue 
their  ministrations.     After    prostra- 
ting himself,  Solomon  stood  up  on  a 
scaffold,  where  his  throne  was  placed, 
and  turning  his  face  to  the  temple, 
did,  in  a  most  solemn  manner,  pray, 
that  God  would  accept  and  bless  the 
house  for  his  service,  and  hear  the 
various    prayers    which    the    Jews 
siioiild  make  towards  it  in  their  va- 
rious afflictions,  and  that   he  would 
fulfil  the  promises  made  to  David  and 
his  seed.     He  then  turned  himself  to 
the  people  and  blessed  them.     As  a 
token  of  accei)tance,  a  fire  from  hea- 
ven consumed  the  sacrifices  on  the 
altar,   and   the   glory   of  the    Lord 
again  filled  the  temple.    Awed  here- 
with, the  |)eople  fell  upon  their  faces, 
and  worshipped  God.     At  this  time, 
Solomon  sacrificed  22,000  oxen,  and 
120,000  sheep,  for  peace-ofle rings; 
and  as  the  altar  of  burnt-otferings  was 
too  small  for  the  fat  of  all  these,  the 
middle  of  the  court  was  consecrated 
to   be   an   occasional   altar.      Soon 
after,  perhaps   the  night    following, 
God  appeared   to  Solomon,  and  as- 
sured him  that  he  had  accej)ted  his 
[)rayers,   and   would  grant    his   re- 
quests;   but   would    bring   ruin    on 
David's  family,  and  on  Israel,  and  on 
the  temple,  if  they  reljelled  against 
his  commandments.     After  14  days 
spent  in  this  dedication,  and  in  the 
feast   of   tabernacles    that    followed 
it,  Solomon  gave  the  people  a  so- 
lemn dismission  ;  and  Ihcy  rcliirncri 


SOL 


(     465    ) 


S  O  M 


home  rejoicing,  and  [»raying  for  bless- 1 
in2;s  Oil  their  ivia^,  1  Kings  vi.  vii. ! 
viii.  and  ix.  2  Chron.  iii.  iv.  v.  vi. 
and  vii. 

Alter  Solomon  had  finished  the 
temple,  he  built  a  m-agnificent  palace 
for  himself,  another  for  his  Egyptian 
queen,  and  a  third  called  the  forest 
of  Lebanon,  where  he  sometimes,  if 
not  chiefly  resided.  These  were  all 
finislied  in  about  22  years.  To  re- 
ward Fliram  for  his  kind  assistance, 
Solomon  made  him  a  present  of  20 
cities  in  the  land  of  Galilee,  which, 
it  seems,  he  or  his  father  took  from 
the  Canaanites  ;  but  as  the  cities  and 
soil  did  not  please  Hiram,  it  seems 
he  restored  them  to  Solomon,  who 
re;>aired  them,  and  gave  them  to  the 
Hebrews ;  and  no  doubt  repaid  Hi- 
ram his  120  talents  of  gold  and  his 
friendly  assistance  some  other  way. 
He  also  seized  on  Hamathzobah,  and 
built  Tadmor,  and  other  cities  in 
these  parts.  He  also  repaired  the  two 
Beth-horons,  and  Balaath,  and  t!e- 
zer.  In  carrying  un  these  struc- 
tures, Solomon  allowed  none  of  the 
Hebrews  to  labour,  but  caused  the 
remains  of  the  Canaanites  to  perform 
this  work.  It  seems,  however,  that 
bis  taxes  on  the  Hebrews,  raised  in 
order  to  carry  on  these  works,  pro- 
voked them  against  him.  It  appears, 
that  his  annual  revenue  was  about 
666  talents  of  gold,  besides  what  he 
had  in  presents  from  his  allies  and 
tributary  kings,  and  what  he  had 
from  merchants. — It  is  said,  that 
Hiram,  king  of  Tyre,  and  Solo- 
mon maintained  a  correspondence, 
trying  one  another  with  hard  ques- 
tions. It  is  far  more  certain,  that 
the  queen  of  Sheba,  hearing  of  his 
fame,  came  from  the  utmost  parts  of 
the  south,  to  hear  and  see  his  wis- 
dom ;  and  having  heard  his  answers 
to  her  puzzling  que?>tions,  having 
seen  the  beaut}'  and  worship  of  the 
tetniile,  and  the  magnificence  and  or- 
der of  his  court,  table,  and  attend- 
ants, she  fainted  with  surjirise,  and 
coni'essed  that  it  far  exceeded  all 
she  had  heard.  Loaded  with  presents, 
slie  returned  to  her  country,  1  Kings 


X.  Hitherto  every  thing  in  Solomon's^ 
character  appears  grand  and  admira- 
ble; but  his  abominable  conduct  in 
the  after  part  of  his  life  has  marked 
him  with  lasting  disgrace.  He  had 
700  wives,  and  300  concubines, 
mostly  Heathenish  idolaters.  In 
compliance  with  these,  he  forsook 
the  Lord,  and  worship[)ed  and  built 
temples  to  their  idols,  Ashtaroth, 
Moloch,  Chemosh,  and  others.  The 
Lord  appeared  to  him,  and  told  him, 
that  as  he  had  so  wickedly  broken 
his  covenant,  he  would  rend  off  ten 
of  the  Hebrew  tribes  from  their  sub- 
jection to  his  seed.  Alarmed  at  this, 
Solomon  repented  of  his  sin,  and  it 
is  likely  about  this  time  wrote  his 
EccLESiASTES,  wherein  he  declares 
all  things  to  be  vanity  and  vexation 
of  spirit,  and  that  he  had  found  wick- 
ed women  more  bitter  than  death : 
and,  it  is  tliought,  a  part  of  his  Pro- 
verbs, wherein  he  so  earnestly  warns 
his  son  against  wanton  women.  His 
temporal  punishment  was  not  turned 
away.  Before  his  death,  Hadad  the 
Edomite,  Rezon  the  Syrian,  and 
Jeroboam  the  son  of  Nebat,  began 
to  give  him  uneasiness.  After  areigu 
of  40  years  he  died,  and  was  succeed- 
ed by  Rehoboam.  The  history  of 
his  reign  was  written  by  Nathan, 
Ahijah,  and  Iddo.  If  he  wrote  any 
more  besides  his  Song  of  Songs,  Pro- 
verbs,  and  Ecclesiastes,  it  was  un- 
inspired, and  is  now  lost,  1  Kings  xi. 
.lesus  Christ  is  called  Solomon,  and 
was  typified  by  that  prince. — How 
beloved  of  heaven  is  he  !  how  infi- 
nitely wise  and  peaceful !  Notwith- 
standing ail  oi)position,  how  solemn- 
ly installed  in  his  throne  by  the  Fa- 
ther !  and  how  extensive  his  king- 
dom! How  justly  he  punishes  the 
guilty!  How  wisely  he  judges!  and 
how  plentifully  he  enriches  his  peo- 
ple! What  multitudes  come  to,  and 
admire  his  wisdom  and  glory !  How 
he  builds  the  temple  of  his  church, 
and  consecrates  her  to  the  Lord,  by 
I  his  unmatched  sacrifice,  and  all-pre- 
ivalent  intercession!  Song  iii.  6,  IL 
jand  viii.  10. 
I     SOME,  a  part,  either  smaller  or 


SOP 


(   4m   ) 


so  » 


jreater,  few  or  many.  Matt,  xxviii. 
17.  Roin.  iii.  3.  Something,  or] 
soMKUHAT,  denotes  both  what  13  of' 
small,  and  what  is  ol'  much  value,  i 
2  Chron.  x.  4,  0.  (lal.  ii.  6.  and  | 
•vi.  3,  and  what  id  good,  as  alms, ; 
Acts  iii.  5.  and  what  is  distressing, 
asafHiction,  1  Sam.  xx.  20. 

SON.     See  Child. 

SONG,  or  HYMN,  (1.)  A  poem, 
to  be  sung  either  in  joy  or  thanks- 
giving, as  ot  iMosps  at  the  Red  Sea, 
of  Deborah,  Hannah,  David,  Heze- 
kiah,  Habakkuk,  fllary,  Zacharias, 
Simeon,  See.  Exod.  xv.  Judg.  v.  1 
Sam.  ii.  2  Sam.  xxii.  l?a.  xxxviii. 
Hal),  iii.  Luke  i.  and  ii.  or  of  la- 
mentation, ;is  of  David  over  the 
«lealh  of  Saul  and  Jonathan,  and  of 
Abuer,  2  Sam.  i.  and  iii.  33.  and 
of  Jeremiah,  on  the  death  of  Jo- 
siah,  and  the  destruction  of  Jerusa- 
lem, 2  Chron.  xxxv.  25.  Lam.  i. — 
V.  or  of  predictory  warning,  as  ofi 
Moses  before  hrs  death,  Deut.  xxxii.  \ 
(2.)  The  subject  matter  on  which  a 
song  is  composed:  thus  God  is  the 
son^  of  his  people,  his  excellencies 
and  favours  are  the  subject-matter  of 
it,  Exod.  XV.  2.  Job  and  David 
were  the  son^  of  their  enemies ;  i.  e. 
were  the  object  of  their  mockery 
and  derision,  Job  xxx.  9.  Psal.  Ixix. 
12.  New  songs  are  such  as  are  new- 
ly made,  or  for  new  mercies,  and  are 
ever  sweet  and  delightful,  Psalm 
xxxiii.  3.  and  xl.  3.  Spiritual  soiigs, 
are  those  whose  subject-matter  is 
spiritual  and  divine,  in  opposition 
^  to  empty,  false,  fulsome,  and  lasci- 
vious songs,  called  the  song  of  fools., 
Eph.  V.  19.  Col.  iii.  16.  Eccl. 
vii.  5.  They  are  called  the  Lord's 
songy  or  the  song  of  the  Lamb,  be- 
cause God  and  his  Christ  are  the 
subject-matter  of  them,  and  to  his 
honour  they  are  sung,  Psal.  xlii.  8. 
and  cxxxvii.  3.  Rev.  xv.  3.  The 
Jews  had  songs  sung  almost  the  whole 
night  of  their  most  solemn  feasts, 
especially  on  tlie  first  night  of  the 
passover,  Isa.  xxx.  29. 

SOOTHSAYER.  See  Divination. 

SOPE,  or  60AP,  a   kind  of  paste 
made  of  ashes  and  tallow,  or  of  these 


and  lime,  and  much  used  for  washing 
and  whitening  of  cloth,  .ind  tome- 
times  in  irieditine.  Perhaj.8  the  Jcw- 
isii  iioRiTM  was  only  the  hrrb  sope* 
wort,  or  alum.  Jesus  Christ  ie 
likened  to  fiiUer\s  soap,  as,  by  his 
word,  hi*  Spirit,  and  blood,  he  re- 
forms the  world  and  cleansed  the 
souls  of  men,  JMal.  iii.  2.  Men's 
endeavours  to  hide  or  dissemble 
theirvic.es,  or  even  attempts  in  their 
own  strength  to  forsake  them,  are 
called  niuch  soap,    Jer.  ii.  22. 

SORCERY,  SORCERER.  See  Di- 
vination. 

SORE,  (1.)  Painful,  1  Kings  xvii. 
17.  (2.)  Very  much,  wilh  much  pain 
and  grief,  Isa.  xxxviii.  3.  Psal. 
Iv.  4.  A  SORE  is,  (1.)  A  boil.  Lev. 
xiii.  42.  (2.)  Any  disease,  Deut. 
xxviii.  59.  (3.)  A  great  calamity. 
Rev.  xvi.  21,  Men  are  sore,  when 
pained  with  a  wound.  Gen.  xxxiv. 
25.  or  distressed  with  some  calamity, 
Job  V.  18.  Putrefying  sores  are 
sins,  and  the  punishments  of  thein, 
which  tend  to  waste  and  ruin  persons 
and  nations,  Isa.  i.  6.  Men  know  their 
owrisores  and  griefs^  when  they  have 
a  clear  view  and  proper  feeling  of  their 
sins  and  miseries,  2  Chron.  vi.  29. 

SOREK,  a  vine,  a  hissing,  a  co- 
lour inclinitig  to  yellow,  a  brook  that 
runs  Avestward  through  the  country  of 
the  Danites  and  Philistines,  Judg,  xvi. 
4.  I  am  apt  to  think  it  had  its  name 
from  the  choice  vines,  or  yellowish 
grapes  which  grew  on  the  banks  of 
it;  compare  Gen.  xlix.  11.  Isa.  v. 
12.  and  Jer.  ii.  21.  Heb. 

SORROW.     See  Grief. 

SORT,  (1.)  Manner,  2  Cor.  vii. 
11.  (2.)  Kind,  Psal.  Ixxviii.  45. 
(3.)  Materials,  Deut.  xxii.  11. 

SOSIPATER,  who  defends  the 
father,  whom  Paul  salutes  as  his 
kinsman,  Rom.  xvi.  21.  is  supposed 
to  have  been  a  real  kinsman  of  the 
apostle;  others  think  that  he  calls 
him  kinsman  only  because  he  was  of 
the  same  nation,  tribe,  city,  and  re- 
ligion. Possibly  he  is  the  same  as 
Sopaterof  Berea,  who  attended  Paul 
a  part  of  his  way  from  Corinth  to 
Jerusalem,  Acts  xx.  4. 


sou 


(     470     ) 


SOU 


SOSTHENES,  a  mighty,  strong, 
or  powerful  Saviour,  the  chief  ruler 
of  the  Jewish  synagogue  at  Corinth, 
When  Gallio  refused  to  hear  the  Jews' 
accusation  against  Paul,  the  Heathen 
Greeks  severely  beat  Sosthenes  before 
the  tribunal,  Acts  xix.  12 — 19.  Whe- 
ther this  Sosthenes  was  afterwards 
converted,  and  is  so  called  a  brother 
by  Paul,  we  know  not,  1  Cor.  i.  1. 

SOTTISH,  quite  ignorant,  stu- 
pid, and  foolish,  Jer.   iv.  22. 

SOUL,  signifies,  (1.)  That  spiri- 
tual, reasonable,  and  immortal  sub- 
stance in  men,  which  distinguislies 
them  from  beasts,  and  is  the  source  of 
our  thoughts  and  reasonings.  Matt. 
X.  28.  and  so  men's  glory  may  be  their 
soul,  Psal.  Ivji.  8.  Gen.  xlix.  6.  (2.) 
A  whole  human  person,  of  which  the 
soul  is  the  principal  part.  Gen.  xiv. 
21.  and  xii.  5.  (3.)  Human  life, 
■which  begins  at  our  birth,  and  ends 
at  our  death,  Psal.  xxxiii.  19.  and 
vii.  5.  1  Thess.  ii.  8.  (4.)  Affec- 
tion, desire;  so  Jonathan's  soul  was 
knit  to  the  soul  of  David,  1  Sam. 
xviii.  1.  When  soul  and  spi)it  are 
joined,  some  think  sotil  may  denote 
the  will  and  affections,  and  spirit, 
the  understanding  and  conscience, 
1  Thess.  V.  23.  Heb.  iv.  12.  (5.) 
Appetite,  stomach,  Prov.  xxxvii.  7. 
Job  xxxiii.  20.  Isa.  xxix.  8.  (6.)  The 
Jews  called  dead  bodies-voj/fc,  because 
they  were  once  their  residence.  Num. 
ix.  1 6.  and  vi.  6.  Heb.  God's  soul 
is  himself,  his  nature,  will,  or  de- 
light, Jer.  vi.  8.  and  v.  9.  Isa.  i.  14. 
Heb.  X.  38.  Thou  wilt  not  leave  my 
soul  in  lull ;  thou  vvilt  not  detain  my 
soul  in  unsupportable  troubles,  nor 
my  body  in  the  grave,  Psal.  xvi.  10. 
Antichrist  trades  in  the  bodies  and 
souls  of  men,  in  relics  of  dead  bodies ; 
and  in  jiardons,  indulgences,  deliver- 
ances Irom  purgatorjs  &c.  for  souls 
of  men.  Rev.  xviii.  13.  The  officers, 
especially  the  general,  is  the  soul  of 
an  armj",  and  the  common  soldiers 
are  the  body  of  it,  Isa.  x.  18.  To 
love,  or  do  any  thing  with  the  soul, 
is  to  do  it  with  the  utmost  ardency 
and  affection,  Luke  i.  46.  Psal.  Ixi. 
10.  and  XXV.  1. 


j  SOUND,  (1.)  Whole,  healthy, 
1  Luke  XV.  27.  (2.)  True  and  sub- 
stantial, Prov.  ii.  7.  and  iii,  21. 
1(3.)  Free  from  error,  2  Tim.  i.  7. 
:Tit.  i.  9,  (4.)  Well  instructed,  and 
icandid,  Psal.cxix.  8.  Fromthc sole 
■  of  ike  foot,  even  to  the  crown  ef  the 
'  head,  there  is  no  soundness  ; — hut 
;  wounds,  and  bruises,  and  putrefying 
\sores ;  that  have  not  been  closed,  nor 
bound  up,  nor  mollified  with  ointment. 
In  the  wljole  state,  among  the  ruled 
or  rulers,  small  or  great,  country  or 
city,  there  is  nothing  but  sin  unre- 
pealed of,  and  miseries  quite  unre- 
dressed; and  in  their  whole  nature 
and  life,  there  is  notliing  but  corrup- 
tions, vices,  Am\  troubles,  Isa.  i.  6. 

To  SOUND,  (1.)  To  make  a  noise 
with  a  trumpet  or  otherwise,  Neh. 
iv.  18.  (2.)  To  examine  the  depth 
of  a  sea  or  pond.  Acts,  xxvii.  28.  (3.) 
To  search  out  one's  intentions  and 
designs,  1  Sam.  xx.  12.  The  sotind- 
mjr/- of  God's  bowels,  is  the  discovery 
of  his  compassion,  mercy,  and  love, 
Isa.  Ixiii.  15,  The  gospel  is  called 
a  joyful  sound,  in  allusion  to  the  pro- 
clamations at  the  Jewish  feasts,  or  of 
the  year  of  release,  or  jubilee,  by  the 
sound  of  trumpets.  It  is  preached  far 
and  wide,  it  powerfully  reaches  the 
hearts  of  men,  and  brings  them  the 
good  lidings  of  peace,  salvation,  and 
happiness,  Rom.  x.  18.  Psal.  Ixxxix. 
15.  Christ's  voice  is  like  the  50unf/ 
of  many  waters;  his  gracious  wjrd 
and  influence  are  powerful  to  awaken 
and  quicken  men's  souls,  and  his 
providence  to  terrify  and  over- 
whelm his  enemies  with  ruin,  Rev. 
i.  15.  The  soiind  of  the  cherubim'' s 
wings,  like  i\\e  voice  of  the  Almighty, 
denotes  the  terrible  and  alarming 
nature  of  providences  executed  by 
the  angels  or  ministers  of  God's  de- 
signs, Ezek.  X.  5.  The  day  of  trou- 
ble is  near,  and  not  the  sounding  again 
of  the  mountains;  not  mere  echoes, 
or  empty  alarms,  fit  only  to  startle 
children;  not  shouting  of  the  vint- 
age in  the  mountains;  nor  the  sound 
of  joyful  festivals  observed  to  idols 
in  high  places,  Ezek.  vii.  7. 

SOUTH,  a  place  or  country  lying 


sow 


(     471     ) 


SEE 


sOiithwanl  from  some  other  place. 
Thiid  Sheha,  Egypt,  aiid  Aral)i;i, 
were  the  south  in  respect  of  Canaan, 
Matt.  xii.  42.  Dan.  viii.  0.  ami  xi. 
5,  Sec.  Numb.  xiii.  'ZU.  Ohad.  ]9. 
The  south  part  of  Ju<l<a,or  Canaan, 
is  called  the  xoutli,  Ezek.  xx.  4(3. 
Gen.  xiii.  1,  3.  The  south  couiitn/., 
into  u'hichZechariah'sgrizzled  horses 
went,  is  thought  to  be  Africa,  Lesser 
Asia,  Syria,  Palestine,  Es;y|>t,  &c. 
Avhich  lie  south  of  Italy,  Zech.  vi.  0. 
Thoueh  in  most  jiarts  of  Dan.  xi.  the 
kings  of  the  south  and  north  are  the 
Syro-Grecian  kings  of  Egypt  and 
Syria;  yet  in  verse  40,  the  kings  of 
tlve  south  and  north,  pushing  at  Anti- 
christ, seem  to  be  the  Saracens  and 
Pidtans  of  Eaypt,  and  the  northern 
Turks;  or  that  (he  northern  Otto- 
mans, having  become  masters  of 
Egypt,  and  other  southern  countries, 


the  advantage  of  the  giver,  2  Cor- 
ix.  15.  Eccl.  xi.  1,4,  tJ.  'J'he  practice 
of  men  is  called  a  .vo/i;m:,'-,asthey  shall 
(juiekly  receive  the  reward  or  punish- 
n)ent  thereof,  Gal.  vi.  7.  A  good 
practice  is  a  soivins[  to  the  Spirit,  as  a 
man  therein,  by  the  intluence  of  the 
Holy,  Ghost,  and  in  the  exercise  of 
grace,  lays  out  himself,  antl  uhat  he 
has,  to  the  honour  of  (jlod,  and  to 
promote  his  own  spiritual  holiness 
and  comfort,  Gal.  vi.  iJ.  Men  sow 
in  righlcousmss,  when  they  receive 
Jesus  for  righteousness,  and  perform 
good  works,  Prov.  xi.  18.  ilos.  x. 
12.  They  sow  in  peace,  in  embrac- 
ing reconciliation  with  God,  and 
promoting  jjeace  with  all  men,  as  far 
as  may  consist  with  holiness,  .lumes 
iii.  18.  They  sow  beside  all  walerSy 
when  they  im[)rove  every  opportu- 
nity of  receiving  or  doing  good,  Isa. 


shall  harass    the   Papists.     But  the  xxxii.  20.     Men  go   forth    weeping, 
church  is  represented  as  on  the  .soj/</i  bearing  precious  seed  with  them,  and 


side  of  a  mountain,  to  denote  her 
quiet,  comfortable,  and  flourishing 
state,  Ezek.  xl.  2. 

SOW,  to  scatter  seed  in  the  earth, 
that  it  may  grow  up  and  yield  an 
increase,  Gen.  xxvi.  12.  God  sews 
people,  when  he  scatters  them 
abroad,  or  makes  them  to  dwell  and 
increase  iu  a  place,  Zech.  x.  9. 
Christ  sows  seed,  when  he  publishes 
the  truths  of  his  word,  and  bestows 
the  influences  of  his  grace,  in  order 
that  churches  may  be  ibrmed,  and 
men  may  bring  forth  good  works 
unto  eternal  life,  Matt.  xiii.  13,  19. 
The  preaching  of  the  gospel,  w  hich 
is  good  seed,  that  grows  up  in  an  in- 
crease of  saints  and  good  works,  is 
called  a  so7vinp: ;  and  preachers  are 
distinguished  into  such  as  sow  and 
such  as  reap. 

The  pro[)het3,  and  John  Baptist, 
sowed  the  principles  of  <!ivine  truth; 
hut  by  the  niinij^try  of  the  apostles, 
men  were  more  eminently  cutolVl'ro/n 
their  natural  state,  and  gathered  to 
Christ,  .lohn  iv.  37.  ^Ieu's  cha- 
ritable distributions  are  called  a  sow- 
ins^  of  seed ;  they  are  scattered  to  the 
needy,  and  tend  to  their  cond'ort ; 
and,  through  the  blessing  of  God,  to 


sow  in  tears,  when,  amidst  trouble 
and  sorrow  for  sin,  they  serve  God  ; 
and  they  reap  in  joy,  and  bring-  their 
sheaves  with  them,  when  they  are 
gloriously  rewarded,  Psal.  cxxvi.  5, 
ti — A  bad  i>ractice  is  a  sowing  to  the 
Jiesh,  as  in  it  a  man  is  influenced  by 
sinful  princi)de3  and  motives,  and 
acts  to  gratify  sinful  and  corrupt 
lust.  Gal.  vi.  8.  It  is  a  sowing  of 
7vickednrss,  or  of  iniquit}-,  as  men 
scatter  abroad  their  sinful  thoughts, 
words,  and  deeds,  to  be  the  seed  of 
eternal  wo,  .Job  iv.  8.  Prov.  xxii. 
8.  It  is  fl  sowing  among  thorns,  a 
practice  that  will  not  turn  to  any 
good  account,  Jer.  iv.  3.  To  sow 
discord  or  strife,  is  to  be  instrumental 
iu  stirring  it  up,  Prov.  vi.  14,  19. 
and  xvi.  28.  The  Jews  trusting  to 
idols,  or  the  assistance  of  Egypt,  is 
called  the  sowing  of  wind ;  it  was 
altogether  foolislj  and  ineflectual, 
Hos.  viii.  7,  The  death  or  burial  of 
men  is  called  a  sowing  ;  the  laying 
of  them  in  the  grave,  issues  in  a 
resurrection  to  life  and  immortality, 
1  Cor.  XV.  36,  37. 

Seed,  is,  (1.)  That  grain,  which 
being  sown,  produces  corn,  <fec. 
Gen.  xlvii.  19.     And  the  Jews  were 


sow 


(472     ) 


S  PA 


not  to  sow  their  fields  with  minsrledi 
seed,  to  teach  U3  that  God'a  truth  and 
the  inventions  of  men,  and  that  works 
and  grace,  should  not  be  mingled  to- 
gether as  the  ground  of  hope.  Lev. 
xix.  19.  (2.)^  The  fluid  substance 
in  animals  from  which  their  young  is 
produced,  Gen.  xxxviii.  9.  (3.) 
Children  or  posterity,  Rom.  i.  3. 
Psal  cxii.  1.  Gen.  iv.  25.  and  vii. 

6,  8.  Abraham  had  a  three-fold  seed, 
(1.)  A  natural  seed,  comprehending 
all  his  natural  descendants,  Rom.  ix. 

7.  (2.)  A  spiritual  seed,  compre- 
hending all,  both  Jews  and  Gen- 
tiles, who  possess  like  precious 
faith  in  Christ,  Rom  iv.  16.  (3.)  A 
supernatural  seed,  viz.  Christ,  de- 
scended from  him  according  to  the 
flesh.  Gal.  iii.  16.  Christ  is  the  seed 
of  the  woman ;  he  is  the  most  noted 
of  the  posterity  of  Eve,  and  was  born 
of  a  virgin,  Gen.  iii.  15.  The  saints 
are  a  seed,  are  but  a  small  part  of 
mankind;  but  by  the  grace  of  God, 
and  the  care  of  his  providence,  are 
made  exceedingly  useful  to  bring 
forth  glory  to  God,  and  blessings  to 
the  world,  Rom.  ix.  29.  They  are 
the  seed  of  the  church,  begotten  to 
God  in  her.  Rev.  xii.  1 7.  are  a  holi/ 
seed,  sanctified  and  set  apart  to  the 
service  of  God,  Isa.  vi.  13.  are  good 
seed,  fixed  in  a  good  state,  endowed 
with  good  qualities,  and  productive 
of  good  works,  Matt.  xiii.  38.  a  godly 
seed,  are  truly  in  covenant  with  God, 
conformed  to  his  image,  and  do  wor- 
ship and  serve  him,  Mai.  ii.  15. — 
The  seed  of  men,  are  the  Goths  and 
other  barbarians,  that  were  mingled 
with  the  Romans  a  little  before  -the 
fall  of  their  empire,  Dan.  ii.  43.  A 
seed  of  evil-doers,  or  increase  of  sinful 
men,  is  a  generation  descended  from 
wicked  parents,  and  given  to  wick- 
ed works,  Isa.  i.  4.  The  word  of 
God  is  likened  to  seed ;  as  applied  to 
•ur  hearts,  it  produces  excellent 
tempers  and  good  works,  Luke  viii. 
11.  The  principle  of  grace  in  the 
saints'  heart  is  called  seed,  and  is  said 
tp  secure  against  sinning:  residing 
in  every  power  of  the  soul,  and 
bringing  forth  holy  thoughts,  desires, 


and  acts,  it  prevents  him  from  follow- 
ing sin,  and  produces  a  fixed  hatred 
to  it,  1  John  iii.  9.  1  Pet.  i.  23. 

SOUR.  Their  drink  is  sour;  either 
they  offered  sour  wine  to  the  Lord  in 
their  drink-offerings :  or  their  idola- 
trous offerings  and  practice  Avere 
abominable,  Hos.  iv.  18. 

SPACE,  (1.)  A  distance  or  in- 
terval of  place,  Gen.  xxxii.  16.  (2.) 
A  certain  length  of  time.  Gen.  xxix. 
14. 

SPAIN,  rare,  or  precious,  a  large 
country  in  the  west  of  Europe.  It 
anciently  comprehended  both  Spain 
and  Portugal,  and  is  surrounded  by 
the  sea  on  every  side,  except  towards 
the  east,  where  it  borders  on  France, 
Perhaps  it  was  the  most  noted  Tar- 
shish  of  the  ancients.  The  Spa- 
niards sujjpose  Tubal  the  son  of  Jfa- 
pheth  to  have  come  hither  about  143 
years  after  the  flood,  and  to  have 
brought  the  true  religion  of  the  pa- 
triarchs along  with  him.  But  we 
suppose  it  was  peopled  by  the  Cel- 
tian  descendants  of  Gomer,  who 
might  be  almost  1000  years  after  the 
flood  before  they  settled  here.  The 
country  was  afterwards  invaded  by 
the  Egyptians,  Phenicians,  and  Car- 
thaginians, who  no  doubt  brought 
with  them  many  of  their  customs. 
With  prodigious  difliculty,  the  Ro- 
mans wrested  it  from  the  valiant  na- 
tives and  the  Carthaginians,  stript 
it  of  its  immense  wealth,  ruined  its 
golden  mines,  and  kept  it  in  bond- 
age almost  700  years. — iibout  A.  D. 
468,  the  Goths  and  other  barbarians, 
after  a  war  of  about  70  years,  seized 
on  the  countr}^,  and  reigned  in  it  till 
about  J.  D.  710;  when  count  Julian, 
to  revenge  an  affront  done  to  his 
daughter,  called  in  the  Saracens  and 
Moors  from  Africa.  After  a  battle 
of  eight  days'  continuance,  and  in 
about  eight  mouths,  they  seized  on 
most  of  the  kingdom.  Al'ter  about 
900  years  struggling,  they  were  at 
last  driven  out.  A  little  more  than 
200  years  ago,  its  internal  strength, 
and  their  conquests  of  America,  had 
rendered  this  nation  noted;  imt  since 
they  perpetrated  their  horrid  murders 


SPA 


(     -173     ) 


S  P  E 


\n  America,  ami  l>egan  (o  prrsecute 
the  proteBtants  in  (he  NethtTlinil-,  it 
has  dwindled  inlo  \v('akno«;»,  and  lew 
of (heirnionarchs  have  l)een  qualiliinl 
to  govern.  The  banishment  ol"  alioiil 
1,100,000  Jews  and  Moori  al^o 
miglUily  weiikened  the  kingdoDi. 
It  is  now  nearly  desolated  by  war, 
and  in  a  state  of  exquisite  Uistcess. 
A  Christian  church  was  early  plajit- 
ed  here,  and  Cur  some  ages  it  con- 
tinued in  greiiter  purity  than  some 
of  its  neighbours;  but  since  the  in- 
quisition was  here  established,  a  stu- 
pid subjection  to  the  [)ope  and  his 
deluf^ions  has  been  almost  all  the 
religion  they  durst  think  of,  Rom. 
XV.  24,  28. 

SPAN,  a  measure  of  three  band- 
breadths,  or  near  1 1  inches,  Exod. 
xxviii.  16.  God's  spanning  or  mea- 
suring out  the  heavens,  imports  how 
easily  he  knows  and  governs  the  hea- 
vens, and  all  their  contents,  Isa.  xl. 
12.  and  xlviii.  13. 

SPARE,  (1.)  In  pity  to  refrain 
from  due  severity,  2  Pet.  ii.  4,  (2.) 
To  hold  back,  Prov.  xvii.  27.  God 
spared  not  his  Son  ;  he  did  not  with- 
hold him  from  being  our  Mediator  ; 
nor,  in  punishing  him,  did  he,  out  of 
pity,  abate  the  least  degree  of  what 
was  required,  Rom,  viii.  32. 

SPARK  of  fire  ;  the  excessively 
warm  breath  of  the  leviathan  is  com- 
pare*} to  fire,  .loh  xli.  19.  Idolaters 
and  other  wicked  men,  are  like  a 
spark,  easily  blown  away  and  ruined 
in  an  instant,  Isa.  i.  30.  Men's  vain 
imaginatiojis  of  their  wisdom  or  re- 
ligion, and  their  ill-grounded  hopes 
of  hapi)iness,  are  likened  to  sparks  of\ 
fire,  which  are  of  little  use,  and  ol 
short  continuaivce,  Isa.  1.  11. 

SPARROW,  a  well-known  bird, 
with  a  black  throat  and  brown  tem- 
ples ;  it  seema  it  was  ordinarily  food 
among  the  Jews,  and  were  sold 
two  for  a  farthing,  or  five  for  two 
farthings.  Malt.  x.  29.  Luke  xii.  6. 
The  Hebrew  Tzippor,  signifies  any 
clean  bird.  To  mark  his  afflicted 
and  sorrowful  condition,  David  lik- 
ens himself  to  a  spcrrrorv  alone  upon 
the  hoiise-top,  Psal.  Ixxxiv.  3, 

Vor..  If. 


SPEAK,  SAY,  (1.)  To  tell,  to  re- 
late, Gon.  xxxvii.  26.  (2.)  To  juo- 
nounce,  .ludg.  xii.  6.  (3.)  To  will 
and  command  with  efficacious  power, 
Gen.  1.  3,  (3,  9.  (4.)  'J'o  promii-e, 
Luk.'  xxiii.  43.  (.5.)  To  ;uk,  Mark 
\i.  31.  (tJ.)  To  aiiswc.  Exoil.  iii. 
1.0,  14.  (7.)  To  teach,  atiirm,  Mftt.. 
xvii.  10.  (8.)  To  ex|)oiind.  Heb.  v. 
11.  (9.)  To  warn.  Col.  iv.  17.  (lo.) 
To  confess,  acknowledge,  Luke  xviL 
10.  (11.)  To  beaj:  witness,  .\ct3xxvii. 
20.  (12.)  To  reason,  argue,  Jamea 
ii.  18.  Jesus  Christ  and  the  Holy 
Ghost .s/jcfi^notof themselves.  Christ 
said  nothing  but  what  his  Father  au- 
thorised him  to  do, and  what  had  been 
materially  said  by  God  in  the  law  and 
the  prophets;  and  the  Holy  Spirit 
taught  men  concerning  Christ,  as  sent 
by  Christ  and  his  Father,  John  xiv. 
10.  andxvi.  13.  iJhrhtspeaketh  from 
h/avcn  ;  he  does  it  now  when  ascend- 
ed, and  in  a  way  more  grand  and  effi- 
cacious than  Moses,  Heb.  xii.  26. 
Evil-speaking  is  a  needless  speaking 
of  the  faults  of  others,  1  Pet.  iv.  A. 
To  be  speechless,  im|)orts  to  be  dumb, 
Luke  i.  22.  to  be  confounded,  hav- 
ing nothing  to  say  for  6ne's  self, 
Matt.  xxii.  12. 

SPEAR,  or  HALBERD,  seems  to 
have  been  anciently  a  common  piece 
of  warlike  armour  :  and  hence  their 
soldiers  were  called  spearmen.  Acts 
xxiii.  23.  Kings  and  generals  used 
them  perhaps  instead  of  colours, 
1  Sam.  xxvi.  7.  Josh.  viii.  26.  Some- 
times spear  is  put  for  all  kinds  of 
offensive  armour,  Nah.  iii.  3.  God's 
spear,  is  his  destructive  judgments, 
or  his  flaming  thunderbolts,  Hab. 
iii.  11.  Company  of  spearmen,  or 
wild  beasts  of  the  forest,  are  savage 
and  wicked  people,  Psal.  Ixviii.  30. 
See  Tef.tu. 

SPECIAL,  (1.)  Chosen  from 
among  other.^,  Dent.  vii.  0.  (2.) 
Extraordinary,  Acts  xix.  11. 

SPECKLED,  spotted  with  divers 
colours,  Gen.  xxx.  32. 

SPECTACLE,    a    sight    to    be 
gazed   at,  as  when  persons,    for   a 
show,  were  condemned  to  fight  v>i!t] 
beasts,  1  Cor.  iv.  10. 
3  D 


S  P  1 


(     474     ) 


S  P  I 


SPEED,  (1.)  Haste,  Acts  xvii. 
15.  (2.)  Success,  Gen.  xxiv.  12. — 
To  wish  one  God  speed,  is  to  wish 
that  God  would  succeed  him  in  his 
work,  2  John  10. 

SPEND,  (1.)  To  make  use  of, 
Gen.  xlvii.  18.  (2.)  To  waste  in 
a  prodigal  manner,  Prov.  xsi.  20. 
and  xxix.  3.  (3.)  To  labour  till 
one's  strength  and  life  be  wasted,  2 
Cor.  xii.  15. 

SPICE,  spicERT,  any  kind  of  aro- 
matic drug,  having  hot  and  pungent 
qualities,  as  ginger,  pepper,  nutmeg, 
cinnamon,  cloves,  cassia,  frankin- 
cense, calamus,  myrrh,  &c.  With 
spices  the  ancients  seasoned  their 
flesh,  Ezek.  xxiv.  10.  gave  their 
wines  what  flavour  they  pleased. 
Song  viii.  2.  perfumed  their  women, 
and  their  beds  and  clothed,  Esth.  ii. 
12.  Prov.  vii.  17.  Psal.  xlv.  8.  and 
seasoned  and embalmetltheir dead  bo- 
dies, Mark  xvi.  i.  2  Chron.  xvi.  14. 
Jer.  xxxiv.  5.  It  seems  they  also  burnt 
heaps  of  spices,  to  honour  the  death 
of  their  kings.  The  Arabians  traded  in 
carrying  spices  to  Egypt, Gen.  xxxvii. 
25.  The  saints,  and  their  graces, 
are  thought  to  be  compared  to  spices  ; 
they  instrumentally  season,  preserve, 
and  purify  nations  and  churches : 
and  their  graces  season,  warm,  and 
purify  their  own  hearts,  Song  iv. 
12—14. 

SPIDER,  a  well-known  insect,  of 
which  there  are  about  24  kinds. 
Some  are  all  over  hairy ;  others  are 
smooth ;  and,  it  is  said,  a  kind  of 
spider  in  America  is  50  times  as  big 
as  ours.  Many  of  the  spiders  are 
extremely  venomous,  and  their  bite, 
though  very  small,  is  dangerous,  and 
sometimes  speedily  mortal.  The  tar- 
antula of  Italy,  &c.  hath  eight  eyes, 
and  a  most  dangerous  bite.  There  is 
no  curing  it,  but  by  suiting  music  to 
the  unhappy  patients,  and  making 
them  dance  till  they  sweat  out  the 
poison.  The  bite  is  not  poisonous, 
except  when  the  weather  is  Iiot. 
Spiders  lay  a  vast  number  of  eggs, 
sometimes  to  about  500  or  600.  To 
entrap  the  flies,  they  weave  webs, 
formed  pf  glue  extracted  from  their 


own  bowfels ;  and  in  spinning  which 
they  can  dart  themselves  a  gr-eat  way 
up  into  the  air.  When  a  fly  is  caught 
in  this  web,  the  savage  spider,  who 
was  before  hid,  rushes  upon  it,  fixes 
its  claws  therein,  and  sucks  out  the 
juice  of  the  poor  creature,  leaving  it 
lifeless.  After  all,  spiders  are  by  some 
naturalists  famed  for  their  prudence, 
fortitude,    equity,  temperance,    and 

cleanliness. Men's   carnal  confi- 

deuce,  and  their  foolish  attempts  to 
save  themselves,  are  likened  to  a 
spider's  web;  after  they  have  wea- 
ried themselves  therein,  how  unsub- 
stantial and  insufficient  for  every  good 
purpose!  Job  viii.  14.  Isa.  lix.  5. 

SPIKENARD,  a  plant  of  a  very- 
fragrant  smell,  and  strong  taste.  Its 
shoots  grow  even  with  the  surface  of 
the  ground,  or  rather  below  it.  The 
silica,  or  ear,  is  about  the  length  and 
thickness  of  one's  finger,  and  is  very 
light,  covered  over  with  long  reddish 
hairs ;  and  is  of  a  strong  smell  and 
bitterish  taste.  The  plant  is  of  a 
heart-warming  and  poison-expelling 
quality,  ami,  as  such,  is  used  in  the 
treacle  of  Venice.  The  ointment 
made  of  it  was  very  precious,  Mark 
xiv.  3.  The  best  spikenard  comes 
from  the  East  ludies  ;  that  whi&Ii  is 
found  in  the  Pyrenean  and  Tyrol 
mountains,  has  much  the  same  virtue 
as  the  valerian.  Christ  and  his  gos- 
pel, and  his  people  and  their  graces, 
are  said  to  be  likened  to  spikenard : 
how  condescending,  precious,  heart- 
warming, delightful,  and  restorative, 
are  Jesus  and  his  truths,  applied  to 
our  soul !  how  useful  and  acceptable 
are  saints  and  their  graces!  Song  i. 
12.  andiv.  13,  14. 

SPINDLE,  an  instrument  for 
spinning  with ;  and  which  is  slill 
used  by  some  of  our  old  women. 
Anciently,  the  wives  and  daughters 
of  great  men  earnestly  applied  them- 
selves to  spinning,  Exod.  xxxv.  25. 
Prov.  xxxi.  19. 

SPIRIT,  in  Hebrew  Rnach,  in 
Greek  Pneutna,  and  in  Latin  Sjnritus, 
is  in  some  places  of  scripture  taken 
for  the  Holy  Spirit,  the  third  Person 
in  the  Trinity.    In  others  it  signifiea 


8  P  I 


(    -1'^     ) 


S  P  I 


the  reasonable  soul  which  animates 
us,  and  relaius  its    lit'ing  even  after 
the  dissolution  of   the  hotly.     In  a 
philosophical  sense,  spirit  is  an  inlel- 
ligent  substance,  endiu'd  with  under 
standing;  and    will;    or    a  spiritual, 
reasoning,  choosinj;,  substance,  capa- 
ble of  eternal  happiness,  Numb.  xvi. 
-2.  Christ's  divine  nature  is  called  a 
Spirit,  Spirit  of  holiness,  and  eternal 
Spirit,   1  Pet  iii.  lo.  Rom.  i.  4.  and 
Heb.  xi.  14.  and  Christ  is  called   a 
<(Uickening  Spirit,  as  he  quickens  his 
yeople,  and  sjives  them  spiritual  life, 
1  Cor.  XV.  45.  But  the  third  Person 
in  the  Godhead  is  particularly  called 
the  Holy  Spirit,  or  Holy  Ghost,  to  ex- 
press the  mode  of  his  relation  to  tiuv 
Father  and  Son  ;  and  because  he,  by 
spiritual    methods,    works    spiritual 
qualities  and  alTcctions  in  u.=>,  1  Pet. 
i.  2.  He  is  called  seven  Spirits,  be- 
cause of  his  perlt'ct  and  lUversified 
fulness  of  gifts,  graces,    and   opera- 
tions. Rev.  i.  4.     He  is  called   the 
Spirit  of  God;   his  nature  is  divine, 
and  he  is  sent  by  God  to  perform  his 
economic  operations,  2Cliron.  xv.  1. 
He  is  the  Spirit  of  Christ,   as  he  pro- 
ceeds from  him  as  the  Son  of  God 
qualities  him,  and   rests  on  him  as 
Mediator,  and  is  sent  by  him  to  ex- 
ecute the  application  of  our  redemp- 
tion, Rom.  viii.  9.  He  is  the  Spirit 
of  promise,  because  promised  to  men, 
and  he  applies  the  promises  of  the 
new  covenant  to  our  heart,  Eph.  i. 
1 3.  He  is  the  Spirit  of  truth  ;  he  is 
the  true  God,  and  teachelh  nothing 
but  truth,  John  xiv.    1 7.    He  is  a 
holy,  good,    and  free  Spirit ;    being 
holy  and  good  in  himself,  he  works 
holiness  and  goodness  in  us,  of  his 
own  good  will,   and  renders  us  of  a 
noble  and  benevolent  temper.  Psal. 
li.  10,  11.  and  cxiiii.  10.     He  is  a 
Spirit  of  judgment,  council,  wisdom, 
and  understanding  :  being  infinite  in 
knowledge  and  wisdom  himself,  he 
qualified  Christ's  manhood,  and  im- 
parts to  his  people  wis^lom  and  un- 
derstanding,   Isa.    xxviii.    16.    and 
xi.  2.  Eph.  1.  1 7.  He  is  a   Spirit  of 
hondas;e  and  fear,  when,  by  the  ap- 
plication  of    the    broken    law    to 


men's  consciences,  he  fills  theJi 
mind  with  great  pressure  and  fear. 
Rom.  viii.  xv.  He  is  the  Spirit  of' 
adoption,  that  brings  u.s  into  the  fa- 
mily of  God,  dwells  in  every  one  of 
God's  children,  and  renders  them 
conformable  to  his  image,  Rom.  vii. 
li.  He  is  the  Spirit  of  life  in 
Christ  Jesus,  as,  by  uniting  men  to 
Christ,  he  bestows  life  on  them ; 
and  by  maintaining  their  fellowship 
with  Christ,  he  increases  and  per^- 
fects  their  spiritual  life,  Rom.  viii. 
2.  He  is  the  Spirit  of  power,  of 
faith,  of  love,  and  of  a  sound  mind; 
ami  of  supplication  :  by  his  almighty 
power,  he  works  faith,  love,  and 
soutnl  wisdom,  in  the  heart;  and  he 
directs  and  enables  men  to  pray,  and 
to  wait  for  the  answer  of  |)rayer,  2 
Tim.  i.  7.  2  Cor.  iv.  13.  Zech.  xii. 
10,  Rom.  viii.  27.  And  the /oi;^  <>/" 
Ihc  Spii'it,  is  love  to  him,  or  gracious 
love  produced  by  him,  Rom.  xv.  30. 
He  is  the  Spirit  of  grace,  and  of 
glory,  as  from  the  fulness  of  Christ, 
ho  conveys  U)  the  saints  their  gra- 
cious endowments,  and  glorious  hap- 
piness, Heb.  X.  29,  1  Pet.  iv.  14. 
He  is  the  Spirit  of  the  living  crea- 
tures, which  is  in  the  wheels,  as  he 
actuates  angels  and  ministers,  and 
the  church,  and  the  world  managed 
by  them,  Ezek.  i.  20.  He  is  said 
to  be  sent,  because  authorized  by  the 
Father  and  Son,  John  xvi.  7.  to  be 
given,  because  freely  bestowed  in 
his  gifts  and  graces,  John  vii.  39. 
to  be  poured  out,  because  carefully 
and  plentifully  bestowed,  Prov.  i. 
23.  and  to  come  upon,  and  fall  upon 
men,  in  respect  of  his  beginning  to 
act  on  them,  Acts  i.  8.  aiul  xi.  25. 
and  to  strive  ivith  them,  in  opposi- 
tion to  their  corrupt  inclinations. 
Gen.  vi.  3,-  and  men,  in  their  re- 
sistance of  his  operations,  are  said 
to  grieve,  rebel  against,  resist,  quenchy 
do  despite  to,  ari  1  blaspheme  him, 
Eph.  iv.  30.  Is.  Ixiii.  10.  Acts  vii. 
51.  1  Thess.  V.  19.  Heb.  x.  29. 
Matt.  xii.  31. — Angels  and  human 
souls  are  called  spirits,  because  im- 
material and  thinking  substances, 
Heb.  i.  14,  Acts  vii.    59.     Men  are 


S  P  I 


(     476     ) 


S  P  I 


said  to  give  up  the  ghosl,  when  their 
soul  is  separated  (rom  their  body, 
Gen.  xxA'.  17  Fallen  angels  are 
called/r.?/Z  or  nndean  spirits,  Mark 
i.  37.  The  spirit  going  out  of  a 
man,  and  travelling  through  dry 
places,  finding  no  rest,  and  at  last 
returning  to  his  old  lodging,  with 
seven  other  spirits  worse  than  him- 
self, may  denote  the  devil  as  return- 
ing to  the  Jewish  nation,  to  render 
them  monstrouriiy  wicked,  after  he 
liad  been  cast  out  of  many,  and  could 
find  no  rest  among  the  Gentiles,  for 
the  spread  of  the  gospel,  Matt.  xii. 
43 — 45.  Familiar  spirits,  are  such 
devils  as  coavcrse  with  wizards  and 
witches,  2  Kings  xxi.  6. — Many 
things,  on  account  of  their  source, 
their  nature,  their  subject,  or  influ- 
ence, are  called  spirit  j  as,  (1.)  The 
inspiring  influences  or  uncommon 
gifts  bestowed  by  the  Holy  Ghost, 
are  called  by  his  name.  Matt.  xxii. 
43.  Kev.  i.  10.  ami  iv.  2.  Heb.  vi.  4. 
John  vii.  39.  Acts  viii.  15,  16,  17. 
Gal.  iii.  2.  1  Cor.  xiv.  15.  (2.)  The 
renewed  nature  of  the  saints,  which 
is  produced  by,  and  confonns  men 
to,  the  Holy  Ghost,  Gal.  t.  17. 
Matt.  xxvi.  41.  John  iii.  C,  In  many 
iexts.  Spirit  denotes  both  the  new  na- 
ture of  believers,  and  the  Spirit  of 
God  dwelling  in  and  actuating  it, 
Rom.  viii.  1,  4.  Gal.  v.  21.  (3.)  A 
temper,  or  disposition  of  soul ;  iwnce 
we  read  of  a  right  spirit,  an  humble 
spirit,  a  spirit  of  meekness,  Psai.  li.  10. 
Prov.  xvi.  19.  1  Cor.  iv.  21.  Timo- 
thy was  an  example  to  the  believers 
in  spirit,  i.  e.  in  the  spirituality  and 
right  temper  of  his  soul,  Tim.  iv. 
12.  Paul,  though  at  Rome,  was  pre- 
sent with  the  Colossians  in  spirit,  in 
care  and  airection.  Col.  ii.  5.  and 
his  spirit,  i.  e.  in  his  care,  judgment, 
and  authorit}^  he  was  with  the  Corin- 
thians io  their  censuring  the  incestu- 
ous person,  1  Cor.  v.  4.  (4.)  The 
gospel  and  word  of  Christ,  by  which, 
accompanied  by  the  Holy  Ghost, 
men's  natures  are  changed,  and  spi- 
ritual life  begotten,  maintained,  and 
perfected,  2  Cor.  iii.  6,  8.  (5.) 
Persons  inspired  by  the  Holy  Ghost, 


or  pretending  to  be  so,  1  Johniv.  1. 
t'alse  teachers  are  called  spirits  of 
devils,  and  said  to  have  the  spirit  of 
error,  and  of  Antichrist :  they  have 
Satan  in  them,  actuating  and  direct* 
ing  them  in  their  erroneous  judg- 
ment and  corrupt  inclinations,  lead- 
ing them  out  to  oppose  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  Rev.  xvi.  14.  1  Tim. 
iv.  1.  1  John  iv.  3,  6. — The  new 
spirit  put  within  men,  is  the  Holy 
Ghost  entering  to  do  dwell  in  them, 
and  a  gracious  nature  and  temper 
newly  produced  by  him,  Ezek.  xi. 
29.  and  xxxvi.  26.  The  four  spi- 
rits or  winds,  of  tJie  heavens,  are 
angels  actuated  by  God  to  execute 
his  providential  work  in  every  part 
of  the  world ;  or  the  Chaldean, 
Persian,  Grecian,  and  Roman  mo- 
narchies, raised  up  by  God  in  differ- 
ent quarters,  to  accomplish  his 
purposes ;  or,  the  New  Testament 
preachers,  under  God's  influence, 
spreading  the  gospel  into  the  various 
parts  of  the  world,  Zech.  vi.  5. 
To  live,  walk,  or  worship,  or  serve 
God  in  spirit,  is  to  act  in  out  wor- 
ship, and  other  work,  as  influenced, 
directed,  and  drawn  by  the  Holy 
Ghost;  and  in  the  exercise  of  inwariji 
grace,  and  with  all  the  powers  of 
our  soul,  vigorously  concurring  with 
him,  G&l.  v.  25.  Rom.  viii.  1.  John 
iv.  24.  Phil.  iii.  3.  They  that  are 
joined  to  the  Lord,  are  one  spirit ; 
Christ  and  they  have  the  same  Holy 
Ghost  dwelling  in  them;  and  they 
are  conformed  to  him  in  the  gracious 
tempers  of  their  soul,  1  Cor.  vi.  17. 
The  testimony  of  Jesus  is  the  spirit  of 
prophecy  ;  the  faithfully  testifying  his 
truths,  is  equally  honourable  as  to 
have  the  inspiring  spirit  of  prophecy, 
Rev.  xix.  1 0,  IMie  spirits  of  the  pro- 
phets are  subject  to  tlt^  prophets  ;  the 
opinions  and  tempers  of  jirophets, 
must  be  subject  to  the  trial  of  others ; 
or  rather,  the  impulses  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  even  in  men  really  inspired, 
to  suit  themselves  to  their  rational 
faculties,  as  not  to  divest  them  of 
the  government  of  themselves,  either 
as  to  the  matter,  manner,  or  time  of 
their  speaking,  1  Cor.  xiv.  2G.     To 


s  p  I 


(     477      ) 


S  P  0 


have  the «;nn7  of  slumhir,  is  to  have; 
one's  luind  reudVreil  9tiii»ul  and  ^eiiso- 
Jess  hy  Satan  5md  iudwiUiug  cor- 
ruption, Rom.  xi.  8. 

Spiritlai,,  tliat  which  belongs  to 
spirits.  Tlte  church  is  a  spinlual 
house;  her  inemhirs  are  renewed  iu 
the  spirit  of  their  niiud^ ;  Jesus  is  her 
Ibunilation ;  and  \\u  word,  S[)irit, 
and  grace,  connect  them  willi  liiin, 
and  \\'\[\\  one  anollier,  1  F*et.  ii.  i. 
Proj)he(8  and  other  clunch-ofilcers, 
are  spiiUual  men;  tlieir  otTi.cc  lies 
in  spiritual  exercises,  Uos.  ix.  7. 
Christians  are  spiriiual ;  they  have 
the  Spirit  of  tJod,  and  arc  chiefly 
concerned  about  spiritual  and  eternal 
things,  Gal.  vi.  1.  Suchasare  much 
under  the  influence  of  God's  Spirit, 
and  of  their  own  new  nature,  are  spi- 
ritual,  1  Cor.  iii.  1.  God's  law  is 
spiritual;  it  has  a  transcript  of  the  di- 
vin';  nature;  it  is  given  by  the  H0I3' 
Spirit,  and  extends  its  aulliority  to 
every  power  and  act  of  the  soul,  and 
chiefly  requires  duties  of  a  spiritual 
nature,  Rom.  vii.  1-1.  The  gospel, 
the  influence  it  conveys,  tiie  extra- 
onlinary  gifts  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  the 
blessings  of  justification,  adoption, 
sanclitication,  gracious  comfort,  and 
eternal  happiness,  are  apirilital,  pro- 
ceed from  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  are 
of  an  immaterial  nature,  and  suit  the 
nature  and  desires  of  our  soul,  Rom. 
XV.  27.  and  i.  11.  1  Cor.  xii.  1. 
Eph.  i.  3.  The  manna  and  wafer 
whereon  the  Hebrews  lived  in  the 
wilderness,  v.ere  spiriiual  food,  as 
they  figured  out  Jesus,  his  person, 
righteousness,  and  Sjiirit,  and  bless- 
ings, which  are  tlie  food  of  our  soul, 
1  Cor.  X.  3,  4.  The  'ainls'  prayers, 
praises,  self-dedication,  and  the  like, 
are  .^;piW/i/rt^  sacrifices,  not  material 
and  fleshly  as  those  of  the  Mosaic  law, 
1  Pet.  ii.  5.  Such  songs  as  turn  upon 
spiritual  things,  and  are  simg  with  a 
gracious  temper  of  soul,  are  spiriiual, 
Eph.  V.  19.  Satan  who  is  u  spirit, 
and  jiride,  unbelief,  and  such  like 
lusts  of  our  mind  as  are  enthroned  in 
our  iieart,  are  spiritual  mickcdncss  in 
high  places,  Eph  vi.  12.  To  be 
^piriluaJlxj  minded,  i?,  under  tlic  in- 


fluences of  (he  Holy  Spirit,  to  have 
all  (he  pn^vers  ofour  sQul  concurring 
in  spiritual  (iioughts,  desires,  and 
(h:ligh(s,  in  divine  and  rternal  things, 
Horn.  viii.  0.  The  tilings  of  the 
Spirit  of  God,  i.  e.  things  relative 
to  Chrir^t,  and  the  nu'thod  ofour  re- 
demption, are  spirilualh/  disperncd, 
are  known,  not  by  carnal  reason, 
but  by  the  peculiar  assi^tanl;e  of  (he 
Holy  Spirit,  1  Cor.  ii.  \4.  Rome 
is  spiritually^  i.  e.  in  the  language 
of  the  Holy  Ghost,  called  Sodom 
and  Egypt,  because  so  like  those 
places  in  wickedness,  Rev.  xi.  8. 

To  SPIT  upon  a  man,  or  on  liis 
face,  expresses  the  highest  contempt. 
Numb.  xii.  1-1.  Job  xxx.  10.  Malt. 
xxvi.  67, 

SPITE.     See  Despite. 

SPOIL.  See  Rooty.  (1.)  To 
spoils  is  to  take  away  the  substance 
of  a  [jerson  or  nation,  Gen.  xxxiv. 
27.  (2.)  To  waste,  (o  render  use- 
less. Song  ii.  15.  Christ  spoiled  [mu- 
cipalities  and  powers,  when  by  hi? 
death  he  removed  the  guilt  of  sin, 
and  the  curse  of  (he  law;  and  so  de- 
prived Satan  and  his  sgents  of  their 
former  pov.  er  to  hurt  his  people, 
Col.  ii.  15.  Church-members  are 
spoiled,  when  deprived  of  their  scrip- 
ture principles,  tempers,  or  exercises, 
and  are  as  it  were  led  bound  and  cap- 
tive ir.to  some  vain  or  sinful  senti- 
ment or  practice.  Col.  ii.  8.  A  spoiler 
is  a  plundering  ravager,  such  as  the 
Phiiistincr,  1  Sam.  xiii.  7.  the  Chal- 
deans, Jer.  xii.  12.  or  the  Medes 
and  Persians,  Jer.  Ii-  48. 

The  use  of  the  golden  SPOONS, 
was  to  lift  tlie  frankinrense  to  put 
it  on  the  altar  to  be  burnt,  6cc. 
Exod.  XXV.  29. 

SPORT,  jest,  diver.sion.  He  that 
loves  it  shiill  be  poor,  as  it  Avill  hin- 
der him  from  prosecuting  his  bu.si- 
ness,  Pcov.  xxi.l7.  Men  sport  with 
their  own  dec(iviiio;s,  when  the}'  make 
a  jest,  and  wickedly  boast  of  the  sin- 
ful and  erroneous  courses  they  have 
I)rought  tbemselves  aixl  others  into, 
2  Pet.  ii.  13.  Prov.  xxvi.  19. 

SPOT,  (1.)  A  small  mark,  difl'er- 
ent  in  colour  from  (he  rest  of  the 


S  P  u 


(     478     ) 


SPY 


body :  so  leoparda  have  multitudes 
of  beautiful  spots,  Jer.  xiii.  23.  (2.) 
A  stain  or  outward  blemish,  Numb, 
xix.  2.  and  xxviii.  3.  Sin  is  called 
a  spot,  as  it  renders  our  nature,  or 
the  garments  of  our  conversation, 
displeasing  to  God  and  good  men, 
1  Tim.  vi.  14.  Jude  23.  Things 
which  are  inconsistent  with  a  state 
of  grace,  are  not  the  spot  of  God's 
children,  Deut.  xxxii.  5.  Christ 
was  without  spot  and  blemish;  was 
free  from  all  sinful  pollution  of  na- 
ture or  practice,  1  Pet.  i.  19.  The 
saints  in  this  life  shall  be  withotit 
spot  or  wrinkle,  or  any  such  thing ; 
freed  from  all  remains  of  sin,  Eph. 
V.  27.  2  Pet.  iii.  14.  Scandalous 
professors  are  spots  ;  are  a  disgrace 
to  the  church,  and  means  of  defiling 
others,  Jude  12. 

SPOUSE.  See  Bride,  Marriage. 

To  SPRING,  (1.)  To  issue  forth' 
as  water  out  of  a  fountain,  Numb. 
xxi.  1 7.  (2.)  To  shoot  up  and  flou- 
rish, as  corn  and  trees  from  their 
seed,  Psal.  xcii.  7.  (3.)  To  pro- 
ceed from,  as  a  child  from  his  pa- 
rents, Heb.  vii.  14.  (4.)  To  move 
forward  with  great  haste,  Acts  xvi. 
29.— String,  (1.)  A  fountain,  (2.) 
The  beginning  of  a  thing,  as  of 
the  day,  1  Sam.  ix.  26. 

The  SPRINKLING  of  the  blood, 
oil,  and  water  of  separation,  under 
the  law,  is  thought  to  have  figured 
Gotl's  cleansing  of  sinners  from  their 
sin,  by  the  sprinkling  or  application 
of  Jesus's  word,  blood,  and  Spirit, 
to  their  souls,  Lev.  xiv.  7,  16.  Heb. 
ix.  13.  Isa.  Iii.  15.  Ezek.  xxxvi. 
25.  1  Pet.  i.  2.  Heb.  x.  22.  and  xii. 
24.  the  sprinkling  of  blood,  water, 
or  oil,  on  the  tip  of  the  right  ear, 
thumb,  and  toe,  in  the  consecration 
of  priests,  or  cleansing  of  lepers,  im- 
ported a  preparation  to  hear  holy 
words,  touch  holy  thing?,  and  walk 
in  holy  places;  and  signified  a  puri- 
fication of  the  Avhole  man,  soul  and 
body,  hy  the  blood,  Spirit,  and  grace 
of  Christ,  and  a  consecration  thereof 
to  the  service  of  God,  Exod.  xxix. 
20.  Lev.  viii.  23.  and  xiv.  17. 

To  SPUE,  VOMIT.     God  spues  n 


church  out  of  his  mouth,  when,  with 
abhorrence  of  her  sin,  he  gives  her 
up  to  be  a  synagogue  of  Satan,  Rev. 
iii.  1 6.  Men  vomit  up  riches,  when, 
to  their  grief  and  shame  they  part 
with  them  to  others,  Job  xx.  15. 
Prov.  XXV.  16.  Men  drink,  spue, 
and  fall,  when  God's  judgments 
render  them  stupid,  disgraced,  and 
miserable,  Jer.  xxv.  27.  Hab.  ii. 
16.  Men  return  to  their  vomit,  or 
what  they  had  spued,  when  they  re- 
turn to  sinful  practices,  which  they 
had  once  forsaken,  and  repented  of, 
Prov.  xxvi.  4.  2  Pet.  ii.  22.  They 
wallowed  in  their  vomit,  when  ex- 
posed (o  the  most  disgraceful  dis- 
tress, Jer.  xlviii.  26.  A  land  spues 
out  its  inhabitants,  Avhen  they  are 
driven  out  of  it  by  slaughter  and 
captivity.  Lev.  xviii.  28. 

SPUNGE.  Whether  spunges,  a 
sea  production  found  adhering  to 
rocks,  shells,  &c.  be  a  vegetable,  a 
mineral,  or  an  animal,  has  been  not 
a  little  disputed :  but  they  are  now 
generally  allowed  to  be  |)lants.  They 
are  distinguished  for  drawing  up  a 
great  deal  of  moisture,  and  are  ofcon- 
siderable  use  for  fomenting  wound«;, 
for  yielding  volatile  salt,  and  for 
choking  noxious  animals,  Matt, 
xxvii.    48. 

SPY,  ESPY,  to  take  a  view  of. 
God  espied  a  land  for  Israel ;  he  de- 
tei  aiined  to  give  them  a  choice  one, 
Ezek.  XX.  6.  Spies  are  such  are  come 
from  an  enemy,  to  observe  the  na- 
ture and  circumstances  of  a  place  or 
country,  in  order  to  conquer  and 
take  j)ossession  of  it.  Joseph  pre- 
tended that  his  ten  brethren  were  spies 
come  to  observe  the  nakedness  of 
Egypt,  haw  easily  it  might  be  taken, 
and  what  was  the  most  proper  method 
of  doing  it,  Gen.  xlii.  9,  14,  16.  By 
the  permission  of  God,  Moses  sent 
12  spies,  one  for  each  tribe,  to  view 
the  land  ofCanaan;  they  went  through 
it  to  the  very  north  borders,  and  after 
40  days,  returned  to  Moses  at  Kadesh- 
barnea.  Ten  of  them  brought  up  an 
evil  report  of  it,  as  unwholesome,  and 
as  impossible  to  be  conquered.  These 
for  their  false    report,    and    their 


S  T  A 


(     479     ) 


S  T  A 


occasioning  a  mutiny  in  the  congre- 
gation, were  struck  dead  by  the  Lord 
in  an  instant;  but  the  other  two, 
Caleb  and  Joshua,  who  maintaineil 
that  the  land  was  exccedini;  pood, 
and,  it  seems,  brou2:ht  a  hirge  cluster 
of  grapes  with  them;  and  atljrmed, 
that,  by  the  assistance  of  God,  they 
could  easily  conquer  it;  were  pre- 
served, and  38  years  after  entered 
into  Canaan,  Numb.  xiii.  and  xiv. 
When  Joshua  intended  to  [)ass  the 
Jordan,  he  sent  two  spies  to  view  Je- 
richo, with  taking  which  he  intended 
to  begin  his  conquests.  They,  after 
being  preserved  by  Rahab,  and  lurk- 
ing some  daj's  about  the  adjacent  hill, 
returned  and  informed  hiui,  that  the 
Canaauites  were  in  a  terrible  panic 
for  fear  of  him,  Josh.  ii. 

A  SQUARE,  is  what  has  four 
equal  sides.  The  general  use  of  the 
square-form  in  the  tabernacle,  tem- 
ple, or  in  EzekieKs  viVionary  struc- 
ture? and  portions,  or  in  John's  vi- 
sion of  the  New  Jerusalem,  is  to  de- 
note the  stability  arvd self-consistency 
of  all  things  in  Christ  and  his  church, 
Ezek.  xlv.^  1—8.  Rev.  xxi.  16. 

STABLE,  (1.)  A  lodging  place 
for  horses,  camels,  and  other  animals, 
Ezek.  XXV.  5.  (2.)  Firm,  fixed,  and 
sure,  1  Chron.  xvi.  30.  and  to  sta- 
BLisH,  is  to  make  firm  and  sure.  See 
Establish.  Wisdom  and  knowledge 
are  the  stability  of  the  times,  and 
strength  of  salvation  ;  the  exercise  of 
these  tends  to  strengthen  and  esta- 
blish churches  and  nations;  and  by 
the  proper  use  of  them  by  Hezekiah 
and  his  godly  subjects,  was  the  Jew- 
ish state  then  preserved  and  deliver- 
ed from  ruin  by  the  Assyrians,  Isa. 
xxxiii.  6. 

STACTE,  the  gum  that  distils 
from  the  myrrh  tree.  But  perhaps  the 
Hebrew  neteph  might  be  a  kin^l  of 
liquid  that  was  extracted  by  bruising 
of  the  myrrh.  Some  take  it  also  to 
signify  halm.  It  is  certain  stacte  was 
very  valuable  and  fragrant,  and  was 
an  ingredient  in  the  Jews'  sacred 
perfume,  Exod.  xxx.  33. 

STAFF.     See  Rod. 

STAGGER.     See  Rffl. 


STAIN,  to  mark  with  disgrace, 
Job  iii.  5.  Isa.  xxiii.  9.  But  Christ's 
staining  all  his  raiment  with  the  blood 
of  his  foes,  imi)orts,  tli«t  all  Ms 
appearances  and  works  should  be 
marked  with  tokens  of  his  victory 
over  sin,  Satan,  and  the  world,  I?a. 
Ixiii.  5k 

STAIRS.  Tho«e  of  Ezekiel's  Ti- 
sionary  temple,  may  denote  our  gra- 
dual entrance  into  the  church  and  fel- 
low ship  with  God,  Ezek.  xliii.  17. 

STAKE,  rods  or  boards  for  erect- 
ing tents,  &c.  Not  one  of  the  stakes 
of  church  or  state  is  removed,  when 
notwithstanding  all  that  enemies  caa 
do,  she  enjoys  peace  and  quietness, 
Isa.  XXX.  20.  The  strengthening  of 
the  chnrch''s  stakes,  and  lengthtning  of 
her  cords,  import  her  confirmation 
and  enlargement,  Isa.  liv.  2. 

STALK.     See  Stem. 

STALL,  a  place  for  a  horse  or  ox 
to  stand  and  lie  in.  Solomon  had 
40,000  stalls,  and  4,000  stables,  1 
Kings  iv.  26.  2  Chron.  ix.  25. 
Stai,i-ed,  long  kept  in  the  stall  foi- 
fattening,  Prov,  xv.  1 7. 

STAMMERING,  stuttering  in 
speech.  Thetojigue  of  the  stammerer 
speaks  plainly,  when  such  as  before 
spoke  in  a  dark,  doubtful,  and  awk- 
ward manner  of  divine  things,  are 
enabled  to  do  it  with  great  clearness, 
energy,  and  delight,  Isa.  xxxii.  4. 
The  Assyrians  were  the  people  of 
stammering  lips,  by  whom  God 
spoke  out  his  wrath  and  indignation 
against  the  Jews,  Isa.  xxviii.  11.  and 
xxxiii.  10. 

STAMP,  (1.)  To  tread  with  vio- 
lence upon  the  ground,  2  Sam.  xxii. 
43.  (2.)  To  tread  or  beat  to  pieces, 
Deut.  ix.  21.  2  Kings  xxii.  6,  15. 
Stamping  imports,  (1.)  Complete  and 
destructive  victory  over  enemies, 
Uan.  vii.  7.  and  viii.  7,  10.  (2.)  In- 
sulting over  the  misery  of  the  afflict- 
ed, Ezek.  XXV.  6.  (3.)  Grief  for  and 
fear  of  approaching  calamities,  Ezek. 
vi.  11. 

STANCHED,  stopped  from  run- 
ning, Luke  viii.  44. 

STAND,  denotes,  (1.)  Diligent 
service,  Psal.cxxxv.  2.  and  Ixxxiv.  1. 


S  T  A 


(     480     ) 


S  T  A 


I  Kiugs  xvii.  1.  (2.)  Fixedness,  coii- 
(iniiance,  1  Pet.  v.  12.  (3.)  To  be 
fulfilled,  to  prosper,  Isa.  xl.  8.  Dan. 
ii.  44.  (4.)  To  be  clear  wlten  tried  and 
judged,  Psal.  i.  5.  (5.)  To  maimain 
ground,  resist,  conquer,  Eph.  vi*  13. 
14.  God's  standimr  in  the  con'grega- 
tion  of  the  mighty,  denotes  his  au- 
thority over  rulers  and  their  courts, 
and  his  calling  them  to  an  account, 
Psal.lxxxii.  1.  Christ's  standing  on 
the  throne,  <w  at  the  right  hand  of  the 
poor,  and  at  the  door  of  our  heart,  im- 
ports his  activity  and  readiness  to  help 
and  save  us,  and  his  patient,  continu- 
ed earnestness  to  have  adoiission  into 
our  hearts.  Acts  vii.  55.  Psal.  cix. 
31.  Rev.  iii.  20.  To  stand  before 
God,  is  with  reverence  to  minister  to, 
and  be  ready  to  execute  his  will.  Rev. 
xi.  4.  and  viii.  2.  1  Kings  xviii.  15. 
or  to  intercede  witli  him  in  the  most 
earnest  manner,  Jer.  xv.  1.  To 
dtand  tip  before  a  man,  imports  re- 
verence of  him,  and  readiness  to  serve 
him,  Job  xxix.  9.  The  dragon's 
standing  before  the  woman,  imports 
the  readiness  and  activity  of  the 
Heathens  to  destroy  the  Christians, 
Rev.  xii.  4.  Christ's  v-'itnesses  stand- 
ing on  their  fed,  imports  their  having 
courage  and  ability  to  defend  them- 
selves against  the  Antichristians, 
who  had  just  before  reduced  them  to 
the  lowest  plunge  of  distress.  Rev. 
xi.  11.  Four  angels  standing  on  the 
four  corners  of  the  earth,  imports 
their  power  and  readiness  to  execute 
God's  will  in  any  part  of  the  world, 
Rev.  vii.  1.  The  angel  standing 
with  one  foot  ou  the  sea,  and  another 
on  the  earth,  is  Christ,  whose  power 
is  over  all  things,  wliether  fixed  or 
troubled,  Rev.  x.  2.  The  angel's 
standing  in  the  sun,  and  inviting  the 
beasts  to  feed  on  the  flesh  of  the  An- 
tichristians, imports  that  their  ruin 
shall  be  most  publicly  known,  and 
its  good  effects  felt  all  the  world  over, 
Rev.  xix.  17. 

STARS,  those  spirkiing  bodies  in 
the  heavens  that  give  light  by  night, 
were  formed  on  the  4th  day  of  the  cre- 
ation, Gen.  i.  1 4.  Their  numberis  un- 
known, liiceloli  thiak?  there  may  be 


400,000,000,  most  of  which  are  invi- 
sible to  the  naked  eye ;  it  cannot  per- 
haj)sperceive.above]000.Fiamstead, 
with  his  fine  telescopes,  could  disco- 
vef  only  about  3000.  Of  these  stars, 
some  are  planets,  and  some  are  fix- 
ed stars.  The  ancient  Heathens  held 
the  Sun,  Moon,  Mercury,  Mars,  Jupi- 
ter, "Venus,  and  Saturn,  ior planets, 
i.  e.  wandering  luminaries ;  and  as  our 
fathers  ^vorshipped  these,  they  dedi- 
cated the  several  days  of  the  week  to 
them,  as  the  names  they  still  bear 
do  show.  But  according  to  the  new 
astronomy,  the  solar  system  consists 
of  six  primary  planets,  Mercury,  Ve- 
nus, the  Earth,  Mars,  Jupiter,  and  Sa- 
turn; ten  secondary  planets,  of  which 
the  Earth  has  one,  vis.  the  Moon; 
Jupiter  has  four,  and  Saturn  five.  All 
these  planets  move  round  the  sun, 
from  west  by  south  to  east,  as  well 
as  round  their  own  axis;  and  their 
secondary  planets  move  round  their 
principal  ones.  They  all  receive  their 
light  by  the  reflection  of  the  rays  of 
the  sun.  Mercury's  diameter  is  3,191 
miles,  and  its  mean  distance  from  the 
sun  is  36,973,282  miles,  and  goes 
round  it  in  87  days,  23  hours,  14 
minutes,  and  33  seconds.  The  di- 
ameter of  Venus  is  7,630  miles; 
its  mean  distance  from  the  sun  is 
69,088,240  miles,  and  its  periodical 
revolution  224  days,  16  hours,  4  mi- 
nutes, and  27  seconds.  The  diameter 
of  Mars  is  4,135  miles;  its  mean 
distance  from  the  sun  is  1 45,533,667 
miles,  and  goes  round  the  sun  in  T 
year,  321  days,  22  hours,  18  minutes, 
27  seconds.  The  diameter  of  Jupiter 
is  86,396  miles;  its  mean  distance 
from  the  sun  is  496,765,289;  its 
periodical  revolution  11  years,  315 
days,  1 4  hours,  39  minutes,  2  seconds. 
The  diameter  of  Saturn  is  79,405 
miles ;  its  mean  distance  fron^  <he  sun 
911,141,442  miles,  and  goes  round 
him  in  29  years,  164  days,  7  hours, 
21  minutes,  50  seconds.  See  Moon, 
Earth.  The  comets  too  are  a  kind 
of  wandering  stars,  but  which  make 
such  prodigious  excursions  through 
the  vast  tradis  of  skJ^  that  for  many 
years  their  appearance  is  lost  to  us. 


S  T  A 


(     431     ) 


S  T  A 


tlie  fixed  stars  are  such  as  do  not 
wander  Ironi  one  point  of  the  eclijilio 
circle  to  another,  and  vvliose  disiHiicc 
lVo;n  liie  sun  render?  it  iinpij.-^-ible  lor 
tiiejn  to  be  iiluininated  hy  thr  reliec- 
tiou  ol  hio  rays.  Fro.n  tlieii  near- 
ness to  us,  and  their  apparent  mea- 
sure ol"  li^ht,  tlie  visiljle  fixi'd  stars 
are  distin;^uished  into  several  niai;;- 
uitudes,  1st,  lid,  3d,  4th,  5th,  and  Olh. 
From  their  relation  of  j)lace  to  one 
another,  they  have  been  divided  into 

59  constellations.  Tlie  fixed  stars 
are  prodisiously  lary;e,  thou;^!»  to  us 
Uiey  ajipear  small  by  reason  ol'  their 
<listance.  Nay,  as  new  stars  have 
become  visible  in  later  tirues,  per- 
liaps  there  are  fixed  stars  whose  light 
since  the  creation  has  not  yet  arrived 
to  our  earth,  lhou2:h  it  travels  about 
ten  millions  ol'  miles  in  a  minute.  O, 
how  immense  then  must  the  Almiuih- 
ty  be,  whom  the  heavens  and  heaven 
olheavenscannot  contain  !  God  num- 
bers tbe  stars,  and  knows  them  as  by 
their  names ;  but  we  have  few  ol'  their 
names  in  scripture,  a?  Chiun,  Mazza- 
rolh,  Arcturus,  Orion,  Pleiades.  What 
inlluences  the  stars  have  on  our  earth, 
Jiesides  the  illumination  thereof,  or 
}iow  they  fought  against  Jabin's  ar- 
my, wiiether  merely  by  giving  the 
Hebrews  ii-;ht  to  pursue  and  slay 
them,  or  by  emitting  some  destruc- 
tive inlluence,  we  dare  not  pretend 
to  determine,  Judg.  v.  20. 

An  extraordinar}'  star  appeared  at 
the  time  of  our  Saviour's  birth,  and 
conducted  the  wise  men  to  him :  but 
this  we  suppose  was  merely  an  in- 
flamed meteor,  wlijch  moved  in  the 
middle  region  of  the  air,  somewhat 
in  tlie  manner  of  the  cloudy  pillar 
before  the  Hebrews  in  the  wilder- 
ness, I\latt.  ii.  Perhaps,  in  a  lower 
sense,  David  is  the  star  that  came 
out  of  Jacob,  and  smote  the  corners 
of  Moab,  and  destroyed  the  children 
of  Seth;  but  in  the  highest  sense, 
it  is  Jesus,  tlte  bri>xht  and  morning 
StaVy  whose  glory  is  bright,  and  ushers 
in  an  eternal  day  to  his  people ;  and 

60  is  their  joy,  and  the  terror  of  the 
wicked  who  love  the  works  of  darlc- 
ness,   Numb.  xxiv.  17.  ATith  Rev.  ii. 

Vol.   II. 


2;$.  and  xxii.  1  b.  Miiti^ters  are  called 
.stars  in  Christ's  rn'id  kvml ;  ujihekl 
oy  him,  and  dirfcttd  in  their  course, 
they,  in  their  liii'h  station,  convey 
light.  l;i\ow ledge,  and  comfort  to 
men,  ilev.  i.  20.  and  when  they  apos- 
tatize from  (he  truth,  i'nd  fall  into 
error  and  wickedness,  and  lead  other.'J 
into  it,  they  are  re-iresented  a-  wan- 
tltriJii:,  sniitlcn,  and  fallen  stars,  Jude 
13.  Rev.  viii.  10,  M,  12.  and  xii.  3. 
Dan.  viii.  10.  but  in  llie  la^t  text, 
stars  may  denote  the  .Macc;'hean  ca[).- 
tains. — The  ticilve  stars  which  form 
the  church's  crovrn,  are  the  twelve 
apostles  in  their  inspired  doctrine.'?. 
Rev.  xii.  1.  Saints  are  CJ.lled  s^7/"6', 
to  denote  their  glory  ntnl  usefulnet?, 
and  their  diversity  of  appearance, 
Dan.  xii.  3.  and  the  day-slar  which 
rises  in  their  heart,  is  either  the  more 
clear  discoveries  of  divine  things  now 
under  the  gospel,  or  the  full  vision 
of  God  in  lieaven,  2  Pet.  i.  19.  Ma- 
gistrates are  likened  to  stars ;  because 
of  the  direction  and  comfort  the}'  do, 
or  should  give  to  others.  The  king 
of  Babylon  is  called  Lncif<r,  or  the 
morning-star;  his  glory  and  power 
far  surpassing  that  of  his  fellow-so- 
vereigns, Isaiah  xiv.  12.  The  slar 
called  IVormwooil,  may  be  understood 
of  Pelagius  in  the  church,  who  ex- 
ceedingly corrupted  the  doctrines  of 
the  gospel;  and  of  Genseric  in  the 
state,  who,  with  300,000  Vandals, 
from  Africa,  invaded  Italy,  and  com'- 
mitted  thtj  most  horrible  rav'ages 
therein,  Rev.  viii.  10,  11.  AVhen 
stars  in  a  state  are  joined  with  sun 
and  n]Oon,  they  denote  inferior  ma- 
gistrates, Rev.  viii.  12. 

STARE,  to  ga/e  upon  a  person 
39  a  spectacle.  Psalm  xxii.  17. 

STATE,  (1.)  Condition,  Gen. 
xliii.  7.  (2.)  Pomp  and  greatness, 
Esth.  i.  7. 

STATELY,  honourable,  grand, 
and  comely,  Ez«k.  xxiii.  41 .  Station, 
tixed  office  or   place,    Isa.  xxii.  10. 

STATURE,  (1.)  Theheightofn 
person  or  thing,  Luke  xix.  3.  (2.) 
The  measure  of  knowledge  and  grace 
attained  by  the  church  and  her  true 
member3,Eph.  iv.  13.  (3.)  Degree 
3  P 


S  T  E 


(     482     ) 


ST  E 


of  power,  authority,  anel  wealth, 
Ezek.  xvii.  6.  anil  xxxi.  3.  (4.) 
Persons  in  different  ages  aiul  condi- 
tions, Ezek.  xiii.  18. 

STATUTE.     See  Law. 

STAY,  (1.)  To  abide,  lo  remain, 
Gen.  xix.  1 7.  (2.)  To  delay,  to  wait. 
Josh.  x.  19.  Ruth  i.  13.  (3.)  To 
leave  off,  2  Sam.  xxiv.  16.  (4.)  To 
stop,  to  hinder,  Job  xxxviii.  37. 
Prov.  xxviil.  1  7.  (5.)  To  uphold,  to 
comlbrl,  Exod.  xvii.  12.  (6.)  To 
trust  to  one  For  support  and  Gonifort, 
Isa.  X.  20.  and  xxx.  12.  A  stay,  is 
a  ?top,  a  ceasins:.  Lev.  xiii.  5.  or  a 
supporter,  1  Kings  x.  \9.  God  is 
the  staij  of  his  people :  he  preserves 
and  u|)hoIds  them  amidst  distress, 
and  comforts  them  in  their  griefs, 
Psalm  xviii.  18.  Magistrates  and 
great  men  are  the  slai/  of  a  nation, 
to  preserve  them  in  order,  and  from 
ruin,  Isa.  xix.  1 3.  The  means  where- 
by the  life  of  men  is  preserved,  and 
nations  are  supported,  are  called  a 
stflij  and  slaff\  Isa.  iii.  1. 

STEAD,  place,  room.  Gen.  iv. 
25.  Deut.  ii.  12.  Steady,  firm  and 
settled:  held  up,  in  a  firm  persua- 
sion of  God's  power  and  promise, 
Exod.  xvii.  12. 

STEADFAST,  (1.)  Fixed,  sure, 
and  lasting,  Dan.  vi.  2fJ.  (2.  Fixed 
in  upriiil't  disjiositions  and  practice. 
Psalm  Ixxviii.  8,  37. 

STEAL,  (1.)  To  commit  theft,  to 
tiske  aAvay  what  belongs  to  a  man 
without  his  consent,  Exod.  xx.  15. 
(3.)  To  go  off,  or  carr)'^  off  j)rivily,  as 
witii  stolen  goods.  Gen.  xxxi.  20.  Job 
xxvii.  20.  and  so  hyrAcalth,  is  to  act  in 
a  secret  manner,  as  if  ashamed  to  be 
seen,  2  Sam.  xix.  3.  Absalom  stole 
the  liearls  of  the  Hebrews,  when  he 
decoyed  their  affections  from  his 
father  to  himselfas  their  king,  2  Sam. 
XV.  6.  The  Hebrews  were  allowed  to 
kill  thieves  breaking  into  their  house 
in  the  night,  Exod.  xxii.  1 .  If  a  thief 
was  apprehended  with  the  life,  he  Avas 
not  to  be  put  to  death,  but  wns  to 
restore  four  times  (he  worth  of  a  sheep, 
and  five  times  the  worth  of  an  ox,  and 
rt  seems  seven-fold  for  what  was  taken 
by  breaking  into  a  bwisc;  and  if  his 


substance  did  not  amount  to  the  pre- 
scribed restitution,  himself  was  soi«l 
for  a  slave  to  procure  it.  But  if  a  thief 
stole  a  man,  at  least  a  Hebrew,  and 
made  or  sold  him  for  a  slave,  he  was 
punished  with  death,  Prov.  vi.  30. 
Exod.  xxii.  2,  3.  andxxi.  16.  Deut. 
xxiv.  7.  Perhaps  the  thieves  cruci- 
fied with  our  Saviour  had  been  guilty 
of  both  theft  and  murder. — False  pro- 
phets stole  God's  word  IVom  their 
neighbour;  what  hints  they  could 
get  of  what  had  been  revealed  to  true 
prophets,  they  published  as  their 
own  ;  and  they  agreed  to  say  all  one 
thing,  for  the  better  deceiving  of  the 
people,  Jer.  xxiii.  30. — Thieves  are, 
(1.)  Such  as  privately,  or  by  vio- 
lence, take  away  what  belongs  to 
another  without  hisconsent,  Job  xxx, 
5.  (].)  Such  as  practise  dishonest 
dealing,  and  hunt  after  unlawful  gain. 
Matt.  xxi.  13.  Christ  comes  as  a  thief 
in  the  night,  when  he  comes  to  execute 
judgments,  or  to  judge  the  world,  in  a 
sudden,  unexpected,  and,  to  many,  an 
undesired  and  dangerous  manner, 
Rev.  xvi.  13.  1  Thess.  v.  2.  Sedu- 
cers  are  called  thieves  ;  by  false  doc- 
trines, and  other  fraudulent  courses, 
they  craftil}'  bereave  the  church  of 
divine  truth,  and  of  prosier  explica- 
tions of  scripture ;  they  rob  God  of  his 
glory,  and  men  of  their  true  and  ever- 
lasting happiness.  Such  as  came  bclore 
Christ,  Avilhout  his  mission, were  such 
thieves  and  robbers,  John  x.  8,  10. 

STEEL,  is  iron  united  with  car- 
bon. The  method  of  converting 
iron  into  steel  by  cementation  is  a  ve- 
ry simple  process,  it  consists  solely 
in  exposing  it  for  a  certain  time  to  a 
strong  degree  of  heat,  while  closely 
covered  with  charcoal,  and  defended 
from  the  external  air.  Bows  were 
anciently  made  of  steel  and  brass, 
Job  XX.  24.  2  Sam.  xxii.  3.>. 

STEEP,  hard  to  be  climbed:  se 
towers  and  walls  are  sleep  places, 
Ezek.  xxxviii.  20. 

STEi\[,  or  STAIJC,  that  part  of  a 
plant,  Avhich,  rising  out  of  the 
ground,  supports  the  leaves,  flowers, 
and  fruit.  The  stem  of  Jesse,  is  the 
roval    iamih'    of    David    his    son, 


S  T  E 


(     483     ) 


S  T  E 


fsa.  xi.  1.  The  Hobrcw  idolatries 
niui  (iepcrulciioe  on  (lieE?r3'|>li'iiisniul 
otiier  ]ici\\hvns  had  no  xtall:  ;  Ihe  hial 
ificldid  no  meal :  or  il  it  did,  stran- 
gers swallowed  it  Uj):  lluy  liiriied  (u 
110  gooil  iiceoind;  and  wlnilever  ap- 
pearances there  were  of  teni[iorary 
advantage,  the  Assyrians  desitrojed 
all  in  the  end,  Ilo?.  viii.  7. 

S  rKP,  (I.)  A  measure  of  altout 
two  leet ;  and  to  liave  but  a  sUp  be- 
tween one  and  (Leal  li,  is  to  be  in  great 
;ind  near  danger,  ]  Sam.  xx.  3.  (2.) 
I'lie  steps  oi"  a  stair,  in  a?ceryling 
which  we  move  one  loot  alter  ano- 
ther, 1  Kings  X.  10.  No  stspsofthis 
kind  were  allowed  in  tlie  ascent  to 
God's  altar,  lest  the  nakedness  of 
the  priests  should  have  been  disco- 
vtreil  to  any  below,  Exod.  xx.  20. 
(3.)  A  foot,  Job  xxix.  6.  (4.)  A 
motion,  a  course  of  action,  Prov.  v. 
5.  God's  sUps  are  the  practice  com- 
manded in  his  law,  and  exemplified 
in  his  conduct,  .lobxxiii.  11.  Christ's 
steps  are  his  iioly  actions,  imitable 
by  us,  1  Pet.  ii.  21.  Men's  steps  are 
their  motions  on  a  journey,  John  v. 
4,  5.  or  their  counsels,  endeavours, 
and  acts,  Psal.  Ixxiii.  2.  and  csix. 
133.  The  s!cps  of  nxen's  strem^^th  are 
slrailcncd,  Avlien  their  best  planned 
devices,  and  their  most  vigorous 
and  skilful  endeavours,  are  hardly 
successful,  Job  xviii.  7,  The  Ethi- 
opians are  at  the  steps  of  the  Turks, 
Avhe.)  easily  oppressed  by  them, 
Dan.  xi.  43. 

STEPHANAS,  or  Stf.piif.x,  a 
crorvn,  or  crowned,  (1.)  One  of  the 
first  converts  to  Christianity  at 
Corinth.  He  and  his  family  were 
baptized  by  Paul,  1  Cor.  i.  Id.  He, 
Fortunatus,  and  Achaicus,  came  to 
Paul  at  Ej)hesus,  probably  vith  a 
letter,  in  answer  to  which  Paul  wrote 
his  first  eiiistle,  and  sent  it  bj'  those 
persons,  1  Cor.  xvi.  1 7.  (2.)  Stephen 
the  deacon.  Tliat  he  was  one  of  our 
Saviour's  70  disciples,  or  that  he  was 
brought  up  at  the  feet  of  Gamaliel,  is 
without  proof.  He  appears  to  have 
been  a  principal  man  of  the  Hellenistic 
Jews.  After,  he  was  made  deacon,  be- 
ing filled  with  the  Holy  Gho.--t   l^ej 


wrought  many  miracles.  Some  of 
the  liberline,  ('yrenian,  and  Alex- 
andrian Jews,  fell  into  a  dispute  with 
him;  but  not  being  al)le  to  with- 
stand his  |iowerful  reasoning,  they 
suborne«l  witnesses  falsely  to  swear 
that  he  had  blasphctned  Aloses  and 
God.  They  hurried  him  before  the 
sanhedrim,  and  charged  him  with 
reproaching  the  temple,  and  the  law, 
and  with  allirming,  that  Jesns  would 
destroy  the  tem[)le,  and  abolish  (he 
observance  of  Moses's  laws.  Instead 
of  being  dismayed,  Stephen,  with  a 
countenance  bold  and  shining  as  an 
angel,  rehearsed  what  God  had  done 
for  (he  Jewish  nation  in  former  times, 
and  how  they  had  reUelled  against 
him;  and  he  rebuked  them  for  their 
murder  of  Jesus  and  his  prophets. 
Filled  with  rage,  those  present 
gnashed  their  teeth  at  him,  as  if 
Ihe)^  would  have  torn  him  to  pieces 
therewith,  liifting  up  his  eyes  to 
heaven,  hje  declared  to  them,  he  saw 
JesiL'^sitlingon  the  right  hand  of  God. 
As  if  shocked  with  blas()liem3%  they 
stoj>pe(i  their  ears,  and  with  terril)le 
violence  dragged  him  out  of  the  city, 
and  stoned  him  to  death.  Stephen 
expired,  ardently  entreating  Goil  to 
forgive  his  miirderers;  and  with 
great  demonstration  of  grief,  was 
buried  hy  his  Christian  friends,  Acts 
vi.  and  vii.  and  viii.  2. 

STERN,  the  hinder  part  of  a  ship, 
Acts  xxvii.  29. 

STEWARD,  an  officer  in  great 
families,  who  has  the  manrigemcnt 
of  the  affairs  of  the  family,  and  of 
the  other  servants,  as  his  work, 
Gen.  XV.  2.  and  xliii.  19.  I\Iinister5 
are  slenards  cf  the  i7ii/st cries  cj 
God;  they  are  appointed  to  preach 
the  truths  of  God  and  dis[)ense 
the  seals  of  the  new  covenant,  to- 
gether with  tlie  government  and  diis- 
cipline  of  the  churcli,  to  their  f.eo- 
ple,  as  is  most  for  the  glory  of  God, 
and  their  edification,  1  Cor.  iv. 
1,  2.  Saints  are  stewards;  God 
hath  entrusted  to  them  gifts,  grace, 
and  manilbld  opportunities  of  doing 
good,  whicii  tliey  ought  to  i)ii;i:- 
ag^. -tO:,  |;iis    hoaouj"  ijijpil^  their    o»vn 


S  T  I 


(     484     ) 


S  T  0 


advantage,  Luke  xvi.  1 — 12.  1  Pet. 
iv.  10. 

To  STICK,  to  cleave  closely  and 
firmly.  The  Egyptiaas  stuck  to 
the  scales  of  Pharaoh-hoplirah  their 
king;  some  of  them  adhered  closely 
to  him,  at  the  expense  of  losing 
every  thing  dear  to  them  by  the  re- 
bels and  Chaldeans;  and  the  rebels 
under  Aniasis  stuck  last  to  him,  pur- 
suing and  fighting  ag  linst  him  till 
they  had  got  him  utterly  destroyed, 
Ezck.  xxix.  4.     See  Rod. 

STIFF.     See  Neck,  Heart. 

STILL.     See  Rest. 

STiJSi  G,  that  part  of  some  animals 
which  they  use  as  their  offensive 
weapon,  and  thereby  wound  and 
distil  venom  into  the  flesh  of  their 
enemy.  Some  of  these  stings  are 
bearded,  and  therefore  (heir  wound 
is  the  more  painful ;  and  if  the  insect 
that  stings  be  too  quickly  hurried  otf, 
the  sting  is  left  in  the  wound.  Sin 
is  the  stinj  of  death,  as  it  renders 
death  dreadful  and  dangerous  to 
men  ;  but  from  such  as  are  in  Christ, 
this  sting  is  taken  away  by  his  death 
for  sin ;  and  they  depart  in  peace, 
to  be  with  the  Lord,  1  Cor.  xv.  55, 
56.  The  stino^s  of  the  tails  of  Ihe 
locusts,  may  denote  the  hurtful  and 
ruinous  (ielusions  spread  by  the  Pa- 
pists and  Saracens,  or  the  hurtful 
ravages  of  the  conmion  troops  of  the 
latter.  Rev.  is.  10. 

Men  STINK,  when  they  become 
abhorred  of  others,  Gen.  xxxiv.  30. 
1  Sam.  xiii.  |  4. 

STIR,  a  noisy  tumult,  Isa.  xxii.  1. 
Acts  xix.  23. — Goff  stirs  iip  himself, 
ov  slirs  up  his  jealousy  when  in  a 
vigorous-like  manner,  he  helps  and 
delivers  his  people,  and  destroys  his 
enemies,  Psal.  xxxv.  23.  Isa.  xliii. 
13.  Christ  is  sinfully  stirred  up, 
when  he  is  provoked  to  withdraw 
his  presence  from  his  peo|)!e.  Song 
ii.  7.  and  iii.  5.  Men  stir  np  ihcm- 
eelvcs  to  take  hold  of  Gml,  when 
the}'^  earnestly  plead  with  him  in 
prayer,  and  humbly  cast  thetnselvea 
by  faith  on  his  promises  in  Christ  for 
nrvcy  and  salvation,  Isa.  Ixiv,  7. 
M^n  stir  iip  the  gift  of  God  in  them, 


when  they  use  every  endeavour  in 
their  power  to  improve  their  gifts  and 
grace  in  serving  God,  2  Tim.  i.  6. 
STOCK,  (1.)  That  part  of  a  tree 
which  bears  the  branches.  Job  xiv. 
3.  (2.)  kindred,  that  grow  from  one 
root,  Lev.  xxv.  47.  Acts  xiii.  26. 
(3.)  An  idol,  so  called,  because 
!  framed  of  the  stock  of  a  tree ;  or 
because  upright,  and  as  stupid  and 
lifeless  as  one,  Jef.  ii.  27.  and  x.  B. 
Ho?,  iv.  12.  The  slocks  were  a  kind 
of  instrument  for  torturing  malefac- 
tors,'in  which  one  sat  in  the  most 
uneasy  manner,  hanging  as  it  were 
by  the  legs,  Acts  xvi.  24.  Jer.  xx. 
2.  To  them  terrible  and  foment- 
ing distress  is  compared,  Job  xiii.  27. 
Prov.  vii.  22. 

STOICS,  were  a  sect  of  Heathen 
philosophers,  who    took    their    rise 
from  one  Zeno  a  Cyprian,  who  being 
shipwrecked  near  Tyre,  commenced 
a  philosopher.     It  is  said  he  borrow- 
ed a  great  many  of  his  opinions  from 
[the  Jewish  scriptures;  but  it  is  cer- 
!tain  that  Socrates    and    Plato  had 
j  taught  some  of  them  before.     From 
jhis  teaching  his  scholars  in  the  stoa 
lor   porch  at   Athens,  they  came  to 
j  be  called  Stoics,  or  Porches.     They 
generally    taught    that  God,    as    a 
jkind  of   soul,    actuates  all    things; 
I  that  all  men  have  naturally  inward 
j  seeds  of  knowledge;    that  it  is   wis- 
j  dom  alone  that  renders  men  happy  ; 
and  that  pains,  poverty,  and  the  like, 
;  are  but  fancied  evils ;  and  that  a  wise 
■man  ought  not   to  be  aifected  with 
either  joy  or  grief:  in  their  practice 
J  they  atFected  much  stiffness,  patience, 
austerity,     and     insensibility ;     but 
some  of  them  held  different  opinions 
The    Stoics    were  for    many    ages 
in     vogue,   especially    at     Athens, 
:  where    some  of   them   encountered 
Paul,  Acts  xvii.  18. 

STOMACHER.     V.Hiether    the 
Hebrew  Pethigil   signifies  a    sto- 
macher, or  an    upper  garment,    or  a 
:  girdle  of   twisted   silk,    or  a  silken 
!  swathing  band,  is  rather   uncertain, 
Isa.  iii.  24. 

STONE.     What  stones  are  gra- 
I  dually  formed  into  a  consistence  and 


S  T  0 


(     483     ) 


S  T  O 


h«r<lness,  is  not  ytt  known.  It  is 
certain  tliere  an*  many  raclitioii:? 
stones  made  bj'  the  art  of  man,  as 
tile,  brick,  iSjc.  In  respect  ol'  value, 
stones  are  either  commott,  as  IVee- 
etone,  rag-stone,  slate,  llinl ;  others 
are  niiddial-priccd,  as  niarl>le,  alabas- 
ter, jasper,  loadstone,  asbestos,  and 
metal  ore;  others  are /J/rrioH.v,  some! 
of  which  are  colourless,  as  the  dia- 
mond; others  red,  as  the  ruby,  car- 
buncle, pjranate,  sardiii?i  cornelian; 
others  pale,  as  the  onyx;  others 
yellow,  as  the  chrysolite  and  topaz; 
others  green,  as  the  emerald,  sma- 
ragd,  and  beryl;  others  bluish,  as 
the  sapphire  and  tnrquois;  others 
purple-coloured,  as  the  amethyst. 
Such  gems  are  called  sloncs  of  jflrc, 
1.  e.  very  bright  and  shining,  Ezek. 
xxviii.  14. — Some  think  the  He- 
brews had  knives  of  stone;  but  per- 
haps T/.UR  may  in  these  places  sig- 
nify the  c(f<rc,  Exod.  iv.  25.  Josh. 
V.  2.  It  is  certain,  they  set  up  stones 
to  commemorate  noted  exploits,  or 
mark  the  graves  of  noted  persons; 
hence  we  read  of  the  stone  of  Bo- 
han  a  Reubenite,  the  stone  of  Ei.el, 
and  the  stone  of  Gibeon,  the  stone  of 
Zoheleth,  <fcc.  or  heaps  of  stones  ; 
such  a  heap  Jacob  reared  to  perpe- 
tuate the  memor}'  of  his  covenant 
\y\\]\  Laban,  Gen.  xxxi.  46.  To 
commemorate  Israel's  safe  passage 
tlirough  Jordan,  Joshua  erected  12 
stones  in  the  bed  of  the  river,  and 
set  up  other  12,  which  were  carried 
out  of  the  middle  bed  of  the  river, 
on  its  bank.  Josh.  iv.  5 — 9.  To  be 
a  memorial  of  their  being  pari  of 
the  peoi)le  of  the  God  of  Israel,  the 
Reulienites,  Gadites, and  eastern  Ivla- 
nassiles.  built  an  altar  of  stones, 
called  Ed,  on  the  bank  of  Jordan. 
But  to  show  that  no  human  inven- 
tions are  acceptable  in  God's  wor- 
ship, no  altar  was  !o  be  built  of  stones 
in  the  least  hewn,  Deut.  xxvii.  5. 
Stones  of  darkness,  are  those  hid  deep 
in  the  bowels  of  the  earth.  Job  xxviii. 
:;.  Christ  is  called  a57tf«f,  to  show 
his  firmness  and  duration:  he  is  the 
foundation-stone  w'.iich  supports  the 
vholo  chi.Tch,  and  I  he  work  of  our 


redemption,  Isa.  xxviii.  IG.  he  i«  the 
cliitj  corncr-slotie,  which  connects  and 
establishes  the  church,  and  all  her 
concerns;  and  by  \\liich  Jews  and 
Gentiles,  nild  angels  and  men,  are,  as 
it  were,  joined  into  one,  JMalt.  xxi. 
42.  Eph.  ii.  15,  20.  he  is  a  most  pre- 
cious stone ;  infinite  in  glory,  excel- 
lency, and  usefulness;  he  is  a  tried 
stone,  proved  by  his  Father,  and  by 
his  people,  and  by  fiery  sulTerings, 
and  yet  no  fault  or  deficiency  found 
in  him;  he  is  a  chosen  or  elect  stone, 
chosen  by  the  Father  to  be  our  Me- 
diator, valuable  in  himself,  and, 
through  Uie  aid  of  divine  grace, 
chosen  by  penitent  sinners  as  their 
Saviour.  He  is  a  livins;  stone;  has 
all  life  in  liimself,  and  gives  to  hia 
peo|)le  the  beginning,  continuance, 
and  perfection  of  their  life,  Rev. 
xxi.  11.  isa.  xxviii.  10.  1  Pet.  ii.  4. 
he  is  to  many  a  slumblins;  stone,  and 
rode  of  offence,  as  they,  taking  of- 
lence  at  his  mean  appearance,  or  at 
his  doctrine  and  ways,  stumble  into 
everlasting  ruin :  and  on  whomso- 
ever he  tails  in  the  execution  of  his 
wrath,  they  are  miserai>ly  destroyed. 
Isa.  viii.  14,  15.  1  Pet,  ii.  8.  Matt, 
xxii.  44.  he  and  his  church  are  a  lit- 
tle stone  cut  out  of  the  mountain 
without  hands,  and  increasing  into  a 
mountain  that  shall  fill  the  whole 
earth  :  he  was  born  of  a  virgin,  and 
appeared  in  a  low  condition;  but 
his  glory  gradually  increased;  his 
Christian  church,  small  at  first,  and 
formed  without  carnal  means,  gra- 
dually increaseth  till  it  shall  extend 
over  the  whole  earth,  Dan.  ii.  44. 
The  saints  are  lively  sloncs;  they 
are  hardy  and  durable,  and  are  united 
to  Christ  as  their  foundation,  quick- 
ened by  his  S|)irit,  and  active  in  his 
service,  Amos  ix.  9.  1  Pet.  ii.  5. 
The  precious  stoves,  foundations  of 
the  NcAV  Jerusalem,  sire  thought  by 
some  to  denote  Jesus  Christ  preached 
by  the  twelve  apof^tles,  and  as  the 
foundation  of  his  church  and  [)eoplc, 
in  his  various  an<l  unnumbered 
excellencies,  Rev.  xxi.  10,  20. 
The  precious  stones  on  the  shoulder 
of  the  high    priest,  and  those  lixed 


8  T  O 


(     486     ) 


S  T  0 


111  Jiis  Lreasfplate,  denoted  the 
saints  of  Jews  and  Geiitiies,  preci- 
ous and  honourable  l»y  the  grace  of 
God,  and  diversified  in  (iieir  coudi- 
fion;  and  by  Jesus  daily  &nj)ported 
and  frresented  to  God,  Exod.  xxviii. 
11,17 — 21.  Daughters  of  a  lamiiy 
are  liicened  to  polislied  corncr-iiokcs, 
to  mark  llieir  beauty  and  llieir  i!se- 
fainess  for  connecting  and  building 
up  families,  Psal.  c>;iiv,  12.  Hearts 
stupid  and  obstinate,  not  eari!\^  im- 
|iressed  by  the  word  or  providence 
of  God,  are  likened  to  tioncs,  Ezek. 
xi.  10.  and  xxxvi.  26.  1  Bam.  xxv. 
27.  Mark  iv.  5,  10.  Sloncs  crying 
cut  of  the  wall,  and  the  beam  an- 
ii^wcring  it,  denote  the  Iiorrld  wick- 
edness of  building  with  Avh.it  is  un- 
justly gotten,  Hab.  ii.  11.  One 
s-tonc  net  lift  upon  another,  and  stones 
cf  (tnpLincas,  and  scaiicred  stones 
spreailo'kcra  ])lace,  denote  utter  deso- 
lation, and  the  turning  of  Idumea  into 
a  barren  rock,  Matt.  xxiv.  2.  Isa. 
sxxiv.  11.  Psal.  cxli.  6,  In  aUu- 
sion  to  llie  Greek  custom  of  marking 
their  absolution  by  white  stones,  a 
ivMle  stone  given  hy  Christ,  denotes 
a  full  pardon  and  a  glorious  reward, 
Rev.  ii.  1 7.  A  gift  is  like  a  precious 
sionc  ;  it  is  highly  valued,  and  tends 
to  procure  to  us  what  .ve  wish,  Prov. 
xvii.  8.  As  he  that  bindclh  a  sicne  in 
a  sling,  rendering  it  fit  for  being 
thrown;  so,  to  give  honour  io  a  fool, 
is  throwing  it  away  :  or  it  is  as  use- 
less work  as  to  cast  a  precious  stone 
into  a  heap  of  stones;  or  it  is  as  ill 
placed  as  a  coarse  stone,  when  bound 
up  in  a  piece  of  fine  purple  cloth, 
Prov.  xxvi.  o. 

STOOLS,  a  seat  for  women  in 
t'hild-birth,  to  jiromote  their  deli- 
Terj'',  Exod.  i.  1  ti.  but  t!ie  same  word 
is  translated  ivhecls  oy  frame  for  a 
potter,  Jer.  xviii,  3. 

STOP,  (1.)  To  close  up,  2  Tim. 
iii.  19.  (2.)  To  hinder,  cause  to 
cease,  2  Cor.  xi.  1 0.  To  stop  breaches, 
is  to  repair  and  liuiid  up,  Neh.  iv.  7. 
See  I\IouTH,  Ear.     ' 

STOOP,  (l.J  To  bow  down,  John 
viii.  0.  (2.)  To  fail  into  a  low  con- 
dition, to  come  to  ruin,  Isa.  xlvi.  1. 


(3.)  To  act  secretly,  Gen.  xiix.  9. 

STOHE,  (1.)  Provision  laid  up. 
Gen.  xli.  36.  (2.)  Abundance,  plen- 
ty. Gen.  xxvi.  14.  God  lays  up  his 
judgments  in  store,  and  seals  them 
among  his  treasure,  when  he  decrees 
(hem,  and  prepares  to  execute  them, 
Deut.  xxxii.  34.  Men  store  up  vio- 
lence etnd robbery,  when  they  increase 
in  it  more  and  more,  and  lay  up 
what  th.ey  procure  by  means  of  it, 
Amos  iii.  10.  Tliey  lay  tip  in  store 
for  the  poor,  when  they  set  aside  and 
collect  money  for  them,  1  Cor.  xvi. 
3.  Slorc-cilies,  are  those  wdicrein 
food,  clothing,  armour,  or  other  ne- 
cessary things  are  laid  up,  2  Chron. 
viii.  4.  and  xvii.  12.  Store-houses, 
or  garners,  are  houses  for  laying  up 
corn  and  other  provisions  in  (hem,  1 
Chron.  xxvii.  25.  God  lays  up  the 
sea  in  store-houses  ;  in  i(s  proper  bed, 
(hat  it  may  remain  there  (ill  he  draw 
it  forth  for  rain,  hail,  or  snow,  as  Jie 
pieasetb,  Psal.  xxxiii.  7.  The  gospel 
church  and  heaven  are  Christ's  gar- 
ner or  BARN,  into  which  he  brings 
his  chosen  people,  arid  lays  them  up 
for  his  own  use,  Ma((.  iii.  12.  and 
xiii.  33.     See  Treasurk. 

STORK,  a  FOWL.  Its  beak  and 
legs  are  long  and  red.  Its  plumage 
or  feathers  are  white,  except  (he  tip 
of  its  wings,  and  some  part  of  its 
head  and  thighs,  which  are  black. 
Storks  arc  about  the  size  of  a  goos*  ; 
but  when  they  stand  erect,  they  are 
about  three  or  four  feet  high.  They 
feed  on  fro^is,  serpents,  and  insects  : 
they  are  extremely  careful  of,  and 
kind  (o  their  parents;  they  built 
their  nests  in  fir-trees  in  Canaan 
as  the  houses  v/ ere  flat,  Psal  civ.  1  7. 
but  in  Europe  they  build  their  nests 
on  towers  and  tops  of  houses.  They 
are  birds  of  passage,  which  in  Au- 
gust leave  the  cold  climates,  and  re- 
turn to  them  in  spring,  Jer.  viii. 
7.  The  Jewish  law  declared  them 
unclean,  Lev.  xi.  19.  but  they  are 
now  reckoned  a  tlelicate  dish.  Be- 
sides the  connnon  stork,  there  is  a 
black  kitid  in  Egypt,  Called  Ibis, 
famed  for  devo'-ring  the  serpents 
that    ultompt    to    come    into    that 


S  T  R 


(     487     ) 


S  'I'  R 


country  ;  and  tluro  is  a  srrey  kin-.l  in' 
Urazil, called  mniraun.  Suiiiw  storksi 
ar«  fxlreiiiely  set  on  rcvfn<iinjr  inju-j 
ries  *\onv.  them,  even  Ion;;  alter  they 
are  donr . 

S  roJlM,  a  tempest,  a  comnio-i 
tion  oT  tht'  element-^,  Acts  xxvii.  18,1 
20.  Ijiod's  jiulimenis  are  liivene<l  to 
i\  slorm  or  tnnjnsl,  n»  I  hey  terrify,] 
(Pisfre??,  and  hurl  away  men,  an«l 
ruin  the  u  ie.ked,  Job  xxvii.  21.  Psal. 
Ixwiii.  ]5.  an<l  xi.  <>.  Isa.  xxx.  30. 
and  liv.  11.  Deslroyinji:  armies  are 
likened  to  a.  storm;  they,  with  2;reat 
noise,  snddeni}''  attack,  ruin,  and  de- 
stroy, nations  and  place?,  Ezek.  xiii. 
1 1,  and  xxxviii.  0.  It  shall  be  very 
icmpcsluous,  or  stormy,  round  about 
hitn. — God's  deliverance  of  his  peo- 
ple from  the  Asryrians  and  Chal- 
deans, was  u.-hered  in  with  terrible 
calamities  on  the  nations.  Christ's 
coijiino;  in  the  flesh  was  preceded 
by  terrible  wars  by  and  among  the 
Romans:  and  his  death  and  ascen- 
sion were  followed  by  the  terrible 
overthrow  of  the  .lewish  nation : 
his  deliverance  of  his  church  from 
the  Heathen  emperors  was  attended 
v.ilh  fearful  commotions  and  effusion 
of  blood  ;  and  so  shall  his  coming  to 
destroy  Anticlirrst : — and  whiit  tre- 
mendous appearances  may  usher  in 
his  last  coming  we  cannot  conceive, 
Psai.  I.  3. 

STORY,  (1.)  A  history;  an  ac- 
count of  events,  2  Chron,  xiii.  22. 
(2.)  A  floor  of  a  building,  where 
there  are  rooms  one  above  another. 
Noah's  ark,  and  Ezekiei's  riaionary 
side-chambers  had  three  stories  one! 
above  another,  Gen.  vi.  16.  Ezek. 
xli.  16.  The  heavene  being,  as  it| 
were,  erected  one  above  another,; 
nre  called  God's  stories,  i.  e.  of  his 
jiulace,  Amos  ix.  6. 

STOUT,  strong,  full  of  courage, 
and  terrible.  Job  iv.  11.  Dan.  vii, 
20.  Stoutness  of  heart  and  words,  ^ 
import  obstinate  haughtiness  audi 
pride,  Isa.  xlvi.  12.   INlal.iii.  13.         j 

STRAIGHT,  (1.)  Even,  without 
^crookedness,  Luke  xiii.  13.  Acts  ix. 
11.  (2.)  Plain,  without  risings  and  1 
lioHovvs,  or  bnpediments.    (3.)  Di-! 


rectly  forward,  without  turning  (u 
either  siife,  Josh.  vi.  5.  None  can 
make  straight  what  God  hath  made 
crooked,  that  i?,  noljody  can  alter  the 
purposes  or  providences  of  (!od,  or 
free  their  own  lot  of  those  aliliction^ 
that  God  has  appointeil  to  it,  Eccl. 
vii.  13.  and  i.  15. 

STRAlGllTVi^AY,  in  a  mile 
while,  immefliately,  1  Sam.  ix.  13. 

STRAIN.     See  Gnat. 

STRAIT,  (1.)  Narrow,  and  wilU 
little  room,  2  Kings  vi.  1.  (2.)  A 
distressing  difficulty,  wherein  one 
knows  not  what  to  do,  2  Sam.  xxir. 
14.  Job  xxxvi.  16.     See  Gate. 

To  STRAITEN  pcrsous,  is  to  disable 
them,  Mic.  ii-  7.  or  to  trouble  them. 
Job  xviii.  7.  Ye  are  not  straitened 
in  u?,  but  ye  are  straitened  in  your 
own  bowels;  your  trouble  and  sor- 
row concerning  the  incestuous  per- 
son, is  owing  to  yourselves,  not  t© 
me ;  and  your  not  having  more  com- 
fort and  pleasure  in  us,  is  owing  to 
yourselves,  2  Cor.  vi.  12.  Sthait- 
NESS,  want  of  liberty,  trouble,  per- 
plexity, Job  xxxvi.  10.  Deut.  xxviii. 
53.  Jer.  xix.  9. 

STRANGE,  (1.)  Of  another  ua. 
tion,  family,  or  religion,  1  Kings  xi. 
1.  (2.)  Uncommon,  Job  xxxi.  3.  Isa. 
xxviii.  21.  (3.)  Un.icijuaiuted  Avith, 
unknown,    Gen.  xiii.    7.     Job  xix. 

3.  Ezek.  iii.  6.  (4.)  Not  allowed  of 
God;  not  proper  (o  be  used  in 
such  a  manner;  so  common  fire  is 
called  strange  ftrc,  as  not  proper  lo 
be  used  in  burning  incense.  Lev 
x.  1.  Jude  7.  Prov.  xx.  16.  Heb. 
xiii.  9. 

A  STRANGWH  IP,  (1.)  Ono  who  is 
in  a  foreign  land,  at  a  distanGe  from 
the  j)lace  of  his  nativity,  Gen.  xxiii. 

4.  (2.)  One  who  is  not  a  Jew. 
Exod.  XX.  10.  Isa.  xiv.  1.  (3.)  One 
not  of  Aaron's  family,  Numb.  iii.  10. 
and  xvi.  40.  (4.)  One  that  is  not  of 
the  royal  stofi;  and  famil}-,  IMalt, 
xvii.  25,  26.  15.)  Unknown,  disre- 
garded, Psal.  Ixix.  3.  (6.)  Not  our 
own  i)roperty :  thus  lewd  women  are 
called  strangers,  a»id  strange  wovicn, 
Prov.  V.  10,  20.  (7.)  Aca])tive  per- 
secut-ert,  Obad.  12..  Heb,  xin.  2.  (S.'J 


S  T  R 


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S  T  R 


The  saints  are  strangers  on  earth  ; 
they  are  born  tVoni  above,  have 
their  possession  and  conversation  in 
]ieaven,  and  do  but  travel  through 
this  world  to  their  home;  and  are 
disliked,  and  often  ill-used  bj^  the 
men  of  it,  Psal.  xxxix.  12.  Heb.  xi. 
13.  (9.)  Heathens,  and  prolane  and 
wicked  jjcrsons,  are  called  sti'angcr^ ; 
they  are  strangers  to  themselves,  to 
God;  to  Christ,  and  to  the  new  cove- 
nant, and  to  lellowship  with  God; 
and  they  hate  and  abhor  the  people 
ol"  God,  Eph.  ii.  12.  Joel  iii.  17. 
Psal.  liv.  3.  (lu.)  False  teachers  are 
called  sirnngcrs,  as  they  have  no 
right  to  the  office  they  assume;  nor 
doth  Christ,  or  his  peoijle,  as  direct- 
ed iiy  him,  own  them,  or  cultivate 
intimacy  wilh  them,  John  x.  .'». 
The  strangers  [hut  devoured  tlie 
strength  of  Ephraim,  were  the  Syri- 
ans and  Assyrians,  Hos.  vii.  9. 
The  Ziphites  were  strangers ;  were 
wicked  men,  were  unfriendly  to  Da- 
vid, even  though  they  knew  not  oi' 
any  offence  he  had  given,  Psal.  liv. 
1. — Anciently  hospitality  and  kind- 
ness to  strangers  were  much  in  use. 
As  there  were  hut  few  inns,  it  was 
common  for  well-disposed  people  to 
invite  such  strangers  as  they  observ- 
ed, to  lodging  and  entertainment  in 
their  houses,  Gen.  xviii.  and  xix. 
Judg.  xix.  nor  is  it  to  our  honour  that 
tiiis  custom  is  so  much  dropt,  Heb. 
xiii.  2.  God  required  the  Hebrews 
t^i  use  great  kindness  to  strangers, 
who  were  not  of  the  accursed  na- 
tions ;  and  in  respect  to  gleaning  of 
fhe  fields  or  vineyards,  and  several 
other  cases,  they  were  to  be  used  as 
the  fatherless  and  the  widow,  and 
Ijiid  access  to  the  ordinances  of  God, 
and  benefit  of  the  cities  of  refuge. 
Did  not  this  prefigure,  that  by  the 
tender  mercy  of  God,  the  Gentiles, 
once  so  long  alienated  from  him, 
should  be  brought  into  a  church-state, 
and  enjoy  the  distinguished  blessings 
of  heaven?  Exod.  xxii.  1.  T^ev.  xix. 
10.  Numb.  XV.  14.  and  xix.  10.  and 
Xxxv.  10. 

STRANGLE,  lo  kill  by  a  kind 
of  hanging,  or  tearing  asunder,  or 


it  may  be  put  for  killing  in  general, 
Job  vii.  5.  The  Assyrian  lion  stran- 
gled for  his  lionncss  ;  their  kings  mur- 
dered and  spoiled  other  nations,  that 
they  might  enrich  their  ladies  and 
the  state  with  the  prey,  Nah.  ii.  12. 
Animals  strangled  had  not  the  blood 
duly  separated  from  the  tlesh,  and 
were  forborne  by  the  primitive  Chris- 
tians, in  obedience  to  the  decree  of 
the  apostles,  Acts  xv.  20. 

To  STR  AW^  is  to  scatter,  spread 
along,  Exod.  xxxii.  20.  Matt.  xxi. 
8.  To  esteem  iron  as  straw,  and  darts 
as  stubble,  is  to  fear  no  hurt  from 
darts,  and  other  weapons  made  of  it, 
Job  xii.  17,  29.  The  lion  shall  eat 
straw  as  the  ox ;  the  most  furious  per- 
secutors shall  be  rendered  meek  and 
laborious  saints,  feeding  upon  the 
simple  and  wholesome  truths  of  the 
gospel,  Isa.  xi.  7. 

STREAM.     See  Water. 

STREET,  (1.)  The  broad  ways 
in  cities  and  tou^ns,  Gen.  xix.  2. 
Prov.  vii.  12.  (2.)  The  houses  that 
face  these  broad  ways,  Dan.  ix.  25. 
Public  ordinances,  towhicli  all  men, 
great  and  small,  good  and  bad,  have 
access,  are  called  streets  and  broad 
way:T,  Prov.  i.  20.  Song  iii.  2.  The 
goklen  streets  of  the  New  Jerusalem, 
with  all  the  precious  stones  and  orna- 
ments mentioned  by  John,  may  ex- 
press the  perfect  glory  and  happiness 
of  all  the  inhabitants  of  it,  from  the 
most  glorious  presence  and  protec- 
tion of  God,  Rev.  xxi.  21.  Ministers 
are  to  go  out  into  the  streets,  lanes, 
highways,  and  hedges,  to  call  men 
to  Christ;  that  is,  they  are  in  the 
most  open  and  diligent  manner,  to 
search  out,  and  call  sinners  of  every 
station,  and  in  every  place  where 
Providence  gives  them  an  opportu- 
nity, to  come  to  a  Saviour,  Luke 
xiv.  23. 

STRENGTH,  (1.)  Ability,  natn- 
ral  or  sj)iritual.  Job  xsxix.  19.  Psal. 
XX.  6.  Rev.  iii.  8.  (2.)  The  cause 
of  strength  and  ability,  Neh.  viii.  10. 
so  God  and  Christ  are  called  the 
strength  o\' the  saints,  Exod.  xv.  2. 
Psalm  xcix.  4.  Phil.  iv.  13.  God  is 
the  strength  of  Christ;  he  assisted  and 


S  T  R 


(     489     ) 


S  T  R 


supported  him  in  his  mediatory  work, 
Psahn  xxviii.    8,      Christ  is    God's 
strength,  as  io  his  work  of  mediation 
the  strcnirthol'  God  is  displayed,  and 
his  powerful  influences  conveyed  to 
our  heart,  1  Chron.  xvi.4.  Isa.  xxvii. 
5.  The  ark  is  called  God's  stnns:lli, 
as  it  was  the  symbol  or  badge  ol"  the 
presence  of  God  witii  Israel,  as  tiuir 
supporter,  defender,  and  the  cause  of 
their    strength.     Psalm  Ixxviii.  61. 
compared  with  Psal.  cxxxii.  8.     The 
iuhal)itants  of    Jerusalem  are    their 
ruler's  strcn<(th  in  the  Lord,  that  is, 
through  his  assistance  they  support 
and  defend  them,  and  procure  victory, 
Zecb.  sii.  5.     (3.)  that  which  pos- 
sesses great  power  and  ability  :  thus 
a   numerous  and  valiant    army  are 
called  strength,  Judg.  v.  21.     The 
first-born    are     considered    as     the 
strength,  or  chief  support  of  families, 
Gen.  xlix.  3.  Deut.  xxi.  17.  Psalm 
Ixxviii.  51.  and  cv.  36    (4.)  Youth, 
or  the  middle  time  of  life,  when  a  man 
is  at  his  full  degree  of  strength,  Joi) 
xxi.  23.  and  to  give  oiu's   strength 
unto  rvoinen,  is  to  waste  his  youtliful 
and  strong  constitution  in  whoredom. 
Prov.  xxxi.  3.     (5.)    The  effects  of  j 
strength :    so    the    high    praises    of 
Christ,  by  the  babes  of    Jerusalem, 
are  called  strength ;  they  praised  with 
all  their  might,  and  therein  thepower 
of  God  was  manifested,  Psal.  viii.  2. 
and  a  great  deliverance  wrought  for 
the  church,  is  called  strength.  Rev. 
xii.  10.    and    the  earth   yields    its 
strength    when  it  produces    such  a 
plentiful  cro[),  as  its  natural  quality, 
manure,  and  season,  are  capable  of, 
Gen.  iv.  12.     To  strengthen    is, 
(1.)  To  make  strong,  2  Chron.  xii. 
1.     (2.)  To   encourage  in  order  to 
render  bold  and  vigorous,  Deut.  iii. 
28.  Psal.  Iii.  7.     (3.)  To  repair  what 
is  weak  and  decayed,  Rev.  iii.  2,  God 
strengthens  what  he  hath  wrought  lor 
his    people,   when  he  continues  to 
them  the  mercies  he  has  already  be- 
stowed,  and  works    for  thera    still 
greater  favours,  Psal.  Ixviii.  28.     He 
strengthened  the  iovntauis  of  the  great 
deep,  when  he  fixed  their  channels  of 
coveyance,    and  gave    them    their 
Vol.  II. 


powers    to  cast    forth  their    water, 
I  Prov.  viii.  28. 

STRUNG,  (1.)  That  which  has 
nnich  strength,  or  iliscover?  imifh  of 
it,  Exod.  vii.  1.  (2.)  Firm  and  sure* 
Psal.  XXX.  7.  (3.)  Vehement  and 
vigorous.  Song  viii.  0.  .lob  xxxiii. 
1U.  (4.)  Courageous,  Hag.  ii.  4. 
Ezek.  ii.  8.  (6.)  Large,  abundant, 
and  very  invigorating,  Heb.  vi.  18. 
(U.)  Loud,  Rev.  xviii.  2.  Satan  is 
called  the  strong  man,  and  Christ  the 
strong  IT  :  with  much  power  and  ac- 
tivity Satan  keeps  possession  of,  and 
exercises  dominion  over,  the  heart  of 
|a  sinner;  but  with  superior  power, 
•  skill,  and  vigour,  Jesus  conquers  it 
for  himself,  and  drives  him  out,  Matt, 
xii.  20.  Lukexi.  22. 

STRETCH,  (1.)  To  extend, 
spread  out,  Isa.  xliv.  13.  Psal.  civ. 
God's  stretching  out  his  hand,  imports 
a  noted  display  of  his  power.  Acts 
iv.  30.  or  his  earnest  invitation  of 
sinners  to  the  fellowship  of  his  Son, 
Prov.  i.  24.  Men's  stretching  their 
ha7uls  to  God  or  idols,  imports  wor- 
shi[)  of  them  as  with  hands  lifted 
uj),  and  expectation  of  good  from 
them,  Psal.  Ixviii.  31.  and  Ixxxviii. 
9.  and  xliv.  20.  To  stretch  out  the 
hand  against  a  person,  is  to  rebel : 
to  seek  to  destroy  him,  Job  xv.  25. 
Luke  xxii.  53.  To  stretch  or 
reach  the  hand  to  the  poor,  imports 
desire  and  readiness  to  supply  their 
wants,  Prov.  xxxi.  20.  Stretching 
out  of  the  neck,  means  immodesty, 
haughtiness,  and  pride,  Isa.  iii.  16. 
Stretching  on  beds  of  ivory,  and  eating 
fatted  Iambs  and  calves,  imports  liv- 
ing in  security,  ease,  and  luxury, 
Amos  vi.  4. 

STRIKE,  (1.)  To  give  blow?, 
Mark  xiv.  ti5.  (2.)  To  cut,  Deut. 
xxi.  4.  (3.)  To  pierce,  Prov.  vii, 
23.  Job  vii.  23.  (4.)  To  afflict,  to 
[junish,  Isa.  i.  5.  and  liii.  4,  8.  (5.) 
To  si roke  gently,  2  Kings  V.  11.  (6.) 
To  sprinkle  with  force,  Exod.  xii. 
7, 22.  To  be  siricken  inycars,  or  age, 
is  to  be  old,  Luke  i.  7.  A  striker, 
is  one  ready  to  come  to  blows  with 
his  neighbour  on  the  least  provoca- 
tion, Tit.  i.  7.  A  STROKE  is,  (1  ) 
3  Q 


S  T  R 


(     490     ) 


S  T  U 


A  blow  given,  Deut.  xix.  5.  (2.) 
Distress,  a  cilamity,  Job  xxiii.  2. 
(3.)  A  sudden  deuth,  Job  xxxvi. 
18.  Ezek.  xxiv.  16.  A  rool's  mouth 
ca'letli  for  strokes ;  his  loolish  lan- 
guage provokes  God  to  afflict  liini, 
and  men  to  iieat  him,  Prov.  xviii.  6. 

S  TRING  ;  for  a  bow,  Psal.  xxi. 
12.  or  for  a  musical  instrument,  Psal. 
xxxii.  2. 

STRIP,  (1.)  To  take  off  clothes, 
Numb.  XX.  26.  (2.)  To  bereave  men 
of  wealth,  honour,  liberiy,  and  other 
agreeable  things,  Hos.  ii.  3.  Ezek. 
xvi.  39. 

STRIPE,  a  lash  with  a  whip  or 
scpurge,  Deut.  xxv.  3.  (2.)  A 
wound  made  by  such  a  lash,  Acts 
xvi.  33.  (3.)  Afflictions  and  punish- 
ments, Isa.  liii.  5.  2  Sam.  vii.  14. 
Luke  xii.  47. 

STRIPLING,  a  young  man,  1 
Sam.  xvii.  56. 

STRIVE,  (1.)  To  contend  in  de- 
sires, in  words,  or  with  hands,  Gen. 
xxvi.  20.  (2.)  To  endeavour  ear- 
nestly, Rom.  XV.  20.  (3.)  To  be 
given  to  strife  and  debate,  2  Tim.  ii. 
24.  Gosl  strives  with  men,  when, 
by  the  revelation  of  his  will,  the 
convictions  of  his  Spirit,  and  the 
disoensations  of  his  providence,  he 
checks  their  going  on  in  sin,  Gen. 
vi.  3.  God  strove  with  the  Levites 
at  K  idesh,  when  he  reproved  and 
chastised  Moses  and  Aaron  their 
chiefs  for  not  sanctifying  him  be- 
fore the  people,  Deut.  xxxiii.  8. 
Men  strive  with  God  when  they  re- 
sist the  motions  of  his  Spirit,  con- 
temn the  offers  of  his  grace,  reltel 
against  his  laws,  and  oppose  his  pro- 
vidence, by  going  on  in  their  wick- 
edness, Isa.  xiv.  9.  Job  xxxiii.  13. 
Good  m*i\\  strive  together  in  prayer, 
when  with  the  utmost  earnestness, 
they  jointly  ask  and  plead  for  the 
bestow:il  of  good  things  on  ministers 
and  others,  Rom.  xv.  30.  Men 
strive  to  enter  in  at  the  strait  gate, 
when  in  the  Careful  and  earnest  use 
of  God's  ordinances,  they  study  to 
receive  Christ,  and  be  created  anew 
in  him,  Luke  xiii.  24.  They  strive 
for  the  faith,  and  against  sin,  when 


they  do  or  suffer,  as  called,  to  the 
uttermost,  to  maintain  and  promote 
the  honour  of  gospel-truth,  and  to 
shun  and  oi)pose  sin  in  themselves  ami 
others,    Phil.  i.  27.     Heb.    xii.    4. 

Striving,  or  strifk,  imports  all 
kinds  of  contention,  1  Tim.  vi.  4. 
Tit.  iii.  9.  or  war,  Judg.  xii.  2. 
Psal.  xxii.  44.  The  strife  of  tongues 
is  abusive  language;  reproach,  Psal. 
xxxi.  20.  The  Hebrews  were  made 
a  strife  to  their  neighbours,  when  the 
nations  around  strove  with  them, 
and  sought  their  ruin  :  or  when  they 
contended  who  should  have  the  larg- 
est share  of  the  captives  and  spoil, 
Psal.  Ixxx.  6. 

STRONG.    See  Strexgtii. 

STRUGGLE,  to  strive  earnestly 
as  in  good  earnest,  Gen.  xxv.  22. 

STUBBLE,  is  of  small  or  no  va- 
lue, of  no  strength  or  force,  is  easily 
scattered  with  the  wind,  and  easily 
burnt,  Job  xiii.  25.  and  xii.  29.  and 
xxi.  18.  Jofcl  ii.  5.  Wicked  men  are 
as  stubble,  of  small  strength  or  worth; 
are  easily  scattered  by  the  blast  of 
God's  judgments,  and  burnt  in  the 
fire  of  his  wrath,  Psal.  Ixxxiii.  14. 
Isa.  xl.  24.  Mai.  iv.  1.  False  doc- 
trines are  as  stubble,  of  no  worth, 
of  no  force  to  convince  or  comfort 
man's  conscience,  and  cannot  abide 
the  trial  of  God's  word,  1  Cor.  iii. 
12.  The  Assyrian  projects  against 
the  Jews  were  as  stubble  ;  their  own 
breath,  as  fire,  devoured  them,  and 
they  were  as  the  burning  of  lime  ;  their 
purj)oses  were  quite  fruitless,  and 
their  foolish  rage  against  the  people 
of  God  brought  ruin  on  themselves, 
Isa.  xxxiii.  1 1,  12. 

STUBBORN,  obstinately  bent 
upon  an  evil  way,  contrary  to  the 
will  of  God,  and  the  commands  of 
our  superiors,  Deut.  ix.  27.  Prov. 
vii.  11.  The  Jewish  law  allowed 
parents  to  prosecute  their  stubborn 
children  to  death,  Deut.  xxi.  18 — 21. 

STUDY,  (1.)  To  meditate,  think 
of,  Prov.  XV.  28.  (2.)  To  devise, 
to  plot,  Prov.  xxiv.  2.  (3.)  To  en- 
deavour earnestly,  1  Thess.  iv.  11. 
The  chief  study  of  the  Hebrews,  by 
the  command  of  God,  v.as  the  know- 


S  T  U 


(    -loi    ) 


SUB 


leilge  and  ohservation  of  his  law  : 
this  they  wen-  to  iiavt'  (It^iily  fixe*! 
in  their  heart,  and  on  every  |)roi)er 
occasion  to  talk  freely  of  it  to  their 
children,  Exod.  xiii.  9.  Deut.  iv.  7. 
They  searched  into  the  meaning  of 
the  predictions,  and  no  doiiht  also  of 
the  types,  Dan.  ix.  2.  1  Peter  i.  11. 
They  studied  the  histories  and  gene- 
alogies with  j^reat  care ;  and  it  is 
said,  their  children  could  have  ex- 
actly rehearsed  all  those  in  the  books 
of  Chronicles.  After  the  time  of 
Alexander,  they  began  to  study  Hea- 
then learning.  In  our  Saviour's  time 
their  great  care  was  to  observe  those 
explications  of  the  scripture  given 
by  the  scribes,  but  chiefly  the  tra- 
ditions of  the  elders;  nor  are  they 
to  this  day  cured  of  their  folly. 

STUFF,  (1.)  Household  furniture, 
Gen.  xxxi.  37.  (2.)  Corn,  provision, 
1  Sam.  X.  22. 

STUMBLE,  (1.)  To  trip  or  slide 
with  the  foot  till  one  is  in  danger  of 
falling,  1  Chorn.  xiii.  9.  (2.)  To 
fall  into  mistakes,  dangers,  or  dis- 
tress, Isa.  lix.  10.  and  viii.  15.  (3.) 
To  take  offence  at  any  thing;  and 
so  fall  into  sin  and  danger.  Men 
stumble  at  Christ  and  his  law,  as 
their  stumbling-block  or  stone,  when 
from  their  wicked  and  carnal  dispo- 
sition they  disrelish  his  appearances, 
reject  his  person,  mistake  the  mean- 
ing of  bis  law,  and  rebel  against  it, 
Rom.  ix.  33.  and  xi.  11.  1  Cor.  i. 
23.  1  Peter  ii.  8.  Mai.  ii.  8.  A  stum- 
bling-block, is  wh;it,  Ij'itjg  in  a  man's 
way,  occasions  his  falling.  Lev.  xix. 
14.  or  what  occasions  his  falling 
into  sin  and  danger. — Men's  idols, 
and  their  wealth,  are  the  slumfdvio;. 
block  of  their  iniquity ;  as  they  are 
the  temptations  to,  and  often  the  oc- 
casion of,  their  sin,  and  the  means  of 
their  ruin,  Ezek.  xiv.  13.  and  vii.  19. 
Zeph.  i.  3.  God  lays  a  stumbling- 
block  bfforc  men,  when  he  tries  them 
with  such  smiling  Tud  atHictive  pro- 
vidences as  they  imi)iously  abuse  lo 
their  sin  and  ruin,  Ezek.  iii.  20. 
Jer.  vi.  21.  By  the  imprudent  use 
of  Christian  liberty  in  things  indif- 
ferent, menUy  a stuvihling-block  be- 


fore others,  as  it  occasionp  their  los" 
ing  their  integrity  aiul  con  lort' 
Uom.  xiv.  13.  1  Cor.  viii.  0.  By 
advising  the  Midi.milish  wonii  n  lo  go 
into  the  iielrew  camp,  and  seiiuce 
them  to  whoredom  imd  idolatry, 
Balaam  laiil  a  alambling-block  belore 
the  children  of  Israel,  by  means  of 
which  they  were  enticed  to  sin,  and 
then  punished  with  distress,  Kev.  ii. 
14.  Numb.  XXV. 

STUMP,  (1.)  The  thickest  part 
of  a  tree,  Dan.  iv.  15.  and  denoted 
Nebuchadnezzar's  manhood,  and  his 
title  to  the  kingdom.  (2.)  The  body 
of  the  idol,  between  thtf  legs  and 
neck,  1  Sam.  v.  4. 

STYLE,  an  instrument  to  write 
with :  it  is  universally  known,  that 
the  ancients  often  made  use  of  styles 
or  bodkins  to  write  with  on  tables 
done  over  with  wax.  These  styles 
were  of  iron,  brass,  or  bone,  with  a 
sharp  point  at  one  end,  with  which 
to  write  and  form  the  letters;  the 
other  end  being  flat,  or  rounded  like 
a  spoon  or  s|)atula,  to  expunge  what 
was  written,  by  levelling  the  wax 
with  (he  flat  end  ol  the  style;  to 
this  the  scri|)(ure  alludes,  2  Kings 
xxi.  13.  according  to  the  Septuagint 
and  Vulgate,  "  1  will  idot  out  Jeru- 
salem, as  nsen  I)lot  out  writing  from 
their  writing-tables,  by  drawing  the 
style  often  over  them."  They  also 
wrote  on  lead  with  a  bodkin  or  style, 
•fob  xix.  24.  and  with  the  jjoint  of  a 
diamond,  or,  according  to  others,  of 
emery,  .!er.  xvii.  J.  with  which  glass 
is  cut:  the  original  word  is  somir. — 
Figuratively,  style  denotes  Iht  man- 
ner of  expressing  our  thoughts, 
which  ouelit  to  be  adajited  to  the 
subject;  to  which,  when  suldime, 
our  ex[)ression  should  rise  in  proj  or- 
tion,  by  metai  hors  or  similitudes, 
out  of  the  reach  oi  common  ol:.-ei ra- 
tion, thus  to  surprise,  and  btrikt  (he 
reader;  which  liepcnds  on  a  lively 
imagiualion,  but  under  the  cool 
guidance  of  reason.  0>  this  genu- 
ine sui)Iime  we  hffve  inni.nierfil  le  in- 
stances in  scriiiture;  scarctly  a  page 
without  it. 

SUBDUE.     See  Conquek. 


SUB 


(     492     ) 


sue 


SUBJECT,  (1.)  Under  law  obe- 
dient, Eph.  V.  24.  Col.  ii.  20.  Titus 
iii.  1.  And  to  subject,  is  to  bring 
into  a  state  of  obedience:  and  sub- 
jection, is  a  state  of  oiiedience  or 
bondage,  Heb.  ii.  4,  8.  Psalm  cvi. 
42.  or  perlortnance  of  obedience,  1 
Tim,  ii.  11.  and  iii.  4.  The  '  crea- 
'  ture  was  made  subject  to  vanity,  not 
'  willingly,  but  by  reason  of  him  who 
'  subjected  the  same  in  hope  :'  the 
lower  creation,  in  its  various  parts, 
did  not  of  its  own  accord  fall  into  its 
presfciit  vanity,  bondage,  and  cor- 
ruption ;  but  God,  in  punishing  the 
sin  of  the  lirst  man,  hath  reduced  it 
to  this  state,  yet  with  a  gracious  in- 
tention to  recover  it  to  its  former  li- 
berty and  glory,  Rom.  viii.  20. 

SUBMIT,  to  yield  one's  self  to 
the  will  of  another,  1  Chron.  xxix. 
24.  To  submit  to  the  righteousness 
of  God,  is  to  approve  of  the  method  of 
salvation  which  he  hath  graciously 
revealed,  and  prefer  the  obedience 
and  suffering  of  Jesus  Christ  to  our 
own  righteousness,  and  to  acce|)t  of 
it  as  the  only^foundation  of  our  hope 
of  acceptance  with  God,  Rom.  x.  3. 

SUBORN,  to  excite,  hire,  and  di- 
rect one  to  bear  false  witness.  Acts 
vi.  11. 

SUBSCRIBE,  to  confirm  a  writ- 
ing of  petition,  bargain,  or  donation, 
by  writing  our  name  under  it.  To 
siibscribe  with  the  hand  to  the  Lord, 
imports  a  solemn  surrender  of  our- 
selves to  Jesus  Christ,  as  an  all-suf- 
ficient Saviour,  and  honourable  Mas- 
ter, whether  in  thought,  word,  or 
writing,  Isa.  xliv.  5. 

SUBSTANCE,  (1.)  That  which 
a  person  or  thing  consists  of.  Psalm 
cxxxix.  15.  (2.)  A  creature.  Gen.  vii. 
4.  (3.)  The  moisture,  or  natural 
strengthof  a  tree,  Isaiah  vi.  13.  (4.) 
The  wealth  that  belongs  to  one,  Deut. 
xi.  6.  Joshua  xiv.  4.  (5.)  A  solid  and 
lasting  happiness  of  grace  and  glory, 
Prov.  viii.  21.  Heb.  x.  34.  The  saints 
are  the  substance  of  a  land:  they  are 
the  most  valuable  persons  in  it,  and 
are  the  means  of  averting  judgments, 
and  procuring  blessings  to  it,  Isaiah 
vi.    13.     Faith  is  the  substance   of 


things  hoped  for ;  it  is  a  hearty,  sure, 
substantial,  and  hope-supporting  per- 
suasion of  the  fulfilment  of  God's  pro- 
mises, which  renders  us  as  truly  cer- 
tain of  the  future  blessedness,  as  if 
we  saw  it  with  our  bodily  eyes,  Heb. 
xi.  1.  U  a,  man  ivould give  all  the  sub- 
stance of  his  house  for  love,  it  wmdd 
utterly  be  contemned.  Love  to  Jesus 
Christ  cannot  be  purchased  with 
worldly  wealth ;  nor  should  all  the 
wealth  of  creation  bribe  a  lover  of  him 
into  a  hater  of  him.  Song  viii.  7. 

SUBTILE,  crafty  ,capableandrea- 
dy  to  beguile,  Gen.  iii.  1.  Prov.  vii. 
10.  SuBTiLTY,  with  mischievous 
craft  and  deceit,  1  Sam.  xxiii.  22. 
Acts  viii.  19.  Subtii.ty,  (1.)  Ex- 
tensive skill  and  prudence,  Prov.  i. 
4.  and  viii.  f  12.  (2.)  Deceitful 
craftiness.  Acts  xiii.  10. 

SUBVERT,  to  turn  away  from 
truth  and  equity,  Titus  i.  11.  L:im. 
iii.  36.  A  man  is  subverted,  when  he 
is  quite  turned  from  divine  truth,  and 
fixed  in  error,  Titus  iii.  11. 

TheHebrew  SUBURBS,  included 
not  only  the  buildings  without  the 
wall  of  their  cities,  but  also  the  pas- 
ture grounds  adjoining.  The  Levites 
had  the  ground  without  the  Avails  of 
their  cities,  to  the  extent  of  3000 
cubits,  or  5473  feet,  on  every  side, 
Numb.  XXXV.  3,  7. 

SUCCEED,  tocomeittto  the  place 
of  others,  after  they  are  gone  out  of 
it :  so  a  son  succeeds  his  father,  by 
possessing  what  he  had  ;  and  so  the 
Hebrews  succeeded  the  Canaanites 
in  possessing  their  land,  Deut.  xxv. 
6.  and  xiii.  24.  It  also  sigoities  to 
prosper  in  a  work ;  and  so  success 
is  a  ha[)py  issue,  Joshua  i.  8. 

SUCCOTH,  tabernacles,  tents, 
booths,  (1.)  A  place  in  Egypt,  where 
the  Hebrews  first  set  up  their  tents, 
ovsticcoth,  Exod.  xii.  37.  (2.)  A  city 
on  the  east  of  Jordan,  and  south  of 
the  sea  of  Galilee,  built  where  Jacob 
set  up  his  TENTS,  or  succoih,  as  he 
came  from  Padan-aram,  Gen.  xxxiii. 
17.  It  belonged  to  the  Gadites,  .Tos. 
xiii.  27.  The  elders  thereof  were 
torn  to  pieces  with  thorns  by  Gi- 
deon, because  they   refused   proper 


s  u  r 


(     493     ) 


SUM 


leTreshment  to  his  wearied  troops,  j pie  suffer  for  his  sake,  2  Cor.  i.  5. 
Judges  riii.  It  seems  there  was  a  j  Col.  i.  2-J.  To  suffer  nilh  Ch)-u>t, 
valley  near  it,  and  where  perhaps  and  a.s  a  (7in.s/jfl7i,  and  accordinf;  to 
Hiram  cast  the  large  utensils  for  the  I //if  will  oj  God,  is,  in  a  stale  of  union 
temple,  Psal.  Ix.  b.  1  Kings  vii.  4ti.  with  Christ,  and  a  firm  dependence 
Whether  Succoth-Bknoth  he  the  on  him,  to  sulfcr  |)ersecutions  for  his 
Assyrian  Venus,  or  Mylitta,  the  oh  sake,  in  a  holy,  humhle,  patient,  and 
scene  goddess,  in  honour  of  whom  cheerful  manner,  Romans  viii.  18. 
the  Chaldean  young  women  werejl  Peter  iv.  16,  19. 
bound  once  to  prostitute  themselves,!  SUFFICE,  (1.)  To  fill  the  belly, 
by  presenting  themselves  in  or  be- 1  Numbers  xi.  22.  (2.)  To  be  enough 
fore  her  teiujile;  and  each,  being  for,  1  Kings  xx.  10.  (3.)  To  give 
called  by  a  stranger's  throwing  a  content  (o,  Deut.  iii.  20.  John  xiv.  1. 
piece  of  money  into  her  la|),  retired  Sufficient,  (1.)  What  is  needful, 
with  him,  and  submitted  to  his  lust  ;|  Exodus  xxxvi.  7.     (2.)  Fit,  able,  2 


Tve  can  hardly  say :  but  if  so,  it  is 
plain  that  Babylonian  Samaritans  in- 
troduced this  abominable  custom  into 
Canaan,  2  Kings  xvii.  30. 

SUCCOUR,  to  help  and  relieve, 
2  Sam.  xviii.  3. 

SUCK.  To  suck  homy  out  of  the 
rock,  is  to  enjoy  it  in  a  great  abun- 


Cor.  ii.  16.  Sujfficicnt  to  the  day  h  the 
evil  thereof  i  every  day  has  troubles 
enough  of  its  own,  though  we  do  not 
add  to  it  by  anxious  thoughts  about 
future  times,  which  we  may  never 
see,  Matthew  vi.  34. 

SUIT.     There  is,  (1.)  A  suit  of 
apparel.  Judges  xvii.  10.  Isa.  iii.  22. 


dance  as  in  Canaan,  Deut.  xxxii.  13.)  (2.)  A  suit  or  controversy  to  be  de- 


To  suck  the  abundance  of  the  seas,  is 
to  enjoy  profitable  fisheries  and  sea- 
trade,  Deut.  xxxii.  19.     To  sjick  the 


cided  by  a  judge,   2  Samuel  xv.  4. 
(3.)  A  petition  or  request,  Jobxi.  19. 
SUM,  (1.)  A  certain  quantity  or 


milk  of  the  GcniiUs,  and  the  breast  of  tale  of  money.  Exodus  xx.  30.  (2.) 
kitigs,  is  to  be  highly  favoured  by  the  whole  number,  Numl)ers  i.  2. 
Cyrus,  Antiochus  the  great,  and  other,' Psalm  cxxxix.  17.  (3.)  An  abridg- 
Gentile  kings,  and  their  subjects;  or' ment,  containing  the  [irincipal  sub- 


rather  to  have  a  multitude  of  Gen- 
tiles, and  some  of  their  chief  rulers, 
converted  to  the  true  church,  and 
receive  from  them  favour,  assistance. 


stance  of  many  particulars  said  or  to 
be  said,  Hebrews  xiii.  1, 

SUMMER,  the   warm  season  of 
the  year,  wherein  all  things  appear 


wealth,  Isa.  Ix.  16.  and  Ixvi.  11,  12.1  delightful  and  flourishing,  Gen.  viii. 
and  xlix.  23.  To  suck  the  poison  of  22.  In  countries  north  of  the  equi- 
asps,  and  the  cup  of  God's  wrath,!  noctial  line,  it  begins  about  the  21st 
is  to  be  under  his  astonishing  and!  of  June,  and  ends  about  the  21st  of 
destructive  judgments.  Job  xx.  1 6.1  September :  on  the  south  of  the  equi- 
Ezek.  xxiii.  34.  Suckmng,  an  in-  noctial,  it  begins  about  the  21st  of 
fant  that  sucks  his  mother's  breasts,  December,  and  ends  about  the  21st 
Lam.  ii.  11.  of  March.      For  when   the  sun    is 

SUDDEN,  haste,  unexpected,  1  nearest  to  us,  he  is  farthest  from 
Thess.  V.  3.  SiDDEXLY.  (1.)  In  aithem.  In  another  reckoning,  May, 
very  short  time.  Job  v.  3.  (2.)  Un-i  June,  July,  are  our  summer-months; 
exfiectedly.  Acts  ii.  2.  Mark  xiii.  36.1  and  November,  December,  and  Ja- 
(3.)  Quickly,  with  much  speed  andj  nuary,  are  theirs.  Seasons  of  pros- 
diligence,  2  Chron.  xxix.  36.  I  perity,  and   opportunities  of   salva- 

SUFFER,  (1.)  To  permit,  give  tion  are  called  suymner,  hs  they  are 
leave  to,  Gen.  xx.  0.  Luke  ix.  59.  most  useful  and  agreeable,  Prov.  x. 
(2.)  To  bear  .fHiction  and  death,  1  5.  Zech.  xiv.  8.  Summer  fruits,  are 
Thess.  ii.  2.  Heb.  ii.  18.  Christ'-  such  as  are  ripe,  and  must  be  eaten 
suffcrini'S,  are  either  what  himself  in  summer,  2  Sam.  xvi.  1.  The  fowls 
suQered,  Heb.  ii.  10.  or  what  his  peo-|  shall  summer^  i.  e.  feed  a  whole  sum- 


S  U  N 


(     494     ) 


SUN 


in  their  respective  times.  The  most 
of  their  arguments  are  too  abstracted 
for  this  work.  They  show,  that  if  the 
sun  were  to  move  round  the  earth,  his 


mer,  and  the  beasts  of  the  earth  ivin- 
tcr,  i.  e.  feed  a  whole  winter  on  their 
carcasses,  Isa.  xviii.  6. 

To  fare  SUMPTUOUSLY,  is  to 
live  in  an  expensive  and  splendid  i  motion,  when  in  the  equator,  should 
manner,  Luke  xvi.  19.  i  be  at  the  rate  of  about  330,000  miles 

SUN,  the  well-known  luminary,  |  in  a  minute.  They  observe,  that 
which  bj'^  his  presence  forms  our  day,  i  things  falling  from  a  great  height  do 
and  by  his  absence  our  night.  It  was;  not  fall  perpendicularly:  that  the 
long  thou;i;ht  that  he  was  a  vastg-Zoftcj  supposition  of  the  fixed  rest  of  the 
of  fixe  ^  1,334,462  times  larger  thanj  earth  renders  the  motions  of  the  pla- 
the  earth ;  and  that  he  was  continu-j  nets  quite  inexplicable,  and  destroys 
ally  emitting  from  his  body  innu/nera-j  the  order  and  connexion  of  the  uni- 
ble  millions  o^  fiery  particles,  which!  verse;  that  the  risingand  setting  o!  the 
heingextremely  divided,  answered  for  sun  mentioned  in  scripture,  do  but 
the  [)urpose  of  light  and  heat^  widi-  note  the  appearance  and  disappear- 
out  occasioning  any  ignition  or  burn-  ance  thereof  with  respect  to  our  hori- 
ing,  except  when  in  the  focus  of  a  zon;lhat  his  running,only  signifies  the 
eoavex  lens,  or  burning  glass.  Against  alteration  of  his  aspect  with  respect  to 


this  opinion,  however,  many  serious 
and  weighty  objections  have  been 
made;  and  it  has  been  so  pressed  with 
dilficulties,  th  it  philosophers  have 
been  obliged  to  look  lor  a  theor^^  less 
rejuignant  to  nature  and  Drobabilily, 
According  to  discoveries  made  by 
Dr.  Herschel,  what  we  call  the  5?/»is 
oitlv  the -ifmosphereoi  that  luminary; 


our  earth,  and  his  stam/ing  still,  the 
continuance  for  a  time  of  the  same  as- 
pect. His  standing  still  at  the  prayer 
of  Joshua,  his  going  backwaifl  as  a 
sign  to  Hezekiah,  and  his  preternatu- 
ral eclipse  at  the  full  moon,  when  our 
Saviour  died,  are  the  most  noted  cir- 
cumstances that  have  happened  to 
this  luminarj'.  Multitudes  have  taken 


that  this  atmosnhere  consists  of  va-  occasion,  from  the  shining  brightness 
rious  elastic  Jiui/ls,  that  are  more  or  and  great  usefulness  of  the  sun  to  wor- 
less  iiicid  and  transparent ;  that  as  the  ship  him,  and  his  representative  idols, 
clouds  i)e!onging  to  our  earth  are  pro-  as  one  of  their  princi[)al  gods,  under 
bal)ly  decompo;iitioiis  of  some  of  the  the  character  of  Baal,  Chemosh,  Mo- 
elastic  funds  belonging  to  the  atmos-t  loch,Phoebus,<S:c.  Even  with  the  Jews. 


|)here  itself,  so  we  may  suppose  that 
in  the  vast  atmos;)hcre  of  the  sun,  si- 
wiilar  decompositions  may  take  place, 
but  with  this  difierence,  that  the  de- 
compositions of  the  elastic  Quids  of 
the  sun  are  of  a  phosphoric  nature, 
and  are  attended  by  lucid  appearan- 
ces, by  giving  out  light.  The  diameter 
of  the  sun  is  reckotied  about  886,473 
En^li-jh  miles.     His  mean  distance 


the  worship  of  the  sun  was  |)ractised, 
and  Josiah  had  to  take  away  the  horses, 
and  burn  the  chariots,  consecrated  in 
the  temple  to  the  sun,  2  Kings  xxiii. 
11.  and  after  his  death,  we  find  the 
JeAvs  worshi|)ping  the  sun,  as  he  rose 
in  the  east,with  their  backs  to  the  ten>- 
ple,  Ezek.  viii.  16.  From  the  rising 
to  the  setting  of  Ike  siin,  imports  the 
whole  world  over,  Psal.  cxiii.  3.    Bc- 


fromour  earth  is  reckoned  95,51 3,794  i/ort  the  sun,  or  in  the  face  of  the  sun. 


miles,  and  liglit  comes  from  him  to 
us  in  about  eight  minutes ;  but  a  can- 
non-ball shot  thence,  and  moving 
480  miles  every  hour,  would  take 
above  22  years  to  reach  our  earth. 
It  is  now  generally  agreed  among 
philosophers,  that  the  sun  moves 
round  his  own  axis,  and  that  the 
earth,  and  other  planets,  move  round 
him,  as  v.ell  as  round  their  own  axes, 


imports  the  most  daring,  |)ublic,  and 
open  manner,  Jer.  xviii.  2.  Numbers 
xxv.  4.  To  continue  7vhile  sim  and 
moon  endure,  is  to  last  very  long,  or 
for  ever.  Psalm  Ixxii.  5,  1 7. 

Almost  every  thing  very  glorious, 
love!y,anduselul,is  likened  to  the  sun. 
To  mark  their  infinite  glory  ,excellen- 
cy,  gradual  discovery  to  men,and  their 
being  the  fountain  of  all  true  light  and 


SUP 


(     493     ) 


SUP 


comfort,  God  is  called  a  sun,  Psalm  i  is  called  (he  Lord's  Sipper,  because 


Ixxxiv.  11.  and  Christ  nsun  of  li^htc 
onsHcss,  that  rises  with  heaiiiis  under 
his  wings,  or  rays,  ]Mai.  iv.  2.  To  mark 
their  amazing  glory,  especially  in  the 
heavenly  stite,  the  saints  are  likened 
to  the  sttn,  3Iat.  xiii.  -10.  When  a  state 
isconjpared  to  the  visible  lieaven,  the 
kings  ami  chief  magistrates  are  liken 


first  ol>serve»l  in  the  evening  of  the 
ilay ;  and  as  his  hody  and  hlood,  under 
the  symbols  of  bread  and  wine,  are 
therein  re|)resented,  sea!fc<I,  and  appli- 
ed (o  his  people,  in  t'u;  evenint?,  or 
last  apes  of  the  world,  till  he  return 
to  judgment,  1  Cor.  xi.  20.  The  }!;os- 
pel  <lispensation  is  called  a  grealsitp- 


ed  to  the  sun,  and  the  inferior  magis-  per;  it  is  heslow(;d  by  the  great  God 
trates,  councils,  officers,  c^c.  are  com-  in  the  last  ages  of  the  world;  and  by 
pared  to  the  moon  and  stur.s  :  and  I  the  large  couHHiniication  of  blessings 
bloody  colour  or  darkness  coming  on'  therein,  are  muititiides  fitted  to  enter 
these,  denotes  terrible  disorder  and  the  eternal  state  of  glory  ;  and  with  it 
ruin,  Matt.  xxiv.  20.  Ezek.  xxii.  7. ;  sh.ill  the  mystery  of  God's  temporary 
Rev.  vi.  12,  and  viii.  12.  Actsii.  20.  j  providence  be  finished,  Luke  xiv.  lt» 
To  mark  the  delightftdness  of  proa- j — 24.  The  ha[)}iines5of  the  Millea- 
perity  and  happiness,  spiritual  or  tenv  Iniiim,  is  called  a  marriao^e  supper; 
poral,  it  is  likened  to  the  sun  rt«i/:  what  multitudes  shall  lie  converted  to 
moon;  and  the  ilarkening,  or  going  Christ,  and  shfire  of  its  blessings,  in 
down  thereof, imports  adversity,  Rev.  these  last  times!  Rev.  xix.  8.  The  ter- 
xxi.  23.  Is.  Ix.  20.  Jobxxx.  23.  Amos  rible  carnage  and  spoil  of  the  Papists 
viii.  9.  Jer.  XV.  9.  T/if  ;«oo«.<.^<.'//6e ,  before  the  millennium,  is  called  the 
confounded,  and  the  ivn  ashamed,  ivhen  supper  of  the  srcat  God,  with  which 
the  Lord  of  hosts  shall  rrign.  in  mount  \  he  feasts  the  beasts,  Rev.  xix.  1 7. 
Zhn,  and  before  his  ancirnts  glorious-]  SUPERFIiUITY  of  naughtiness, 
hj.  Idols,  even  the  chief  ones,  shall  be  is  a  heiglit  of  wicked  and  corrupt  af- 
abhorre<l ;  kings  and  great  men  shall ;  lections,  Jam.  i.  21. 
be  astonished  when  the  Lord  saves  ids  j  Sl'pkrfluous,  (1 .)  Not  necessary, 
people  from  the  Assyrians  an<l  Chal- 1  2  Cor.  ix.  1 .  (2.)  More  than  enough, 
deans,  and  when  he  re-establisheth ;  Lev.  xxi.  If). 

them  in  the  millennial  state;  and  then  I  SUPERSCRIPTION,(l.)Ashort 
shall  there  be  greater  degrees  of  holi- 1  note  on  coined  money,  showing  by 
ness  and  obedience  to  Christ,than  had  I  whose    order  it  was   coined,    Matt, 


beeneither  under  the  Old  or  NewTes- 
tament  period  before,  Isa.  xxiv.  23. 


xxii.  20.  (2.)  A  note  on  Christ's  cross, 
signifying  that  he  was  King  of  the 


The  sun  must  not  <ro  down  upon  our  j  Jews.  When  the  Romans  condemned 
mrrt//i,- angry  passions  must  be  quick-  a  man  to  be  publicly  executed,  his 
ly  checked,  that  the  prince  of  dark-  crime  for  which  he  suffered  used  to  be 
ness  ma}'  not  during  the  night  more  ,  written  in  large  letters  on  a  table,  and 
and  more  inflame  them,  Ei)h.  iv.  26.  j  carried, before  him;  and  if  he  wascru- 

SUP,  to  take  food,  especially  atjcified,itwas,  at  least  sometimes,  fixed 
night,  Luke  xvii.  8.  Christ's  6«//;/;ino;- 1  on  the  top  of  his  cross,  that  all  might 
with  his  people,  denotes  their  fellow- ;  read  and  avoid  the  like  crime :  but  to 
ship  with  him,  and  receiving  out  of  his  ^  maniiest  our  Saviour's  innocence,  his 
fulness,  to  the  spiritual  comfort  and  :  cross  was  marked  with  no  crime,  but 
strengthening  of  their  souls,  Rev.  iii.  j  with  an  ex[)ress  assertion  of  his  true 
20.  To  sup  up,  is  to  wKrte,  destroy,!  Messialiship,  Mark  xv.  2C. 
Isa.  xlii.f  14.  'Vhtlr  faces  shall  sup  up\  SUPERSTITION,  or  will-vvor- 
as  an  cast  wind ;  the  Chaldeans  from;  snip,  is  an  excess  in  religion,  doing 
the  east  shall  as  easily  consume  the 'things  therein  not  required  by  God, 
Jews  and  their  wealth,us  the  eastwind  I  or  abstaining  from  what  he  has  not 
blaststhefruitsof  theground,  Hab.i. 9.   forbidden,  Col.  ii.  13.      Festus  (he 

SupPEp^,  is  an  evening  meal.     The   Roman  reckoned  the  Jewish  religion 
secondsacramentofthe gospel-church  5M;?fri^jffOM,    Acts    xxv.    19. — The 


S  U  R 


(     490     ) 


»  U  R 


Athenians  were  very  superstitions, 
Acts  xvii.  22. 

S!JPPLAx\T,  to  trip  up  a  man's 
heels,  and  by  deception  get  into  the 
possession  of  what  belongs  to  him, 
Gen.  xxvii.  36.  Jer.  ix.  4. 

SUPPLIANTS,  such  persons  as 
in  the  humblest  manner  request  fa- 
vours; such  Jewish  and  Gentile  con- 
verts are  to  God  under  the  gospel, 
Zeph.  iii.  10.  Supplication,  ife  a  |)e- 
titiori  humbly  presented,  1  Sam.  xiii. 
12.  Phil.  iv.  6. 

SUPPLY,  to  furnish  what  is  want- 
ing, whether    in   temporals   or   spi- 


tion  has  a  more  sure  word  of  piophecy^ 
it  is  by  the  Dutch,  French,  and  other 
valuable  translations,  rendered  most 
sure  word  of  prophecy  ;  and  it  is  evi- 
dent our  own  translators,  in  Matt.  xi. 
11.  and  xxii.  13.  1  Cor.  xiii.  13.  and 
XV.  19.  render  a  Greek  comparative 
by  a  superlative.  However,  it  may 
be  said,  the  Old  Testament  prophe-i 
cies,  which  were  inspired  by  God,  ut- 
tered and  spoken  by  prophets,  and 
already  fulfilled,  were  more  ^wre  than 
the  human  testimony  of  Peter, 
James,  and  John^  as  to  what  they 
had  heard  in  the  mount  of  transfisu- 


rituals.  Paul's  Christian  brethren  ration;  at  least  were  accounted  more 
supplied  him  with  outward  necessA-  sure  bj''  the  Jews;  not  than  the  Pa- 
ries, 2  Cor.  xi.  9.  Epaphroditus  sup- ''  ther's  declaration,  but  than  Peter, 
plied  the  Corinthians  with  gospel  in- 1  James,  and  John's  report  of  it;  or  the 
structions,  Phil.  ii.  30.  And  God  sup-i  prophecies  did  more  clearly  and  firm- 
plies  all  the  needs  of  his  people,  whe- ,  ly  ascertain  Christ's  second  coming, 
ther  of  grace  or  glory,  out  of,  and  ac-  than  his  transfiguration  in  the  mount 
cording  to,  his  riches  of  mercy,  trea-!did,  2  Pet.  i.  19. 
sured  up  in  Christ  Jesus,  Phil.  iv.  19.  j      SURELY,    isj  without  the  least 

SUPPORT,  to  uphold,  to  relieve,  doubt  or  failure,  Exod.  iii.  7.  and 
and  supply  as  is  necessary.  Acts  xx.  Ixxii.  6.  Where  surely  is  in  our  Old 
35.    1  Thess.  V.  11.  ,  Testament  version,  the  Hebrews  have 

SUPPOSE, (1.)  To  think,  to  take' very  often  a  redoubled  verb,  which 
for  granted,  2  Sam.  xiii.  22.  (2.)  To  at  once  enhances  the  sense,  and  adds 
intend,  Phil.  1.  16.  Our  Saviour  was  solemnity  to  the  affirmation.  Thmi 
supposed  or  thought  to  be  the  son  o^  shall  surely  die ;  Heb.  In  dying  thou 
Joseph,  Luke  iii.  13.  Veiev  supposed  shall  die;  that  is,  thou  shalt  eer- 
the  dispersed  Jews  would  reckon  Sil-  tainly  die  every  kind  of  death,  Gen. 
vanus  a  faithful  and  friendly  brother,  ii.  17.  I  stirely  will  have  mercy  on 
by  whom  he  sent  a  short  but  affec-  /lim;  Heb.     In  having  tender  mercy^ 


tionate  epistle,  1  Pet.  v.  12 

SUPREME,  highest,  the  chief  ma- 
gistrate, 1  Pet.  ii.  12. 

SUR,  the  east  gate  of  the  Jewish 
temple,  called  the  gate  of  the  founda- 
tion, 2  Chron.  xxiii.  5.  and  the 
higher  gate,  because  of  its  beauty 
and  height,  2  Kings  xv.  23.  and  the 
new  gate,  as  it  was  rebuilt  by  king 
Jotham,  Jer.  xxxvi.  10.  2  Chron. 
xxvii.  3.  and  afterwards  called  beau- 
iiftil.  Acts  iii.  2. 

SURE,(1 .)  Firm  and  lasting,]  Sam. 
ii.  35.  (2.)  Certain,  and  of  which  we 
may  be  fully  persuaded,  Exod.  iii.  19. 


I  will  have  tender  mercy  on  him :  i.e. 
without  fail,  I  will  exercise  my  ten- 
derest  mercy  towards  him,  in  every 
form  suited  to  his  case,  and  in  every 
degree  above  what  he  can  ask  or 
think,  Jer.  xxxi.  20.  Of  a  surety, 
is  certainly,  without  fail,  Gew.  xv. 
13.  Acts  xii.  11. 

SURETY,  one  who  undertakes 
to  pay  a  debt  or  perform  service  for 
another,  or  to  procure  his  safety. 
Judah  became  surety  to  Jacob  for  the 
safety  of  Benjamin  in  his  Journey  to 
Egypt,  Gen.  xliii.  9.  and  xliv.  32. 
Paul  became  surety  to  Philemon,  to 


Numb.xxxii.  23.  (3.)  Great  caution,  |  pay  him  what  debts  Onesimus  owed 
Deut.  xii.  23.  Men  make  their  calling!  him,  Philem.  18,19.  Sureties  used 
and  election  sure,  by  rendering  the  to  strike  hands  wilh  the  creditor,  to 
evidence  ofitswre,  in  a  course  of  good:  mark  their  obligation  to  see  the  debt 
works,  2  Pet.  i.  10.  When  our  transla- 1  paid,  or  the  service  performed,  Pror. 


s  u  s 


(     407     ) 


S  W  A 


Vi.  1,  2.  The  scripture  forl)iiU  surctif- 
vA//;,  or  eiiyjiiifeineut  lor  the  payment 
of  other  people's  deitt,  as  it  tt'nds  to 
ruin  one's  own    family  ami  estate : 
multitudes  beiu";  careless  of  payinj; 
their  debt,  if  once  a  neighbour  has 
become  surety  for  them,  I'rov.  xxii. 
2G.  and  xi.  13.     It  is  especially  tlan- 
gerous  to  be  surely  lor  the  debt,  or 
the  good  behaviour  of  strangers  and 
lewd  women,  Prov.  xx.  1 0.  and  xxvii. 
13.     Job  begs   that  God   would  lay 
down  his  ple<lge,  and  give  him  his 
sureti/y  that  wouUl  secure  his  having 
his  cause  fairly  heard  and  tried,  as 
his  friends  had,    through  ignorance 
and    prejudice,   quite    niisju<iged  it, 
Job  xvii.  3,  4.     David    jirays  that 
Gotl  would  be  his  surety  for  good,  that 
is,    would    most  infallibly,    through 
Christ,  secure  his  safety  and  happi- 
ness, as  a  surety  protects  the  debtor 
from  the  hands  of  unmerciful  credi- 
tors, Psal.  cxix.  122.    Jesus  Christ  is 
the  surctij  of  the  better  testament,  or 
covenant :    he,  not  conjointly  with 
sinful    transgressors,  but  taking  the 
whole  upon  himself,  undertook  in  the 
new  covenant  to  iiear  the  punishment 
that  was  necessary  to  procure  salva- 
tion for  guilty  sinners,   Heb.  vii.  22. 
Luke  xxix.  20.     Matt.  iii.  13.     As 
God  owes  no  ilebt,  antl  his  promises 
eannot  be  rendered  more  sure  in  them- 
selves, Christ  is  not  a  surety  for  God 
to  us,  though  as  a  witness  he  attests  the 
promises,  and  the  lotlging  of  all  their 
fulness  in  his  hand  encourages  us  to 
believe  them.     Nor  is  Christ  surety 
for  our  faith,  repentance,  and  new  obe- 
dience, as  these  are  in  no  sense  |)roper 
and  purchasing  conditions  of  the  new 
covenant,   but  are    blessings  which 
flow    from  it,    Psalm  xxii.  20 — 31. 
Isa.  liii.  10—12. 

SURFEITING,  an  overcharge  of 
the  stomach  with  too  much  meat, 
Luke  xxj.  34. 
SURMI  SINGS, suspicious  thoughts 
and  hints,  to  the  hurt  of  our  neigh- 
bour's reputation,  1  Tim.  vi.  4. 

SURPRISE,  to  seize  all  of  a  sud- 
den, Isa.  33.  14.  Jer.  xlviii.  41. 

SUSTAIN,  (1.^  To  uphold  in  dan- 
ger, and  under  pressure?,  P-^al.  iii.  5. 
Vol.  II. 


(2.)  To  secure  provision  to  support 
one's  life,  Gen.  xxvii.  37.  1  Kings 
xvii.  0.  and  .m  sxKN.vNt k,  is  neces- 
sary provision  fur  tiie  support  of  life, 
Judg.  vi.  4. 

SWADDLE,  to  roll  up  young  in- 
fants in  bands,  iu  order  to  keep  tlieir 
joints  in  a  proper  slate  lilt  llie3'  be 
somewhat  fixed.  Lam.  ii.  22.  Dark- 
ness is  representeil  as  a  swadtUing- 
band  to  the  ocean,  as  it  long  dwells 
on  the  south  and  north  parts  of  it  at 
once,  Job  xxxviii.  7. 

SWALLOW,  a  blackish  bird, 
with  some  spots  of  a  dirty  black 
under  its  belly.  Its  voice  is  peep- 
ing, Isa.  38.  14.  Its  sight  quiclc, 
and  its  flight  very  unequal.  It  builds 
its  nest  of  clay,  and  ordinarily  in 
chimnies  or  desolate  houses;  and,  it 
is  said,  from  year  to  year  in  the 
same  place.  Swallows  are  birds  of 
passage,  Jer.  viii.  7.  Prov.  xxvi.  2, 
In  spring  ami  sunimer  they  tarry  in 
cold  countries,  and  retire  to  warmer 
in  the  harvest  and  winter,  and  are 
said  to  breed  in  both  :  bnt  vast  num- 
bers of  them  continue  in  cold  coun- 
tries during  the  winter,  in  a  be- 
numbed state,  wherein  they  hang 
clustered  in  holes  of  walls,  banks  of 
rivers,or  even  under  water  in  marshes 
and  lakes.  As  it  is  very  unlikely 
that  swallows  or  sparrows  could 
build  their  nests  in  the  altar,  where- 
on the  sacrifices  were  daily  burnt,  tlie 
words  in  Psal.  Ixxxiv.  3.  must  either 
only  mean,  that  they  had  their  nests 
near  to  the  altar  :  or  as  some  think, 
that  the  psalmist's  soul  as  affection- 
ately longed  for  God's  altars,  or 
public  ordinances,  as  birds  do  to 
return  to  their  nests  and  young. — • 
Perhaps  the  dkror  means  the  ring- 
dove or  wild  pigeon,  Prov.  xxvi.  2. 
Psalm  Ixxxiv.  3. 

To  SWALLOW,  (1.)  To  take  down 
by  the  throat  into  the  belly,  Exod. 
xii.  12.  Numb.  xvi.  30.  (2.)  To 
seize  upon,  oppress,  retain,  or  de- 
stroy irrecoverably.  Job  xx.  18.  Ez. 
xxxvi.  8.  So\i's,\voTi}ii,\\evG swallowed 
up,  when  quite  insufiicient  to  ex- 
press his  inward  grief,  Job  vii.  3- 
Dcath  is  swallowed  up  in  victory, 
3  R 


S  W  E 


(     498     ) 


S  W  1 


Riul  morlality  ofljfc,  when  tleath  and 
distress  for  ever  give  [)lace  to  ever- 
lasting life  and  happiness,  1  Cor. 
XV.  54.  2  Cor.  v.  4.  The  earth  swal- 
lowed ii\)  the  flood  which  the  dragon 
Tomited  iorth  against  the  church. 
The  Romans,  and  the  barbarous 
Goths,  &c.  by  their  mutual  war, 
prevented  one  another  (rom  perse- 
cuting the  churcli  :  and  carnal  coun- 
cils, for  their  seitish  ends,  confuted 
some  of  the  heresies  that  sprung  up 
in  the  church,  Rev.  xii.  16. 

SWAN,  a  fowl,  white  and  comely 
in  its  bod3%  but  its  feet  are  broad  and 
blackish.  It  is  very  meek  and  gentle, 
haunts  rivers,  but  seldom  dives  into 
them,  or  flies  much.  The  flesh  of 
swans  is  blackish,  and  hard  of  diges- 
tion. They  are  said  to  sing  sweetly 
when  aged  and  near  death.  They 
were  unclean  by  the  Jewish  law,  and 
might  figure  out  wicked  men,  amiable 
in  their  gifts  and  outward  endow- 
ments, but  unholy  and  earthly  in  their 
temper  and  behaviom-,  Lev.  xi.  18. 
but  Bochart  will  have  this  tinsiie- 
BiETH  to  he  the  night-owl. 

SWARM,  a  great  multitude  of 
insects.  Judg.  xiv.  8. 

SWEAR.     See  Oath. 

SWEAT,  (1.)  The  moisture  that 
evacuates  through  the  pores  of  an 
animal  body,  when  warmed  with  heat 
or  hard  labour,  Gen.  iii.  10.  Some 
times  terror  has  caused  [tersons  to 
sweat  blood.  Our  Saviour  sweat 
great  drops  of  blood,  when  lying  on 
the  ground,  in  a  cold  night,  Luke 
xxii.  44.  Gospel  ministers  not  be- 
ing clothed  with  what  causes  sweat, 
imports  that  their  clothing  should  be 
decent,  and  their  hearts  and  lives 
pure  and  holy,  Ezek.  xliv.  18. 

SWEEP,  to  carry  otf  with  great 
ease,  .ludg.  v.  21.  Chriat  sweeps  ilie 
house  to  find  his  lost  piece  of  silver, 
■\vhen  he  carries  off  the  wealth,  and 
cuts  off  the  life,  of  multitudes  ;  when 
be  removes  their  vain  confidences, 
reforms  the  corruptions  of  a  country, 
and  raises  a  mighty  stir  in  men's  con- 
sciences, in  order  to  promote  their 
coming  to  himself,  Luke  xv.  8.  God's 
judgments  sweep  nations,  w  heu  they 


cut  them  mostly  off,  and  destroy  their 
wealth,  Isa.  xiv.  23.  and  xxviii.  1  7. 
So  oppressors  of  the  poor,  like  a 
sweeping  rain,  that  carries  off  every- 
thing before  it,  seize  on  every  thing 
(hat  comesintheirway,Prov. xxviii. 3. 
Satan's  house  was  swept  and  garnish- 
ed: the  Jetvish  nation,  after  their 
rejection  of  the  gospel  were,  and  all 
apostates  are,  fully  prepared  for  his 
return  into  them,  Matt.  xii.  44. 

SWEBT,  delightful,  pleasant. 
Stolen  waters  are  sweet :  sensual  plea- 
sures are  so,  because  of  the  difliculty 
of  obtaining  them,  and  the  very  pro- 
hilation  of  them  renders  them  agree- 
able to  a  corrupt  heart,  Prov.  ix.  17» 
The  sweetness  of  the  lips,  is  useful  and 
kind  talk,  Prov.  xvi.  21.  The  sivcet- 
ness  of  a  friend,  is  his  d^^lighttul  com- 
pany aadconversation,Prov.  xxvii.  9, 

SWELL,  (1.)  To  rise  in  boils,  or 
as  leavened  dough,  Deut.  viii.  4. 
(2.)  To  rise  higher  than  ordinary  : 
thu's  the  .lordan  swelled,  when  the 
snow  on  Lebanon  melted,  and  over- 
flowed its  banks,  and  so  dislodged 
the  lions  from  their  thickets  ther.  on, 
1  Chron.  xii.  13.  In  like  manner 
the  Chaldeans  invaded  the  countries 
around  :  and  the  Medesinvaded  Chal- 
dea,  and  destroyed  or  drove  out  the 
inhabitants,  Jer.  xlix.  19.  and  I.  44. 
The  swellings  of  Jordan,  denote  ex- 
treme trouble,  through  which  there 
is  scarcely  any  passing,  as  when  the 
Jews  were  led  captive  to  Babylon, 
Jer.  xii.  5.  Swclli7igs,  are  proud, 
envious  indignation  at  others,  2  Cor. 
xii.  20  Swelling  words,  mean  the 
|)roud  boasting  of  false  teachers,  of 
their  distinguished  sense:  or  theirhigh 
bombast  language  without  senti- 
ment ;  or  their  horrid  blasphemies 
against  God,  and  his  cause  and  peo- 
ple ;  or  the  high  titles  they  take  t© 
themselves,  and  give  to  their  favonr- 
ites,  2  Pet.  ii.  18.  Jude  16. 

SWIFT,  (1.)  Quick  in  motion. 
Ecd.  ix.  11.  (2.)  That  which  will 
come  in  a  very  little  time,  2  Pet, 
ii.  1.  Mai.  iii.  5.  (3.)  Very  much 
inclined  and  ready  to  a  thing,  as  to 
hear,  &c.  James  i.  19.  To  show 
us    how    quickly    our    life   passetb 


S  W  0 


(     499     ) 


s  w  o 


away,  it  is  compared  to  a  swift  i^huttle 
po.^t,  -(hill,  shadow,  and  wind.  Job 
vii.  0.    and  ix.  25,  26,  ice. 

S  \V  1  iVI.  to  move  progressively  in  the 
water  by  the  motion  ol  the  limbs.  A 
man's  caii?ing  his  bed  to  sivini  with 
tears,  imports  <;reat  urirl'  and  sorrow, 
Psal.  vi.  7.  God  is  likened  to  a  swim- 
nur  spreadinc;  out  his  hands  to  swim, 
when  he  extends  his  Judgments  tar 
and  wide,  Isa.  xxv.  11.  Pharaoh- 
hophra  was  like  a  t;tviinmi?i<(  tish, 
when  he  greatly  prospered,  and  rioted 
iu  ease  and  luxurj',  Ezek.  xxxii.  6. 

SWINE,  well-known  animals  of  a 
ravenous  kind,  that  feed  on  carrion, 
hu-ks,  and  such  like  vile  provi- 
sion :  nay,  some  of  them  eat  their 
own  young,  after  they  have  brought 
them  forth.  They  look  towards  and 
dis  iu  the  earth,  wallow  in  mires, 
and  by  excessive  wallov.ing  or  car- 
rying of  straw  to  their  stye,  they 
presage  rough  weather;  they  are  very 
lazy  and  sleepy,  and  peculiarly  mis- 
chievous to  gardens  and  fields.  The 
Scythians,  Arabs,  and  Egyptians, 
had  an  aversion  to  swine.  The  .Jew- 
ish law  stated  them  to  be  unclean 
animals;  and  the  Jews  so  abhorred 
swine,  that  they  would  not  name 
them.  They  are  emblems  of  sin- 
ners delighting  in  their  wickedness, 
sleeping  in  their  sin,  contemning 
Christ  the  pearl  of  great  price,  re- 
turning to  their  old  sins,  persecuting 
the  saints,  and  living  to  no  spiritual 
good  iu  the  worhl.  Lev.  xi.  7.  Matt. 
vii.  6.  2  Pet.  ii.  22.  Though  under 
Antiochus  Epiphanes,  sundry  of  the 
Jews  suffered  death  rather  than  eat 
swine's  flesh,  yet  in  our  Saviour's 
time  we  tind  these  creatures  kept 
in  Galilee,  and  2000  of  them  pos- 
sessed and  drowned  by  devils.  Matt. 
viii.  30 — 34.  To  mark  his  con- 
tempt of  the  Jewish  religion,  Adrian, 
the  Roman  Emperor,  set  up  a  swine's 
picture  in  the  gate  of  the  city, 
which  he  built  on  mount  Calvary, 
about  60  years  after  the  destruction 
of  Jerusalem. 

SWOON,  to  faint  away  for  want 
of  food.  Lam.  ii.  11,  12. 

SWORD,  (1.)  A  warlike  instru- 


ment for  self-defence,  or  the  destnic- 
lion  of  an  enemy.  (2.)  War  and 
its  attendant  calamities.  Lev.  xxvi. 
23.  Jer.  xlii.  16.  Esau  lived  by 
/»'.y  sword ;  by  rapine  and  war  were 
he  and  his  posterity,  the  Edomites, 
chiefly  maintained.  Gen.  xxvii.  40. 
AntI  the  swonl  is  said  to  riUcni  to 
its  sheath,  or  scabbard,  and  to  be 
quid,  when  warlike  calamities  cease, 
iJer.  xlvii.  6.  Ezek.  xxi.  30.  (3.) 
\  All  kinds  of  judgments  sent  for  the 
punishment  of  transgressors,  Deut. 
Ixxxii.  41,  42.  particularly,  the  per- 
I  secution,  contention,  and  other  evils 
occasioned  by  men's  opposition  to 
the  gospel.  Matt.  xi.  34.  God  is 
^  the  sword  o\  his  people's  excellency, 
as  by  him  they  are  protected,  and 
obtain  victory  and  triunjjih  over 
their  enemies,  Deut.  xxxiii.  29. 
I  The  scriptures  are  a  sword,  and  a 
sharp  two-ed<^(d  sword,  and  sword 
of  tlic  Spirit;  used  by  Jesus  Christ 
and  his  Spirit,  and  by  ministers  and 
saints,  they  wound  the  conscience, 
defend  the  soul,  and  are  singularly 
useful  in  the  spiritual  warfare,  for 
resisting  and  overcoming  sin,  Satan, 
and  the  world,  of  profane,  hypocri- 
tical, and  heretical  men :  they  are 
ClirisVs  sword  proceeding  out  of  his 
7nouth,  from  his  authority  and  will; 
and  are  girt  on  his  tliigh,  ready  to  be 
the  means  of  convincing  and  con- 
verting sinners  to  himself,  Eph.  vi. 
17.  Rev.  i.  16.  and  xix.  15.  Psalm 
xlv.  3.  Some  think  Christ  himself, 
for  his  searching,  convincing,  and 
con(|uering  influence,  is  likened  to  a 
sharp  two-edged  sword,  Heb.  iv.  11, 
12.  The  magistrates'  power  of  de- 
fending the  innocent,  and  punishing 
the  guilty,  is  called  a  sword,  Rom. 
xiii.  4.  Psal.  cxiix.  6.  All  that  take 
the  sword,  per  if  h  by  the  sword:  self- 
avengers,  and  usurjiers  of  magis- 
tracy, generally  perish  in  their  at- 
tempts, Blatt.  xxvi.  52.  A  wicked 
tongue,  or  malicious  and  reproachful 
language,  is  like  sivords  and  spears  ; 
it  works  ruin,  and  wounds  men's 
character  and  spirit,  and  tends  to 
hurt  them  in  person  or  wealth,  Psal. 
Ivii.  4.  and  Ixiv.  3.     To  turn  back 


S  Y  C 


(     500     ) 


S  Y  N 


the  edge  of  one^s  sword,  is  to  take 
away  his  power  of  self-defence,  and 
to  reduce  him  to  trouble  and  misery, 
Psal.  Ixxxix.  43.  To  beat  srvcrds 
into  ploughshares,  and  spears  into 
pruning-hooks,  imports  the  leaving 
off  war,  and  the  enjoyment  of  great 
peace  and  liberty,  spiritual  or  tem- 
poral, attended  with  much  activity 
and  diliajence  in  improving  one's 
fields,  gifts,  or  graces,  Isa.  ii.  4. 
Mic.  iv.  3.  To  hiui  ploughshares 
into  swords,  and  pruidng-hooks  into 
spears,  imports  such  terriole  war  as 
ivill  require  all  hands,  and  occasion 
the  fields  to  lie  uncultivated,  Joeliii. 
10.  What  if  the  sword  contemn  the 
rod?  it  shall  do  no  more :  what  if  the 
enraged  Chaldeans,  contemning  the 
king  and  governors  of  Judea,  exceed 
the  bounds  of  a  trial,  and  make  an 
utter  destruction  ?  it  shall  not  so  hap- 
pen, Ezek.  xxi.  13,  10. 

SYCAMORE,  a  tree  called  the 
Egyptian  fig  tree ;  its  name  is  com- 
posed of  Si/cos,  a  fig-tree,  and  Moros, 
a  nmlberry-tree.  It  partakes  of  the 
nature  of  each  of  these  trees;  of  the 
muiberry-tree  in  its  leaves,  and  of  the 
fig-tree  in  its  fruit,  which  is  much  like 
a  fig  in  its  shape  and  size.  This  fruit 
grows  neither  in  clusters,  nor  at  the 
end  of  the  branches,  but  sticking  to 
the  trunk  of  the  tree,  which  is  some- 
times so  large  that  three  men  can  hard- 
ly grasp  it.  It  is  always  green,  and 
bears  fruit  at  several  seasons  of  the 
year.  To  render  it  fruitful,  chinks 
are  made  in  the  bark,  that  thereby  a 
Avhitish  liquor  may  run  out:  audit 
is  said,  the  fruits  are  not  ripe,  or 
sweet,  exce()t  it  be  scratched  by  the 
nail,  or  rubbed  with  an  iron  comb. 
Sycamore-figs  are  3^ellowish,  dis- 
gustfully  sweet,  and,  at  best,  coarse 
provision.  Sycamores  are  common 
in  Egy|)t,  Judea,  and  other  places; 
and  the  wood  Avas  used  in  Egypt  for 
coffins,  and,  in  the  niumni}'^  pits,  it 
has  been  found  fresh  when  3000  years 
old;  and  in  Judea  it  was  used  in 
common  for  building  houses,  1  Kings 
X.  27.  and  hence,  to  change sj/ca?«orf* 
into  cedars,  is  to  render  the  build- 
ings of  cities  and  (he   state  of  the 


nation,  much  more  glorious  than  be- 
fore, Isa.  ix.  10. 

SYENE,  a  bush,  or  enmity,  an  an- 
cient city  of  Egypt,  near  the  north 
border  of  Ethiopia,  on  the  east  of 
the  Nile,  whose  ruins  are  still  seen 
near  the  present  Assouan.  Our  ver- 
sion rei>resents  the  tower  of  Syene  at 
the  greatest  distance  from  Cush,  or 
Ethiopia,  but  either  Cush  signifies 
Cushan  in  Arabia,or  Syene  is  the  same 
as  Sin  :  or  rather  the  words  may  be 
read.  From  Migdol  to  Syene,  even 
to  the  border  of  Ethiopia ;  i.  e.  over 
the  whole  country  of  Egypt,  Ezek. 
xxix.  10. 

SYNAGOGUE,  aplace  where  the 
Jews  met  for  their  public  worship  on 
ordinary  occasions,  as  we  do  in  our 
churches  or  chapels.  When  syna- 
gogues, properly  so  called,  had  their 
rise,  we  are  uncertain.  It  is  very 
|)lain,  that  before  the  captivity,  the 
law  was  not  read  in  them  every  Sab- 
bath, as  it  was  afterwards:  hence 
Jehoshaphat's  reforming  teachers  had 
to  carry  a  copy  of  it  with  them,  2 
Chron.  xvii.  9.  and  its  contents  were 
much  unknown  in  the  time  of  Josiah, 
2  Kings  xxii.  11.  As  most  of  the 
Jews,  from  the  beginning  of  their 
settlement,  attended  the  tabernacle 
or  temple  only  at  the  three  solemn 
feasts,  it  is  probable  they  had  a  kind 
of  synagogues,  or  schools,  or  proseu- 
cha",  that  is,  places  for  prayer,  in  one 
of  which  last  our  Saviour  prayed  all 
night,  Luke  vi.  12.  These  differed 
from  synagogues,  as  in  them  every 
one  prayed  by  himself;  they  were 
in  retired  j)Iaces,  as  by  river  sides. 
Acts  xvi.  13,  16.  And  were  unco- 
vered, like  groves;  whereas,  syna- 
gogues were  in  elevated  places,  Avere 
covered  with  a  roof,  and  one  praj'ed 
as  the  mouth  of  the  rest.  Perhaps 
they  were  the  proseuchffi  that  were  the 
MonEDE  (sj'nagogues)  or  meeting- 
places  burnt  up  by  the  Chaldeans, 
Psal.  Ixxiv.  8.  Soon  after  the  cap- 
tivity, the  Jews  had  a  great  number 
of  synagogues,  which  increased  till 
there  were  about  480  of  them  in 
Jerusalem.  Every  trading  fraternity 
had   their   synagogue;   and  compa- 


S  Y  N 


(     501      ) 


SYR 


iiies  of  strangers,  as  Alexandrians, 
Cyrenians;,  and  others,  had  theirs,  lor 
pultlic  jirayer,  and  for  reading  liie 
scriptures.  The  scattered  Jews  too 
had  theirs  about  Babylon,  and  almost 
every  where  in  the  eastern  part  oJ 
the  Koman  empire;  and  in  the  syna- 
gogues we  find  our  Saviour  and  his 
apostles  often  teachinc;  tiie  nudti- 
tudes,  till  (hey  were  shut  out.  On  the 
synagogue-days  the  people  asseudtled 
thrice,  at  the  time  of  the  morning 
and  evening  sacrifice,  ami  in  the 
dusk  of  the  evening;  and  thither  de- 
vout persons  often  retired  for  their  se- 
cret prayers :  and  the  Pharisees  stood, 
that  their  neighbours  might  hear 
(hem  the  better,  Matthew  vi.  5. 

Wherever  there  are  ten  Balelnim, 
i.  e.  according  to  some,  ten  free-men, 
who  can  attend  the  service  of  the  sy- 
nagogue, the  Jews  erect  one.  In 
each  they  have  an  ark,  or  chest  of 
the  size  of  the  Mosaic  one,  for  hold- 
ing the  five  books  of  Moses,  and 
which  is  placed  in  that  part  of  the 
synagogue  that  looks  towards  the 
place  of  the  ancient  temple.  On  that 
side  are  the  chief  scats  for  the  elders, 
who  sit  with  their  backs  to  the  ark  : 
the  rest  of  the  men  sit  on  other  seats, 
with  their  faces  to  the  ark.  The  wo- 
men sit  by  themselves  in  a  gallery, 
so  inclosed  with  lattice-work,  that 
they  hear  and  see,  but  are  not  seen 
by  the  men.  Ministers  were  the  sta- 
ted readers  and  singers  in  the  syna- 
gogues ;  but  the  rulers  might  desire 
any  man  present  to  read  or  speak. 
Hence  ourSaviour  read  and  expound- 
ed at  Nazareth,  Luke  iv.  10.  and 
Paul  and  Barnabas  exhorted  at  An- 
tioch  of  Pisidia,  Acts  xiii.  The 
Sheliac-zibbor,  or  angel  of  the  con- 
gregation, read  the  liturgy.  The 
Chazan  either  read,  or  looked  over 
such  as  read,  that  he  might  correct 
their  mistakes;  but  his  chief  business' 
was  to  expound  the  lesson  of  the  day, 
or  appoint  another  to  do  it  for  him ; 
or  to  preach  a  sermon  on  some  pro- 
per subjpct.  These  two,  with  the 
other  rulers  of  the  synagogue,  com- 
posed a  council,  whose  president  was 
ealleU  the  chief  ruler.     They  order 


the  affairs  of  the  people,  censure  the 
scandalous,  and  |)rovide  for  the  poor. 
To  procure  a  fund  for  the  poor,  they 
keep  two  chests  at  the  door  of  the 
house,  one  for  the  sake  of  their  own 
poor,  and  the  other  to  collect  for 
strangers;  and  into  these  people  put 
what  they  [dease,  as  they  go  in  or 
out.  On  extraordinary  occasions, 
a  collector  asks  each  wliat  he  in- 
tentlfl  to  give,  and  the  money  is  ga- 
thered at  their  houses  when  the  Sab- 
bath is  over. 

SYRACUSE,  that  draws  violent- 
ly,  was  a  famous  city  on  the  south- 
east of  Sicily,  about  22  miles  in  cir- 
cumference, which  had  a  fine  pros- 
pect both  by  sea  and  land,  and  was 
once  the  largest  and  richest  city  of 
the  Greeks.  It  was  built  about  A.  M. 
3269,  and  in  a  manner  consisted  of 
four  cities  united  in  one.  For  about 
250  years,  it  was  of  little  note  in  the 
world ;  but  in  the  next  280,  it  cut  a 
surprising  figure  in  war,  in  sea-trade, 
and  in  ^^eaUh,  under  its  kings  Ge- 
lon,  Dionysius  the  elder  and  j'ounger, 
Dion,  Agalhocles,  and  Hiero.  Here 
the  famed  mathematician,  Archi- 
medes, with  astonishing  inventions, 
defended  the  ))lace  from  the  Romans  ; 
but  about  J.  M.  3800,  it  was  taken, 
and  he  was  slain.  The  Saracens 
seized  on  it  A.  D.  G75,  but  in  1090, 
it  was  taken  from  them  by  Roger 
duke  of  Apulia.  Here  Paul  tarried 
three  days  as  he  went  prisoner  to 
Rome ;  and  here  Christianity  was 
early  planted,  and  still,  at  least  in 
name,  continues;  but  the  city  has 
lost  its  ancient  splendour,  Acts 
xsviii.  12. 

SYRIA,  sublime,  or  the  slander  of 
them,  called  in  Hebrew  Aram.  The 
Syrians,or  Arameans,descended  from 
Aram,  possessed  Mesopotamia,  Chal- 
dea,  and  part  of  Armenia,andofthem 
Abraham  and  his  friends  were  a  f)art. 
But  Syria,  properly  so  called,  had  the 
Mediterranean  Sea  on  the  west  and 
north,  Cilicia  on  the  east,  and  Phe- 
nicia,  Canaan,  and  part  of  Arabia  the 
Desert,  on  the  south.  Its  excellent 
soil  and  agreeable  rivers,  the  Euphra- 
tes, Orontcs.  Cassimire,  Adonis,  Bar- 


SYR 


(     502     ) 


SYR 


pady,  <fec.  rendered  it  a  most  delight- 
iul  country.  It  was  anciently  divided 
into  a  variety  of  cantons,  as  Aram-na- 
harairn,  Arani-zobah,Aram-maHchah, 
Ararn-rehob,  and  Aram  of  Damascus, 
— Zobah, Damascus,  Hamath,Geshur, 
&c.  were  its  most  noted  states  about 
the  time  of  David,  who  conquered  it, 
2  Sam.  viii.  and  x.  Aboiit  60  years  af- 
ter, Rezin,  who  had  fled  from  Hada- 
DEZER  his  master,  erected  a  king<lom 
at  Damascus.  He,  and  his  successors, 
Benhadad  and  Hazael,  did  much  mis- 
chief to  the  Hebrews,  !  Kings  xv. 
and  XX.  and  xxii.  2  Kings  vi.  viii.  and 
X.  but  Joash  and  Jeroboam,  kings  of 
Israel,  sufficiently  resented  those  in- 
juries, and  brought  the  Syrian  king- 
dom to  the  point  of  ruin,  2  Kings  xiii. 
xiv.  They  recovered  themselves, 
and  under  Rezin,  their  last  king,  they 
made  a  considerable  figure,  and  ter- 
ribly harassed  Ahaz  and  his  subjects, 
and  even  took  Elath  on  the  Red  Sea. 
But  Tjglath-pileser,  instigated  by 
Ahaz,  ravaged  their  country,  demo- 
lished their  cities,  and  carried  the  in- 
habitants to  Media.  During  the  de- 
cline of  the  Assyrian  einpire,  the  Sy- 
rians returned,  and  recovered  them- 
selves not  a  liltle;  but  Nebuchad- 
nezzar again  reduced  them,  2  Kings 
xvi.  Syria  next  fell  under  the  Per- 
sians. After  Alexander's  death,  it  be- 
came one  of  the  four  Greek  king- 
doms, formed  of  his  empire.  After  it 
had  subsisted  about  257  years  in  this 
form,  it  was  reduced  to  a  Roman  pra- 
vince,  about  A.  31.  3939.  About 
696  years  after,  the  Saracens  seized 
on  it.  In  the  end  of  the  1 1th  cen- 
tury, the  Seljukian  Turks  seized  on 
it,  and  erected  one  of  their  four  sul- 
taaies  at  Aleppo,  and  another  at  Da- 


mascus. Soon  after,  the  European 
croisaders  took  most  of  it,  and  alter 
a  terrible  struggle,  were,  ab  >ut  100 
years  after,  driven  out  of  it  by  Sa- 
ladan  sultan  of  Egypt,  and  his  suc- 
cessors. In  the  beginning  of  the 
1 6th  century,  it  was  seized  by  the 
Ottoman  Turks,  who  retain  it  to 
this  day.  We  know  no  place  in  it 
at  present  of  note,  exce[)t  Aleppo 
and  Dauiascus.  Its  principal  rari- 
ties are  the  ruins  of  noted  i)uildings, 
es[)ecially  those  of  Tadmor  and 
Baalbek.  A  Christian  church  was 
early  planted  here,  and  was  famous 
tt  Antioch  and  other  jjlaces  of  the 
country  ;  and  there  is  still  a  shadow 
of  Christianit}^  with  a  few  proiessors 
of  it.  Acts  XV.  23,  41.  Amos  i.  3 — 
5.  and  iii.  12.  Isa.  vii.  4.  and  viii. 
4.  and  ix.  11,  12.  and  xvii.  1 — 3. 
Jer.  xlix.  23—27.  Zech.  ix.  1,2. 
Isa.  xi.  n. 

SYRO-PHCENICIA,  red,  purple, 
drawn  to.  This  is  Phoenicia  properly 
so  called,  of  which  Sidon  or  Zidon 
was  the  capital ;  and  which  having 
by  conquest  been  united  to  the  king- 
dom of  Syria  joined  its  old  name  of 
Phoenicia  to  that  of  Syria,  just  as 
Palestine  was  called  Palestine  of 
Syria,  because  it  was  considered  as 
making  a  part  of  Syria.  In  the  gos- 
pel, the  Canaanitish\voman  is  called 
a  Syro-Pho3nician  by  Mark,  vii.  26. 
because  she  was  of  Phoenicia,  which 
was  then  looked  upon  as  making  a 
part  of  Syria,  and  was  in  the  juris- 
diction of  the  governor  of  that  pro- 
vince, Matthew,  xv.  22.  calls  her  a 
Canaanitish  woman,  because  this 
country  was  really  peopled  by  the 
Canaauites,  Sidon  being  the  eldest 
son  of  Canaan,  Gen.  x.  15. 


T 


TAB 


TAB 


AANATH-SHILOH,    dissolv- 

in/>-,  breaking  a  fh-trce.,  a  place 

about  ten  miles  eastward  of  Shechem, 

and    whereabouts    was    the    village 

Thenath  as  late  as  J.  D.  400. 

TABERiNACLE,  tent,  (1.)  A 


moveable  lodging,  formed  of  cloth^ 
or  skins,  spread  over  poles.  Jabal, 
a  son  of  Lamech  the  Cainite,  was 
the  inventor  of  such  tents,  that  he 
might  remove  where  he  pleased,  to 
feed  his  cattle,  Gen.  iv.  20.  lu  such 


TAB 


(     503     ) 


TAB 


lodgings  did  Noah,  Abraham,  and 
other  |)atriarchs,  ami  (lie  Kechah- 
ites  dwell  :  and  to  this  ilay,  the  wild 
Aral)9,  Tartars,  and  otliers,  live  in  a 
kimi  of  tents.  (2.)  A  house  or  dwell- 
ing, 2  Chron.  xxv.  22..Ioh  xi.  1  J.  The 
tints  of  Slum,  nre  chher  the  countries 
or  dwellings  of  his  descendants,  Gen. 
ix.  27.  Tents  of  a<i<  kcJness,  are  places 
tvhere  wicked  men  live,  Psal.  Ixxxiv. 
10,  (3.)  The  dwellers  in  tents,  Psa. 
Ixxxiii.  t5.  and  the  tents  of  Judith,  are 
such  Jewsasdwell  in  unlortitled cities, 
Zech.  xii.  7.  The  church's /tnf/ww 
enlarged,  and  her  curtains  stretched 
cut,  her  cords  lms.thened,  and  her 
stakes slren;^lhened,  when  the  Gentiles 
were  converted  to  Christ,  and  her  gos- 
pel-state established,  IsH.  liv.  2.  (4.) 
That  tent  erected  lor  the  worship  oti 
God,  called  the  tabernacle  of  teslimo-, 
ny,  because  it  testified  God's  relation 
to,  and  presence  with,  the  Hebrews, 
and  in  it  were  the  laws  of  God  de- 
posited, Numb.  ix.  15.  or  the  cover- 
ing of  it,  Exod.  xl.  19,  God's  taher- 
nack  is  with  men  on  earth,  when  they 
eminently  enjoy  his  favour,  Rev.  xxi. 
3.  The  cliurch  and  her  true  mem- 
bers, are  like  the  tents  of  Kedar  ;  their 
outward  appearance  is  mean  and  de- 
spicable, and  their  condition  in  this 
world  very  unsettled.  Song  i,  5, 
Our  bodies  are  a  tabernacle,  easily 
demolished,  and  removed  to  and  fro; 
and  yet,  in  saints,  is  the  dwelling  of 
the  Holy  Ghost,  2  Cor.  v.  1,  and 
1  Cor,  vi.  19, 

At  Sinai,  Moses  set  up  a  tctit,  and 
called  it  the  tabernacle  of  the  congre- 
gation, because  thither  the  Hebrews 
repaired  to  \vorshi|)  God,  after  their 
idolatry  in  worshipping  the  golden 
calf,  Exod.  xxxiii.  7 — 10,  Soon  af- 
ter, a  more  noted  tabernacle  was 
framed  by  Bazalcel  and  Aholiab. 
Its  form  was  in  this  manner:  fust 
there  was  a  court  of  100  cubits,  or 
61  yards  long,  and  50  cubits  broad, 
inclosed  and  hung  round  to  the  heiglit 
of  5  cubits,  or  9  feet  and  a  little  more, 
with  curtains  of  fine  tuined  linen, 
suspended  by  silver  hooks,  on  56 
pillars  of  brass,  or  of  Shittim-wood, 
•verlaid  with  brass,  and  filleted  with 


silver,  and  set  in  large  sockets  of 
brass.  The  only  entrance  to  this 
court  was  from  the  east,  by  a  hang- 
ing vail  of  blue,  purple,  and  scarlet, 
anil  fine  twined  linen  of  n<  edle-work, 
twenty  cubits  in  length,  and  sus- 
|)ended  on  four  pillars.  Here,  under 
the  o[)en  sky,  stood  the  altar  of 
burntotVering  and  brazen  laver ; 
and  hither  every  clean  Hebrew,  or 
proselyte  of  the  covenant,  might 
come  with  his  oirerings.  At  the  west 
end  of  this  court  stood  the  taberna- 
cle, properly  so  called,  which  was 
a  close  tent,  in  the  form  of  our 
houses,  it  was  30  cubits,  or  about 
18  yards  8  inches  long,  and  6  yards 
and  almost  3  inches  broad,  and  as 
much  in  height.  It  was  reared  with 
43  boarils  of  Shittim-wood,  each  a 
cuiiit  and  a  half  broad,  overlaid  with 
gold,  and  set  upright  in  9ti  large 
sockets  of  silver,  and  all  supported 
behind  with  five  cross  bars  of  Shit- 
tim-wood overlaid  with  gold,  and 
fastened  to  the  boards  by  rings  of 
gold.  On  this  frame  was  suspended 
a  four-fold  covering';  the  inmost  con- 
sisted of  ten  curtains  of  fine  twined 
lined,  with  blue,  purple,  and  scarlet, 
embroidered  with  figures  of  cheru- 
bim of  cunning  work,  each  curtain 
28  cubits  long,  and  4  cubits  broad, 
and  all  coupled  together  by  loops  of 
blue,  and  taches  of  gold.  Next  there 
was  a  covering  of  11  curtains  of 
goats'  hair,  coupled  together  with 
taches  of  brass.  It  had  next  a  co- 
vering of  rams'  skins  died  red;  and, 
in  fine,  a  4th  of  strong  leather,  or 
badgers'  skin.  The  whole  east  end, 
just  before  which  the  brazen  altar 
and  laver  stood,  was  allotted  for  an 
entrance.  It  was  hung  over  with  a 
vail  of  blue,  purple,  scarlet,  and  fine 
twined  linen,  curiously  embroidered, 
and  suspended  by  golden  hooks,  on 
five  pillars  of  Shittim-wood  overlaid 
with  gold,  and  set  in  large  sockets 
of  bras?.  The  whole  of  the  gold 
about  the  tabernacle  amounted  to 
about  141,719/,  the  silver  to  3772/. 
sterling.  This  tabernacle  or  sanc- 
tuary >vas  divided  into  two  apart- 
ments.    The  first  apartment  was  20 


TAB 


(     504     ) 


TAB 


cubits  long,  and  was  called  the  holy 
place,  and  into  it  only  the  priests 
durst  enter  or  look.  At  its  inner  end 
stood  the  golden  candlestick,  and  the 
altar  of  incense,  and  table  of  show- 
bread  ;  and  here  the  silver  trumpets, 
and  standards  of  weight  and  mea- 
sure, seem  to  have  been  kept.  Be- 
yond this  there  was  another  apart- 
ment of  10  cubits  square,  which  was 
separated  by  a  vail  of  blue,  pur()le, 
and  scarlet,  and  fine  twined  linen 
embroidered  with  cherubim  of  cun- 
ning work,  and  suspended  by  golden 
taches  on  four  pillars  of  Shittim- 
wood  overlaid  with  gold,  and  set  in 
sockets  of  silver.  Here,  amidst  gross 
darkness,  were  deposited  the  ark  of 
the  covenant,  overshadowed  by  the 
cherubim,  between  which  hovered 
the  Shechinah  or  sj'^mbolic  cloud  of 
the  divine  presence  :  and  here  were 
the  golden  pot  of  manna,  Aaron's 
budding  rod,  and  a  copy  of  the  law 
of  Moses:  into  this  apartment,  only 
the  high  priest  entered  one  day  of  the 
year.  The  tabernacle  being  reared 
on  the  first  daj'^  of  the  second  year  of 
the  Hebrews'  departure  from  Egypt, 
was,  with  all  its  utensils,  conse- 
crated by  the  sprinkling  of  blood, 
and  anointing  of  oil:  and  every  year 
it  was  atoned  for  by  the  sprinkling  of 
blooil  on  the  day  of  expiation.  Af- 
ter its  erection,  the  twelve  Hebrew 
princes  solemnized  the  dedication  of 
it,  by  presents  and  sacrifices,  each 
in  his  day.  The  whole  offering  was 
20  charges  and  12  bowls  of  silver, 
and  12  spoons  of  gold,  amounting 
in  all  to  2520  shekels  in  weight,  or 
4598Z.  sterling  in  value,  together 
with  a  large  quantity  of  incense,  and 
3t)  bullocks,  72  rams,  as  many  lambs, 
and  as  many  kids,  Exod.  xxv.  to 
xxvii.  and  xxxvi — xxxviii.  and  xl. 
Numb.  vii.  In  the  wilderness,  the 
tabernacle  stood  in  the  midst  of  the 
Hebrew  camp :  the  priests  alone 
unreared  it;  but  the  Levites  bare  it 
and  its  furniture  to  their  waggons, 
or  on  their  shoulders.  The  ark,  the 
altar  of  incense,  table  of  show-bread, 
golden  candlestick,  nay,  even  the 
brazen  altar,  were  carried  under  a 


cover,  and  it  was  death  for  the  Le- 
vites to  see  them.  Numb.  iv.  After 
it  had  been  carried  about  with  the 
Hebrew  camp  for  46  years,  it  was 
fixed  at  Shiloh ;  and  on  a  particular 
occasion,  before  Joshua's  death,  seems 
to  have  been  brought  to  Shecheni, 
Josh,  xviii.  and  xxxiv.  26.  Some 
time  after  the  death  of  Eli,  the  ta- 
bernacle was  fixed  for  a  while  at 
Nob :  and  thence  it  was  carried  to 
Gibeon.  At  last,  the  ark,  and  other 
principal  parts  thereof,  were  placed 
in  Solomon's  temple,  and  the  rest 
disregarded,  1  Sam.  xxi.  2  Chron. 
i.  13.  and  v.  4,  5. 

Did  this  tabernacle  represent  our 
Redeemer,  particularly  in  his  man- 
hood ?  It  was  devised  of  God,  was 
reared  up  with  infinite  skill,  and  con- 
secrated by  the  anointing  of  the  di- 
vine Spirit,  and  his  own  bloody  suf- 
fering. In  it  dwells  the  fulness  of 
Godhead;  and  after  much  toil  and 
suffering  on  earth,  it,  dropping 
every  infirmity,  was  solemnly  intro- 
duced to  the  heavenly  rest.  He  is 
the  mean  of  all  our  fellowship  with 
God,  and  the  treasury  of  all  that 
atonement,  purification,  light,  food, 
and  acceptance,  necessary  for  our 
souls,  Heb.  ix.  21.  and  viii.  2.  Did 
it  not  re|)resent  the  gospel  church, 
the  tabernacle  of  mtr  mystical  David? 
By  the  wisdom  of  God,  she  was 
planned:  by  his  order  she  was  erect- 
ed by  the  inspired  ministers  of  Christ. 
In  her  the  glory  of  God  resides:  and 
here  he  is  worshipped.  Here  is  the 
word  of  God,  the  true  standard  of 
our  faith  and  practice;  and  here  are 
the  unsearchable  riches  and  gospel  of 
Christ.  After  a  little  more  exposure 
to  storms,  and  various  removals  from 
place  to  place,  she,  in  all  her  true 
members  and  glory,  w^ill  enter  into 
the  temple  above. 

T  ABITH  A,  is  a  Syriac  w^ord,  sig- 
nifying clear  sighted:  Dorcas,  a  fe- 
male roe,  a  Christian  widow  at 
Joppa,  who  much  abounded  in  alms- 
tleeds,  and  other  good  works,  dying 
of  some  ailment,  she  was  washed, 
and  laid  on  a  table  in  order  to  be 
buried.     Peter  was  sent  for,  and  the 


TAB 


(     505     ) 


TAB 


attendin<;  widows,  who  were  all  in ' 
tears,  sliowcd  him  the  cU^thes  whicli  | 
she  had  made  lor  (hem,  and  reported  | 
to  hi»n  her  other  generous  deeds.  Pe- 1 
ter  putting  out  tlie  people,  and  pray- 
ing over  her,  hiil  her  anse.  Slie  im- 
mediately opened  Jier  eyes,  and,  he; 
helping  her  a  little,  ?he  stood  up.  j 
He  then  called  in  theCliristian  neigh- 1 
hour.-,  and  presented  her  to  them,j 
alive  and  well.  Acts  ix.  ;)0 — 42. 

TABLE,  (1.)  A  broad  piece  of' 
stone,  brass,  or  the  like,  Hab.  ii.  2.  | 
Luke  i.  03.  Such  the  ancients  used 
to  write  upon,  as  they  had  no  paj)cr; 
and  they  wished  what  they  wrote  to 
continue  recorded  to  many  genera- 
tions. Twice  God  wrote  his  law  on 
tables  of  stone.  The  Romans  wrote 
their  ancient  laws  on  12  tables  of 
brass.  In  allusion  to  this,  man's 
heart  is  represented  as  a  writiiii^-tablc^ 
and  s.  fleshly  tabic,  ready  to  receive 
and  be  affected  with  divine  truths, 
Prov.  iii.  3.  and  vii.  3.  2  Cor.  iii.  3. 
(2.)  A  frame  or  seat  used  lor  meals, 
and  other  purposes,  1  Sam.  xx.  29. 
It  seems  the  Hebrews  used  the  sacred 
perfume  of  incense  and  oil  at  their 
common  tallies,  Ezek.  xxiii.  41. 
The  altar  of  burnt-offering  is  called 
God's  table,  because  the  sacrifices 
thereon  offered  Avere  acceptable  to 
him,  and  were  food  to  the  hungry, 
Mai.  i.  7,  1 2.  The  ordinances  of  the 
church  are  likened  to  a  table,  as  they 
exhibit  to  us  the  fulness  of  God  for 
the  nourishment  of  our  souls.  Psalm 
Ixix.  22.  Luke  xxii.  30.  (3.)  The 
provision  set  upon  a  table  to  be  eaten 
or  drunk,  nay,  all  kinds  of  provision 
spiritual  and  tenijwral ;  and  God/«r- 
nhhes  onc^s  tabic,  when  he  gives  him 
prosperity  in  the  world,  or  the  bread 
of  life  for  his  soul.  Psalm  xxiii.  5. 
Men  cannot  be  partakers  of  the 
tabic  of  the  Lord,  and  of  the  table 
of  devils;  cannot  consistently  eat 
of  the  things  sacrificed  to  idols  as 
such,  and  partake  of  the  Lord's  sup- 
per, 1  Cor.  X.  21.  The  preparing  a 
table  when  Babylon  was  taken,  im- 
ports, either  the  Medes  and  Persians 
providing  victuals  for  their  armj',  or 
the  Chaldeans'  luxurious  feasting  and 

Vol.   II. 


drunkenness,  Isa.  xxi.  5.  The  eiicKt 
tables  of  hewn  stone  in  Kzekiel's  vi- 
sionary tcLuple,  may  denote  the  fre- 
f|uently  administered  3U[)per  of  the 
Lord, firmly  establisiied  in  1  lie  church, 
and  accessible  to  Clu'istiaus  in  evt'ry 
corner,  Ezek.  xl.  41,  42.  The  table 
of  shon'-brcad  was  of  Shittim-wood 
overlaid  with  gold,  two  cul)its  in 
length,  one  in  breatlfh,  and  one  and 
a  half  in  h.eight.  At  the  top,  it  was 
surrounded  with  a  double  cornice, 
whicli  jireservcd  the  loaves  IVoin  full- 
ing ofE  It  was  iMjrtable  by  staves 
of  Shittim-wood  overlaid  with  gold. 
It  was  consecrated  by  sprinkling  of 
blood,  and  anointing  with  oil.  It 
stood  on  the  north-west  corner  of 
the  holy  place,  just  before  the  inner 
vail,  and  on  it  were  set  the  12  loaves 
of  show-bread.  Solomon  made  10  ta- 
bles of  show-bread.  Did  (his  table 
represent  .lesus's  persou,  as  in  his  in- 
tercession, presenting  all  his  chosen 
tribes  before  God ;  or  the  gospel,  as 
presenting  Christ  and  his  fulness  for 
our  spiritual  provision  ?  Exod.  xxv. 
23—30.  and  xxx.  27,  2  Chron.  iv. 
8,  19. 

TABLET,  an  ornament,  or,  as 
some  think,  a  box  for  perfume  to 
revive  the  faint,  Exod.  xxxv.  22. 

TABOR,  choice,  purity,  bruising, 
contrition,  (1.)  A  mountain  somewhat 
of  the  form  of  a  sugar-loaf,  near  Ka- 
desh  in  Galilee,  where  the  territories 
of  Issachar  and  Naphtali  nearly  met 
together,  Josh.  xix.  12,  22.  It  stood 
almost  straight  west  of  Hermon,  but 
on  the  other  side  of  Jordan,  and  in 
the  great  plain  of  Jez.reel.  Josephua 
says  it  is  about  four  miles  high,  and 
on  the  top  is  a  beautiful  plain  about 
three  miles  and  a  half  in  circumfer- 
ence, and  inclosed  with  trees,  except 
towards  the  south;  but  according  to 
Maundrel,  Thevenot,  and  Pocock, 
one  may  ride  to  the  top,  and  is  little 
more  than  one  mile  and  a  half  of 
ascent;  and  on  the  top  is  but  half  a 
mile  long,  and  a  quarter  broad :  whe- 
ther an  earthquake  may  have  partly 
sunk  it,  and  altered  its  form  since  the 
time  of  Josephus,  I  know  not.  The 
top,  from  whence  is  one  of  the  most 
3  S 


T  A  H 


(     506    ) 


T  A  L 


delightful  prospects  in  the  world,  was 
once    surrounded    with  a   wall    and 
trench,    and    possibly,    there    were 
houses  on  it.     On  this  mount,  Barak 
assembled  his  army,  and,  at  the  footi 
of  it,    defeated    the   host  of  Jabin, 
Judg.  iv.  6,  8.     On  the  top  of  it,  it; 
was  long  thought  onr   Saviour  was  I 
transfigured;  but  as  it  is  so  far  dis- 
tant from  Cesarea  Philippi,  where  hei 
was  before  and  after,  that  it  is  now 
doui)ted  by  most  peo[)le  of  judgment.; 
(2.)  Tabor  was  also  the  name  of  a! 
city  given  by  the  Zebulonites  to  the! 
Levites  of  Merari't)  family,  1  Chron. 
vi.  77.  and  of  a  place  near  Bethel,  1 
Sam.  X.  3. 

T  ABRKT,  a  kind  of  musical  drum 
for  expressing  gladness  at  feasts  and 
dancings,  and  in  religious  worship, 
Exod,  XV.  20,  20.  To  be  as  a  tabrct, 
is  to  be  greatly  loved  and  delighted 
in,  Job  xvii.  6.  To  be  adorned  with 
labrcts,  is  to  be  filled  with  gladness 
on  account  of  prosperty  and  happi- 
ness, Jer.  xxxi.  4.  To  tabcr  on  Uie 
brea.its.,  is  to  beat  them  as  if  a  drum, 
lor  vexation  and  grief,  Nah.  ii.  7. 

TACHES,  hooks,  clasps,  or  latch- 
es, of  gold  and  brass,  ibr  fastening 
together  the  curtains  of  the  taber- 
nacle, Exod.  xxvi.  G,  11. 

TACKLING,  the  roping  of  a  ship. 

TADMOR,  confession,  praise  of  a 
master,  now  PALMYRA,  was  built 
b}^  Solomon,  about  60  miles  east  of 
Damascus,  and  above  20  west  of  the 
Euphrates,  in  a  most  delightful  spot, 
surrounded  with  a  wide  sandy  desert, 
and  with  mountains  on  the  east, 
north,  and  west  sides.  Here  lived 
the  famed  critic  Longinus;  and  here 
Odenatus,  and  Zenobia  his  queen, 
formed  a  small  kingdom,  and  per- 
formed wondrous  exploits;  but  the 
Romans  seized  on  it  by  force  about 
A.  D.  273.  At  present  there  are 
about  30  wretched  families  in  it,  and 
plenty  of  magnificent  ruins,  sufficient 
to  astonish  every  judicious  beholder, 
1  Kings  ix.  18. 

T  AH?  ANHES,  hidden  confidence, 
secret  temptation,  Tehaphnehes,  or 
Hanes  :  a  city  of  Egypt,  and  pro- 
bably the  same  as  Daphnaj  PeJusiae, 


about  16  miles  south  of  Pelusium,  and 
on  the  east  of  the  Nile.  Hither  the 
rebellious  Jews,  under  Johanan  the 
son  of  Kareah,  retired ;  and  not  long 
after,  Nebuchadnezzar  took  it,  and 
placed  his  throne  at  the  entrance  of 
it,  as  Jeremiah  had  pointed  out  by 
the  hiding  ofstones,  Jer.  xliii.  7 — 11. 
Ezek.  XXX.  18. 

TAIL,  the  hinder  part  of  a  beast, 
Judg.  XV.  4.  in  allusion  to  which, 
whatever  is  low  and  contempfible  is 
called  the  tail,  Deut.  xxviii.  13.  Isa. 
ix.  14,  15.  and  xix.  15.  Because 
scorpions  and  serpents  do  much  hurt 
with  their  tails,  the  [)Ower,  policy, 
and  flattery,  wherewith  the  Papists 
and  Mahometans  spread  their  delu- 
sion, to  the  ruin  of  multitudes,  are 
called  their  tails;  or  the  tails  may 
signifysubordinate  ofiicersand  agents, 
ecclesiastic,  civil,  or  military,  Rev. 
ix.  lu,  19.  and  xii.  4.  Rezin  and 
Pekah  were  two  tidls  of  smoking  fire- 
brands, able  to  perform  little  of  what 
they  boasted,  and  near  to  ulter  de- 
struction, Isa.  vii.  4. 

TAKE,  (1.)  To  receive,  2  Kings 
XV.  15,  16.  (2.)  To  choose,  Deut. 
i.  13.  (3.)  To  seize  on,  1  Kings  xviii. 
40.  Heb.  v.  4.  (4.)  To  bear  away, 
John  ii.  16.  (5.)  To  improve,  exert, 
Eph.  vi.  13.  Rev.  xi.  17.  To  take 
away,  often  signifies  the  entire  de- 
struction of  a  thing,  and  its  causes 
and  effects,  Heb.  x.  4,  9.  Christ  takes 
away  sin ;  his  grace  removes  the 
guilt;  his  Spirit  its  power  and  stain; 
and  his  benefits  conferred,  the  fruit 
thereof,  John  i.  29.  Troubles,  when 
sanctified,  take  away  sin;  they  cause 
men  to  give  up  their  idols  and  idola- 
tries, and  to  abhor  and  watch  against 
sinful  practices,  Isa.  xxvii.  9.  A  man 
is  taken  and  held  fast  by  his  sins, 
when  he  is  ensnared  and  ruined  by 
them,  Prov.  v.  22. 

TALE,  (1.)  Sum,  number,  Exod^ 
V.  8.  (2.)  Story,  Luke  xxiv.  11. 
Our  life  is  like  a  tale  that  is  told, 
very  short  and  unsubstantial,  Psal. 
xc.  9.  Tale-bearers,  are  such  as  car- 
ry tales  to  raise  strife  and  contention, 
or  who  slander  and  backbite,  Lev 
xix.  1 6.   Eaek.  xxii.  9. 


T  A  ai 


(     ^07     ) 


T  A  iM 


TALENT,  a  Wfight  amnnj:  tliPi 
Jews  CMiilainiiii!;  3000  i^liekf  I?;  u  liich 
if  a  shekel  of  silver  is  rot^koiicd.  at 
thrt'e  shillings,  a  tah-nt  of  it  will 
amount  to  -150/.  stt-iliu;!,  and  one  of 
golii  to  16  times  as  tnucli,  viz.  7200/. 
Kut  we,  suppojinc;  a  shekel  of  silver 
to  l)e  consi(kr;i!)ly  less,  viz.  2.?.  '■^^tl. 
commite  the  talent  of  silver  at  3421. 
2s.  9(1.  and  a  talent  of  «:ohl  at  5^75/. 
sterling,  Exod.  xxxviii.  24,  27. 
The  weight  of  a  Jewi^h  talent  for 
weighing  silver,  was  113  pounds,  10 
ounces,  1  pennyweight,  and  10^ 
grains :  but  their  talent  used  in 
weighing  other  things  was  probably 
9  fifth  i)art  heavier.  The  Egyptian 
talent  was  Sfci  pounds  and  almost  9 
ounces.  Thej^  had  a  talent  at  Anti- 
och,  that  weighed  390  pounds  and 
about  3^  ounces.  "Whatever  gifts  or 
opportunities  Go\l  gives  to  men  for 
their  usefulness,  are  called /^ou^r/.y  and 
talents  ;  au<l  to  some  he  gives  these  in 
greater,  and  to  others  in  lesser  pro- 
portion, but  all  ought  to  improve 
what  thej'  receive,  and  must  give  ac- 
count of  their  use  or  abuse  thereof. 
Matt.  XXV.  15—29.  Luke  xix.  To 
mark  the  infinite  disproi)ortion  be- 
tween the  offences  done  by  us  to  God, 
and  those  done  by  men  to  us;  the 
former  are  called  10,000  talents,  and 
the  latter  100  pence,  Blatt.  xviii. 
24,  28.  God's  heavy  judgments  on 
the  lews  and  Antichristians,  are  re- 
presented as  of  the  ivciaht  of  a  talent, 
Zech.  V.  7.  Rev.  xvi.  21. 

TALK,  s|»eech  to  another.  Job 
\\.  2.  Talkers  are  such  as  are  ex- 
ceedingly given  to  talk,  Ezek.xxxvi. 
3.  Talk  sometimes  signifies  medita- 
tion, as  we  should  never  speak  but 
alter  due  thought,  Psal.  Ixxi.  24. 

TALITHA-CU3n,  a  Syriac  ex- 
pression, which  signifies.  Maid,  arise, 
Mark  V.  41. 

TALMAL     See  Geshur. 

TAMAR,  a  palm-tree.  See  Ju- 
DAH,  Absalom,  Amnon.  Tamar, 
a  city,  is  |)robably  the  same  as   En- 

GEDI. 

TAMMUZ,  or  THAMMUZ,  con- 
sumcd,  abstruse,  concealed,  the  4th 
month  of  the  Jews  aacred  year,  and 


lOlh  of  (heir  civil.  It  consists  of  29 
days,  and  answers  lo  part  of  our  June 
and  July.  On  the  17(h  day  of  it, 
the  Jews  fast  for  the  sin  and  punish- 
ment of  making  the  golden  calf.  Du- 
ring the  captivity  of  Babylori,  they 
in  this  month  obser\ed  a  last,  lo  be- 
wail the  destruction  of  Jerusalem,  Jer. 
xxxix.  2.  Zech.  viii.  10.(2.)TAMMtf7:, 
an  idol,  called  also  Adonis,  Osiris, 
Adonosiris,  and  perhaps  Cheniosh, 
and  Haal-peor.  It  is  e<ii<l,  he  was 
either  Thamus,  an  ancient  king  of 
Upper  Egypt,  or  was  Adonis,  the 
son  of  Cyniras  an  Assyrian,  wlio 
founded  the  city  of  Pajthos  in  Cy- 
prus, by  his  own  daughter  IMyrrha. 
To  cover  hiy  incestuous  birth,  he 
was  brought  up  among  the  shepherds. 
Ventis,  the  goddess  of  whoredom, 
fell  in  love  with  him  for  his  beauty, 
on  account  of  wliich  iMars  her  hus- 
band killed  him.  Venus  lamented 
hisd.eath  in  the  most  inconsolable 
manner.  To  complj^  with  her  pat- 
tern, the  eastern  nations  of  Sj'ria, 
Pbenicia,  A;c.  had  a  stated  solemuif}', 
to  bewail  the  <leath  of  the  celebrated 
whoremonger. 

The  Hebrews,  in  derision, call  him 
sometimes  the  dead,  Psal.  cvi.  28. 
and  Lev.  xix.  28.  and  at  other  times 
the}'  call  him  the  image  of  jealousy, 
Ezek.  viii.  3.  5,  Ijccause  he  was  the 
olyect  of  the  god  Mars's  jealousy. 
The  Syrians,  Plienicians,  and  Cypri- 
ans, called  him  Adonis;  and  Calmet 
is  of  opinion,  that  the  Ammonites 
and  Moabites  gave  him  the  name  of 
liaal-peor. — The  manner  wlierein 
they  celebrated  the  festival  of  this 
false  deity,  was  this:  They  repre- 
sented him  as  lying  dead  in  his  cof- 
fin: they  wept  for  him,  bemoaned 
themselves,  and  sought  for  him  with 
great  eagerness  and  inquietude.  Af- 
ter this,  they  pretended  that  they  had 
found  him  again,  and  that  he  was 
living.  At  this  good  news,  they 
showed  marks  of  the  most  extraordi- 
nary joy,  and  were  guilty  of  a  thou- 
sand lewd  practices,  to  convince  Ve- 
nus how  gladly  they  congratulated 
her  upon  the  return  and  revival  of 
her    favourite,   as  before   tliey   had 


TAR 


(     508     ) 


TAR 


condoled  her  upon  the  loss  of  him, 
and  his  death. — The  Hebrew  women, 
of  whom  the  prophet  Ezekiel  is 
speaking,  celebrated  the  feasts  of 
Tamniuz,  or  Adonis,  in  Jerusalem  ; 
and  God  showed  the  prophet  these 
women  weeping;  even  in  his  temple, 
for  this  infamous  god. 

TANACH,  or  Taanach,  hreak- 
ing  asunder,  humbling  thee,  answer- 
ing to  thee,  a  city  of  the  Manassites, 
nearEndor  andMegiddo.  It  was  given 
to  the  Kohathiles:  but  the  Canaan- 
ites  long  retained  it  in  their  hands, 
Josh.  xvii.  ll.andxxi. 25.  Judg. i.27. 

TAPESTRY,  cloth  beautifully 
figured  in  the  loom,  or  with  the  needle. 
It  was  anciently  used  in  the  east,  as 
early  as  the  age  of  Solomon.  The 
crusaders  seem  to  have  introduced 
the  art  of  making  it  in  Europe  about 
six  hundred  years  ago.  The  English 
and  Flemish  first  distinguished  them- 
Belves  in  making  it,  but  the  French 
knew  liltleof  it,  till  within  200  years. 
It  is  used  to  cover  beds,  and  to  hang 
fine  rooms.  Its  figures  are  frequently 
formetl  with  threads  of  gold,  Frov. 
vii.  16. 

T  A  FPU  A,  an  apple,  a  smelling  in 
the  body,  a  cit)' ;  it  belonged  to  the 
tribe  of  Ephraim,  and  is  probably  the 
same  asEntappua,  which  was  fortified 
by  Bacchides,  the  Syro-Grecian  gene- 
ral, .losh.  xvii.  7, 8.  Another,  situated 
in  the  low  country,  belonged  to  Judah, 
and  was  different  from  Beth-Tappua 
in  the  hill  country,  Josh.  xv.  34,  53. 

TARES.  We  have  a  kind  of  peas 
called  tares :  but  what  the  scripture 
mentions  under  that  name,  appears 
to  be  a  weed  very  hurtful  to  corn. 
Its  stem  is  smaller  than  that  of  wheat, 
and  at  the  top  springs  forth  a  long 
ear,  with  small  husks  surrounding 
three  or  four  grains.  The  meal  of 
tares  is  unwholesome;  it  loads  the 
stomach,  and  intoxicates,  creating 
drowsiness,  heaviness,  and  head-ach. 
— Formal  and  hypocritical  professors 
of  religion  are  likened  to  tares ; 
they  grow  up  among  the  saints,  are 
somewhat  similar  in  their  outward 
conduct,  are  very  hurtful,  but  can- 
not be  fully  separated  with  safety  till 


the  last  day,  when  they  shall  be  cast 
into  everlasting  fire. 

TARGET.  See  Shield.  But 
Goliah's  chidon  probably  signifies  a 
gorget,  corselet,  or  neck-piece,  1 
Sam.  xvii.  6. 

TARRY,  (1.)  To  abide,  continue. 
Gen.  xxvii.  44.  (2.)  To  stay  behind, 
Exod.  xii.  39.  (3.)  To  deter,  delay, 
Gen.  xlv.  9.  (4.)  To  wait,  stay  for, 
Exod.  xxiv.  14.  God  and  his  salva- 
tion tarry,  when  notwithstanding 
his  people's  distress  and  prayers,  he 
for  a  time  defers  to  deliver  them, 
Psal.  xl.  17.  Isa.  xlvi.  13. 

TARSHISH,  Tarsus,  contempla- 
tion, examination,  the  son  of  Javan, 
and  who  probably  founded  Tarshish, 
or  Tarsus  in  Cilicia,  and  gave  his 
name  to  the  country,  and  was  perhaps 
the  father  of  the  Etrusci  in  Italy. 
Perhaps  different  places  are  called 
Tarshish.  Tarsus  in  Cilicia  was  the 
nearest  to  Canaan  that  we  know  of. 
It  was  the  capital  city  of  the  coun- 
try, and  built  on  the  river  Cydnus, 
about  six  miles  from  the  sea  :  and 
which  Strabo  says,  was  built  by  Sar- 
danapalus  the  king  of  Assyria,  It  is 
said  once  to  have  equalled  Athens 
and  Alexandria  in  polite  learning. 
Julius  Cesar  bestowed  on  it  the 
same  privileges  as  Rome  had;  and 
hence  Paul  was  here  free  born.  To 
show  their  gratitude,  the  inhabitants 
turned  the  name  of  the  city  into  Juli- 
opolis,  or  the  city  of  Julius.  During 
the  wars  of  the  Greek  emperors  with 
the  Persians  and  Saracens,  this  city 
suffered  much,  and  is  at  present  of 
no  importance  :  but  Christianity  be- 
ing here  planted  by  Paul,  has  never 
since  been  wholly  extinct.  Perhaps 
this  is  the  Tarshish  for  which  Jonah 
set  out,  Jon.  i.  3.  Sometimes  Tar- 
shish seems  to  denote  the  sea  in  ge- 
neral, so  called  from  the  blue-green- 
ish colour,  as  Isa.  Ix.  9.  Psal.  xlviii. 
7.  Sometimes  it  appears  to  mean  Car- 
thage in  Africa,  orTartessusin  Spain, 
Isaiah  xxii.  6.  for  in  vain  would  the 
Tyrians  have  fled  from  Nebuchad- 
nezzar, or  Alexander,  to  Tarsus  in 
Cilicia.  Hillar  will  have  Tarshish 
to  signify  the  country  of  the  Celtae 


T  A  S 


(     309     ) 


TAX 


ID  Gaul,  Spain,  <S:c.  Psal.  Ixxii.  lO. 
But  tliere  must  still  be  another  Tar- 
■shish,  to  which  Solomon  traded  from 
the  Re«l  Sea,  and  for  which  Jchosha- 
phat  fitted  out  his  fleet.  This  could 
not  he  in  TSorth  Africa,  or  in  Spain, 
as  the  way  to  these  places  by  sea  was 
Oor  7000  miles  nearer  from  Jopou 
than  from  the  Red  Sea.  We  must 
therefore  suppose  a  Tarshish  on  the 
fH^t  of  Africa,  or  in  the  Indies,  and 
perhaps  near  to  the  most  distant 
Opiiir,  1  Kings  x.  22.  3  Chron. 
XX.  3'!.  Jer.  x.  9. 

TARTAK,  chained,  bound,  shut 
up,  the  idolof  the  Avites.  The  Jewish 
writers  think  he  had  the  figure  of  an 
ass;  but  Jurieu  will  have  this  idol  to 
be  the  chariot  of  the  sun,  or  the  suu 
in  his  chariot,  2  Kings  xvii.  31. 

TARTAN.  See  Esariiaddon, 
Sennacherib. 

TASK,  the  quantity  of  work  re- 
quired of  a  person  :  and  task-mas- 
ters are  such  overseers  as  make  the 
tasked  to  perform  their  work,  Exod. 
V.  11. 

To  TASTE,  (1.)  To  try  the  re- 
lish of  a  thing  by  the  tongue  or  pa-j 
late,  Job  xxxiv.  3.  (2.)  To  eat  orj 
drink  a  little,  as  if  trying  the  relish! 
of  the  food,  1  Sam.  xiv.  29.  Dan.} 
V.  2.  (3.)  To  have  an  experimen- 
tal knowledge  of;  thus  men  iaata 
death  when  they  feel  it.  Matt.  xvi. 
28.  they  taste  that  the  Lord  is  ^ra- 
cious  and  good,  when  they  spiritu- 
ally discern  and  feel  his  grace  and 
goodness  working  for  and  in  them,' 
1  Pet.  ii.  2.  Psalm  xxxiv.  8.  Meni 
taste  the  good  ivord  of  God,  andj 
the  hcavaidy  gift,  when  they  have 
such  exjjerience  of  the  power  of  the 
Holy  Ghost,  in  and  by  the  word, 
as  fills  theni  with  comfort  and  joy, 
Heb.  vi.  4,  5. 

Taste,  is,  (l.^  Relish,  Exod. 
xvi.  31.  .Job  vi.  6.  (2.)  The  roof 
of  the  mouth,  which  discerns  the 
relish  of  meats,  Prov.  xxiv.  13. 
(3.)  Our  judgment  and  affections, 
which  discern  the  propriety  and 
agreeableness  of  things  to  the  soul, 
Psal.  cxix.  103.  Songii.  3.  Moab's 
taste  remained  in  him,  and  his  scent  \ 


was  not  changed.  Their  power,  and 
idolatry,  pride,  presumption,  luxury, 
and  other  wickedness,  continued  the 
same  from  age  to  age,  as  wine  stand- 
ing on  its  lees  retains  its  stretigth, 
colour,  and  relish,  Jer.  xlviii.  1). 

T  ATLERS,  such  as  idly  and  fool- 
ishly speak  of  things  without  know- 
ing or  being  concerned  about  them, 
1  Tim.  v.  13. 

TATNAI.     See  Samaritans. 

The  THREE-TAVERNS,  was  a 
place  about  33  miles  south  of  Rome, 
where  it  seems  there  were  three  ta- 
verns, or  public  jdaces  of  accommo- 
dation, Acts  xxviii.  15. 

TAUNT,  a  common  by- word,  a 
laughing-stock,  Jer.  xxiv.  9.  Ezek. 
V.  15. 

TAX,  TOLL,  TRIBUTE,  a  sum  of 
money,  or  goods,  paid  to  rulers,  as 
a  token  of  submission  to  them,  and  to 
reward  their  labour  in  government, 
and  aid  the  expense  of  it,  2  Chron. 
xvii.  11.  2  Kings  xxiii.  35.  \.'  the 
Hebrews  acknowledged  God  lor  their 
pro[)er  king,  they  paid  their  tribute 
to  him  in  tithes,  offerings,  and  soul- 
money,  Exod.  XXX.  13.  Lev.  i.  fo 
vii,  6:c.  Wherever  they  prevailed 
over  the  Canaanites,  they  laid  the.Ti 
under  tribute.  Josh.  xvi.  10.  Judg. 
i.  30 — 35.  Towards  the  end  of  his 
reign,  Solomon  imposed  a  tribute  on 
the  Hebrews,  which  issued  in  the  re- 
volt of  teu  tribes  from  his  son,  1 
Kings  xii.  The  Syrians  too,  and  As- 
syrians, Chaldeans,  Persians,  Greeks, 
and  Romans,  in  their  turn,  imposed 
tribute  on  them  and  other  conquered 
nations.  Seleucus,  the  son  of  An- 
tiochus  the  Great,  was  a  raiser  of 
taxes  in  the  glory  of  his  kingdom  ;  i.  e. 
famed  for  nothing  but  raising  of 
taxes,  to  pay  his  father's  debt  to  the 
Romans,  Dan.  xi.  20.  Cesar  Au- 
gustus ordered  that  an  enrolment, 
taxing,  or  census,  should  be  nsade  of 
all  his  subjects,  their  families,  and 
substance,  in  order  to  lay  on  the  tri- 
bute in  prO[iortion  to  their  ai)ility : 
this  was  begun  three  or  four  years 
before  the  birth  of  our  Saviour:  but 
Providence  so  ordered  it,  that  it  was 
not  carried  through  to  Bethlehem  till 


i 


TEA 


(     510     ) 


T  E  M 


the  time  of  his  birth,  Luke  ii.  2.  plentiful  crops;  thg  want  of  such 
This  tribute  was  not  levied  till  about;  the  Jewish  women  lamented,  Isa. 
10  or  11  years  after;  the  publicans  xxxii.  12. 
who  gathered  it,  were  greatly  de-{  TEDIOUS,  wearisome, 
tested.  Judas  of  Galilee  formed  a  TEBET,  or  Thebet,  good,  good- 
party  of  zealots,  who  seditiously  op-jnf5s,  the  tenth  month  of  the  Jewish 
posed  the  raising  of  it.  As  Jesus,  sacred  year,  and  fourth  of  their  civil, 
miraculously  procured  money  from  It  consisted  of  29  days.  On  the 
a  fish  to  pay  it  for  himself  and  Pe-j  eighth,  they  observe  a  last  for  the 
ter,  he,  in  a  convincing  manner,  di- 1  translation  of  their  law  into  Greek; 
rected  the  Jews  to  pay  it,  as  by  their  j  on  tiie  tenth,  a  fast  for  the  siege  of 
using  the  Roman  coin,  they  acknow-j  Jerusalem  by  the  Chaldeans,  2  Kings 


ledged  their  subjection,  Matt,  xxii 
16 — 18.      Tributary,    one    under 
tribute,  Judg.  i. 

TEACH,  INSTRUCT,  (1.)  To 
make  to  know,  Psal.  cxix.  26.  (2.) 
To  admonish,  to  direct,  Mark  viii. 
31.  God  leaches  men  by  his  word, 
informing  their  judgment;  by  his 
Spirit,  opening  their  understanding 
to  discern  divine  things ;  and  by  his 
providence,  pointing  out  what  we 
have  done,  or  ought  to  do,  and  what 
we  may  ex[»ect  at  his  hand,  Rom.  ii. 
18.  Neh.  is.  20.  Jer.  vi.  8.  Prov. 
xxiv.  32.  Psal.  xxv.  8,  9.  Christ's 
right  hand  teaches  him  terrible  things, 
when  he  performs  marvellous  works 
for  the  salvation  of  his  people,  and 
the  destruction  of  their  enemies,  Psal. 


xxv.  1.  On  the  2Sth,  a  feast  of  joy 
for  the  ejection  of  the  Sad'icees 
from  the  sanhedrim,  where,  under 
Janneus,  they  had  almost  the  whole 
power. 

TEKOAH,  fastened,  confirmed, 
a  pleasant  city  about  12  miles  south  of 
Jerusalem,  built  by  one  Asher,  or 
Ashur,  1  Chron.ii.  24,  and  iv.  5.  and 
which  had  a  wilderness  adjacent  to 
it,  that  reached  almost  to  the  Dead 
8ea.  A  widow  of  it  persuaded  David 
to  recall  Absalom,  2  Sam.  xiv.  Reho- 
boam  repaired  and  fortified  it,  2  Chr. 
xi.  6.  Near  to  it  Jehoshaphat's 
enemies  massacred  one  another,  2 
Chron.  xx.  20 — 23.  Amos  the  pro- 
phet was  a  herdsman  of  it,  Amos  i.  1 . 
Hither  Jonathan  the  Maccabee  retir- 


xlv.  4.  To  teach  by  the  hand  of  G9d,\ei\  from  Bacchides,  the  Syrian  gene- 
is  to  do  it  by  his  assistance,  Jobjral,  as  the  city  had  but  one  entrance. 
xxvii.  II.  To  teach  withUie  fingers, ^Peih8.\}s  there  was  another  Tekoah, 
is  by  gestures   to   excite  others  to  north  of  Jerusalem,  Jer.  vi.  1. 


what  is  shameful  to  be  expressed  in 
words,  Prov.  vi.  13.  A  teacher, 
is,  (1.)  A  master,  an   instructor,  1 


TELA.SSAR.     See  Eden. 
TEL-ABIB,  a  heap  cf  new  grain, 
a  place  of  Chaldea   between  the  ri- 


Chron.  xxv.  8.     (2.)  A  minister  of|  vers    Chebar  and    Saocoras,   Ezek. 
the  gospel,   who  by  his  doctrine  and  iii.  15. 


practice  makes  men  to  understand  the 
truths  of   God,    Eph.  iv.   11.     (3.) 


TELEM,  or  Telaim,   their  dew, 
their  shadow,  a  city  on  the  south  fron- 


One  who,  by  private  instruction  orj  tiers  of  Judea,  where  Saul  mustered 
example,  makes  others  to  know  spi-  his  forces  to  march  against  the  Ama- 


ritual  things.  Tit.  ii.  3. 

TEAR.     See  rend. 

TEARS,  (1.)  Drops  of  water 
which  fall  from  weeping  eyes,  Psal. 
ri.  6.  (2.)  Affliction  and  sorrow, 
Psal.  cxxvi.  5.  Isa.  xxv.  8. 

TEATS,  (1.)  Paps,  dugs.  The 
Jews  had  iheh  teats  of  virginity  bruis- 
ed, when  they  were  seduced  into  the 
idolatry  of  the  Heathens  around, 
Ezek.  xxiii.   3.      (2.)     Prosperity, 


lekites.  Josh.  xv.  24.    1  Sam.  xv.  5. 

TELMELA,  a  heap  of  salt,  Tel- 
harsha,  Cherub,  Addan,  and 
Immer,  were  probably  all  cities  of 
Chaldea,  Ezraii.  59. 

TELL,(  1 .)  To  count,  to  number, 
Gen.  XV.  5.  (2.)  To  make  known 
to.  Gen.  xii.  18.  2  Sam.  i.  20.  (3.) 
To  explain,  interpret,  Ezek.  xxiv. 
19.  Dan.  ii.  36. 

TEMA,  admiration  at,  perfection. 


T  E  M 


(    ^n    ) 


T  E  il 


a  son  of  Ishmael,  uho  probably  founil- 
ed  the  city  Thema,  or  Tjjarnma,  nerir 
the  weft  of  Chalilea,  and  was  the 
parent  of  the  troops  of  TenHiy  Gen. 
XXV.  5.  Job  ix.  10. 

TEMAN,  or  Timnah,  the  south, 
ov  perfect,  the  pramUon  of  Esau  l)y 
his  3on  Eiiphaz,  and  parent  of  the 
Tenianites,  of  whom  Elioha?.,  Job's 
friend,  was  one,  and  Hurham,  an 
aniient  king  of  Edoin,  another,  Gen. 
xx^;vi.  34.  We  suppose  he  built  a 
city  called  Teman,  about  five  miles 
from  Petra.  Most,  if  not  tlie  whole 
of  the  land  of  Edom,  is  sometimes 
culled  Tunan,  Jer.  xlix.  20.  Amos  i. 
12.  The  symbols  of  the  divine  pre- 
ee'ice  seemed  to  move  from  above  the 
land  of  Teman  and  Paran,  to  Sinai, 
wiiich  lay  south- west  thtrefrom,  Hab. 
iii.  3. 

TEMPEST.     See  Storm. 

TEAJPLE.  The  Jews  sometimes 
called  the  tabernacle  by  this  name, 
1  Sam.  i.  9.  and  iii.  3.  The  houses 
built  for  the  resilience  of  idols,  were 
likewise  so  called;  but  that  built  at 
Jerusalem  for  the  worship  of  the  true 
God  is  so  termed  by  way  of  emi- 
nence. We  have  ditferent  descrip- 
tions of  this  magniticent  structure. 
Villal[)andiis,  a  learned  Jesuit,  and 
famed  architect,  has  published  a 
splendid  one  in  three  volumes  in 
folio;  but  it  is  chiefly  founded  on 
EzeUiel's  visionary  descriptions,  and 
his  own  fancy  and  rules  of  archi- 
tecture, and  not  on  the  plain  reports 
of  scripture.  Lightfoot  too,  and 
Prideaux,  have  given  us  laboured  de- 
scriptions; but  as  these  are  founded 
on  Josephus's  account  of  Herod's 
form  of  it,  and  on  the  Talmud, 
whose  authors  lived  long  after  it  was 
in  ruins,  we  cannot  depend  on  them 
as  descriptions  of  Solomon's  temple 
Our  accounts  shall  be  taken  from  the 
history  of  the  Bible,  which  alone,  we 
suppose,  is  to  be  lully  credited  in  this 
matter. 

The  preparations  for  this  temple 
were  immense.  David  and  his  princes 
assigned  thereto  108,000  talents  of 
gold,  1,017,000  talents  of  silver,  both 
which  together  amounted  to  about 


042,719,750/.  or  9.39,290,087/.  ster- 
liufT,    and    in    weigiht    amounted    to 
about  40,000  tons  \vei2;bt  of  gold  and 
silver.  Al)Out  183,000  men,  Hebrews 
and  Canaanites,  went   employed  in 
l)uilding  it.     Every  thing  was  ma«ie 
ready  ere   it   cume    to  the  spot,  so 
that   nothing    was   to   be   done   but 
joining  the  materials;  and  yet  it  was 
seven    years  in    building.     It    was 
erected  on  mount  Moriah.     The  top 
of  this  hill  was  inclosed  with  a  wall. 
Into   this  there  was  an  entrance  on 
every  side ;  besides  one  towards  the 
south-west    for    the    royal    family, 
whereby,  on  a  raised  waj-,  called  the 
gateofShallcchclh,  they  catne  totheif 
place  in   the  covert  of  the  Sabbath, 
The  east  gate  was  called  Sur ;  (he 
south  gate  was  called  A.suppim,  be- 
cause it  seems  there  the  Levites  con- 
vened to   receive   their   directions : 
and  the  gate  Farbar  was  at  (he  north- 
west of  the  temple.     At  the  side  of 
every  gate,  and  at  every  corner  of 
the  court,  houses  seem  to  have  been 
built.     Into  this  outer  court,  every 
clean   Hebrew,  or  proselyte  of  the 
covenant,  might  enter.     In  our  Sa- 
viour's time,  there  was  a  court  of  the 
Gentiles  without  this.     In  the  mid- 
dle of  the  outer  court,  but  nearer  to 
the  west  end,  there  was  a  court  for 
the   priests  and  Levites,  stretching 
oblongl}"^  from  west  to  east,  and  was 
surropuded  with  a  low  wall  of  about 
four  feet  hir^li,  that  the  people  might, 
I  over   the   top  of  it,  see   whit   was 
I  doing  by  the  priest.     This  court  had 
two  entrances ;  one  on  the  north  side, 
{and  another  on  the  south.     In  this 
i  court,  just  before  the  east  end  of  the 
'temple,    stood  the  brazen   altar,  20 
[cubits  long,  as  many  broad,  and  10 
high;  and  the  brazen  sea  and  lavers; 
■  which  brass-work  was  cast  in   the 
clay  ground  near  Succoth  and  Za- 
;  retan.     The  temple,  properly  so  call- 
ed, stood  from  west  to  east,  near  the 
west  end  of  the  court  of  the  priests, 
;  and    had  its  sole  entrance  on   the 
!  east  end.    First,  you  came  to  a  porch 
;  20  cubits  from  north   to  south,  and 
;10    from    east  to  wef^t,  and  120  in 
I  height,     Tbia  scrveil  as  n  steeple  to 


T  E  M 


(     ^^2     ) 


T  E  IVI 


adorn  it,  and  was  a  place  of  shelter 
and  of  prayer  to  the  serving  priests. 
On  each  side  of  its  entrance  was  a 
pillar  about  18  cubits  high,  and  12 
cubits  in  circumference,  and  adorn- 
ed with  chapiters,  and  about  200  fi- 
gures of  pomegranates.  The  one 
was  called  Jachin,  stahiliiy ;  jind 
the  other  Boaz,  strength. — Passing 
through  this  porch,  you  enter  the 
sanctuary  or  holy  place,  which  was 
40  cubits  in  length,  20  in  breadth, 
and  30  in  height ;  at  the  west  end  of 
W' hich  stood  ten  golden  candlesticks, 
on  the  south  side,  and  on  the  north  10 
tables,  with  1 2  loaves  of  show-bread 
on  each :  and  in  the  middle,  between 
them,  stood  the  golden  altar  of  in 
cense.  In  this  apartment  too,  were 
lodged  the  silver  trumpets^  the  stand 
ards  of  w^eight  and  measure,  and  the 
sacred  treasures.  Passing  through  the 
sanctuary  lengthwise,  you  entered 
by  a  fine  vail,  and  a  two-leaved  door 
of  olive-tree,  into  the  oracle  or  most 
holy  place,  into  which  only  the  high 
priest  might  enter,  and  that  only  up- 
on the  da}'^  of  atonement.  It  was  a 
square  of  20  cubits  every  way,  and 
here  stood  the  ark  with  its  furniture ; 
and  Solomon  made  two  new  cheru- 
hinis  of  oUve-tree,  which  oversha- 
doAved  the  two  golden  ones,  and 
stretched  their  wings  the  whole 
breadth  of  the  house.  The  wall  of 
the  house  was  reared  with  alternate 
rows  of  fine  cedar- wood  and  hewn 
stone,  probably  polished  marble ; 
the  inside  was  carved  with  figures 
of  cherubim  and  palm-trees ;  and 
the  whole  inside  floor,  wall,  and 
roof,  was  overlaid  with  gold.  The 
oracle  had  no  windows  at  all,  but 
Was  perpetually  dark ;  the  sanctuary 
had  narrow  windows,  light  against 
light.  If  the  90  priests'  chambers  of 
three  stories,  30  in  each,  were 
huilt  on  the  wall  of  the  temple,  the 
windows  of  the  sanctuary  were  of 
course  high ;  but  if,  with  some,  we 
suppose  the  priests'  chambers  built 
on  the  top  of  the  temple,  the  win- 
doAvs  might  be  low  enough.  About 
1 1  months  after  the  building  was 
finished,  and  just  before  the  feast  of 


tabernacles,  this  temple  was  furnish* 
ed  with  the  ark  and  other  sacred 
utensils,  and  the  Shechinah  or  cioud 
of  divine  glory  entered  it,  to  take  up 
its  rest  over  the  ark,  between  the 
cherubim;  it  was  dedicated  with  a 
solemn  prayer  by  Solomon,  by  seven 
days  of  sacred  feasting,  and  by  a 
peace-offering  of  22,000  oxen,  and 
120,000  sheep,  to  consume  which, 
the  holy  (ire  anew  came  down  from 
heaven.  The  temple  service  con- 
sisted in  sacrifices,  songs,  prayers, 
&c.  1  Chron.  xxii.  and  xsvi.  and 
xxix.  1 — 9.  1  Kings  vii.  to  viii. 
2  Chron.  iii.  to  vi.  Did  not  this 
temple  typify  Christ's  manhood,  as 
the  wonderfully  prepared,  the  curi- 
ous, pine,  and  glorious  residence  of 
his  Godhead,  and  through  which  we 
have  access  to  worsliip  God  ?  John 
ii.  10.  Did  it  represent  his  person, 
freely  set  up  to  be  our  Mediator,  as 
\he  glorious,  fixed,  and  lasting  mean 
of  our  fellowship  with  God,  and  of 
receiving  all  blessings  from  him  ?  Col. 
i.  19.  and  ii.  9.  Did  it  typify  the 
gospel-church,  large,  glorious,  and 
firmly  founded,  reared  up  with  lively 
stones,  or  true  believers,  connected 
together  by  the  Spirit  and  grace  of 
Christ,  and  fitted  to  be  the  residence 
of  God,  Father,  Son,  and  Holv 
Ghost  ?  Eph.  ii.  20—22.  Did  it  also 
prefigure  heaven,  as  the  glorious  and 
fixed  residence  of  the  Most  High, 
where  he  is  adored  by  multitudes  of 
angels  and  men,  and  honoured  with 
endless  anthems  of  praise  ?  Psal.  xi, 
4.  Rev.  vii.  15.  The  saints  are 
tcmplt'S  ;  their  souls,  and  ev^n  their 
bodies,  are,  by  the  Spirit  of  Christ, 
fitted  and  set  apart  to  the  service, 
and  to  be  the  residence  of  God,  1 
Cor.  iii.  16.  and  vi.  19.  2  Cor.  vi. 
1  (5.  John  saw  no  temple  in  heaven, 
lor  the  Lord  God  and  lite  Lamb  are 
the  temple  thereof.  In  the  millennial 
period,  outward  pomp  and  ceremony 
shall  be  set  at  nought,  and  real  fel- 
lowshii*  with  God  alone  be  prized  ,- 
and  in  heaven  instituted  ordinances 
shall  cease,  and  the  full  enjoyment  of 
God  be  all  am'  in  all,  Uy .  xxi.  22. 
The   Jewish    temple   remained  but 


T  E  M 


(     513     ) 


T  E  M 


about  34  years  in  its  glory,  whoa  Slii-j  Cyrus  would  order  tlip  height  and 
shak  carried  off  its  treasures,  1  Kings  breadtli,  and  not  tlie  lenirth.  Or  per- 
xW.  25.  Under  Jehorani,  Aha/.iah, 'ha|»s,  though  Solomon's  temple  was 
and  Athaliah,  it  Avas  much  decajetl; [but  20  cubits  from  side  to  ?ide  with- 


but  Jehoiada  and  Joash  repaired  it 
about  A.  M.  31 50.  Soon  alter,  Joash 
robbed  it  of  its  treasures,  to  give 
them  to  Hazael  king  of  Syria,  2 
Kings  xii.  2  Chron.  xxiv.  To  pro- 
cure the  assistance  of  Tiglath-jiileser 
the  Assyrian,  Ahaz  complimented 
him  with  the  treasures  of  the  temple. 
He  removed  the  brazen  altar,  and 
put  Ills  idolatrous  one  in  its  place. 
He  removed  the  brazen  sea  from  off 


in,  yet  the  breadth  of  the  walls, 
and  priest's  chambers  added  thereto, 
miglit  make  it  00  cubits.  This  se- 
cond temple,  built  under  the  direc- 
tion of  Zerubbabei  aud  Joshua  the 
high  priest,  wanted,  as  the  Jews  say, 
five  things  which  were  the  chief 
glory  of  the  former,  viz.  the  ark  and 
its  furniture,  the  Shechinah,  or  cloud 
of  the  divine  presence,  the  holy  fire, 
the  Urim  and    Thummim,  and  the 


the  oxen,  and  the  brazen  lavers  from  spirit  of  i)rophecy :  but  the  want  of 


off  their  pedestals  or  supporters,  and 
placed  them  on  the  ground.  He  also 
broke  many  of  the  sacred  vessels,  and 
shut  up  the  temple,  2  Chrou.  xxviii. 
2  Kings  xvi.  Hezekiab  repaired  it, 
and  made  such  vessels  for  it  as  it 
wanted;  but  in  the  14th  year  of  his 
reign,  he  was  induced  to  rob  it  of 
much  of  its  wealth,  to  give  it  to 
Sennacherib,  2  Chron.  xxix.  2  Kings 
xviii.  Manasseh  reared  altars  to  the 
host  of  heaven  in  the  sacred  courts, 
but  afterwards  restored  the  true  wor- 
ship of  God.  Josiah,  his  grandson, 
further  [lurged  the  temple,  and  re- 
placed the  ark  of  God  therein,  2 
Kings  xxi.  and  xxii.  2  Chron.  xxxiii. 
and  XXXV.  About  A.  M.  3398,  Ne- 
buchadnezzar carried  part  of  the  sa- 
cred vessels  to  Babylon,  and  about 
seven  years  after  he  carried  others : 
and  at  last,  in  34 IG,  entirely  burnt 
and  demolished  the  temple,  Ezek. 
vii.  20—22.  and  xxiv.  21.  Jer.  lii. 
13.  About  A.  M.  3469,  amidst  the 
joy  of  some,  and  mourning  of  others, 
it,  hy  Cyrus's  order,  began  to  be  re- 
built ;  and  notwithstanding  much 
hindrance,  was  finished  in  about  20 
years,  and  solemnly  dedicated  to  the 
service  of  God.  According  to  the 
Persian  king's  decree,  its  height  was 
60  cubits,  and  its  breadth  CO  :  per- 
haps the  porch  might  be  only  al- 
lowed to  be  CO  cubits  high,  which 
was  but  tlie  half  of  the  height  of 
that  erected  by  Solomon.  Or  v/hat 
we  render  hrcadlh  may  signify  the 
kn^lh,  as  it  is  scarcely  probable 
Vol-.  II. 


these  could  hardly  be  the  reason  of 
the  old  men's  mourning  when  they 
saw  the  foundation  of  it  laitl :  but 
the  true  reason  seems  to  be,  the  im- 
probability that  it,  when  founded  by 
a  few  poor  tributaries,  would  ever 
attain  to  the  glory  cf  the  former, 
reared  by  the  wisest  and  richest  of 
kings,  Ezra  i.  and  iii.  and  vi.  About 
A.  M.  3837,  Antiochus  profaned  it, 
stopped  the  daily  sacrifice,  and  erect- 
ed the  image  of  Jupiter  his  chief 
idol  on  the  altar  of  burnt-offering ; 
but,  about  three  years  after,  Judas. 
Maccabeus  purified  and  repaired  it, 
and  restored  the  true  worship  of  God. 
To  gain  the  affection  of  the  Jews, 
and  humour  his  own  pride,  HeroA 
the  Great,  about  ^.  M.  3987,  be- 
gan to  build  it  anew.  In  about  nine 
years  he  finished  the  principal  parts 
of  it:  but  46  years  after,  when  our 
Saviour  had  begun  his  public  minis- 
try, it  was  not  quite  finished :  nay, 
till  the  beginning  of  their  ruinous 
wars,  they  still  added  to  its  build- 
ings. Josephus  describes  this  tem« 
pie  as  follows:  It  was  built  on  a 
very  hard  rock,  wherein  the  founda- 
tions were  laid  with  incredible  ex- 
pense. The  temple  itself  was  00 
cubits  high,  and  as  many  "broad.  But 
in  the  front  Herod  added  two  wings 
or  shoulders,  each  of  which  projecting 
20  cubits,  made  the  whole  length  of 
the  front  100  cubits,  and  the  breadth 
as  many  :  and  the  gate  was  70  cubits 
high,  and  20  broad,  but  without 
any  doors.  The  stones  were  white, 
3  T 


T  E  M 


(     514     ) 


T  E  M 


marble,  25  cubits  in  length,  12  in  gate  were  two  large  square  chara* 
height,  and  9  in  breadth,  all  polish- 1  bers,  30  cubits  wide,  and  40  high, 
ed,  and  unspeakably  beautiful.  In- i  supported  by  pillars  of  12  cubits  in 
Btead  of  doors,  the  gate  was  closed. circumference.  On  the  inside,  ex- 
with  vails  flowered  with  gold,  sil-icept  on  the  west  side,  there  was  a 
ver,  purple,  and  every  thing  rich  and, double  flight  of  galleries,  supported 
curious.  At  each  side  of  the  gate  by  a  double  row  of  pillars.  The 
were  two  stately  pillars,  from  whence! gates  were  30  cubits  high,  and  15 
hung  golden  festoons,  and  vines  with;  broad.  The  women,  it  seems,  had 
leaves  and   clusters  of  grapes,  curi-;  their  separate  court,  and  entered  by. 


ously  wrought. — The  whole  inclo- 
sure  was  about  a  furlong  square,  sur- 
rounded with  a  liigh  wall  of  large 
stones,  some  of  them  above  40  cu- 


the  east  gate,  which  was  overlaid 
with  Corinthian  brass.  Within  this 
third  enclosure,  the  court  of  the 
priests  was  sei>arated  from   that  of 


bits  long,  and  all  fastened  to  one; the  people  by  a  low  wall.  Here 
another  with  lead  or  iron.  Where  the!  stood  the  altar  of  burnt-oflering, 
wall  was  raised  from  the  bottom  of  j  which  was  of  hewn  stone,  40  cubits 
the  adjacent  valley,  its  height  was  broad,  and  15  in  height;  and  the 
about  300  or  400  cubits.  On  the  lavers,  and  the  temple  properly  so 
inside  of  this  high  wall,  round  about 'called.  The  wall  of  the  temple  and 
were   erected    three  fine    galleries ;  its  roof  being  covered  with  gold   on 


the  narrowest  about  30  feet  wide, 
and  50  in  height ;  but  the  largest, 
which  was  between  the  other  two, 
was  45  feet  wide,  and  100  feet 
high.  These  galleries  were  suppwt- 
ed  by  lf)2    pillars  of  marble,  each 


the  outside,  made  a  glorious  appear- 
ance in  a  sunny  day.  Herod  solemnly 
dedicated  his  new  temple.  It  had  not 
stood  much  above  70  years,  when  the 
Jews  made  a  fort  of  it  in  their  ruin- 
ous war.     After  it  had  been  polluted 


about  27  feet  in  circumference.    The  I  with  murder,  and  every  other  wick- 


wall  of  this  inclosure  had  four  gates 
towards  the  west,  and  one  towards 
each  of  the  other  three  quarters. 
Solomon's  [)orch  was  at  the  east  gate 
of  the  temple,  called  Beautiful,  Acts 
iii.  2,  11.  The  piazzas  and  court 
were  paved  with  marble.  Within  this 
inclosure,  and  near  to  the  galleries, 
was  a  second,  surrounded  with  a 
flight  of  beautiful  marble  rails,  and 
with  stately  columns  at  proper  dis- 
tances, inscribed  with  mottos,  pro- 
hibiting the  Gentiles  and  unclean 
JeAVs  to  proceed  any  further.  This 
inclosure  had  oqe  gale  on  the  east 
jside,  three  on  the  south,  and  as  many 
on  the  north,  placed  at  equal  dis- 
tances. Within  this,  a  third  inclo- 
sure surrounded  the  temple  and  altar 
of  burnt-oftering.  Its  wall  had  a  flight 
of  14  steps  on  the  outside,  which  hid 
a  considerable  part  of  it;  and  on  the 
top,  quite  round  it,  had  a  terrace  of 
12  feet  broad.  This  inclosure  had 
one  gate  on  the  east,  four  on  the 
^south,andas  many  on  the  north,  at 
efp&l  distauceg.  At  the  inside  of  each 


edness,  it  was,  to  the  extreme  grief 
of  Titus  the  Roman  prince,  burnt  to 
the  ground.  To  give  the  lie  to  our 
Saviour,  who  had  said,  one  stone  of 
k  should  not  be  left  above  another, 
Julian  the  Roman  emperor,  in  con- 
currence with  the  Jews,  twice  at- 
tempted to  rebuild  it,  about  A.  D, 
390.  Earthquakes  and  flames  of  fire 
dispersed  their  materials,  and  killed 
a  vast  number  of  the  workmen.  At 
present  there  is  a  mock  temple  on 
the  south-east  of  Jerusalem,  whose 
court  is  570  paces  long,  and  370 
broad.  In  the  middle,  where  it  is 
supposed  the  Holy  of  Holies  stood, 
there  is  a  Mahometan  mosque.  To 
this  the  Mahometans  pay  great  vene- 
ration ;  but  no  Jew  or  Christian  dare 
enter  tins  court,  under  pain  of  death, 
or  of  redeeming  his  life  by  becoming 
a  Mahometan. 

The  Heathens  had  temples  for  their 
idols.  That  of  Belus  at  Babylon, 
of  Diana  at  Ephesus,  and  of  Jupiter 
in  the  Capitol  at  Rome,  and  that  oi" 
Beraphrs  at   Alexandria,    were  the 


TEN 


(     515     ) 


T  E  R 


most  iamous ;  hut  the  ancient  Per- 
sians, <fcc.  wouKl  build  none,  as  Goil 
is  omni|)resent. 

TEMPORAL,  belonging  to  lime, 
2  Cor.  iv.  18. 

TEMPT,  (1.)  To  (ry,  so  Go<i 
tempts  men  when  he  put<«  them  on  hard 
duties,  to  discover  their  grace,  their 
faith,  love,  and  obedience,  Gen.  xxii. 
1.  Men  tempt  God,  when  they  un- 
seasonably and  irreverently  require 
proofs  of  his  presence,  power,  and 
goodness  ;  when  they  expose  them- 
selves to  danger,  from  which  they 
cannot  escape  without  the  miraculous 
interposition  of  his  providence;  and 
when  they  sin  with  such  boldness  as 
if  they  wanted  to  try  whether  God 
could  or  would  know  an»I  punish 
them,  Exod.  xvii.  2.  Matt.  iv.  7. 
Mai.  iii.  15.  Acts  v.  9.  The  Jews 
tempted  Christ,  by  endeavouring  to 
provoke  or  ensnare  him.  Matt.  xvi. 
1.  and  xxii.  16.  (2.)  To  entice  to 
sin;  so  Satan  and  his  agents  tempt 
men,  and  on  that  account  he  is  called 
the  tempter,  1  Cor.  vii.  5.  1  Thess. 
iii.  5.  and  so  God  tempts  no  man, 
nor  is  he  effectually  tempted  of  any, 
Jam.  i.  13.  The  Hebrew  martyrs 
were  tempted,  were  tortured  or  burnt, 
Heb.  xi.  37.  Temptation  is,  (1.) 
The  enticement  of  a  person  to  sin, 
and  the  means  thereof;  this  men  are 
to  watch  and  pray  against,  IMatt. 
xxvi.  .41.  Go<\  leads  men  intotemp- 
talion,  when  he  withholds  his  provi- 
dential restraints;  when  he  gives 
them  up  to  Satan  and  their  own  lusts, 
or  to  their  wicked  neighbours,  to  be 
enticed  to  sin ;  or  when  such  occa- 
sions are  laid  before  them  as  they 
will  improve  to  perpetrate  their  wick- 
edness, Matt.  vi.  12.  (2.)  Trials,  sore 
afflictions,  persecutions,  Jam.  i.  2, 
12.  Luke  viii.  13.  and  xxii.  28. 
God's  miracles  of  mercy  and  judg- 
ment, whereby  he  tried  the  Hebrews 
and  Egyptians'  obedience  to  his  will, 
are  called  temptations,  Deut.  iv.  34. 
and  vii.  10. 

TEN,  is  a  number  of  perfection; 
and  ten  times,  is  often,  Gen.  xxxi.  7. 
Numb.  xiv.  12.  Job  xix.  3.  Ten 
j^otmds  or  talents,  Uenote  many  gilts 


and  opportunities,  I/uke  \ix.  13. 
Malt.  XXV.  28.  but  tin  days  of  tri- 
bulation, denote  a  short  sjiace;  or 
perhaps  here  is  an  allusion  to  the  ten 
years'  (»ersecution  of  Dioclesian,  Rev. 
u.  10.  See  HoKNs,  Crowns,  ToKS, 
Tithes.  A  tenth  part  may  signify 
one  kingdom,  or  a  consiilerable  part 
of  the  Popish  territory,  Rev.  xi.  13. 
but  in  Isa.  vi.  13.  a  tenth,  or  tenth 
part,  may  denote  a  few  persons  con- 
secrated to  the  service  of  God. 

To  TEND,  to  work  towards, 
Prov.  X.  16. 

TENDER,  (1.)  Wea]c  and  feeble, 
Gen.  xxxiii.  13.  (2.)  Nice  and  deli- 
cate, Deut.  xxviii.  56.  (3.)  Young 
and  carefully  educated,  Prov.  iv.  3. 
(4.)  Of  a  compassionate,  kind,  and 
forgiving  temper,  Eph.  iv.  32.  God's 
mercy  is  said  to  be  tender,  to  import 
that  it  is  infinitely  kind  and  affec- 
tionate, Psal.  xxv.  6.  A  tender  heart, 
is  one  which  is  easily  affected  with 
God's  law  or  providence,  and  cannot 
endure  what  is  sinful,  2  Chron.xxxiv. 
27.  Happy  are  those  young  persona 
who,  like  Josiah,  evidence  a  tender 
heart,  and  early  covenant  with  the 
Lord  to  be  his  servants. 

TENT.     See  Tabernacle. 

TERAH,  smelling,  breathing,  dri- 
ving away,  the  sonof  Nahor,  and  la- 
ther of  Haran,  Nahor,  and  Abraham, 
was  born  A.  M.  1878;  and  at  the 
1 30th  year  of  his  life  had  Abram  born 
to  him.  He  and  his  family  were  idol 
aters;  but  we  hope  God's  call  of 
Abraham  was  blesscdito  the  conver- 
sion of  divers  of  them.  It  is  cer- 
tain that  Terah  went  with  Abraham 
to  Haran,  and  died  there.  Gen.  xi. 
24  to  32,  Josh.  xxiv.  2,  14. 

TERAPHIM,  images,  forms, 
idols,  a  certain  kind  of  images  used 
by  the  ancients.  Some  think  they  were 
talismans,  or  figures  of  metal,  formed 
under  a  particular  aspect  of  the  pla- 
nets; and  to  which  they  ascribed  the 
preservation  of  the  family  from  evil, 
and  their  enjoyment  of  hap|)ine38. 
To  such  the  eastern  nations  have 
for  many  ages  been  exceedingly  ad- 
dicted; and  the  Persians  call  them 
tcUpliin,  which  is  much  Uie  game  as 


T  E  R 


(     516     ) 


T  E  S 


fieraphiofi.  Rabbi  Eliezer  the  Jew 
says,  teraphims  were  thus  formed : 
they  killed  a  first-born  child,  clave 
his  head,  and  sprinkled  it  with  salt 
and  oil ;  they  wrote  down  the  name 
of  some  devil  on  a  golden  plate, 
which  they  put  under  the  child's 
tongue :  they  then  placed  the  head 
in  some  niche  of  the  house-wall,  and 
lighted  lamps  to  it,  and  asked  it 
questions.  Others  think  the  icra- 
phim  were  little  images  of  deceased 
friends,  and  much  the  same  as  the 
household  gods  of  the  Romans,  or 
the  ancestors  of  the  Chinese.  It  is 
certain  they  were  consulted  for  ora- 
cles, Zech.  X.  ii.  To  transfer  her  fa- 
ther's good  success  to  herself  and  fa- 
mily, or  in  order  to  worship  them, 
Rachel  stole  her  father's  teraphim. 
He  carefully  searched  in  order  to  re- 
cover them,  but  could  not.  Jacob 
caused  her  soon  after  to  deliver  them, 
and  he  hid  them  under  an  oak,  never 
more  to  be  used.  Gen.  xxxi.  19 — 35. 
and  XXXV.  4.  Micah  the  Ephraimite 
formed  a  teraphim  ;  but  the  Danites 
took  it,  and  placed  it  in  their  city 
Dan,  Judg.  xvii.  and  xviii.  Michal 
laid  a  teraphim  in  the  bed  instead  of 
David  her  husband,  and  thereby  de- 
ceived her  father's  messengers,  1 
Sam.  xix.  13,  16.  Dealers  with  fa- 
miliar spirits  consulted  the  teraphim, 
2  Kings  xxiii.  24.  Nebuchadnezzar 
consulted  his  teraphim,  whether  be 
should  first  besiege  Rabbah  or  Jeru- 
salem, Ezek.  xxi.  21.  The  Jews, 
in  their  present  dispersion,  are  with- 
out images  and  teraphim,  as  they 
profess  great  detestation  of  idolatry, 
Hos.  iij.  4. 

TERM,  to  name,  Isa.  Ixii.  5. 

TERRESTRIAL,  belonging  to 
tlie  earth,  1  Cor.  xv.  40.  Johniii.  22. 

TERRIBLE,  what  by  horrible 
aspect,  or  by  cruelty,  power,  or  aw- 
ful greatness,  ajTrights  men,    Deut. 

I.  19.  Isa.  xiii.  11.  God  is  called 
terrible,  to  point  cut  his  awful  great- 
ness, his  infinite  strength,  strict  jus- 
tice, and  fearful  judgnsents,  Jer.  xx. 

II.  Zeph.  ii.  11.  The  Chaldeans 
and  Romans  are  called  terrible; 
what  fear  and  dread  did  their  power. 


conquests,  and  cruelty,  spread  amoug 
the  nations  around !  Hab.  i.  7.  Dan. 
ii.  31.  and  viii  7. 

To  TERRIFY,  is  to  fill  with, 
fear  and  dread,  Deut.  xx.  3. 

Tejiror,  is,  (1.)  Great  fear  and 
dread,  Gen.  xxxv.  5.  (2.)  Fearful 
and  unexpected  calamities,  which 
cause  tear  and  dread.  Psalm  Ixxiii. 
19.  (3.)  A  terrible  example  or  in- 
stance, striking  others  with  dread 
and  awe,  Ezek.  xxvii.  36.  so  the 
invasion  and  ravage  of  Judea  were 
a  terror  to  the  Egyptians,  Isa.  xix. 
17.  The  terror  of  God,  is  either 
some  awful  appearances,  judgments, 
and  vieAvs  of  him.  Job  vi.  4.  or  the 
fearful  majestic  appearance  of  Christ 
to  judge  the  world,  2  Cor.  v.  11. 
The  terror  of  the  wicked,  is  their 
threatenings,  whereby  they  attempt 
to  terrify  the  saints  from  their  duty, 

1  Pet.  iii.  14. 

TERRICE,  or  Terrace,  a  stair, 
a  raised  way,  2  Chron.  ix.  11. 

TERTULLUS,  declaring  false 
things,  animpostor,  a  famed  ora- 
tor among  the  Jews,  who,  with 
flattery  of  Felix  the  wicked  judge, 
and  with  plenty  of  falsehood,  ac- 
cused Paul  at  Cesarea,  Acts  xxiv. 
1—10. 

TESTAMENT,  the  Avill  of  a  dy- 
ing man,  whereby  he  determines  how 
his  property  shall  be  disposed  of 
after  his  death,  Gal.  iii.  15.  and  a 
TESTATOR  is  oue  that  makes  such 
a  will.  Jesus  Christ  is  called  a 
Testator,  because  in  hia  word  he  has 
freely  bequeathed  to  sinful  men  all 
his  unsearchable  riches  of  grace  and 
glory,  Heb.  ix.  16,  17.  and  the  cove- 
nant of  grace,  as  ratified  by  his  death, 
is  called  a  testament.  Rev.  xi.  19. 
The  former  dispensation  of  that  co- 
venant, in  the  inspired  writings  of 
Moses  and  the  prophets,  is  called  the 
Old  or  First  Testament :  it  ^vas  pub- 
lished before  our  Saviour's  incarna- 
tion ;  it  was  ratified  by  his  typical 
death  in  sacrifices,  and  was  less  ex- 
cellent ;  and  now  in  its  ceremonial 
part,  is  qr.ite  abolished,  Heb.  ix.  15. 

2  Cor.  iii.  15.  The  dispensation  of  the 
covenant  of  grace,  in  the  writings  of 


T  E  T 


(     517     ) 


THE 


the  aj)03tlt>s  and  evangelists,  is  called 
the  New  Testament :  it  'u  hist  in  or- 
der, and  i3  ratified  by  tiic  actual 
death  of  our  Saviour  ;  and  never  till 
the  end  of  time  shall  it  be  abolished  : 
and  though  it  be  the  same  in  sub- 
stance with  the  Old,  it  is  more  clear, 
3i)iritual,  erticacious,  and  easy,  than 
the  former,  Heb.  ix.  13.  The  wine 
in  the  l^ord's  Supper  is  called  the 
new  testament  in  Christ's  blood,  as  it 
represents  all  (lie  jtromises  of  tlie  new 
covenant,  ivhich  are  ratified  and  con- 
firmed by  his  death,  and  applies  the 
benefits  thereof,  when  received  by 
faith,  Avhich  are  pui chased  by  it, 
Lulce  xxii.  20.  JMatt.  xxviii.  28. 

TEIL-TREE,  some  think  it  an 
ELSf,  others  reckon  it  an  oak,  others 
a  cHF.sNUT-TREE,  otlicrs  i\  turpen- 
tine, which  resembles  the  ash-tree 
in  its  leaves,  only  they  ore  more 
thick  and  glutinous;  its  fruit  grows 
Id  cluster;,  is  hard  and  resinous; 
and  a  kind  of  gum  called  turpentine- 
pitch  distils  from  its  root.  Others 
will  have  it  to  be  the  tilia  or  lime- 
tree,  which  has  broad  leaves,  and 
which  propagates  fast  by  layers. 
The  Jews  were  like  an  elm,  oak, 
chesntit,  turpentine,  or  lime-tree,  whose 
substance  was  in  itself,  or  its  stunip 
was  in  or  at  the  side  of  the  Shalle- 
chcth  or  raised  entry  to  the  temple 
from  the  palace  ;  though  their  leaves 
withered  in  their  distress  by  the  As- 
syrians, and  in  their  Chaldean  and 
other  captivity,  yet  they  quickly 
sprung  up  into  a  prodigious  multitude, 
isa.  vi.  13. 

TESTIFY,  TESTIMONY,  the  ex- 
perience of  another  imparted  to  us  by 
words,  Acts  xiv.  3.  a  name  applied 
to  the  whole  word  of  God,  both  law 
and  gospel,  as  a  declaration  of  faith, 
manners,  and  all  our  future  hopes, 
Psal.  xix.  7.  To  the  ark,  which 
contained  the  law,  Exod.  xvi.  34. 
See  VV^iTNESs. 

TETRARCH,  a  sovereign  prince 
who  has  the  fourth  7)art  of  a  state, 
province,  or  kingdom,  under  his  do 
minion,  without  wearing  the  diadem, 
or  bearing  the  title  of  king,  IVIatt. 
xiv.  1.  Luke  iii.  1. 


THADDEUS,    prai.Miu;.       See 

Jl  DK. 

THANK,  to  acknowledge  a  bene- 
fit as  freely  received,  1  Cliroii.  xvi. 
4.  IVlial  IhanJi  have  ijc  !  W  hat  grate- 
ful acknowldgenieiit  or  reward  can 
yeex()ectGod  will  give  you  fur  your 
seltish  conduct  I  liUke  vi.  34 — 34. 
Thank-n'urlhi/,  is  \vhiit  is  worthy  of 
thanks  and  praise,  1  Fcl.  ii.  10.  Giv- 
ing; of  thanks,  is  a  hearly  and  cheer- 
ful acknowledgment  of  favours  s|)i- 
ritual,  fenijioral,  or  eternal,  bestowed 
on  ourselves,  or  on  others,  Fhil,  iv. 
0.  1  Tim.ii.  1.  Thank-offerings,  and 
psalms  of  praise,  are  called  Ikank.s- 
i^iving.  Lev.  vii.  12 — l.**.  and  xxii. 
20.  Neh.  xi.  17.  Al\  ilumk.sgiving- 
is  to  be  offered  in  Christ's  name,  and 
is  to  be  alwa3's  continued,  as  in  every 
condition  there  is  a  great  mixture  of 
God's  mercy,  Eph.  v.  20.  2  Cor.  ii. 
14.  Asking  of  a  blessing  on  food  ia 
called  thanksgivimr,  as  we  therein 
acknowledge  God's  kindness  iu  pro- 
viding such  provision;  a  practice  al- 
ways observed  by  Christ  and  his 
apostles,  Luke  xxiv.  30.  and  xxii.  17, 
19.  Malt.  XV.  3(3.  and  xiv.  19. 

THAT,  if  connected  immediately 
with  a  person  or  thing,  often  denotes 
it  to  be  notable  for  excellency,  base- 
ness, wickedness,  or  the  like,  Acts 
vii.  37.  Dan.  vi.  13.  Whencoimected 
with  a  verb,  it  denotes  the  tendency 
of  the  act  to  w  hich  it  is  joined  ;  as 
I  am  come,  that  ye  might  have  life, 
and  thai  ye  might  have  it  more  abuu- 
dantl}',  John  x.  11. 

THEATRE,  a  place  where  the 
people  assembled  to  behold  plaj-s  and 
shows.  It  was  often  a  place  half,  or 
almost  wholly,  surrounded  with  seats 
of  stone  or  w^ood  gradual!}'  ascend- 
ing, in  the  manner  of  our  galleries  in 
churches,  or  of  those  in  play-houses, 
Acts  xix.  24,  31. 

THEBEZ,  or  Thebes,  eggs,  fine 
linen,  ailk,  a  city  of  the  Ephraimites, 
about  13  miles  west  from  Befhshan, 
and  about  half  a  mile  from  Shechem. 
The  inhabitants  seem  to  have  revolt- 
ed from  Abimelech  the  son  of  Gi- 
deon, and  assisted  the  Shechcmitet. 
VVhea  he  assaulted  it,  they  lied  to 


THE 


(     518     ) 


T  H  I 


their  tower;  and  thence  a  woman 
broke  his  skull  with  a  piece  oia  mill- 
stone. It  Avas  a  village  about  400 
years  after  Christ,  .Tud^.  ix.  50 — 54. 

THEOPHILUS,  ajricnd,  or  lover 
of  God,  a  noted  Christian,  to  whom 
Luke  directs  his  Gor.p'el  and  Acts  of 
the  Apostles.  It  seems  he  was  a  person 
much  noted  for  his  gifts  and  graces,  if 
not  also  for  his  high  station.  Some 
think  that  the  name  denotes  any 
lover  of  God,  but  others  think  it  a 
proper  name  of  a  man,  Luke  i.  3. 
Acts  i.  1. 

THESSALONICA,  putting  off, 
i1t€  Ciher  victory,  the  capital  city  of 
Macedonia,  and  situated  on  the 
north-east  of  the  Termaic  or  Salonici 
bay,  and  on  the  south-west  IVontier 
of  Thracia.  It  was  anciently  called 
Halis  and  Therma; ;  but  Philip  the 
father  of  Alexander  the  Great  called 
it  Thessatonica,  to  commemorate  bis 
victory  over  the  Thessalians.  About 
A.  M.  3837,  the  Romans  seized  it. 
About  A.  D.  885,  the  Saracens  took 
it ;  but  Simeon,  one  of  the  Greek 
emperors''  secretaries,  redeemed  it 
from  them  with  a  large  sum  of  mo 
ney.  About  A.  D.  1180,  William 
of  Sicily  took  it  from  the  Greek 
emperor ;  but  he  retained  it  onlj'  a 
short  time.  In  1313,  it  was  sold  to 
the  Venetians.  About  1430,  Amu- 
rath,  the  sultan  or  emperor  of  the 
Ottoman  Turks,  seized  on  it,  and 
they  still  retain  it.  About  A.  D. 
52,  Paul,  Silas,  and  Timothy,  plant- 
ed a  church  here.  A  persecution, 
Btirred  up  by  the  Jews,  obliged  Paul 
and  Silas  to  leave  the  place,  after 
they  had  preached  in  it  about  three 
or  four  Sabbaths.  They  continued 
to  persecute  the  Christians.  To  com- 
fort them  under  their  tribulations, 
Poul  sent  them  an  e|)istle,  not  from 
Athens,  as  some  suppose,  for  there 
Silas,  or  Silvanus,  was  not  with 
him :  but  from  Corinth,  where  Silas 
and  Timothy  were  both  with  him, 
1  Tbess.  i.  1.  He  expresses  his  deep 
concern  for  them;  his  desire  to  have 
visited  them  in  their  affliction ;  warns 
Ihem  of  the  last  judgment ;  and  in- 
culcates  such  duties  as  tended   to 


prepare  them  for  it.  As  some  had 
taken  occasion  from  it  to  terrify 
them  as  if  the  last  judgrnent  were 
just  at  hand,  he  wrote  them  a  second 
epistle,  informing  them  of  the  gra- 
cious tendency  of  the  last  judgment 
towards  them,  but  that  it  would  not 
happen  till  after  the  rise  and  fall  of 
Antichrist.  He  recommends  a  con- 
stant adherence  to  divine  truths,  a 
regularity  and  purity  in  their  church- 
fellowship,  and  diligence  in  temporal 
affairs.  Rut  it  is  not  to  the  honour 
of  the  Thessalonians  that  Paul  there 
needed  a  supply  of  necessaries  from 
Philippi,  Phil.  iv.  16.  At  present 
Thessatonica,  or  Saloniki,  is  a  con- 
siderable place,  and  its  trade  is  not 
contemptible.  There  are  about  48 
Mahometan  mosques  or  temples, 
about  30  Jewish  synagogues,  and  as 
many  churches  belonging  to  the 
Christians  of  the  Greek  church. 
There  are  also  here  magnificent  ru- 
ins of  antiquity. 

THEUDAS,  j^07i;m^  with  water. 
Some  time  before  our  Saviour's  death, 
he  set  up  as  some  noted  person,  and 
was  joined  by  about  400  men,  but 
he  being  killed,  they  were  dispersed. 
Perhaps  he  is  the  Judas  that  revolted 
on  the  occasion  of  Herod's  death,  or 
Josephus  is  wrong  in  his  chronology, 
and  places  the  Theudas  he  mentions 
as  the  head  of  a  sedition  too  late  by 
some  years,  Acts  v.  36. 

THICK,  (1.)  Great  in  depth  or 
breadth,  2  Chron.  iv.  5.  Ps.  Ixxiv.  5. 
(2.)  Crowded  together,  Luke  xi.  29. 
Ezek.  xix.  11.  A  thicket,  a  thick 
plot  of  bushes  or  trees  crowded  toge- 
ther. Gen.  xxii.  13.  Multitudes  of 
lions  lodged  in  the  thickets  of  Jordan. 
Sometimes  people  hid  themselves  in 
thickets,  to  shun  the  rage  of  a  cruel 
ene?ny,  1  Sam.  xviii.  6.  Jer.  iv.  29. 
Vast  multitudes  of  people  are  called 
a  thicket,  Isa.  ix.  18.  and  x.  34. 

THIEF,  one  who  takes  away  the 
property  of  another  without  his  know- 
ledge, or  against  his  will,  and  conse- 
quently acts  high)}'  repugnant  to  the 
duty  he  owes  his  neighbour.  Theft  is 
also  committed  in  false  weights  and 
measures,  in  damaged  goods,  usury. 


T  H  I 


(     519     ) 


T  H  I 


&c.  Among  the  Jew?,  a  day  lliiof 
was  to  make  restitution,  ami  if  iiiiahlf 
to  do  it,  he  ini2,lit  he  told  lor  that 
purpose,  Exodus  xxii.  J{.  But  a 
night  thicl"  mi'j;ht  ho  lauTuIIy  i-hiiii, 
because  his  intention^  miglit  he  mur- 
der as  well  as  tlu'lt,  »7;.  2.  WiietluT 
thieves  may  he  lawfully  \m{  to  death, 
is  a  question  which  some  dein' ;  he- 
cause  there  seems  to  he  no  |»ro|)orlion 
between  the  life  ol"  a  man,  and  any 
ohject  of  theft;  and  whether  there- 
fore we  ouf^ht  not  to  follow  in  this  the 
law  of  Moses,  as  a  law  of  nature. 
Keeping  them  to  hard  hihour  might 
be  a  more  effectual  restraint  than 
even  death, from  theft,and  ever}-^  other 
Tice  resulting  from  idleness.  See 
SxE-vii. — Figuratively,  thief  denotes 
a  seducer,  a  false  apostle,  .lohnx.  10. 

THIGH,  the  upper  part  of  the  legs 
of  an  animal.  To  smile  on  it,  de- 
notes great  grief  and  sorrow,  Exek. 
xxL.  12.  To  have  a  name  tvrillen  on 
the  thi^h,  imports,  that  the  j)er3on's 
fame  and  victory  are  publicly  known, 
and  shall  be  marked  in  his  spiritual 
seed,  Rev.  xix.  16.  The  rulers  and 
great  men  of  Judah,  in  which  the 
strength  of  the  nation  consisted,  were 
the  thigh  and  shoulder  of  tlesh  put 
into  Jerusalem,  the  boiling  pot  ofi 
God's  judgments,  to  be  destroyed,' 
Ezek.  xxiv.  4.  Tlie  two  brazen  thighs  i 
of  Nebuchadnezzar's  visionary  image,  | 
denote  the  two  powerful  kingdoms,; 
of  Egypt  and  Syria,  into  which 
the  belly-like  empire  of  Alexander 
was  divided  after  bis  death,  Dan. 
ii.  32. 

THIN,  the  contrary  of  thick, 
Exod.  xxxix.  3.  The  glory  of  Jacob 
was  made  thin,  or  emptied,  when  the 
Jews,  possessed  of  power,  wealth, 
wisdom,  or  piety,  were  generally  cut 
off;  or  when  the  people  were  de- 
stroyed till  they  Avere  few  in  number, 
and  their  wealth  and  prosperity  had 
ceased,  Isa.  xvii.  4. 

THING,  fl.)  A  real  substance  or 
quality,  Lev.  xii.  4.  Prov.  iv.  7. 
(2.)  A  matter,  an  affair,  Isa.  vii.  13. 
(3.)  A  doctrine  or  opinion,  Ezek. 
"xv'u  9.  (4.)  Persons,  or  qualities 
Rev.  xxi.  27.    AH  thinjcs  m  heaven 


and  earth  are  reconciled  by  Christ. 
Jews  and  Gentiles  are  hroiighl  into 
one  visible  church;  saints  glorified, 
and  saints  on  earth,  are  united  under 
one  head ;  angels  anil  redeemed  men 
are  joined  in  one  fanuly  ;  and  all 
things  in  heaven  and  earth  are  made 
to  promote  the  same  ends,  of  glory  to 
God,  and  good  to  his  people,  C'ol. 
i.  20. 

THINK,  (1.)  To  form  thoughts^ 
Psal.  xlviii.  9.  (2.)  To  esteem,  to 
reckon,  John  xvi.  2.  (3.)  To  re- 
member, to  care  for,  Gen,  xl.  14. 
(4.)  To  devise,  resolve,  Neh.  vi.  5. 
Go<I  Uiinks  on  men,  when  he  kindly 
takes  notice  of  them  and  their  good 
works,  and  vouchsafes  to  them  his 
favours  and  benefits,  Neh.  v.  19. — 
IV hat  think  ye  of  Christ  ?  What  do 
ye  know,  Ixilieve,  meditate  on,  es- 
teem, or  desire,  about  the  person, 
office,  and  mediation,  of  Christ  .' 
Matt.  xxii.  42. 

Thought,  is,  (1.)  The  exercise 
of  tliinking.  (2.)  Inward  reason- 
ings of  conscience;  so  men's  thoughts 
accuse  or  excuse  their  works,  Rom. 
ii.  15.  Luke  ix.  40,  47.  (3.)  Anxi- 
ous and  immoderate  care,  Matt.  vi. 
31,  34.  and  x.  19.  and  these  texts 
ought  to  be  rendered  Exercise  no 
anxious  care.  (4.)  Opinion,  Job  xii. 
5.  (5.)  Purposes,  resolutions,  PsaJ. 
xxiii.  11.  Prov.  xii.  5.  Psal.  Ivi.  5. 
God's  thoughts,  are  either  his  senti- 
ments and  purposes  concerning  us, 
or  our  thoughts  and  meditations  con- 
cerning his  nature,  excellencies,  and 
works,  Psal.  xl.  5.  and  cxxxix.  17. 

THIRD.  The  Jews  observe  a 
great  many  noted  third  days ;  as  the 
3d  day  of  the  loosing  of  the  patri- 
archs. Gen.  xlii.  13.  the  3d  day  of 
the  return  of  Uie  Hebrew  spies.  Josh, 
iii.  IC.  the  3d  day  of  the  giving  of 
the  law  ;  the  3d  day  of  the  Hebrews' 
revival,  &c.  but  the  3d  day  of  Isaac's 
escape  from  death,  Gen.  xxii.  4. 
the  3d  day  of  Jonah's  deliverance 
from  the  fish's  belJy,  Jon.  i.  7. 
the  3d  day  of  Hezekiah's  relief  from 
his  mortal  distemper,  2  Kings  xx. 
5.  and  the  3d  day  of  Christ's  resur- 
rection Item  the  dead*  thereby  typi- 


T  H  I 


(     520     ) 


1'  fi  0 


fied,  do  more  nearly  concern  us, 
1  Cor.  xr.  4.  A  third  pnrt  denotes  a 
very  large  one  :  so  the  dragon,  Avith 
his  tail,  drew  the  third  part  of  the 
stars  of  heaven,  and  cast  them  to  the 
ground.  By  the  Heathen  persecu- 
tion of  the  Christians,  especially  un- 
der Dioclesian,  vast  numbers  of  mi- 
nisters were  killed,  or  obliged  to  de- 
sist from  their  work,  and  employ 
themselves  in  civil  business ;  and  not 
a  few  were  drawn  into  compliance 
with  Heathen  idolatry.  Rev.  %n.  4. 
A  third  part  of  trees  burnt  up  under 
the  first  trumpet,  denotes  a  multi- 
tude of  great  men  destroyed  by  the 
Goths,  between  A.  D.  395  and  408  ; 
or,  a  multitiMle  of  ministers  and 
noted  Christians  seduced  by  the 
Arian  heresy,  after  A.  D.  338,  to 
that  time.  A  third  part  of  the  sea 
becoming  blood,  and  a  third  part  of 
the  creatures  dying  in  it,  and  a 
third  part  of  the  ships  destroyed, 
under  the  second  trumpet,  denotes 
vast  multitudes  of  the  subjects  of 
tfie  tumultuous  Roman  empire,  and 
their  cities,  and  wealth,  being  de- 
stroyed by  the  Goths,  Alans,  Van- 
dals, Suevi,  and  Burgundians,  from 
A.  D.  408,  to  455;  or  a  vast  num- 
ber of  souls  ruined  by  the  tumultuous 
and  bloody  contentions  in  the  church. 
The  third  part  of  the  maters,  upon 
which  the  star  called  Wormwood  fell, 
under  the  third  trumpet,  is  a  great 
part  of  the  provinces  and  populous 
cities  of  the  empire,  ruined  by  Attila 
and  his  Huns ;  or  the  many  doctrines 
of  the  gospel  perverted  by  Arius  and 
his  followers.  The  third  part  of  the 
sun,  moon,  and  stars,  being  darken- 
ed under  the  fourth  trumpet,  imports 
the  obscurity  and  diminution  of  the 
power  and  glory  of  the  emperor,  and 
of  the  senate,  and  great  men  in  the 
empire,  when  the  empire  was  ruined 
by  Odoacer  and  his  Heruli,  and 
other  barbarians,  A.  D.  476;  or  the 
decay  of  gifts  and  holiness  in  minis- 
ters, that  followed  the  spread  of  the 
Pelagian  errors,  Rev.  viii.  7 — 12. 
When  two-thirds,  that  is,  a  very 
great  number,  of  the  Jews,  were  cut 
cfff  by  the  Romans  aud  others,  a  third 


part,  i.  e.  a  considerable  nirtJiber, 
passed  through  the  fire,  enduring 
much  persecution,  but  were  saved  by 
the  grace  of  God,  Zech.  xiii.  8,  9. 
and  xiv.  2. 

THIRST,  (1.)  A  vehement  desire 
for  water.  Psalm  civ.  11.  (2.)  An 
eager  desire  after  any  thing  sup- 
posed to  be  satisfj'ing,  as  after 
Christ  and  his  righteousness,  Matt. 
V.  6.  or  after  happiness  and  pleasure 
in  general,  Isa,  Iv.  1.  Rev.  xxii.  17. 
or,  after  the  fulfilment  of  some  fil- 
thy lusts,  as  to  commit  Avhoredom, 
idolatry,  &c.  Deut.  xxix.  19.  Jer. 
ii.  25.  (3.)  That  which  causeth 
thirst,  as  the  want  of  water,  or  sore 
afflictions,  which  beget  an  eager  de- 
sire of  deliverance,  Deut.  xxviii.  48. 
Isaiah  Ixv.  13.  Amos  viii.  3.  aud 
so  men  are  thirsty,  when  in  great 
need  of  refreshing  liquor.  Judges  iv. 
19.  or  when  they  greatly  need  the 
influences  of  God's  Spirit,  Isa.  xliv. 
3,  or  when  in  great  misery,  Isaiah 
Ixv.  13.  A  thirsty  ground,  or  land, 
is  either  a  field  scorched  and  wither- 
ed, and  so  in  great  need  of  dew  and 
rain,  Psal.  Ixiii.  1  .or  an  unprosper- 
oiis  and  disagreeable  condition, 
Ezek.  xix.  13.  or  the  Gentiles,  or 
others,  in  great  need  of  spiritual 
blessings,  Isa.  xxxv.  7.  Blood-thirsty 
men,  are  such  as  delight  in  murdering 
others,  Prov.  xsix.  10. 

THISTLE,  a  prickly  weed  that 
grows  among  corn,  and  in  fields. 
Tournefort  mentions  80  kinds  of 
thistles. — Wicked  men  are  likened  to 
them,  to  denote  how  useless,  how 
barren  of  good,  and  how  hurtful  they 
are  to  saints,  to  churches  and  nations, 
Luke  vi.  14,  2  Chron.  xsv.  18. 

THOMAS,  or  Dydimus,  a  twin., 
without  bottom,  one  of  our  Saviour's 
apostles,  Matt.  x.  3.  When  he  heard 
that  Lazarus  was  dead,  he  proposed 
that  they  should  all  testify  their  affec- 
tion by  going  to  the  spot  and  dying 
with  him,  or  die  with  Christ,  who  en- 
dangered his  life  by  returning  to  Ju- 
dea,  John  xi.  6.  Jesus,  after  his  last 
supper,  talking  of  the  mansions  in  his 
Father's  house,which  he  was  going  to 
prepare  for  theni,Thomas,very  ignor- 


T  H  O  (    521     ) 

antlyasketl,\vIietlierhe\vasg;oine;?:m(I 
which  way  hv  vvouki  take  /  Jesus  re- 
plieil,  tliat  he  hi/iisrir  was  the  wa}  ,the 
truth,  and   t!ie  life,  John  xiv.  5,  0. 
Thomas  lieini;  ahsiMit  u  hen  tlie  other 
ten  on  theihiy  ol'our  Savionr't.  re>ur- 
rection  saw  tlieir  risen   liortl,  and  al- 
terwiirds  liearintj  o\'  it,  lie  tohl  them 
that   unless  he  saw  in  .lesus's  hitnds 
the  j.rints  of   the  nails,  and  iiut   his 
fino'ersinlo  tlietn,  ;'.nd  thrust  I*'slian<l 
into  the  wound  made  by  the  spear  in 
his  side,  he  would  never  believe  he 
was  risen  from  the  dead.     When  Je- 
sus appeared  to  them  the  next  Sab- 
bath evening,  he  otFered  Thomas  tlie 
proof  of  his  resurrection  he  had  men- 
tioned.  Thomas,  surprised  with  sueh 
condescension,  and,  it  seems  without 
m.ikins;  the  trial,  cried  out,  My  Lord 
awl  mif  God.    Jesus  tohl  him,  that  it 
had  I>een  more  to  his  honour  if  he 
had  believed  without   any    sensible 
proof,    John    xx.    20 — 29.      A  lew 
da^'^s  after,  Thomas  sa^v  his  Master 
, again  at  the  sea  of  Galilee,    John 
xxi.     After  he  had  continued  several 
years  at  Jerusalem,  he    went,  it  is 
said,  to  preach  among  the  Parthians, 
Medes,   Hyrcanians,  and  Bactrians, 
and   at  last  suffered  martyrdom   in 
IMeliapour  in  the  East-indies,   near 
to  which  the    Portuguese,    a    little 
above  300  years  ago,  found  Christians 
of  St.  Thomas  ;  but  some  think  he 
preached  in  China. 

THONG,  a  leathern  whip,  Acts 
xxii.  25. 

THORNS,  a  general  name  for  a 
great  many  |)rickiy  trees  or  shrubs  ; 
those  of  the  lesser  kind  are  called 
BRIERS  :  both  of  them  are  rather  use- 
less in  their  wood,  except  for  fuel  : 
both  of  them  mar  the  produce  of  the 
ground,  but  are  very  useful  for  hedg- 
ing. The  great  a!)undance  of  thorns 
is  a  continue<l  memorial  of  x\dam's 
fall,  Gen.  iii.  18.     With  thorns  Gi- 


T  H  O 


a   speedy  and  violent   fire,  but  it  is 
soon  (juench'-d,  Psidm   Iviii,  9.  antl 
cxviii.  1 2.     Thorns  and  I'riers  cover- 
ing a  place,  imp»»rls  its  I  eing  reduced 
to  desolation,  Hos.  i\.   (>.  and  x.    8. 
i\liscliievous  and  wicked  men,  who 
molest     tlieii-    neiirhbour^,    entiingle 
the;n   by   their  ileviees,    hinder  the 
usefulness  of  saints  and    faithful  mi- 
nisters, and  rij)en  themselves  for  <'ter- 
nal  fire,  a!id  yet  are  sometimes  made 
use  of    to    protect  the    srodi}',    are 
likened   to  thorns  and  hrirrs,  Ezek. 
ii.  6.  Mic.  vii.  7.  Song  ii.  2.  2  Sam. 
xxiii.  G.     "^rhe  Assyrians,  and  other 
eneiities  of  the  people  of  God,  were 
likf  t  ■onis  and  britrn  ;  how    harass- 
ing for  a  time  !  but  how  quickly  con- 
sumed in    the  terriide  file  of  God's 
judgments!  Isaiah  x.  17.  and  xxxiii. 
12.  Nah.  i.  10.  Psal.  cxviii.  12.  The 
Canaanifeswcre  to  the  Israelites  like 
thorns  or  scourges  in  their  side,  pricks 
in  their   eyes,    snares  and   traps  to 
them  :  they  were  means  of  seducing 
them  into  sin-  and  were  instruments 
of  God's    vengeance  against    them, 
Numb,  xxxiii.  55.     Josh,  xxiii.  13. 
The  Sidonians  were  a  gt-ievhiff  thorn 
and  prickling  brier  to  the  liouse  of 
Israel;  they  did    much   mischief  to 
them,  Ezek.  xxviii.  24.  Wicked  lusts-, 
carnal  cares,  and  sinful  practices,  are 
called  briers  euid  thorns:  they  pro- 
ceed from  a  stony  heart,  hinder  true 
peace  and  quiet,  choke  the  good  seed 
of  God's  word,  and  are  the  means 
of  eternal  torments  to  such  as  indulge 
themselves  therein,  Heb.  vi.  8.  Jcr. 
ir.  3.  Matt.  xiii.  7. 

TiiottNs  are  put  for  great  difliculties 
and  hindrances,  which  stop  men's 
progress,  as  a  thorn-hedge  :  so  thorns 
arc  in  the  way  of  the  slothful,  Prov. 
XV.  1 0.  and  thorns  are  in  the  way  of 
the  froward:  great  calamities  and 
oppositiou  await  him,  Prov.  xxii.  25, 
and  to  take  the  harvest  out   of  the 


deon  tore  the  flesh  off  the   elders  outhorns,  is  to  take  the  fruit  of  the  field 


Succofh,  Judg.  viii.  7,  16.  To  tor- 
ment our  Saviour,  and  show  con- 
tempt of  his  royalty,  and  his  bear- 
ing the  curse  for  us,  his  enemies 
crowned  him  with  a  crown  of  platted 
thorns,  John  xix.  1.  Thorns  make 
Vol.  II. 


from  one,  notwithstanding  every  Idn- 
drance,  Job  v.  5.  Trouldes  are 
called  thorns,  as  they  prick,  iiarasa, 
and  confine  men;  so  God  hedges  up 
the  way  of  men  with  Mcrns,  restrains 
them  by  sore  trials  and  afflictions, 
3  IT 


T  H  K 


(     522     ) 


T  H  R 


Hog.  ii.  6.  Paul  hatl  a  thorn  in  the 
flesh,  a  messenger  of  Satan  sent  to 
buffet  him ;  he  was  distressed  with 
some  sore  trouble  or  temptation,  2 
Cor.  xii.  7.  As  a  thorn  goeth  up  into 
the  hand  of  a  drunkard,  so  is  a  parable 
in  the  mouth  of  fools;  it,  however 
good  in  itself,  doth  rather  hurt  than 
good,  Prov.  xxvi.  9.  The  Assyrians 
rested  on  all  thorns  and  heds;cs,  like 
grasshoppers  and  locusts,  wlien  thej 
spread  ruin  and  havock  every  where 
through  the  cities  and  country  of  Ju- 
dea,  Isa.  vii.  9. 

THOUGHT.     See  Think. 

THOUSAND,  ten  hundred;  but 
often  thousands  and  ten  thousands, 
are  put  for  great  numbers  in  general, 
Rev.  V.  11.  Eccl,  vi.  C.  and  vii.  28. 
Isa.  XXX.  17.  The  city  that  went 
out  by  a  thousand  shall  leaA'e  a  hun- 
dred, and  that  which  went  out  by  a 
hundred  shall  leave  ten,  to  the  house 
of  Israel;  that  is,  the  tenth  part  of 
the  inhabitants  shall  scarcely  be  pre- 
served, Amos  V.  3. 

THREAD.  To  break  things  as 
a  thread  of  tow,  is  to  do  it  very  ea- 
sily, Judg.  xvi.  9,  12.  Not  to  take 
from  a  thread  to  a  shoe-latchet,  is 
not  to  receive  the  very  least  thing, 
Gen.  xiv.  23. 

THREATEN,  to  denounce  evil 
against  one,  Acts  iv.  17. 

a^HREE  TIMES,  or  thrice,  de- 
notes frequently,  or  with  frequency 
and  earnestness,  2  Cor.  xii.  8. — 
Threescore  somelimes  denotes  a 
considerable  number,  Song  iii.  7. 
and  vi.  8. 

THRESH,  to  beat  out  corn  from  i 
tJie  ear  or  pod,  Isa.  xxviii.  28.     The ! 
thrcshins;  reached  unto  the  vintage,  I 
and  the  vintage,  or  treading  oi'grapes, 
unto  the  sowing-lime  ;  when  the  one  | 
was  not  quite  finished  till  the  other 
began,  and  thus  marked  great  plenty; 
so  the  |)loughman  overtook  the  rcaj)- 
er,    and  the  sower  of  seed  him  that 
treadeth  grapes.     Their  harvest  was 
in  our  spring,  and  their  vintage  in 
our    August,  and  their  sowing-time 
about   the   end  of    October,  or  the 
beginning  of  November,  Lev.  xxvi. 
5.     Amos  ix.  13. — (2.)  To  harass, 


to  destroy,  Hab.  iii.  12.  Amos  i.  iT, 
Babylon  is  represented  as  a  thresh- 
ing,  or  as  the  corn  of  the  fioor,  to 
denote  the  sudden  and  terrible  na- 
ture of  God's  judgments  upon  her, 
Isaiah  xxi.  10.  Jer.  li.  33.  The 
church  is  rejiresented  as  threshing 
mountains  and  hills,  and  fanning 
them  to  the  wind;  that  is,  through 
.Tesus  overcoming  whatever  opposers 
and  opposition  stand  in  the  way  of 
her  hapi)iness  and  duty,  Mic.  iv.  15. 
Isa.  xii.  15. 

TH  RESHOLD,  the  ground  or  step 
under  a  door  or  gate,  Judg.  xix.  27. 
The  Jews  set  up  their  threshold  by 
God's  threshold,  and  their  posts  by 
his  posts,  and  defiled  the  wall  between 
him  and  them,  when  they  made  their 
own  descent  from  Abraham,  and  com- 
mon morality,  the  ground  of  their 
church-membership,  instead  of  Christ, 
who  is  the  only  foundation  of  a  gos- 
pel hope ;  and  when  they  substituted 
their  own  inventions  into  the  room 
and  station  of  the  ordinances  of  God, 
Ezek.  xliii.  8. 

THROAT,  (1.)  The  passage  of 
food  from  the  mouth  to  the  stomach, 
or  that  (»art  whereby  we  are  assisted 
in  speaking,  Psal.cxv.  7.  (I.)  Speech 
itself,  Psal.  v.  10.  Rom.  iii.  12. 

THRONE.     See  sit. 

THRONG,  to  crowd  and  press 
thick  about  one,  Mark  iii.  9. 

THROUGH,  (1.)  From  the  one 
side  to  the  other.  Numb.  xxv.  8. 
(2.)  U[>  and  down  in,  Psalm,  viii.  5. 
(3.)  By  means  of:  we  are  justified 
through  Christ,  through  his  death,  as 
the  price  of  our  redemption,  Rom. 
V.  1.  and  iii.  24.  We  are  saved 
through  faith,  as  thereby  we  receive 
Christ  and  his  salvation  offered  to  us 
in  the  gosi)e!,  Eph.  ii.  8.  God  is 
through  all,  taking  care  of,  and  dis- 
|)laying  his  perfections  in  all  things  ; 
ami  is  in  all  the  saints,  by  his  gra- 
cious presence,  Eph.  iv.  6.  All 
things  are  through  God,  are  preserved 
and  governed  bj'  him;  and  are  to 
him,  are  to  his  glory  as  their  last  end, 
Rom.  xi.  36.  THORorcniiV,  is, 
(1.)  Exactly,  fully.  Job  vi.  l.Matt. 
iii,  12.    (2.)  Sincerely,  Jer.  vii.  5. 


T  II  U 


(     523     ) 


THY 


THROW,  Jo  cast  with  force, 
Numb.  sxxv.  17.  To  throw  iloivn, 
is  tocaston  the<;r()tJiid  witlv  violence, 
Luke  ix.  42.  or  (o  destroy,  demo- 
lish, overturn,  E'/.ek.  xvi.  39. 

THRUST,  (1.)  To  |)ressforcil.ly, 
2Kini;siv.  22.  (2.)  To  drive.  Dent, 
xxxiii.  27.  God  thrusts  dorvn  men, 
when  he  lays  heavy  afflictions  upon 
them,  one  alter  another,  J  oh  xxxii. 
13.  To  thrust  through,  is  to  pierce, 
to  kill,  .ler.  li.  4. 

THUNDCR,  a  noise  in  tlie  upper 
regions  of  the  air,  excited  by  a  sud- 
den kindling  of  sulphurous  exhala- 
tions. The  cause  of  thujuler  long 
puzzled  the  philosophers,  and  vari- 
ous hj'potheses  were  formed  for  re- 
movina;  the  diificulty;  but  the  inge- 
nious Dr.  Franklin  solved  the  pro- 
blem by  showinir,  that  it  is  nothing 
iHore  than  the  electric  fluid  darting 
from  the  clouds  in  which  it  is  col- 
lected. The  distance  the  thunder  is 
from  us  ma}'  he  nearly  estimated  by 
the  interval  of  time  between  our  see- 
ing the  lightning  and  hearing  the 
thunder :  lor  as  the  motion  of  the 
light  is  so  quick,  that  the  time  it 
takes  up  in  coming  Iq  i:s  from  the 
cloud  is  not  perceptible;  and  as 
that  of  sound  is  about  1000  feet  in 
a  second;  allowing  1000  feet  for 
every  second  that  passes  between 
our  seeing  the  one,  and  hearing  the 
other,  we  have  the  distance  of  the 
cloud,  pretty  nearly,  whence  the 
thunder  comes.  Thunder-stones, 
are  su|)pofed  to  be  formed  in  the 
clouds  of  a  nitrous  and  sulphurous 
matter,  which  acquire  a  certain  de- 
gi'ee  of  consistence  by  the  agitation 
of  the  clouds,  and  taking  fire,  dart 
forth  with  impetuosity,  commonly 
called  thunder-bolts,  Psal.  Ixxviii.  48. 
The  unsearchable  majesty  and  al- 
mighty influence  of  God's  perfec- 
tions, are  called  the  thunder  of  his 
power,  or  prevailing  excellency,  Job 
xxvi.  1 4.  The  preaching  of  the  gos- 
pel is  like  thunder ;  it  makes  men's 
hearts  to  tremble,  and  breaks  their 
stubbornness,  Mark  iii.  17.  Rev. 
xiv.  2.  Terrible  and  destructive  ca- 
lamities are  likened  lo  ikimdcr,  I^. 


xxix.  6.  The  noise  of  an  army  is 
called  the //ji/H^cr  oj  tJu  captains.  Job 
xxxix.  23.  'I'he  war-horse's  neck  is 
clothed  with  thunder;  his  neighing 
for  the  battle,  and  shaking  of  his 
mane,  make  a  noise:  but  migM  not 
the  words  rather  be  rendered  clothed 
ivith  a  cheerful  tremor,  or  triumphant 
shaking?  .iob  xxxix.  19.  The lighl- 
nin<{S  and  thund(  rings  proceeding 
from  God's  throne,  denote  the  ma- 
jesty of  his  appearances,  the  enlight- 
ening and  heart-aflecting  publication 
of  his  will,  and  the  awful  judgments 
which  he,  as  our  great  Sovereign, 
sends  U|)on  the  earth.  Rev.  iv.  3.  but 
the  voices,  thundcrings,  lightnings, 
earthquakes,  and  hail,  following  on 
Christ's  casting  the  fire  of  his  ven- 
geance on  the  earth,  during  the  se- 
ven trum^iets,  and  that  which  attends 
the  sounding  of  the  seventh  trum- 
pet, are  terrible  calamities  of  many 
diflerent  kinds,  .  Rev.  viii.  5.  and 
xi.  19. 

THYATIRA,  a  sweet  savour  of 
labour,  or  sacrifice  of  contrition,  was 
a  very  considerable  city  of  Lesser 
Asia,  about  26  miles  north  of  Sardis, 
and  56  north-east  of  Smyrna.  An- 
ciently it  was  called  Pelopia,  but 
Seleucus  the  Syro-Grecian  king, 
having  repaired  it,  called  it  Tliyga- 
teira.  A  Christian  church  was  very 
early  planted  here;  but  they  sinfully 
permitted  a  woman  called,  or  like  to, 
Jezebel,  to  seduce  their  members  to 
commit  fornication,  and  to  eat  things 
sacrificed  to  idols:  to  reform  them 
from  Avhich,  John  sent  them  an  epis- 
tle; but  what  success  it  had  we 
know  not.  The  fate  of  this  city  is 
so  wraj>t  up  in  obscurity,  that  the 
very  place  where  it  was  is  not  agreed 
upon-  We  follow  Rycaut,  taking  it 
to  be  the  same  as  Akhissar,  where 
there  now  dwell  about  4000  or  5000 
Turks,  in  a  good  air  and  soil,  but 
amidst  mulliludes  of  ancient  ruins, 
and  in  a  condition  sutticicntly  wretch- 
ed. Rev.  ii.  1 8—29. 

THYlNE-WOODisvery  durable, 
and  may  denote  all  durable  and  odo- 
riferous woods,  as  cypress,  cedar,  and 
algum-trees,  &;c.  which  the  Papists 


T  I  D 


<     524     ) 


T  I  M 


use  for  raflers  in  their  churches,  or 
in  rormius;  their  images,  Rev.  xviii.  1 2. 

TIBERIAS,  a  good  vision,  break- 
ing asunder,  was  a  lamed  city  of 
Western  Galilee,  built  by  Herod 
Afi^rippa  in  honour  of  the  emperor 
Tiberius.  It  stood  on  the  south-west 
shore  of  the  sea  of  Galilee,  about  80 
miles  north  of  Jerusalem,  and  1 2  east- 
ward of  Nazareth.  In  the  time  of  the 
Jewish  wars,  thiscitj-  was  the  capital 
of  Galilee,  and  was  bravely  defended 
by  Josephus  the  historian ;  but  beiaa; 
taken  by  Vespasian,  the  lather  of  Ti- 
tus, and  afterwards  emperor,  it  was 
greatly  demolished.  It  was,  how- 
ever, a  place  of  consideralile  note 
many  ages  after.  Here  was  both  a 
Christian  church,  and  a  famed  Jew- 
ish academy,  .iohnvi.  1,  23. 

TIBERIUS.  Cesar Augustushav- 
Ing  married  Livia  his  mother,  adopt- 
ed him  to  be  his  heir  in  the  em|)ire. 
In  the  beginning  of  his  reign,  Tibe- 
rius behaved  himself  decently  ;  but 
alterwards  became  quite  peevish, 
cruel,  and  opj>ressive.  About  the 
sixth  year  of  it,  the  senate  ordered 
ail  the  Jews  to  depart  from  Rome, 
or  become  slaves.  About  the  13th 
year  he  made  Pilate  governor  of 
Judea.  In  the  15th  year,  John  Bap- 
tist began  to  preach,  Luke  iii.  1. 
Soon  after,  he  took  from  the  Jews 
the  power  of  putting  criminals  to 
death.  It  is  said,  that  hearing  of 
the  miracles  of  our  Saviour,  he  was 
earnest  to  have  him  enrolled  among 
the  Roman  deities,  but  was  hindered 
by  the  senate.  He  so  favoured  the 
Christians,  as  to  threaten  death  to 
such  as  molested  them  on  account  of 
their  religion. 

TIBNI.     See  Omri. 

TluAL,  breaking  the  yoke,  the 
knowledge  of  elevation,  the  ally  of 
Chedorlaomer,  was  called  king  of 
Gqjim,  or  nations,  either  iiccause 
Gojim  was  the  place  of  his  abode, 
or  that  sundry  tribes  had  coalesced 
under  his  government.  Gen.  xiv.  1. 

TIDINGS,  news,  report.  The 
gospel  is  called  ffoo^/ ©r  glad  tidings. 
It  i>ul dishes  and  offers  pardon  to  the 
guilty,   righteousness    to  the  naked 


and  unholy,  spiritual  liberty  to  the 
captives  of  sin  and  Satan,  salvation 
to  the  lost,  and  eternal  riches  of  grace 
and  glory  to  the  poor  and  wretched, 
Isa.  xl.  9.  and  iii.  7.  Luke  i.  19.  and 
ii.  10. 

TIGLATH-PILESER.  or  Tig- 
LATJi-piLNESER,  hc  hath  taken  away 
a  mighty  captivity,  king  of  Assyria. 
Receiving  the  kingdom  in  a  prosper- 
ous state  after  the  death  of  his  father 
Pul,  he  laboured  to  extend  his  do- 
minions. Instigated  by  Ahaz  king 
of  Judah,  he  invaded  Syria,  slew  Re- 
ziu  their  king,  plundered  Damascus 
and  other  places,  and  carried  the 
people  captives  to  Kir  in  Media. 
He  ravaged  the  Hebrew  territories 
eastward  of  Jordan,  and  carried  the 
peo[)le  oajitives  to  Halah,  Habor,  and 
Hara,  on  the  river  Gozan.  He  also 
ravaged  western  Galilee,  and  took 
Ijon,  Abel-bethmaachah,  Janoah, 
Kedesh,  Hazor,  &:c.  and  carried  the 
people  captives  into  Assyria.  Not 
content,  it  seems,  with  Ahaz's  pre- 
sents, and  his  complimentary  visit  to 
him  at  Damascus,  lie  appears  to  have 
ravaged  part  of  Judea,  2  Chron. 
xxviii.  20. 1  Chron.  v.  26.  2  Kings  xv. 
29.  After  a  reign  of  about  19  years, 
he  left  his  throne  to  Shalmaneser. 

TILES  were  used  to  cover  houses, 
and  hence  a  roof  is  called  the  til- 
ing; but  as  the  Jewish  roofs  were 
fiat,  their  tiles  might  be  like  our  flag 
stones  or  broad  bricks.  Some  per- 
sons think  the  tile  on  which  Ezekiel 
portrayed  the  city  of  Jerusalem, 
might  be  a  table  of  free  stone,  Ezek. 
iv.^1. 

TILL,  to  turn  over  the  ground  that 
it  may  be  tit  for  receiving  seed.  Cain 
was  the  first  tiller  or  [iloughman.  Gen. 
iv.  2.  Tillage  is  husbandry,  manuring 
of  the  fields,  1  Chron.  xxvii.  26. 

TIME,  SEASON,  (1.)  The  measure 
of  motion,  or  the  duration  of  things, 
Psal.  Ixxxix.  47.  (2.)  The  particu- 
lar appointed  season  or  opportunity 
of  doing  a  thing,  Eccl.  iii.  1.  Gen. 
xviii.  10.  Psal.  Ixxxi.  1.  In  season 
and  out  of  season,  i.  e.  when  there  is 
more  or  less  o|)portunity,  2  Tim.  iv. 
2.     The   different    times  of  Spring, 


T  I  M 


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*  1  i\r 


Summer,  Marvet-t,  and  Winter,  are 
callfii  the  seasons,  Geo.  i.  14.  'Vhv 
time  ol  the  s  tints'  10  years  sulVerinfi; 
under  Dioclesiaii,  and  of  the  tlevd's 
ra$2;in^  at  the  end  ol' the  miiienniuin, 
is  c.dJed  a  litlL  season,  Hev.  vi.  11. 
and  XX.  3.  The  appuinted  season  of 
God's  vengeance  on  men,  is  called  his 
times  or  diiys,  as  he  dis!>lays  his 
power  an<l  perleclions  therein;  and 
their  tinu,  or  the  lime  of  Ike  HciUlun, 
as  they  then  receive  the  due  re»vard 
of  their  deeds,  Joi>  xxiv.  1.  Jer.  I. 
27,  31.  Ezek.  iii.  3.  Christ's  time, 
is  either  the  time  of  his  going  up  to 
the  feast  oJ' tabernacli'8,  or  the  time 
of  his  death,  John  vii.  t5,  8.  or  the  time 
of  his  appearance  to  Judgment,  1 
Tim.  vi.  15.  which  will  be  a.  time  of 
refreshing  and  restitution  of  all  things, 
as  then  he  will  display  hici  glory  to 
the  highest,  fully  comfort  his  saints, 
and  restore  the  system  of  irrational 
nature  to  its  original  purity  and  ho- 
nour, Acts  iii.  20,  21.  Rom.  viii.  21. 
That  season  in  which  God  calls  sin- 
ners to  him,  and  quickens  and  unites 
their  souls  to  Christ,  is  called  his  time 
if  love,  Ezelv.  xvi.  8,  and  it  is  an  ac- 
ceptable time,  and  day  of  salvation, 
when  Goil  bestows  his  special  favours 
on  men,  Psal.  Ixix.  13.  2  Cor.  vi.  2. 
According  to  the  time  of  life,  is  after 
going  nine  months  with  child,  Gen. 
xviii.  10,  14.  The  last  times  or  days, 
denote  cither  the  whole  latter  part 
of  the  duration  of  the  world,  or  the 
whole  of  the  gospel  j)eriod,  particu- 
larly that  in  which  the  Jewish  cere- 
monies were  going  to  be  abolished,  1 
Pet.  i.  20.  Isa.  ii.  2.  Mic.  iv.  1.  1 
John  ii.  18.  or  the  latter  part  of  the 
Christian  period,  and  which  are  re- 
presented as  perilous  times,  abound- 
ing with  scoll'ers  and  wicked  profe.-- 
sors,  1  Tim.  iv.  1.  2  Tim.  iii.  1—5. 
2  Pet.  iii.  3.  To  knom  the  times,  is  to 
know  the  history  of  former  times,  and 
to  observe  the  present  times  in  their 
various  circumstances,  and  what  is 
proper  to  be  done  therein,  thus  dis- 
cerning time  and  judgmerit,  Esth.  i.  13. 
I  Chron.  xii.  32.  Eccl.  viii.  5.  but  the 
knowledge  of  future  times  in  their 
events,  is  not  for  men  to  dive  into, 


further  than  Go<l  pleases  to  reveal. 
Acts  i.  7.  The  Ch:ddea:»  win:  nii^n 
sought  to  gain  the  lime,  i.  e.  to  put  it 
oil"  till  tl)e  king  sh(»uld  call  lo  mind 
his  dream,  or  his  attention  lie  divert- 
ed to  some  other  business,  Dan.  ii.  8. 
Tinu,  in  the  |)ro[)betic  ttyle,  signities 
a  natural  year;  so  seven  tinus  passed 
over  Nebuchadnezzar  in  his  state  of 
insanit}' ;  he  was  seven  years  in  it, 
Dan.  iv.  Ii3.  or  a  prophetic  year;  so 
a  timi'  is  3t)0  years,  and  time,  times, 
and  the  half  or  dividing  of  time,  are 
three  prophetic  years  and  a  half,  or 
1200  natural  years,  Uan.  vii.  25.  and 
xii,  7.  Rev.  xii.  14.  with  Rev.  xi.  2, 
3.  and  xii.  6.  and  xiii.  5.  Dan.  xii.  1 1, 
12.  To  every  thing  there  is  a  time 
anlsea^^on;  Providence  permits  every 
event  in  its  season  ;  but  that  does  not 
imply  that  God's  law  allows  us  to 
spend  time  in  each  of  these  things 
there  mentioned ;  for  it  is  plain, 
though  God  permits  us  to  hate  such 
as  we  once  loved,  yet  he  never  allows 
us  to  hate  whom  we  once  lawfully 
loved,  Eccl.  iii.  1 — 8.  Paul  was  born 
Old  of  due  time,  was  too  late  in  coming 
to  Christ,  and  not  called  to  the  a[)os- 
tleship  till  after  our  Saviour's  ascen- 
sion, 2  Cor.  XV.  8. 

TIMNAH,       TiMNATII,      TlMNA- 

TiiAH,  image,  figure,  enumeration,  a 
city  which  it  seems  stood  in  the  west 
corner  of  the  lot  of  Judah,  and  was 
given  to  the  Danites.  It  is  saii;!  to 
have  been  six  miles  from  Aduilam 
where  Judah  lived,  and  twelve  from 
Eshtaol  where  Samson  lived.  Near 
to  this  place,  Judah  committed  lewd- 
ness with  Tamar,  and  Samson  mar- 
ried his  wife,  Gen.  xxxviii.  12.  Judg. 
xiv.  1.  It  was  a  village  about  406 
years  after  Christ.  Timnath-serati, 
or  Timnath-heres,  was  a  ciiy  of  the 
Ephraimites  where  Joshua  lived  and 
iwas  buried,  Josh.  xix.  50.  and  xxiv. 
:30.  Judg.  ii.  9. 

j  TIMOTHY,  or  TiMOTfTEus,  ho- 
Inmtring  of  God,  precious  to  God,  a  no- 
jted  evangelist.  He  was  a  native  of 
jLystra  in  Lesser  Asia.  His  father 
iwas  a  Greek,  but  his  grandmother 
■jLois,  and  his  mother  Eunice,  being 
I  pious   Jewish  women,  they  trainc<l 


T  I  M 


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T  I  R 


Mm  up  from  a  child  in  the  knowledge 
of  the  scriptures;  and  Paul  circum- 
cised him  to  render  him  the  more 
acceptable  to  the  Jews.  His  bodily 
constitution  was  verj^  weak,  but  his 
gifts  and  graces  were  eminent,  Acts 
xvi.  1.    2  Tim.  i.  5,  15.  and  iii.  15. 

1  Tim.  V.  23,  1  Cor.  iv.  17.  After 
he  had  been  appointed  a  minister  by 
Paul  and  the  Presbytery  of  Lj'stra, 
he  became  very  dear  to  Paul  for  his 
faithfulness  and  piety  ;  and  hence  he 
calis  him  his  dear  son  in  the  faith,  his 

faithful fellowworker^  &:c.  2  Tim.  i. 
6.  1  Tim-  iv.  14.  and  i.  2.  1  Cor.  iv. 
17.  He  accompanied  Paul  to  Mace- 
donia, and  was  with  him  at  Philippi, 
Thessalonica,  and  Berea.  At  Paul's 
desire,  he  folloAved  him  from  Berea 
to  Alliens ;  but  was  quickly  sent  back 
to  confirm  the  Christians  of  Thessa- 
lonica under  their  [)ersecution,  Acts 
xvii.  1  Thess.  iii.  2,  3,  Thence  he 
and  Silas  came  to  Paul  at  Corinth, 
Acts  xviii.  5.  and,  together  with  him, 
sent  their  salutations  to  the  Chris- 
tians of  Thessalonica,  1  Thess.  i.  1. 

2  Thess.  i.  1.  Some  years  after,  Paul 
sent  him  and  Erastus  from  Ephesus 
to  Macedonia  and  Corinth,  to  con- 
firm the  Christians  there,  Acts  xix. 
21,  22.  1  Cor.  iv.  17.  and  xvi.  10. 
Having  returned  to  Ephesus  before 
Paul  had  gone  home,  he  was  left  there 
to  settle  the  affairs  of  that  infant 
church,  1  Tim.  i.  3.  and  there  he  re- 
ceived his  first  epistle,  about  A.  D. 
56.  After  ordering  matters  at  Ephe- 
sus, he  followed  Paul  to  Macedonia, 
whence,  with  Paul,  he  sent  his  salu- 
tation to  the  Corinthians,  2  Cor.  i.  1. 
Soon  after,  he  attended  Paul  to  Co- 
rinth, and  (hence,  with  him,  sends 
his  salutation  to  the  Romans,  Rom 
xvi.  21.  Returning  through  Mace 
donia,  he  went  with  Paul  to  Asia, 
Acts  XX.  4.  Thither  he  was  called, 
some  years  after,  by  Paul  to  Rome, 
in  his  second  epistle  to  him,  2  Tim. 
iv.  9, 13.  He  was  with  Paul  at  Rome 
when  he  wrote  his  epistles  to  the 
Philippians,  Colossians,  and  Phile- 
mon, Phil.  i.  1.  Col.  i.  1.  He  was 
for  a  while  a  prisoner  at  Rome,  but 
was  afterwards  set  at  liberty,  Heb. 


xiii.  23.  After  which  we  know  not 
what  became  of  him.  The  two 
epistles  directed  to  him,  encouraged 
and  directed  him  in  his  care  and  go- 
vernment of  the  church,  and  warned 
him  of  the  troubles  which  awaited 
her. 

TIN,  a  well-known  coarse  metal, 
harder  than  lead,  though  of  the  same 
kind,  with  a  mixture  of  silver,  and 
which  formed  a  part  of  the  Tyrian 
trade  with  Tarshish,  Ezek.  xxvii.  12. 
Perhaps  tin-mines  renew  their  store 
in  process  of  time.  Trees  are  found 
in  them  at  the  depth  of  50  fathoms. 
Naughty  persons,  and  their  abundant 
corruptions,  being  ready  for  the  fire 
of  God's  wrath,  are  likened  to  lead, 
tin,  brass,  iron,  and  dross,  Ezek.  xxii. 
18,  20.  Isa.  i.  25. 

TINGLING  of  the  cars,  imports 
trembling  and  horror,  because  of  fear- 
ful calamities,  1  Sam.  iii.  11. 

TIP,  utmost  point. 

T I P  H  S  A  H ,  passage,  halting,  pass- 
over,  (1.)  A  city  of  the  tribe  of 
Ephraim,  at  no  great  distance  from 
Tirzah,  and  about  six  miles  from  Sa- 
maria. It  seems  this  city  refused  to 
submit  to  BIenahem;  and  being  ta- 
ken, the  inhabitants  were  put  to  the 
sword,  and  the  women  with  child  rip- 
ped up,  2  Kings  -av.  16.  (2.)  Tiphsah, 
or  Thapsacus,  on  the  Euphrates,  on 
the  east  of  Syria,  and  about  600  miles 
north-west  of  Babylon.  Some  geogra- 
phers place  it  on  the  east,  and  others 
on  the  west  side  of  the  river ;  but  as 
there  was  a  famous  bridge  here,  I  sup- 
pose part  of  the  city  stood  on  the  one 
side,  and  part  on  the  other.  This  ci<y 
was  the  north-east  border  of  Solo- 
mon's territories,  1  Kings  iv.  24. 

TIRAS,  a  destroyer,  or  Thiras, 
the  seventh  son  of  Japheth.  He  is 
supposed  to  have  been  the  father  of 
the  Thracians,  in  whose  countrj'^  was 
the  river  Atyrus;  and  they  worshipped 
the  god  of  war  under  the  name  of 
Odrysus  and  Thuras,  probably  the 
same  as  Tiras  :  and  there  *vas  here  a 
nation  called  theThrausi.  The  Thra- 
cians were  long  a  very  ignorant  and 
barbarous,  but  idolatrous,  people. 
They  were  divided  into  a  great  many 


T  I  T 


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T  1  r 


nations  or  tribes,  till  tbe  Greeks  con- 
quer- d  llifiri,  Gen.  x.  2. 

TIKE,  a  dress  tor  the  head,  Ezek. 
xxiv.  17,  23.  RoiinJ  (ins  like  the 
moon,  may  denote  the  golden  neck- 
laces, somewhat  like  tho^re  worn  hy 
the  kings  ot  xMidiau,  and  their  camels, 
Isa.  iii.  18. 

TIKHAKAH,  or  TriEARCiioN,  a 
dull  observer,  a  hindrance  oj  the  law, 
as  Strabo  calls  hin),\vas  kingolCusii ; 
but  whether  that  in  Arabia,  or  in 
Abyssinia,  is  not  agreed.  We  sup- 
pose him  the  sovereign  of  Abyssinia 
and  Egypt,  and  that  he  was  defeated 
by  Sennacherib,  against  whom  he 
marched  for  the  relief  of  king  Heze- 
kiuh;  and  that  at  this  time,  to  the 
terror  of  the  Jews,  the  Ethiopians 
and  Egyptians  were  taken  prisoners, 
2Kingsxix.  19.  Isa.  xx.  4 — (5. 

TIRSH  ATHA,  that  overturrsthc 
foundation,  or  mho  halh  authontjj 
ova'  us,  a  name  given  to  Zerubbabel 
and  Nehemiah.  Some  think  it  de- 
notes the  cup-bearer,  but  more  pro- 
perly it  denotes  a  governor,  or  a  com- 
missary, appointed  by  the  Persian 
king  to  carry  his  orders  to  a  [tro- 
vince,  and  see  them  put  in  execution, 
Ezra  ii.  63.  Neh.  x.  1. 

TIRZAH,  pleasing  wtU,  a  city 
of  the  Ephraimites.  It  was  a  most 
beautiful  place.  Jeroboam  the  son 
of  Nehat,  Nadab,  Baasha,  Elah,  Zim- 
ri,  and  Omri,  kings  of  Isiael,  resided 
here  :  but  after  Samaria  was  built, 
the  court  mostly  abandoned  Tirzah, 

1  Kings  xiv.  17.  and  xv.  21.  It  ap- 
pears to  have  shared  in  the  above- 
mentioned  fate  of  western  TiPiia.vH, 

2  Kings  XV.  10. 

TISHBEH,  a  city  of  Gilead,  and 
the  native  place  of  Elijah.  It  seems 
to  have  still  remained  about  400  years 
after  Christ,  but  was  in  the  hand  of 
the  Arabians,  1  Kings  xvii.  1. 

TiSRI,    or  Tizui.      See  Etiia- 

MM. 

TITHES,  or  textii  parts.  We 
suppose  God  suggested  to  the  an- 
cient patriarchs  his  claim  to  the  tenth 
part  of  their  gain  or  product.  When 
Abraham  returned  from  his  victory 
over  Chedorlaoraer  and  his  allies,  he 


gave  to  jNIelchizedek,  the  Lord's 
liriest,  the  tenth  part  ol  his  spoils. 
Gen.  xlv.  20.  Jacoli  dt-dicated  to 
God  by  a  vow  the  tenth  [lart  of  his 
gain  in  Mesopotamia,  Gen.  xxviii. 
22.  Nay,  nmllitudes  of  Greeks,  Ro- 
mans, and  other  Heathens,  devoted 
the  tenth  part  ol  thiir  incomes  to  the 
service  of  God.  To  cujnniemorate 
the  Hebrews' living  in  tl-.e  wilderness 
on  omers  ovtinlii  deals  of  manna,  God 
not  only  regulated  their  nieat-olfer- 
ings  by  ttutk  deals  of  line  Hour,  hut 
he  further  regulated  the  al3air  of  their 
tithes  in  the  following  manner:  Af- 
ter the  first  fruits,  and  their  attendant 
oflerings,  were  (ledutted,  the  tenth 
jtart  of  their  remaining  product  of 
corn,  cattie,  &c.  were  assigned  to 
the  Leviles.  Of  this  the  priests  had 
the  tenth  part  for  their  share.  Of 
what  remained  to  the  pro|»rielor, 
another  tithe  was  levied,  and,  in  va- 
lue or  kind,  sent  to  the  service  of  the 
tabernacle  and  temple,  and  the  mi- 
nisters thereof,  at  the  sokmn  feasts. 
On  every  third  year  a  third  tithe  was 
levied  trom  the  proprietor  for  the 
use  of  the  Levites,  the  fatherless, 
widows,  and  strangers,  if  this  was 
not  the  same  as  the  second  tithe,  and 
only  in  the  third  year  applied  to  this 
use,  and  eaten  a;  home  in  their  cities. 
It  does  not  appear  that  the  lithe  of 
their  herbs  was  demaudvd.  The 
Pharisees,  how  ever,  tithed  their  mint, 
anise,  cununin,  and  rue  ;  nor  does 
Jesus  condemn  theuj  for  it,  but  for 
neglecting  weightier  things,  as  mer- 
cy, judgment,  and  faith,  while  they 
were  so  wonderfully  exact  in  small 
matters,  Deut.  xiv.  22 — 29.  and  xii. 
1-7.  Numb.  XV iii.  20 — 32.  At  pre- 
sent, the  Jews  regard  the  law  of 
tithes  very  little:  nor  is  there  any  di- 
vine warrant  for  the  Clerjrj'  to  demand 
them  under  the  Christian  dispensa- 
tion. As  the  patriarchs  before  Mo- 
ses devoted  their  tithes  to  the  Lord, 
I  sup[!Ose  it  is  still  pro[)er,  if  possi- 
ble, to  assign  the  tenth  part  of  our 
income  to  the  Lord,  for  the  relief  of 
the  poor,  and  oiher  pious  uses;  nor 
can  I  believe  there  w<  uld  be  much 
tUfficulty  with  most  in  so  doing,  If 


T  O 


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T  O  L 


all  luxuriances  in  our  victuals  and 
drestj  were  laid  aside.  "Were  these 
tithes  emblems  of  the  fulness  of  Je- 
sus, collected  from  every  promise 
and  providence,  for  the  sustenance 
of  his  people  ?  Or  were  they  em- 
blems of  the  saints,  and  their  ser- 
vices, devoted  to  the  honour  of  Christ, 
and  as  useful  to  those  around  them  ? 

TITUS,  honourable,  a  noted 
Evangelist.  Being  originally  a  Gen- 
tile,he  was  never  circumcised.  He  at- 
tended Paul,  by  whose  ministry  he 
had  been  converted,  from  Syria  to 
the  synod  at  Jerusalem,  Gal.  ii.  1 — 3. 
Some  years  after,  Paul  sent  him  to 
Corinth,  where  his  piety,  anti  his 
disinterested  and  zealous  preaching 
of  the  gospel,  procured  him  a  kind 
reception.  Coming  from  thence  to 
Paul  in  Macedonia,  he  gave  him  an 
account  of  the  state  of  the  Corinthian 
church,  and  was  returned  to  them, 
bearing  a  second  epistle  from  Paul, 
2  Cor.  xii.  18.  and  vii.  0,  15.  and 
viii.  6,  16,  17.  When  Paul  left  him 
in  Crete,  to  settle  the  affairs  of  that 
church,  and  appoint  elders  in  it,  we 
are  uncertain ;  but  it  is  certain,  that, 
in  the  epistle  sent  thither  to  him,  he 
desires  him  to  come  to  him  at  Nico- 
polis,  and  bring  Zenas  the  lawyer 
and  Apoilos  with  hirn,  as  soon  as 
Tychicus  and  Artemas  should  come 
to  supply  his  room.  Tit.  iii.  12,  13. 
After  this,  Paul  sent  him  into  Dal- 
niatia,  2  Tim.  iv.  10.  but  it  is  said, 
he  returned  to  Crete,  and  thence 
propagated  the  gospel  in  the  neigh- 
bouring islands.  The  epistle  sent  to 
Titus  directs  him  to  choose  otficers; 
to  warn  and  censure  the  unruly  ;  and 
to  urge  all  ranks  to  act  agreeably  to 
their  Christian  character. 

TITLE,  (1.)  Name,  character, 
Jobxxxii.  21,  22.  (2.)  A  motto,  or 
inscription,  on  a  grave-stone,  2  Kings 
xxiii.  17.  or  on  a  cross,  John  xix. 
19,20. 

TITTLE,  the  least  part;  the  least 
sentence,  Blatt.  v.  18. 

TO,  often  expresses  the  end  of  an 
act,  or  course,  Rom.  ix.  22.  1  Thess. 
f .  9.  or  the  ]>laceor  person  to  which 
one  moves.  Johxxiii.  3. 


The  ten  TOES  of  Nebuchadne?:^ 
zar's  visionary  image,  denote  the  ten 
kingdoms  formed  out  of  the  Roman 
empire.  See  Horns^  Dan.  ii.  41, 
42. 

TOB,  or  IsHTOB,  good,  or  good- 
ness, a  small  canton  on  the  south-east 
ofSyria,where  Jephthah  retired  when 
driven  from  his  native  country  by  his 
brethren,  Judg.  xi.  3,  5.  In  the  time 
of  the  Maccabees,  the  people  here 
were  called  the  Tubieni. 

TORI  AH.     See  NEREMiAn. 

TOBIJAH.     See  Zachariah. 

TOG  ARM  AH,  strong,  hrraking 
of  the  bones,  or  over-inhabited,  the 
third  son  of  Gomer,  and  grandson  of 
Japhelh,  Gen.  x.  3.  Josephus  makes 
him  the  father  of  the  Phrygians ;  Bo- 
chart,  of  the  Cappadocians,  of  whom 
there  was  a  tribe  called  Trogmi, 
Trocmi,  or  Trogmades.  Others  make 
him  the  father  of  the  Turcomans  in 
Tartary.  The  Armenians  too  pre- 
tend to  be  his  descendants.  It  ap- 
pears certain  that  his  posterity  trad- 
ed with  the  Tyrians,  in  horsemen, 
horses,  and  mules,  Ezek.  xxvii.  14. 
and  that  they  will  assist  Gog  and 
Magog  against  the  Hebrews,  at  the 
beginning  of  the  millennium,  Ezek. 
xxsviii.  6. 

TOGETHER,  (1.)  United  in  one 
place,  condition,  inclination,  or  de- 
sign. Job  iii.  1 8.  Acts.  v.  9.  (2.) 
Wholly,  every  whit.  Job  x.  8.  (3.) 
By  ourselves  alone,  Ezra  iv.  3. 

TOI,  orTou.     See  David,  Ha- 

MAtll. 

TOKEN.     See  Mark. 

TOLA,  a  norm,  a  grub,  or  scar- 
let,  (1.)  The  eldest  son  of  Issachar, 
and  father  of  the  Tolaites,  Numb. 
xxvi.  23.  (2.)  Tola,  the  10th  Judge 
of  Israel.  He  was  the  sou  of  Puah, 
and  grandson  of  Dodo,  of  the  tribe 
of  Issachar.  He  succeeded  Abi- 
melcch,  and  judged  Israel  23  years, 
and  was  buried  at  Shamir  in  mount 
Ephraim,  J.  M.  2794,  Judg.  x.  1. 

TOLERABLE,  what  may  be 
borne  or  endured.  It  will  be  ?norc 
tolerable  for  Tyre  and  Sidon,  Sodom 
and  Gomorrah,  in  tlie  day  of  judg- 
ment,   than    for    such    as   enjoyed 


TOP 


(     520     ) 


TOP 


Christ's  niiracle3  anil  gos|iel,  but 
believed  not;  as  the  eirrnal  tor- 
meuts  of  the  former  will  be  less 
grievous  than  of  the  latter,  lAIatt. 
X.  13.  and  xi.  22. 

TOMB.     See  Grave. 

TONGUE.     See  Muith. 

TOOTH.  The  teeth  of  animals 
are  tho?e  bony  substances  that  grow 
in  their  Jaws,  and  wherewith  they 
hold  or  chew  their  food.  Some  have 
fore-teeth  in  both  .jaws;  some  only 
in  one;  and  some  have  more  than 
one  row  of  teeth  in  the  same  jaw. 
Some  animals  have  tusks  higher  than 
the  rest,  for  the  catching  and  hold- 
ing of  their  prey.  Confidence  in  an 
nnfaithful  friend,  is  like  a  broken 
tooth,  that  may  pain,  but  cannot 
chew;  or  a  fool  out  of  Joint,  [lainful, 
but  not  useful;  it  hurts  men  that 
have  it,  Prov.  xxv.  19.  Men  being 
likened  to  wild  beasts,  their  perni- 
cious and  reproachful  speeches,  and 
their  power  and  ability  to  do  mis- 
chief, are  called  teeth  like  spccws, 
snjords,  andknivcs,  Psal.  Ivii.  4.  Prov. 
XXX.  14.  Job  iv,  10.  and  God  breaks 
these  TEETH,  when  he  disables  men 
from  hurting  others,  Psal.  Iviii.  6. 
but  he  breaks  the  teeth  of  his  pe«[)le 
%nth  gravel-stones,  when  he  involves  j 
them  in  a  track  of  distressing  jiro- 
vidences,  Lam.  iii.  16.  Great  iron 
teeth,  knport  terrible  |)Ower  and  rea- 
diness to  destroy  others,  Dan.  vii.  7. 
To  have  the  teeth  set  on  edge,  imports 
to  be  very  greatlj"^  afflicted,  Jer.  xxxi. 
29,  30.  To  take  otu's  own  flesh  in 
his  teeth,  imports  being  maddened 
with  pain  ami  despair,  Job  xiii.  14. 
To  gnash  the  teeth,  imports  great 
torment  and  rage.  Matt.  viii.  12. 
Acts  vii.  54. 

TOP,  (1.)  The  utmost  end  of  a 
thing,  Esth.  v.  2.  Lam.ii.  19.  (2.) 
The  highest  part  of  anything.  Gen. 
viii.  5.  and  xxviii.  18.  (3i)  The 
height  of  power  and  wealth,  and  the 
pride  that  attended  it,  Ezek.  xxxi.  3, 
10,  14.  On  or  above  the  tops  of 
mountains,  hills,  and  houses,  imports 
a  most  public  and  visible  state  or 
manner,  Isa.  ii.  2.  Matt.  x.  27. 
Ezek.  xxiv.  7.  but  the  Jewp  beins 

Vol.  TI. 


on  house-tops,  when  the  Romans  in- 
vaded their  country,  imports  their 
hiding  themselves  in  secret  places, 
iMatt.  xxiv.  17.  Luke  xvii.  13.  or 
men's  posting  themselves  where  they 
can  best  discern  the  approach  of  the 
enemy,  Isa.  xxii.  1.  and  xv.  3. 

TOPAZ,  a  precious  and  transpa- 
rent jewel,  third  in  value  to  the 
diamond.  The  finest  topazes  are 
brought  from  the  East-Indies,  and 
are  often  found  ahjut  (he  bigness  of 
a  pin-head,  and  :^carcely  any  exceed 
the  Cth  part  of  an  inch  in  diameter. 
The  best  ar6  of  a  yellow  golden 
colour;  though  Pliny  says,  the  best 
are  of  a  green  colour.  The  most 
valuable  topaz  in  the  world,  we 
know  of,  is  in  the  possession  of  the 
great  iMogul.  It  weighs  about  137 
caracts,  and  cost  200,300/.  sterling. 
The  topaz  was  anciently  found  in 
an  island  of  the  Red  Sea,  called  To- 
paziou,  and  hence  it  is  called  the 
Topaz  of  Cush,  Job  xxviii.  19.  If 
the  Pitdath  signifies  a  topa::,  it  was 
second  in  the  high  priest's  breast- 
plate, and  it  was  the  9th  founda- 
tion of  the  New  Jerusalem,  Exod. 
xxviii.  17.  Rev.  xxi.  20.  At  pre- 
sent, the  topazes  of  East-India  are 
the  best;  those  of  Al)yssinia,  the 
next;  tho.e  of  Peru  in  America,  are 
much  softer ;  and  those  of  Bohemia 
in  Germany,  are  still  softer,  and 
a  little  cloudy.  By  proper  firing, 
crystal  is  formed  into  a  kind  of 
Topaz. 

TOPHET,  a  place  on  the  east  of 
Jerusalem ;  so  called  from  the  beat- 
ing of  drums  to  drown  the  cries  of 
the  children  burnt  in  the  fire  to 
3Ioloch.  It  was  also  called  the  val- 
ley of  Hinnom;  but  Relaud  places 
the  valley  of  Hinnom  on  the  west 
of  Jerusalem.  It  is  said  to  have 
been  a  very  delightful  spot,  watered 
by  the  streams  of  Shiloah,  and  shaded 
with  a  numher  of  gardens.  But  it 
is  more  certain,  that  here  the  Jews 
burnt  their  children  to  Moloch,  Jer. 
vii.  30.  Here  according  to  the  pur- 
pose of  God,  a  great  part  of  the  As- 
syrian host  were  cut  off,  as  in  a  fire, 
perhaps  by  a  burning  pestilence,  Isa. 
:;  X 


T  O  T 


i     630     ) 


TOW 


xx5Lr  So.  To  stop  the  idolatries  here 
l)ractised,  Josiah  rendered  it  as  filthy 
as  he  could,  probably  making  it  a  bu- 
rying-place,  or  a  place  of  burning 
::uch  dead  carcases  to  which  burial 
was  not  allowed,  2  Kings  xxiii.  10, 
II.  It  seems  that  multitudes  of 
those  Jews,  slain  by  the  Chaldeans  at 
the  taking  of  Jerusalem,  were  buried 
here,  Jer.  vii.  32.  and  xix.  11 — 13. 
Afterwards  it  appears  to  have  become 
the  common  receptacle  of  carcases, 
garbage,  and  filth,  and  a  fire  was 
kept  burning  to  consume  it.  The 
word  Gehenna,  used  for  hell,  is  the 
same  as  Gebinnom,  the  valley  o/Hin- 
iiom,  or  of  shrieking. 

TORCH.     See  Lamp. 

TORMENT.     See  Pain. 

TORTOISE.  There  are  two  ge- 
neral kinds  of  tortoises,  viz.  sea  and 
land  ones;  and  12  particular  kinds. 
It  is  the  land  tortoise  that  is  men- 
tioned in  scripture;  the  shell  that 
covers  it,  renders  it  someniiat  like  a 
covered  waggon.  Some  call  it  the 
land  crocodile.  It  feeds  on  fiowers; 
and  in  Syria,  and  places  adjacent, 
is  reckoned  a  fine  dish.  In  East- In- 
dia, the  land  tortoises  are  seldom 
above  three  inches  long;  but  in  the 
isle  of  Madagascar,  it  is  said,  there 
are  some  about  a  foot  long,  and  co- 
vered with  a  shell  mixed  of  white, 
yellow,  and  other  colours.  There 
is  a  most  ugly  kind  of  tortoise  that 
haunts  old  walls,  and  will  live  se- 
veral days  after  its  head  is  cut  off. 
This,  I  am  apt  to  think,  is  the  tzac 
of  the  Hebrews,  if  that  animal  be 
not  rather  what  Dr.  Shaw  calls  the 
sharp  scaled  tailed  lizard- 

TOSS,  violently  to  drive  hither 
and  thither.  Men  are  tossed  to  and 
fro  ill  their  condition,  when  they 
have  no  rest  from  troubles,  arising 
from  different  OjUarters,  Psal.  cix.  23. 
Isa.  liv.  11.  and  tossings  denote 
trouble  and  disquiet  of  mind,  Job 
vii.  5.  Professors  of  religion  are 
tossed  to  and  fro,  when  they  are  un- 
settled in  their  opinions  and  practice, 
Eph.  iv.  14. 

TOTTERING,  shaldnghitherand 
ti^lther,  Psal.  Ixii.  3. 


TOUCH.  (1.)  Lightly  to  feefa 
thing,  Luke  viii.  44.  (2.)  To  dis- 
tress, afflict,  Gen^xxvi.  11,  29.  John 
xix.  21.  (3.)  To  prevail  against, 
destroy,  1  John  v.  18.  Heb.  xi.  28. 
(4.)  To  approach,  come  close  to, 
Exod.  xix.  16.  Acts  xxvii.  3.  (5.) 
To  meddle  with,  Numb.  xvi.  26. 
God  toucheth  incn''s  hearts,  when  he 
inclines  and  persuades  them  to  a 
thing,  1  Sam.  x.  26.  He  toucheth 
the  earth  till  it  melt,  when  he  exe- 
cutes his  fearful  judgments  on  the 
inhabitants,  Amos  ix.  5.  He  touch' 
elh  the  mountains,  and  they  smoke, 
when  he  readily  removes  hindrances 
out  of  liis  way,  and  debases  the  proud 
and  great,  Psal.  cxliv.  5.  Christ  is 
touched  with  the  feeling  of  our  in- 
firmities; he  readily  and  kindly  syra- 
|)athizes  with  us  under  our  troubles, 
Heb.  iv.  1 5.  Alexander  and  his  army 
did  not  touch  the  ground,  in  their 
march  against  the  Persians;  i.  e. 
they  marched  with  astonishing  speed, 
as  if  {lying,  and  meeting  with  no  ef-i 
fectual  resistance,  Dan.  viii.  5.  Blood 
toucheth  blood,  when  murder  and 
other  ruinous  sins  are  committed 
every  where,  and  closely  after  one 
another,  Hos.  iv.  2.  Carnal  know- 
ledge of  a  woman  is  called  a  touching 
her.  Gen.  xx.  6.  Prov.  vi.  29.  1 
Cor.  vii.  1.  Touching,  with  re- 
spect to,  2  Thess.  iii.  4. 

TOW.  Wicked  men  are  likened 
to  it,  to  show  how  ripe  they  are  for 
the  destructive  judgments  of  God ; 
their  easy  and  quick  ruin  by  means  of 
them,  and  their  inability  to  Avithstand 
them,  Isa.  i.  31.  and  xliii.  17. 

TOWARDS.  (1.)  Inclitting  to. 
Numb.  xxiv.  1.  (2.)  On  the  way  to. 
Gen.  xii.  9.  (3.)  With  respect  tOi, 
Deut.  xxvii.  54,  56.  Repentance 
is  towards  God,  as  thereby  we  sor- 
row for  sin  as  against  his  honour  and 
law,  and  turn  from  it  to  him  as  our 
!>ortion,  master,  and  last  end ;  faith 
is  towards  Jesus  Christ,  as  by  it  we 
look  to,  and  depend  on  him,  for  every 
thing  necessary  to  our  salvation. 
Acts  XX.  21.  Our  heart  is  toivards 
onc^  when  we  are  greatly  pleased 
with  him  and  his  work,  Judg.  v.  9. 


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T  R  A 


iMen'3  eyes  arc  iftwatds  the  Lord, 
when  they  seek  and  expect  tlieir 
lieip  and  salvation  only  I'roni  him, 
Psal.  XXV.  15.  Isa.  xvi.  7. 

TOWER,  a  strong  and  high  buiUl- 
ing,  for  protection  from  enemies,  and 
for  annoying  them ;  or  tor  a  pros- 
pect, 2  Chron.  xiv.  7.  In  scripture, 
we  read  of  the  towere  of  Babylon, 
Jerusalem,  Penuel,  Shechem,Thel)ez, 
Edar,  &c.  The  torvcr  of  the  watch- 
7ncn,  may  be  one  erected  for  watch- 
ing the  invasion  of  enemies;  and 
from  the  tower  of  the  watchmen  to 
the  fenced  city,  is,  iu  all  places  more 
or  less  populous,  2  Kings  xvii.  9. 
The  tower  of  the  flock,  may  denote 
Bethlehem,  near  to  which  was  the 
tower  of  Eder,  or  of  the  fiock ;  or 
Jerusalem,  where  the  tribes  of  God 
assembled  as  a  flock;  or  Jesus  him- 
self, who  is  the  protector  and  Saviour 
of  his  people,  Mic.  iv.  8.  2  Sam.  xxii. 
3.  Prov.  xviii.  10.  Jerusalem,  the 
temple,  and  the  ordinances  of  God, 
were  a  toiverin  Goit^s  vineyard :  were 
most  visible,  and  useful  for  protect- 
ing men,  Isa.  v.  2.  Matt.  xxi.  33. 
Jeremiah  was  like  a  tower  and  for- 
tress, to  spy  out  and  reprove  the 
Jews  for  their  sins,  and  they  could 
not  prevail  to  silence  or  destroy  him, 
Jer.  vi.  27. 

TOAVN,  (1.)  A  c\iy,  1  Sam.  xxiii. 
7.  (2.)  A  burgh  or  village,  Estb. 
ix.  19. 

TRACHONITIS,  stony,  cruel,  a 
small  canton  on  the  south  of  Damas- 
cus, which  properly  pertained  to  Ara- 
bia, not  to  Canaan.  It  had  Ituria 
on  the  south,  and  Baashan  on  the  west. 
It  abounded  with  rocks;  and  here 
the  robbers  that  gave  Herod  the 
Great  so  much  work,  sheltered  them- 
selves. Phili|)  his  son  was  tetrarch 
here,  Luke  iii.  1 . 

To  TRADE,  to  deal  in  any  law- 
ful business,  as  of  baying  and  selling, 
&c.  Gen.  xlvi.  32,  34.  To  trade 
wiih  the  talents,  or  pounds,  which 
God  gives,  is  to  exercise  our  gifts 
and  graces,  and  to  improve  our  op- 
portunities to  the  honour  of  God,  and 
the  good  of  ourselves  and  our  neigh- 
bours. Matt.  XXV.  1 6. 


TRADITION,some  things  hand 
ed  down  from  age  to  age,  without 
being  committed  to  writing.  The 
Jews  pretend,  that  besides  the  laws 
of  Moses  written  in  the  Pentateuch, 
God  gave  him  a  great  many  more, 
of  which  he  informed  Aaron  and  his 
sons;  they  handed  them  down  to 
the  elders ;  and  these  informed  the 
prophets  of  them  ;  these,  from  one 
generation|to  another,  convej'ed  them 
to  posterity.  This  oval  law,  con- 
veyed without  writing,  they  reckon 
the  soul  of  the  written  law,  whicl), 
as  it  were,  gives  life  and  sense  to  it. 
These  traditions,  however,  were  but 
the  inventions  of  presumptuous  men. 
Moses  expressly  calls  us  to  regard 
only  what  God  has  revealed  to  us  in 
his  word,  Deut.  xxix.  29.  Alter 
the  time  of  Malachi,  these  traditions 
were  exceedingly  multiplied ;  but 
some  of  them  were  trifling,  as  pre- 
scriptions of  washing  of  hands,  pots, 
and  tables ;  and  some  whimsical,  as 
those  relative  to  the  phylacteries  ; 
some  of  them  were  absolutely  wick- 
ed, as  the  notion  that  a  man's  conse- 
crating things  to  God  freed  him  from 
the  duty  of  supporting  his  aged  pa- 
rents ;  and  their  allowance  to  swear 
by  creatures,  and  pretending  that  an 
oath  was  more  binding  if  sworn  by 
the  gift  on  the  altar,  than  by  the  al- 
tar itself;  and  tlieir  prfelendlng  it 
was  lawful  to  hate  their  enemies,  «fcc. 
Our  Saviour  inveighs  against  them, 
as  making  void  the  commandments 
of  God,  and  rendering  their  devo- 
tion useless  by  their  traditions.  Matt. 
XV.  and  xxiii.  Soon  after,  their  re- 
ligion consisted  almost  wholly  in  the 
observance  of  these  traditions.  Rabbi 
Judah,  about  A.  D.  190,  collected 
what  traditions  he  -could,  and  called 
his  work  the  Mishna,  or  second  law. 
This  not  being  sufliciently  clear  on 
many  heads,  Rabbi  Jochanan,  about 
100  years  after,  wrote  a  commentary 
I  on  it.  This  he  called  the  Gemara, 
or  the  Perfection.  These  two  joined 
together,  are  called  the  Talmud,  or 
directory  of  Jerusalem,  because  com- 
posed chiefly  for  the  use  of  the  Jews 
in  Canaan.    But  as  this  Gemara  was 


T  R  A 


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T  R  A 


Written  in  an  obscure  style,  and  mul- 
titudes of  traditions  known  in  the 
east  not  mentioned  in  it,  Rabbi  Ase, 
and  his  disciples,  composed  another, 
and  which,  being  joined  to  the  Mish- 
na,  formed  the  Babylonian  Talmud. 
It  consists  of  6  parts,  63  treatises, 
and  524  chapters;  and  rehearses  the 
various  decisions  of  their  rabbins 
concerning  seeds,  plants,  and  fruits, 
festivals,  women,  injuries,  sacrifices, 
and  other  things  sacred,  and  purifica- 
tions. Though  these  Talmuds  be 
stuffed  with  triiles  and  nonsense,  yet 
they,  especially  the  Babylonian,  (for 
the  Jerusalem  is  little  regarded,)  are 
what  we  may  call  the  body  of  the 
civil  and  canon  law  of  the  modem 
Jews,  if  we  might  not  also  say  their 
creed,  which  they  reckon  incompara 
biy  preferable  to  the  Old  Testa- 
inent,  and  for  rejecting  of  which, 
they  abhor  their  brethren  the  Kara- 
ites, who  regard  only  the  Bible,  as 
little  better  than  incarnate  devils.  As 
theTalmud  is  so  large  that  few  of  their 
doctors  could  render  themselves  mas- 
ters of  it,  Moses  Maimonides,  a  Spa- 
nish rabbin,  about  J.  D.  1180,  com- 
posed an  abridgment  of  it,  which  is 
published  in  four  volumes  folio;  and 
to  him  they  are  obliged  for  curtailing, 
at  least  for  abridging,  a  great  deal  of 
nonsense.  After  all,  a  reader  en- 
dowed with  a  sufficient  stock  of  pa- 
tience, may  find  a  variety  of  things 
in  the  Talmud  tending  to  illustrate 
several  passages  of  the  oracles  of 
God. 

Under  the  New  Testament  dispen- 
sation, the  Papists  have  [iretended  to 
hold  a  multitude  of  traditions,  said 
to  be  conveyed  from  the  apostles. 
These  are  for  the  most  part  never  a 
whit  better  than  their  fellows  of  the 
Talmud.  Nor  does  the  word  of  God 
allow  us  to  regard  any  such,  in  the 
matter  of  religion.  The  Thessaloni- 
ans  were  required  to  hold  the  tradi- 
tions, that  is,  what  had  been  delivered 
to  them  eitherin  the  epistles  sent  them, 
or  in  the  preaching  of  Paul  and  his 
brethren,  according  to  the  scriptures. 
But  now  the  canon  is  finished,  with 
•a  terrible  curse  denounced    against 


the  person  who,  in  his  religion,  adds 
to  or  takes  from  what  is  written  in 
the  Bible,  2  Thess.  iii.  15.  Rev.  xxii. 
18,  19. 

TRAFFIC,  merchandise,  Ezek. 
xvii.  4.  Traffickers,  merchants, 
Isa.  xxiii.  8. 

A  TRAIN,  is  a  company  of  at- 
tendants, 1  Kings  X.  2.  Christ's 
train  filling  the  temple,  may  denote 
either  a  multitude  of  angels;  or  that 
the  perfections  of  the  Deity  dwell  in 
his  manhood ;  and  that  the  fruits  of 
his  mediatory  office  fill  the  church 
with  oracles,  ordinances,  and  minis- 
ters, and  with  saints,  gifts,  and  graces, 
Isa.  vi.  1. 

TRAITOR,  one  that  betrays  his 
king,  his  master,  or  his  friend,  Luke 
vi.  16.  John  vi,  71. 

TRAMPLE,  to  TREAD  under  foot, 
Psalm  xci.  13. 

TRANCE,  that  state  of  a  person's 
mind,  wherein,  by  wonder  or  other- 
wise, his  outward  senses  are  bound 
up,  and  supernatural  things  are  re- 
vealed to  him.  When  Ezekiel,  and 
John  the  apostle,  had  their  visions, 
they  were  often  cast  into  a  trance, 
Ezekiel  i.  &c.  Rev.  i.  and  iv.  &zc. 
And  so  was  Peter,  when  admonish- 
ed to  go  and  preach  to  the  Gentile?, 
Acts  X.  10.  and  xi.  5.  and  Balaam 
asserts,  that  he,  falling  into  a  trance, 
saw  the  glory  of  the  Lord,  Numb. 
xxiv.  4. 

TRANQUILLITY,  quietness  and 
prosperity,  Dan.  iv.  27. 

TRANSFER,  to  apply  to  one  that 
which  respects  another:  thus  Paul, 
in  a  figure,  transferred  or  applied  to 
himself  and  Apollos,  the  comparison 
of  planters,  waterers,  and  stewards,  1 
Cor.  iv.  6. 

TRANSFIGURE,  transform, 
to  turn  into  another  shape.  To  give 
our  Saviour  a  foretaste  of  his  future 
glory,  and  to  fortify  some  of  his 
disciples  against  the  offence  of  his 
after  sufferings,  he,  as  he  prayed, 
was  gloriously  transfigured  on  the 
mount,  Matt.  xvii.  1 — 5.  Men  are 
transfonned  by  the  rene^ving  of  their 
minds,  when  their  nature  is  changed 
from  its  likeness  to  Satan  into  the 


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T  U  A 


image  of  God,  in  kno\vled<;e,  ri<;hte- 
ousnesg,  and  trut-  holiness,  and  tluir 
practice  is  rendered  confoniiuble 
•to  his  law,  Koni.  xii.  2.  Satan  is 
transformed  into  an  annuel  of  lii^ht, 
when  he  lenipls  lo  things  under  the 
appearance  of  knowledge,  holiness, 
spiritual  liberty,  eminent  fellowship 
■with  God:  and  his  ministers  are 
transformed  into  apostles  of  Christ, 
when  they  pretend  to  an  uncommon 
mission  from  Christ,  and  have  great 
appearances  of  seriousness,  zeal,  and 
devotion,  2  Cor.  xi.  13 — 15. 

TRANSGRESvS,  to  disobey  a  law, 
going  over  the  limits  which  it  fixeth| 
for  action  or  forbearance,  Esth.  iii.  3. 
Sin  is  a  transgression,  as  thereby  we 
treacherously  overpass  the  limits 
which  God  hath  fixed  for  our  duty  in 
his  law,  and  do  what  he  forbids,  or 
omit  what  he  requires,  1  John  iii. 
4.  and  a  transgressor,  is  a  sin- 
ner, particularly  a  noted  one,  laa. 
xlviii.  8.  Gal.  ii.  18.  Isa.  liii.  12. 

TRANSLATE,  to  remove  from 
one  person,  place,  or  state,  to  ano- 
ther :  so  Abner  intended  to  translate 
the  kingdom  of  Israel,  by  taking  it 
from  Ishbosheth,  and  giving  it  to 
David,  2  Sam.  iii.  10.  Enoch  was 
translated;  when  he  was  removed, 
soul  and  body  at  once,  from  earth  to 
heaven,  Heb.  xi.  5,  Sinners  at  their 
conversion  are  translated ;  are  brought 
out  of  the  kingdom  of  Satan,  and  a 
state  of  sin  and  misery,  to  a  state  of 
union  with,  and  subjection  to  Christ, 
Col.  i.  13. 

TRANSPARENT,  what  may  be 
seen  through,  as  glass,  &c.  Rev. 
xxi.  21. 

TRAP.     See  Svare. 

TRAVAIL,  women's  painful  la- 
bour in  bringing  forth  children.  Gen. 
XXXV.  16.  Exquisite,  painful,  and 
sudden  calamities  and  distress,  are 
likened  to  it,  Isa.  xiii.  8.  Hos.  xiii. 
13.  Jer.  XXX.  G,  7.  1  Thess.  v.  3. 
God  is  like  to  a  travailing  woman, 
when,  after  long  patience,  he,  by  the 
vigorous  exertion  of  his  power, 
brings  about  deliverance  to  his  peo- 
ple, and  ruin  to  their  enemies,  Isa. 
xiii.    11.     The  travail   of    Christ's 


soul,  is  the  painful  sufTcrings  he  en- 
dured, for  })ringing  forth  glory  to 
God,  and  redemption  to  us:  and  the 
saints,  who,  tiy  means  thereof  are 
begotten  again  and  brought  forth 
into  their  new  covenant  state,  Isa. 
liii.  1 1 .  The  church  iravaildh,  when, 
by  prayers  and  vigorous  endeavours, 
and  by  enduring  sore  |)erseculiou8 
and  troubles,  she  brings  forth  reform- 
ation and  children  to  Christ,  Mic. 
V.  3.  Rev.  xii.  2.  Gal.  iv.  19.  Zioa 
broughi  forth  children  before  she 
travailed ;  her  deliverance  came  very 
speedily  and  unexpectedly ;  or  be- 
fore the  ruin  of  the  Jewish  church, 
the  gospel-church  was  founded,  Isa. 
Ixvi.  7.  Men  travail  with  inirpdty, 
when,  even  to  the  distressing  of  them- 
selves, they  labour  to  commit  it, 
Psbl.  vii.  1-J.  Not  to  travail,  is  ex- 
pressive of  barrenness,  and  of  want 
of  inhabitants,  or  of  good  ones  in  a 
land,  Isa.  xxiii.  4.  and  iv.  1. 

TRAVEL,  (1.)  Making  a  journey 
from  one  jilace  to  another,  Acts  xix. 
29.  (2.)  Hard  labour  and  toil,  Eccl. 
iii.  10.  (3.)  Trouble,  distress.  Numb. 
XX.  14.  God  is  like  a  traveller  or 
way-faring  man,  Avhen  his  visits  to 
his  people  are  seldom  and  short,  and 
he  seems  to  take  little  notice  of 
them,  Jer.  xiv.  9.  Christ  is  likened  to 
a  travellei' :  he  came  into  our  Avorld; 
he  left  it,  and  ascended  into  heaven; 
but  still  in  his  spiritual  power  and 
influence,  he  travels  through  his 
churches,  to  help  and  protect  them, 
Matt.  XXV.  14.  Isa.  Ixiii.  1.  Saints 
are  pd.grtms,  or  wayfaring  men; 
travellers  from  one  place  to  another; 
their  condition  here  is  very  unsettled ; 
but  united  to,  and  assisted  by  Jesus, 
they,  through  much  danger  and  op- 
position, proceed  from  one  degree 
of  grace  to  another,  till  they  arrive 
at  their  everlasting  home,  1  Pet.  ii. 
11.  Heb.  xi.  11.  Isa.  xxxv.  8.  Sa- 
tan is  a  traveller,  who  goes  about 
seeking  entertainment  in  the  hearts 
of  men,  2  Sam.  xii.  4.  and  being  dis- 
turbed by  the  success  of  the  gospel 
in  the  dry  places  of  the  Heathen 
world,  he  returned  to  the  Jews,  and 
made  them  more  hardened  against 


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T  R  E 


Christ,  and  more  wicked  than  before, 
Luke  X.  24,  25,  26.  Matt.  xii.  43— 
A5.  Poverty  and  want  come  on 
sluggards  as  a  traveller,  and  an  armed 
man;  gradually,  but  unexpectedly 
and  irresistibly,  and  render  them  mi- 
serable, Prov.  vi.  11.  and  xxiv.  34. 

TRAVERSE.  To  go  hither  and 
lliither.  The  Jews  traversed  their 
fvays,  by  eometimes  following  the 
Lord,  and  immediately  after  follow- 
ing their  idols;  and  now  one  idol, 
and  then  another,  Jer.  ii.  23. 

TREACHERY,  or  treason,  is 
a  perfidious  acting  contrary  to  co- 
venant-obligation ;  as  when  a  subject, 
contrary  to  his  oath  and  duty  of  al- 
legiance, rebels  against,  and  murders 
his  sovereign,  2  Kings  ix-  23.  and 
xi.  1 4.  The  Jews  were  treacherous  ; 
guilty  of  deceit  and  covenant-break- 
ing with  God  and  men,  Jer.  iii.  7, 
11.  The  Assyrians  dealt  treacher- 
ously, when,  contrary  to  treaty, 
they  ravaged  Judea ;  and  they  were 
dealt  treacherously  with,  when  Senna- 
cherib's sons  murdered  them,  and 
when  the  Medes  and  Chaldeans  de- 
stroyed their  kingdom,  Isa.  xxxiii.  1. 
The  Medes  and  Persians  dealt  very 
treacherously,  when,  casting  off  their 
allegiance,  they  destroyed  Babylon, 
Isa.  xxi.  2. 

TREAD,  (1.)  To  walk  on,  Deut. 
xi.  24.  Men  tread  God''s  courts, 
when  there  is  no  more  spiritual  ser- 
vice in  their  worship  than  if  they 
were  beasts,  Isa.  i.  12.  (2.)  To  pas- 
ture, to  feed,  Isa.  vii.  25.  (3.)  To 
squeeze,  press  out  the  juice  of  grapes, 
Job  xxiv.  11.  and  hence  Christ 
treads  the  Avinepress,  when  he  de- 
stroys his  enemies,  and  tramples 
them  as  if  under  his  feet,  Isa.  Ixiii. 
3.  Rev.  xix.  15.  and  treading,  or 
treading  down,  imports  great  afflic- 
tion and  debasement,  full  conquest 
and  ruin,  Isa.  xxii.  5.  Psa.  xliv.  5. 
and  vii.  5.  and  Ix.  12.  Christ's  mi- 
nisters and  people  tread  on  adders, 
lions,  serpents,  and  all  the  power  of 
the  enemy,  when  they  prevail  over 
Satan  and  all  his  agents,  to  the 
spreading  of  the  gospel,  and  a  grow- 
ing in  grace,  Luke  X.  19.  Psa.  xci. 


1 3 .  Antichrist  treads  under  foot  the 
holy  city;  oppresses  and  murders 
the  saints,  and  debases  the  ordi- 
nances and  form  of  the  church,  Rev. 
xi.  2.  To  tread  the  poor,  is  to  op- 
press and  afflict  them,  Amos  v.  11. 
To  be  trodden  down  as  straw  for  the 
dunghill,  is  to  be  reduced  to  great 
miserv  and  contempt,  Isa.  xxv.  10. 

TREASURE,  (1.)  A  store  or 
collection  of  valual)le  things,  as  of 
corn,  wine,  oil,  gold,  silver,  brass, 
Jer.  xli.  8.  Ezek.  xxviii.  4.  Dan. 
xi.  43.  (2.)  A  TREASURY,  or  that 
which  contains  a  valuable  collection, 
as  a  bundle,  packet,  cabinet,  place; 
and  that  part  of  the  tabernacle  or 
temple  where  the  sacred  gifts  were 
gathered  or  laid  up,  was  called  the 
TREASURY,  Matt.  ii.  11.  Josh.  vi. 
19.  Mark  xii.  41.  God's  treasures 
are  collected  quantities  of  snow,  hail, 
rain,  waters,  wind.  Job  xxxviii.  22. 
Jer.  Ii.  6.  Psa.  cxxxv.  7.  The  clouds, 
which  water  and  fructify  the  earth, 
are  called  his  good  treasure,  Deut. 
xxviii.  12.  The  wealth  hid  in  the 
bowels  of  the  earth,  is  called  his 
hidden  treasure,  Psal.  xvii.  14.  His 
people  are  his  treastirc,  collected 
iroin  among  men,  carefully  kept,  and 
highly  valued  by  him  as  his  jewels, 
Exod.  xix.  5.  Mai.  iii.  17.  Christ  is 
represented  as  a  treasury ;  in  him 
dwells  all  the  fulness  of  God,  and  in 
him  are  laid  up,  hid,  and  safely  pre- 
served, all  the  treasures  of  wisdom 
and  knowledge,  and  all  that  is  pro- 
per to  be  communicated  to  sinful 
men.  Col.  ii.  3,  9.  and  i.  19.  He 
and  his  gospel  are  a  treasure  hid  in 
the  field;  he,  in  all  his  precious,  di- 
versified, and  enriching  fulness  of 
grace  and  glory,  and  the  gospel  in 
all  its  precious  promises  and  bless- 
ings, are  laid  up  in  the  scriptures, 
and  are  undiscerned  by  most  men, 
Matt.  xiii.  44.  and  this  treasure  is  in 
earthen  vessels,  as  it  is  committed  to 
poor  weak  men  to  preach  and  exhi- 
bit it,  2  Cor.  iv.  7.  Good  men  have 
within  them  a  good  treasure  of  ho- 
ly dispositions,  gifts,  graces,  and 
Ihoughfs,  Mat.  xii.  36.  wicked  men  an 
eviltrcasureoiw'ickeii  inclinations  and 


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T  R  E 


erroneous  opinions,  Luke  vi.  45. 
Their  wealth  obtained  by  I'raud,  op- 
pression, ami  injustice,  is  called  trea- 
sures of  mck((hcss.,  Prov.  X.  2.  Trea- 
sure laid  n[)  for  men,  is  cither  eternal 
glory  prepared  in  heaven  for  the 
saints,  Matt.  vi.  10,  20.  or  a  treasure 
of  Tvrath,  laid  up  for  the  everlasting 
puuishment  of  the  wicked,  Jam.  v.  3. 
Iloni.  ii.  5. 

TKHATISE,  a  hook,  the  gospel 
of  Luke,  Acts  i.  1. 

TREES,  a  class  of  vegetables, 
which,  like  all  others,  have  an  intes- 
tine motion  or  circulation,  but  with- 
out any  local  motion  or  sensation; 
growing  out  of  the  earth  by  means  of 
warmth  and  water.— The  tree  of  life, 
and  the  tree  of  knowledge  of  good 
and  evil,  stood  in  the  midst  of  Para- 
dise, and  were  two  tUslinct  trees, 
though  some  make  them  the  same 
tree.  The  former  a  pledge  of  the 
continuance  of  his  life  and  happiness, 
while  man  continued  obedient ;  and 
the  other,  a  test  of  his  fidelity  and 
homage  to,  and  of  his  holding  all  he 
enjoyed  in  fief  of  God,  as  cliief  lord, 
on  the  easy  terms  of  a  single  prohibi- 
tion. Christ  is  called  the  tree  of  life, 
Rev.  i.  7.  because  he  restores  to  that 
life  which  man  forfeited  by  his  trans- 
gression.— The  saints  are  trees  of 
righfeot/sness,  rooted  and  grounded 
in  Christ,  and  partaking  of  his  influ- 
ences, they  grow  heavenward,  and 
bring  forth  the  fruits  of  righteous 
works  to  the  praise  and  glory  of  God, 
and  the  edification  of  men,  Rev.  ix. 
4-  Psal.  i.3.  Ezek.  xlvii.  7,  12.  Isa. 
Ixi.  3.  Jer.  xvii.  7,  8.  Kings  and  great 
or  proud  men,  are  likened  to  trees ; 
their  honour,  power,  and  wealth,  or 
pride,  are  conspicuous  and  superior 
to  others,  and  they  are  means  of  pro- 
tecting or  overshadowing  others, 
Ezek.  XXX.  5,  9.  Dan.  iv.  10,  23. 
Rev.  viii.  7.  Wisdom,  or  real  reli- 
gion, and  the  fruit  of  the  righteous, 
are  a  tree  of  life ;  they  render  a  man 
lively  and  active  in  holiness,  and 
issue  in  the  eternal  life  of  himself 
and  others,  Prov.  iii.  18.  and  xi. 
30.  A  man's  hope  is  removed 
like  Ml  old  tree  cirt  down,  when  it 


cannot  be   recovered.  Job  xix.  K>. 

TREES  CHOOSE  A  KING.  By 
this  parable  Jothum  signities  to  the 
men  of  Shechem,  that  tlie  most  wor- 
thy men  in  Israel  (v.hom  he  re|)re- 
sents  by  the  most  excellent  trees,  the 
olive,  the  fig-tree,  and  the  vine,)  had 
not  desired  any  kingly  power  over 
them  :  an<l  his  father  Gideon  had  re- 
fused it  when  offered  to  him.  By  the 
vilest  of  shrubs,  the  bramble,  accept- 
ing the  offer  of  the  trees  to  be  their 
king,  and  calling  them  to  put  their 
trust  in  its  shadow,  he  shows  what  a 
worthless  choice  they  had  made. 
The  speech  of  the  bramble  repre- 
sents how  foolish  Abimelcch  was,  in 
imagining  he  should  be  able  to  afibrd 
them  (any  more  than  the  bramble) 
the  shade  or  protection  he  had  pro- 
mised. The  throat  of  the  bramble 
shows  the  cruelty  of  Abimelech's 
temper,  that  he  would  destroy  the 
Shechemites,  if  he  found  them  uh- 
faithful,  Judg.  ix.  8. 

TREMBLE,  (1.)  To  shake.  Job 
ix.  6.  and  xxvi.  11.  Eccl.  xii.  3.  (2.) 
To  fear  exceedingly,  till  one  shake 
with  dread,  Deut.  ii.  25.  and  that 
either  as  impressed  with  awful  great- 
ness, or  alarming  judgments,  Amos 
viii.  8.  Jam.  ii.  19.  or  under  a  holy 
awe  of  the  purify  and  goodness  of 
God,  and  the  authority  and  holiness 
of  his  word,  Jer.  xxxiii.  9.  Isa.  Ixv. 
5.  and  Ixvi.  2.  When  Ephraim  spake 
trembling,  he  exalted  himself;  but 
when  he  offended  in  Baal,  he  died* 
As  long  as  the  ten  tribes  behaved 
humbly,  they  jjrospercd;  but  their 
introduction  of  the  worship  of  Baal, 
which  was  probably  the  effect  of 
pride,  hastened  their  ruin,  Hos.  xii.  1 . 

TRENCH,  a  ditch  digged  about  a 
camp,  for  its  protection;  or  about  a 
city,  either  to  defend  it,  or  to  pre- 
vent the  escape  of  the  inhabitants,  1 
Sam.  xvii,  20.  Luke  xix.  43.  or  a 
ditch  about  an  altar,  1  Kings  xviii.  32. 

TRESPASS,  a  failing  of  duty  to- 
wards  God  or  men,  or  an  offence  and 
injury  done  to  them.  Matt.  vi.  15. 
The  Hebrew  word  for  trespass,  sig- 
nifies an  injurj'^  done  in  a  seditious 
and  rebellions  manner.  Gen.  xxxi.  3G. 


T  R  1 


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T  R  O 


Trespass-money  was  that  which  was 
given  by  peo()le  who  lived  at  a  dis- 
tance from  the  temple,  to  purchase 
animals  for  a  trespass-oflering,  2 
Kina;s  xii.  16. 

TRIAL.     See  Try. 

TRIBE,  a  class  of  people  s[)rung 
as  branches  from  one  root;  and  so 
the  tivelve  families  of  Jacob's  twelve 
sons  are  called  tribes.  The  Gentiles 
succeeding  in  the  church,  when 
the  Jews  were  cast  out,  are  called 
the  twelve  tribes  of  Israel,  Ezekicl 
xlv.  8.  Matt.  xix.  28.  Rev.  vii.  4. 
and  xxi.  12. 

TRIBULATION,  sore  trouble, 
by  which  men  are  squeezed,  and  as 
it  were  threshe<l  as  corn  on  a  floor, 
Rom.  V.  4.  In  Rom.  ii.  9,  and  in  Rev. 
ii.  22.  it  maj^  denote  the  torments  of 
Jiell. 

TRIBUTE.     See  Tax. 

TRICKLE,  to  run  down  in  drops. 
TrirkUng  of  the  eye  imj^orts  great 
weeping  and  sorrow.  Lam.  iii.  49. 

TRIM,  to  remove  whatever  is  im- 
proper, and  render  a  thing  or  |)ersou 
neat,  2  Sam.  xix.  24.  The  trimming 
of  lamps,  by  snuffing  them,  and  caus- 
ing them  (o  burn  more  brightly,  de- 
notes men's  stirring  up  themselves  to 
activity  in  the  duties  of  holiness,  in 
order  to  obtain  a  comfortable  meet- 
ing with  Christ,  Matt.  xxv.  7.  The 
Jews  trimmed  their  way  io  seek  love, 
and  taught  the  wicked  ones  tiieir 
ways  ;  they  set  out  their  own  power 
and  wealth  to  gain  the  esteem  and 
friendship  of  their  neighbours,  and 
offered  sacrifices  to  procure  God's 
favour,  while  they  went  on  in  sin ; 
and  they  even  instructed  the  very 
Heathen  in  idolatry  and  wickedness, 
Jer.  ii.  33. 

TRIUMPH,  great  shouting  and 
joy  on  account  of  victorj'^  over  an 
enemy.  God  triionphs  over  his  ene- 
mies, when  he  has  an  easy  and  glori- 
ous victory  over  them,  Exod.  xv.  1, 
21.  Christ  triumphed  over  principali- 
ties and  powers  on  the  cross :  he  joy- 
fully finished  transgression,  made  sa- 
tisfaction for  sin,  and  thus  undermi- 
ned the  power  of  Satan,  and  laid  an 
effectual  foundation  for  the  overthrow 


of  his  kingdom  in  the  world,  and  in 
the  hearts  of  men,  Col.  ii.  15.  The 
saints  triumph  alway  in  Christ,  and  in 
Gorf'6-  work  and  praise ;  amidst  weak- 
ness and  trouble,  they  rejoice  in 
Christ's  offices,  righteousness,  power, 
and  love,  and  with  joy  think  of,  de- 
light in,  and  extol  the  work  of  re- 
demption, and  the  whole  providence 
of  God  connected  with  it,  2  Cor.  ii. 
14.  Psal.  xcii.  4.  and  cvi.  47.  Philis- 
tia's  triumphing  because  of  David, 
may  either  be  an  irony  signifying 
their  mourning  and  howling  at  his 
conquest  of  them  ;  or  it  may  denote 
their  having  reason  to  rejoice,  as  they 
had  got  a  better  master  than  their  ty- 
rannic lords ;  or  the  phrase  may  sig- 
nify his  triumphing  over  them,  PsaL 
!x.  8.  and  cviii.  9. 

TROAS,  or  troy,  penetrated, 
bored  through,  a  city  of  Phrygia  or 
Mysia,  a  little  to  the  south-west  of  the 
mouth  of  the  Hellesjiont,  and  on  the 
shore  of  the  Mediterranean  Sea.  To 
the  north  of  this  in  the  earliest  ages, 
=tood  ihe  famed  city  of  Troy.  After 
it  had  been  for  some  generations  the 
head  of  a  noted  kingdom,  it  was,  after 
a  siege  of  ten  years,  taken  by  the 
Greeks  of  Europe.  This  occasioned 
the  dispersion  of  the  Trojans  into  a 
variety  of  places,  and  many  nations 
affected  to  be  reckoned  their  off- 
spring. It  Seems,  too,  that  storms 
dispersed  the  returning  Greeks  into 
a  variety  of  the  islands  and  coasts  of 
the  Mediterranean  Sea.  It  is  gene- 
rally believed,  that  this  Troy  was  de- 
stroyed about  1184  years  before 
Christ's  birth;  but  we,  with  Sir  Isaac 
Newton,  suppose  it  to  have  happened 
about  280  years  later,  in  the  tiine  of 
Jehoshaphat,  which  will  tally  well 
with  ^neas's  being  the  cotemporary 
of  Dido  the  founder,  or  rather  the 
adorner  of  Carthage,  and  will  corre- 
sjiond  with  the  flight  of  Cadmus  for 
fear  of  David's  arms,  and  with  the 
wide-spread  ravages  of  Shishak.  A 
new  Troy  was  soon  after  built,  about 
four  miles  nearer  the  shore,  and  but 
one  from  the  sea.  This,  in  the  lime 
of  Alexander,  was  dwindled  into  a 
petty  village,  with  nothing  remarUa- 


T  R  U 


(     537     ) 


T  R  U 


bleinit,  save  an  ol<Heni|)Ioof  Miner-  guiKyofany  ilecoitor  lalsehood,  and 
va.  By  hici  order,  Lysitnacliiis  his  ge-  fVfry  one  that  corUradictd  him  will 
neral  repaired  it,  and  surrounded  it  be  found  a  liar,  Rom.  iii.  4.  Joseph's. 


with  a  wall  of  live  miles  in  circumfe 
fence.  The  Romans  afterward?,  on 
entering  Asia,  found  it  in  a  poor  con- 
dition, anil  believing  themselves  to  be 
the  olVs|iring  of  the  ancient  Trojans 


brethren  were  true  men,  who  did  not 
seek  to  deceive,  (ien.  xlii,  11.  A 
true  heart,  is  one  that  is  sincere,  up- 
rii;.'.it,  and  candid,  Heb.  x.  22.  (3.) 
Most  excellent ;  so  Christ  i?  the  true 


spared  no  cost  or  jiains  to  repair  and!  ftrta^/,  John  vi.  32.  the  true  vine, 
embellish  it.  Augustus  sent  a  colony!  John  xv.  1.  the  true  light,  John  i.  9. 
of  Romans  to  inhabit  it.  Here  Paul  God's  worti  is  truk  and  the  truths 
often  preached,  and  planted  a  cliHrchjjit  is  quite  consistent  with  the  things 
and  with  one  Carpus  he  here  left  hisj  of  which  it  speaks,  and  one  part  of  it 
cloak,  with  some  parchments.  A  j  with  another;  nor  shall  any  promise, 
church  long  remained  in  this  place  ;  threatening,  or  prediction  thereof,  be 
but  at  present  we  know  of  nothing  in'  left  unaccomplished,  Psa.  cxix.  His 
it  but  some   old  ruins.  Acts  xvi.  8.1  judgments  are  true,  as  in   them   he 


and  xs.  5,  12.  2  Tim.  iv.  13. 

TR(3GYLLIUM,  TuociLr.vs,  or 
Trogilia,  was  a  promontor}',  or 
head  of  land,  of  Mycale,  about  five 
miles  from  Samos,  Acts  xx.  15. 

TROOP,  a  band  of  men,  es|)eci- 
al'.y  warriors,  or  robbers.  Job  vi.  10. 
Hosoa  vi.  9.  Perhaps  the  Gad,  and 
Mem,  rendered  troop  and  number, 
may  be  the  ?un  and  moon,  or  these 
with  the  stars ;  or  they  may  mean, that 


fulfils  his  word,  shows  Ins  compassion, 
and  manifests  his  faithfulness,  Rev. 
xvi.  7.  And  truly,  of  a  truth,  ot 
in  truth,  U,  (1.)  Really  and  sincerely, 
without  deceit,  Luke  xx.  21.  (2.) 
Verily,  without  fail,  Matt.  xvii.  11. 
Jer.  iii.  23.  Truth,  or  verity,  is, 
(1.)  What  is  opposite  to  falsehood 
and  error :  in  this  sense,  the  law  and 
gospel  of  God  are  the  truth.  Psalm 
cxix.  151.  Gal.  iii.  1.  (2.)  What  is 


the  Jews,  in  their  wars  with  the  Chal-  real  and  substantial,  opposed  to  what 
deans,  depended  entirely  on  theiri  is  shadowy  and  typical ;  thus,  truth 
good  success  and  the  valour  of  their  comes  by  Jesus  Christ,  i.  e.  the  glo- 
troops,  Isa.  Ixv.  11.  The  Chaldeans, jrious  realities  shadowed  forth  by  the 
multitudes  of  concurrent  aftlictions,}  types,  are  fulfilled  in  his  incarnation, 
and  the  various  creatures- on  earth, j  life,  death,  intercession,  and  govern- 
and  especially  the  saints,  are  called  ment,  John  i.  17.  (3.)  Candid  sin- 
Gods  troops,  as  he  orders  their  form,  cerity,  in  opjiosition  to  dissimula- 
motion,  and  influence,  and  they  ac-|tion,  John  iv.  24,    (4.)  Faithfulness, 


complish  his  end,  Hab.  iii.  16.  Job 
xix.  12.  Amos  ix.  6. 

TROUBLE.     See  Distress. 

TROVv%  an  old  word  for  think, 
Luke  xvii.  9. 

TRUCE,  an  agreement,  parlicular- 


or  veracity,  in  fulfilling  wnat  one  is 
bound  to,  by  word,  engagement,  or 
relation,  Psal.  xxxi.  5.  God's  truth 
is  his  candour  and  faithfulness,  Psa. 
Ixxi.  22.  or  his  revealed  will,  in 
which,  in  a  way  of  obedience  to  it. 


ly  such  as  warring  states  make  in  or-i  his  people  walk,  Psal.  xxvi.  3.     His 
der  to  procure  a  siiort    ccosation  of  j  works  are  verity  and  judgment ;  are 


war,  or  terms  of  peace.  Truce-break- 
ers, are  such  as  break  through  their 
engagements,  and  who,  being  once 
offended,  can  scarcely  ever  be  recon- 
ciled, 2  Tim.  iii.  3. 

TRUE,    (1.)  Real :  so  God  is  the 


precisely  a  fulfilment  of  his  word, 
and  of  his  relations  to  men,  and  are 
all  performed  in  infinite  wisdom,  Ps. 
cxi.  7.  He  cuts  off  men  in  his  truth, 
when  he  does  it  in  fulfilling  his  pre- 
dictions, and  his  [fromise?,  or  threat- 


onh)  true  God;  he  alone  is  possessed;  enings,  Psa.  liv.  5.  Jesus  Christ  is 
of  infinite  perfection,  (2.)  Not  false,!  the  truth  ;  he  comprehends  in  him- 
Caithful,  candid;  God  is  true,  a/u/jself  all  real  excellencies;  he  is  full 
every  man  is  a  liar  ;  God  cannot  be!  of  unfailing  candour  and  faithfulness 
VoT..  IT.  :j  Y 


T  R  U 


(     538     ) 


T  R  U 


to  his  Father  an(!  to  men ;  he  is  the 
substance  of  all  the  ancient  types,  and 
»he  is  li  kewise  the  centre  of  every  thing 
important  in  sacred  history,  law,  or 
gospel,  John  xiv.  6.  The  truth  is  in 
Jesus,  it  centers  inhira,  and  is  really, 
and  without  any  false  gloss,  repre- 
sented in  his  person,  offices,  and  work, 
E;)h.  iv.  21.  To  do  truth,  is  with 
inward  candour  and  sincerity  to  pro- 
fess and  practise  what  God's  word 
directs,  John  iii.  21.  To  hold  the 
truth  in  unrighteousness,  is  either  to 
assume  a  profession  of  religion 
without  a  real  change  of  heart,  or 
to  keep  up  a  profession  of  it,  when 
the  power  of  godliness  is  lost,  Rom. 
i.  18. 

TRUMP,  or  TRUMPET,  a  hollow 
instrument  of  silver,  brass,  horn,  or 
the  like,  for  sounding  with  the  breath, 
in  order  to  convene  assemblies,  and 
prepare  for  war,  Jer.  iv.  5.  By 
the  direction  of  God,  Moses  made 
two  silver  trumpets,  wherewith  the 
priests  were  to  call  together  the  He- 
brews to  their  solemn  assemblies,  and 
to  direct  their  marches,  or  encourage 
them  to  go  to  war.  When  the  whole 
congregation  was  required  to  assem- 
ble, the  sound  was  to  be  simple  and 
uniform :  when  only  the  princes  were 
required  to  meet  with  Moses,  the 
sound  was  shrill.  A  long  and  qui- 
vering sound  directed  those  on  the 
east  side  of  the  taliernacle  to  decamp 
and  march :  a  second  sound  of  the 
same  air  directed  those  on  the  south 
side  to  do  the  siune :  at  a  third  sound 
those  on  the  west  eide  marched  ;  and 
at  a  fourth,  tiio^e  on  the  north.  The 
priests 'Heu'  with  these  trunijiets  over 
the  Inv  jiig  sacrifices,  esjiecially  at 
the  solemn  festivals;  and  on  the 
FKAST  of  trumpets,  tliey  blew  from 
morning  to  night,  Num.  x.  Lev.  xxv. 
9,  10.  It  seems  Solomon  made  120 
silver  trumj-ets  instead  of  those  two, 
2  Cbron.  v.  12.  With  trumpets  of 
ra;s 'horns  the  jjriests  sounded  around 
Jericho,  (ill  its  walls  fell  down  flat ; 
and  with  such,  it  apj>ears,  the  ju- 
bilee Avas  procliiimed,  Josh.  vi.  4. 
l)i:l  not  these  trumpets  prefigure  the 
gospel,  vvhicbj   published  bj"^  niinis- 

1_ 


ters,  calls  men  to  Jesus  Christ  and  his 
ordinances,  and  encourages  them  in 
their  heavenly  journey  and  spiritual 

warfare  ? Whatever   tends    to 

alarm  or  assemble  men,  is  called  a 
trumpet,  as  the  noisy  thunders  that 
called  and  alarmed  the  Hebrews  to 
hear  God's  law  at  Sinai,  Exod.  xx. 
18.  or  the  majestic  and  awful  means 
whereby  God  will  raise  the  dead, 
and  call  mankind  to  his  tribunal  at 
the  last  day,  1  Cor.  xv.  52.  1  Thess. 
iv.  16.  or  the  alarming  declarations 
of  God's  prophets  and  ministers, 
warning  their  hearers  of  the  judg- 
ments of  God,  and  to  flee  from  their 
sins,  Hos.  viii.  1.  Isa.  Iviii.  1.  Ezek. 
xxxiii.  3,  6.  The  great  trumpet  that 
convened  the  outcasts  of  Egypt  and 
Assyria,  to  worship  the  Lord  at  Je- 
rusalem, is  either  the  edict  of  Cyrus 
that  proclaimed  to  the  Jews  their  li- 
berty to  return  home,  and  rebuild 
the  temple  of  their  God  ;  or  the  gos- 
(>el,  by  the  publishing  of  which  mul- 
titudes are  converted  to  the  Christian 
faith,  Isa.  sxvii.  13.  The  gospel- 
j  church,  being  settled  under  the  apo- 
calyptic sEAi,s,  or  scenes  of  provi- 
dence, the  alarming  judgments  which 
afterwards  befell  her,  are  represented 
by  the  sounding  of  seven  trumpets, 
the  first  six  of  which  are  thought  to 
reach  from  A.  D.  338  to  about  18(36 
or  2016,  Rev.  viii.  and  ix.  and  the 
seventh  to  the  end  of  the  world. 

To  TRUST,(1.)  To  he  persuaded, 
to  hope  well,  Heb.  xiii.  18.  Luke 
xxiv.  21.  (2.)  To  depend  on  with- 
jout  fear,  Isa.  xxvi.  3.  To  trust  in 
\lhc  Lord,  is  tirmly  to  expect  that  he 
will  do  for  us  in  time  and  eternity 
!  whatever  is  according  to  his  word, 
{bis  {)erfections,  and  relations,  and  iu 
{quietness  to  wait  for  the  event,  Psa. 
jlxii.  8.  '¥o  trust  in  men  lawfully,  is 
i  firmly  to  expect  that  \hey,  assisted  by 
I  God,  will  do  to  and  for  us  accord- 
ling  to  their  promises  and  relations 
'  to  US-ward,  Prov.  xxxi.  1 1 .  To  trust 
in  wfn  sinfullj',  is  to  depend  upon 
their  friendship  and  help,  instead 
of  God's,  Jer.  xvii.  5.  Isa.  xxx.  3. 
Trusty  persons  are  such  as  we  may 
depend   upon  for  sure  information, 


T  R  Y 


(     530     ) 


T  U  R 


i;00(l  advice,  and  exact  fulfilment  of 
eng.t2ement3,  Job  xii.  20. 

TRUTH.     See  Tri  k. 

To  TRV,  (o  examine,  prove,  to 
search  carefully  into  tlu-  nature,  qua- 
lity, and  sufficiency   of    persons   or 


TUBAL,  born,  (1.)  The  fiflli  son 
of  .la[dK>tli,  Gen.  x.  Joseplius  makes 
him  the  father  of  the  Iberians  oh 
the  east  of  the  Bhick  Sea.  Bochart 
makes  him  the  father  of  the  Tibar- 
enes  an   the  north  of   Armenia   the 


things.  Tlie  allusion  is  to  the  trial  of  .Less;  and  1  see  nothing  to  hinder 
metal,  whether  it  he  good  or  not,  Psa. !  his  being  the  parent  of  both  these 
xii.  6.  God  trict,  and  examines  men,  tribes,  as  their  situation  is  not  very 
not  t)y  making  new  discoveries  for  distant.  Others,  I  think,  without 
himself,  for  he  knows  them  fully  ;  but  ground,  make  him  the  father  of  the 
by  his  word  or  jirovldence  making  Italians  or  S|)aniards.  (2.)  Tcbal- 
discoveries  of  them  to  themselves  :  gain,  a  son  of  Laniech  the  Bigamist, 
or  others,  Psa.  xi.  5.  and  xxvi.  2.  j  and  the  inventor  of  smith-work  and 
Prov  xviii.  3.  And  the  afflictions  of  foundry ;  and  it  is  believed,  he  was 
his  people  are  called  tnals,  as  they  ^  the  V  ulcan,  or  god  of  smiths,  of  the 
tend  to  exercise,  polish,  and  disco-  •  Heathen,  Gen.  iv.  22. 
ver  their  grace,  not  to  destroy  them,!  TUMULT,  uproar,  (1.)  A  dis- 
Heb.  xi.  36.  Job  ix.  23.  and  they  j  orderly,  seditious,  and  noisy,  rising 
are  called  Jierij,  because  terrible,  of  the  people,  Hos.  x.  14.  Matt, 
piercing,  and  purifying,  1  Pet.  iv.  ixxvii.  24.  Acts  xvii.  5.  (2.)  Any 
12.  and  they  (end  to  exercise  and .  terrible  and  confused  hubbub,  Zech. 
increase  their  patience,  James  i.  3.  jxiv.  13.  Tinintlhioiis  persons,  are 
Rom.  V.  4.  Jesus  Christ  is  tried iisuch  as  are  set  upon  uproars  and  se- 
neither  the  knowledge  of  his  Father,  jditious   mobbings,     Jer.   xlviii.   45. 


A  tmmiltuous  city,  is  one  filled  with 
noise,  confusion,  and  mobs,  Isa.  xxii. 
2.  A  tuvmlliions  noise,  is  thai  which 
is  like  the  roaring  of  au  enraged 
mob,  Isa.  xiii.  4. 

To  TURN,  (1 .)  To  make  a  change 
of  motion  or  conduct ;  and  so  tlrn- 
iNG  denotes  inconstancy,  a  change 
from   good   to  bad,  or   from   bad  to 

promise    being    be- j  good,  James  i.  17.  Ezek.  xxxiii.  11. 

saints,  they  obtain  land  the  corner  of  the  wall  is  called 


nor  his  manifold  sufferings,  nor  all 
the  diversified  experiments  of  the 
saints,  nor  the  scrutinies  of  his  ene- 
mies, can  find  any  thing  faulty  or 
defective  in  him,  Rev.  iii.  18.  Isa. 
xxviii.  16.  The  word  of  the  Lord 
is  tried ;  it  is  exactly  according  to 
the  nature  of  God  ;  neither  friends 
nor  foes  can  find  any  real  fault 
therein;  every 
lieved    by    the 


the  ha|>py  accomplishment  thereof ;;  its  rwr/im^,  2  Chron.  xxvi.  9.  and  to 
every  threatening  contemned  by  sin- |<?/r«  to  the  Lord,  is  to  leave  off  a 
ners,  is,  to  tlieir  experience,  execn-i  sinful  course,  hj'^  coming  to  him  as 
ie\}i  ujjou  them  at  last,  Psa.  xviii.  30.  our  Saviour,  portion,  and  governor, 
and  cxix.  140.  Rulers  try  or  f.ra-iand  walking  in  his  way,  1  Thess. 
mine  by  a  judicial  search,  whether  i,  9.  To  turii  aside,  is  to  quit  one's 
accused  persons  be  guilty  of  alleged  holy  profession  and  course  of  duty, 
crimes  or  not ;  and  sometimes  civil  ■  1  Tim.  i.  6.  Exod.  xxxii.  8-  To 
rulers  have  tortured  or  scourged  pri-  turn  away,  is  to  forsake,  refuse  to 
6oners,  in  order  to  make  them  de-  hear  or  kee[)  company  with,  Jer. 
Clare  what  it  was  supiwsed  they  had  j  xxxii.  40.  Heb.  xii.  23.  To  turn 
done.  Rev.  ii.  2.  Acts  xxii.  24.  \back,  is  to  apostatize  from  the  ser- 
TRYPHENA,  delicious,  dclicale,\\ ice  of  God,  Psa.  xliv.  18.  or  to 
and  TRYPHOSA,  thrice  shining,', l\ee  Worn  a  conquering  enemy,  Psa. 
were  two  noted  Christian  women  at  ix.  3.  (2.)  To  cause  others  to  change 
Rome,  who,  by  their  private  iustruc-'tiicir  conduct.  Acts  xiii.  8.  God 
tions  and  generosity,  mightily  confri- 1 Z?/rH6  men,  when,  by  his  word  and 
buted  to  the  success  of  the  gos{)el  j  Spirit  working  on  their  souls,  he 
there,  Rom.  svi,  12.  causes  them  to  tm-n  from  their  evil 


T  Y  C 


(     540     ) 


T  Y  P 


ways  lo  himself,  Jer.  xxxi.  18.  Mi- 
nisters turn  many  to  ri2;hleousness, 
when  they  are  instruments  of  their 
becoming  righteous  through  faith  in 
Christ,  and  obedient  tohis  command- 
ments, Dan.  xii.  3.  ']''o  Uirn  thinp;s 
upside  down,  is  to  throw  all  into  <lii^- 
order  and  confusion,  2  Kings  xxi. 
13. 

TUTOR,  one  that  takes  care  of  a 
child  and  his  estate,  while  he  is  un- 
der age.  The  ceremonial  law  was 
a  tidor  and  governor;  it  ruled  over 
the  church  in  her  infant  state,  Gal. 
iv.  3. 

TWELVE.  In  allusion  to  the  1 2 
tribes  of  Israel,  12  loaves  of  show- 
bread  were  set  on  the  table  of  the 
sanctuary:  Christ  chose  12  apostles; 
twelve  thousand  are  said  to  be  seal- 
ed of  every  tribe;  the  new  Jerusa- 
lem has  12  gates  and  12  founda- 
tions: and  the  tree  of  life  bears  12 
manner  o*'  fruits.  Matt.  x.  Rev.  xii. 
1.  and  vii.  and  xxi.  and  xxii.  2. 

'I'WloE,  sometimes  denotes  fre- 
C|nently,  Psa.  Ixii.  11.  Job  xxxiii. 
14. 

TWIG,  SLIP,  (1.)  A  small  branch 
of  a  tree.  (2.)  Men,  chieily  when 
young  and  flourishing,  as  Daniel  and 
his  companions  were  when  carried 
to  Babylon,  are  called  twigs,  Ezek. 
xvii.  4. 

TWILIGHT,  a  mixture  of  light 
and  darkness,  as  in  the  morning  af- 
ter day-break,  and  evening  when 
the  sun  is  set,  1  Sam.xxx.  17.  Prov. 
vii.  9. 

TWINKLING  ojan  eye,  a  small 
moment,  1  Cor.  xv.  22. 

TWINS,  two  brought  forth  at  a 
birth.  Bearing  of  twins,  denotes 
great  fruitfuluess  in  the  conversion 
of  men  to  Christ,  or  in  good  works, 
Songiv.  2. 

TYCHICUS,  casual,  happening, 
a  noted  evangelist  who  attended  Paul 
with  the  collection  for  the  poor  saints 
at  Jerusalem,  Acts  xx.  4.  Paul  after- 
wards sent  him  to  Ephesus  and  Co- 
losse  with  his  epistles  to  these 
churches,  Eph.  vi.  21,  22.  2  Tim. 
iv.  12.  Col.  iv.  7,  8.  He  appears  to 
have  been  the  successor  of  Titus  in 


ordering  the  affairs  of  the  church  of 
Crete,  Tit.  iii.  12. 

TYPE,  properly  signifies  an  em- 
blem of  a  person  or  th.i.o;,  especially 
that  which,  by  the  destination  of  God, 
prefigured  something  relative  to  Jesus 
Christ  and  his  church.  These  were 
many,  as  none  of  them  could  fully 
point  out  its  antitype;  and  they  were 
a  kind  oi' real  predictions  of  things  to 
come,  as  those  uttered  by  the  pro- 
phets were  verbal.  'Yhere  were  typi- 
cal persons,  as  Adam,  Abel,  Enoch, 
Noah,  Melchizedek,  Abraham,  Isaac, 
Jacob,  Job,  Moses,  Aaron,  Bezaleel, 
Aholiab,  Phinehas,  Joshua,  Gideon, 
Samson,  Boaz,  Samuel,  David,  Solo- 
mon, Elijah,  Elisba,  Jonah,  Eliakim, 
Daniel,  Zerubbabel,  Joshua  the  high 
priest,  and  John  Baptist.  Typical 
classes  of  persons,  as  Israelites;  their 
first-born  males;  unmarried  brothers 
of  him  that  left  his  widow  childless ; 
kinsman  redeemers;  voluntary  bond- 
servants; hanged  malefactors;  so- 
journing strangers;  Nazarites,  Ne- 
thinims,  Levites,  priests,  high  priests, 
holy  prophets,  and  kings  of  David's 
family.  Occasional  ti/pical  things, 
as  Noah's  ark,  Jacob's  ladder, 
Moses's  burning  bush,  the  cloudj' 
pillar,  the  sweetened  water  of  Marah, 
the  MANNA,  the  rock's  yielding 
water,  the  well  of  Beer,  the  cluster 
of  grapes  from  Eshcol,  Aaron's  bud- 
ding rod,  the  brazen  serpent,  the 
healing  pool  ofBethesda,  the  waters 
of  Shiloah,  the  deliverance  of  the 
Hebrews  from  Egypt,  their  passage 
through  the  Red  Sea,  their  travels 
in  the  wilderness,  their  entrance  into 
Canaan,  their  wars  with  the  Heathens, 
and  their  return  from  Babylon. 
The  miscellaneous  typical  institu- 
tions, were  circumcision,  sanclifi- 
cation  of  fruit-trees,  ofl'ering  no 
base  things  to  God,  scourging  of 
l)ond-women  for  Avhorcdom,  protec- 
tion of  iVigitive  servants,  exclusion 
from  the  congregation  of  the  Lord* 
wearing  proper  apparel,  blue  frin- 
ges, the  not  cutting  of  flesh  for  thr 
dead,  abstinence  from  blood  and  fat, 
and  things  torn  or  dying  of  them- 
selves, reaping  of  fields,  the  avoiding 


T  Y  P 


(     541     ) 


T  Y  R 


ol  mixed  garments,  sowing;  of  min-[ 
gled  seed,  of  plougliinK  with  oxen  and ! 
asses,  or  of  gendering  between  cat-i 
» tie  of  diflerent  kinds,  tenderness  to, 
beasts,  not  muzzling  the  treading  ox, 
covering  of  lillli,  freedom  from  tiie 
service  of  war.  The  li/picat  plaas, 
were  Canaan,  tlie  cities  of  reluge  ; 
Jerusalem,  Zion,  (he  t;i!)ern;icle,  and 
the  temple.  The  U/pical  uU/ii<Uii, 
were  the  ark  of  the  covenant,  the  |iol 
of  manna,  the  table  of  sho\v-l)read 
with  its  lo'ives,  the  golden  altar  with 
its  incense,  the  golden  earullestick 
with  its  oil,  ihe  silver  truinjK'ts,  the 
brazen  lavers  and  sea,  the  brnzeu  'il- 
tar,  the  altars  of  stone  or  earth,  and 
the  altar  of  Ebal.  The  typical  <lff'':r- 
ings,  were  the  burnl-ollering,  the 
sin-oft'ering,  the  trespass-offering,  the 
peace-oifering,  the  meat-offering,  the 
ilrink-offering,  the  hoi}'  anointing  oil, 
the  soul  ran.-om  money,  the  tithes, 
the  first-fruits,  the  things  voluntarilj 
devoted,  Abraham's  oblation  of  birds 
and  Ciittle,  his  offering  of  the  ram 
caught  in  the  thicket,  and  Moses's 
oblation  for  ratifying  the  covenant 
between  God  and  Israel.  The  tijpicat 
seasons,  were  the  time  of  the  daily 
sacrifices,  the  weekly  sabbath,  in  its 
ceremonial  use,  the  feast  of  new- 
moons,  the  passovcr  and  feast  of  un- 
leavened bread,  Pentecost,  the  feast 
ot  trumpets,  the  fast  of  general  ex- 
piation, the  feast  of  tabernacles,  the 
year  of  release,  and  the  jubilee.  The 
typical  purifications,  were  purgation 
from  the  defilement  of  holy  things, 
and  from  the  defilement  of  touching 
dr  eating  of  beasts,  purgation  from 
the  defilement  of  child-birth,  of  le- 
prosy, of  running  issues,  and  of  in- 
fection by  dead  corpses,  the  trial  of 
suspected  adultery,  and  theex|)iation 
of  uncertain  murder. — To  him    that  J 


discerns  the  evangelical  eignification 
of  llie^c  various  types,  the  ruirraliveB 
of  the  Old  Testament  are  not  a  »'ry 
history,  butappeoi  replenished  >uth 
the  most  useful  instructions  concern- 
ing our  Saviour,  and  his  body  the 
church. 

TVKE,  strais^th,  a  rock,  a  sics^e, 
or  hrcaking  with  a  fiail,  a  fatuous 
city  of  Phenlcia,  allotted  to  the  tri!)e 
ol  Asher,  Josli.  xix.  29.  first  built 
by  a  colony  of  Sidonians;  and  tiu;rc- 
fore,  Isaiah  (23.  12.)  calls  it  the 
daughter  of  Zidon.  It  was  at  first 
situated  uiton  a  high  hill  on  the  con- 
tinent,whose  ruinsare still  remaining, 
iudei  the  name  of  Palaslyrus,  or  Old 
Tyre;  but  it  was  afterwards  remo- 
ved into  an  adjacent  rocky  ish'.nd, 
about  half  a  mile  from  the  main  land, 
and  became  a  place  of  inmiense  trade 
and  wealth,  Isaiah  xxiii.  Thiscily 
was  taken  and  destroyed  by  Nebu- 
chadnezzar, and  afterwards  by  Alex- 
ander the  Great,  after  a  siege  of 
seven  months,  by  carrying  on  a 
bank  or  causeway  from  the  couti- 
nent  through  the  sea  to  the  island 
on  which  the  city  stood.  The  pros- 
|)erity  of  Tyre  was  amazingly  great, 
but  its  vices  were  as  great.  Tyre 
was  puffed  up  with  the  glory  of  jios- 
sessing  the  eni[)ire  of  the  sea;  of  be- 
ing the  seat  of  universal  commerce  ; 
of  giving  birth  to  the  most  famous 
colonies;  of  having  within  her  walls 
merchants,  whose  credit,  riches,  and 
splendour,  equalled  them  to  the 
princes  of  the  earth.  Her  merchants 
traded  in  the  persons  of  men;  but» 
alas!  in  storming  and  taking  the  city 
by  Alexaiuler  the  Great,8000  persona 
were  slain;  many  thousands  escaped 
in  their  ships  to  Carthage ;  2000 
were  crucified  ;  and  30,000  were  sold 
(or slaves!  See  Piienicia. 


V,   U. 


V  A  I 


V  A  I 


AGABOND,   one  who  has  no 

settled  abode,  Gen.  iv.  12.     It 

ordinarily  signifies  one  Avho  is  also 

j-iaughty  and  wicked,  Acts  xix.  13. 

VAIL,  a  covering.  To  denote  their 


modesty,  and  reverent  subjection 
to  their  husbands,  women,  espe- 
ciall}'  in  the  east,  were  wont  to 
wear  vails  on  their  faces,  Gen.  xxiv. 
65.  Isa.  iii.  23.     Possibly  it  was  with 


V  A  I 


(     ^42     ) 


V  A  L 


such  (hat  Paul  admonishes  the  Co- 
rinthian women  to  be  covered  in 
thih  {(ubiic  worshipping  assemblies, 

1  Cor.  xi.  3 — 10.  Moses  covered 
his  lace  with  a  vail,  that  the  Hebrews 
might  not  be  affrighted,  or  their  ej'es 
be  dazzled  with  the  brightness  there- 
of, alter  he  came  down  last  from  Si- 
nai, Esod.  xsxiv.  33.  It  signified 
the  obscurity  of  his  ceremonial  law. 
A  vail  was  spread  over  the  f.ice  of  per- 
sons condemned  to  death,  Esth.  vii. 
8.  In  the  tabernacle  and  temple,  a 
fine  and  strong  hanging  or  vail  sepa- 
rated between  the  holy  and  the  most 
holy  apartment.  The  rending  of 
this  vail  at  the  death  of  our  Saviour, 
imported  the  abolishment  of  the  ce- 
remonial hiw,  which  se|)arated  Ite- 
tweea  Jews  and  Gentiles;  the  open- 
ing of  a  free  passage  into  the  hea- 
venly state;  and  the  finishing  of 
Chrisfs  debased  appearances,  wliich 
for  a  while  concealed  his  glory  from 
men,  Matt,  xxvii.  51.  Eph.  ii.  14. 
Heh.  vi.  19.  and  x.  20.  The  vail 
of  the  ceremonial  law  is  done  away 
in  Christ,  as  in  him  are  fulniied  the 
whole  rites  thereof,  2  Cor.  iii.  13, 
14.  But  this  vailslill  ranains  on  the 
Jewish  nation,  as  they  cleave  to  it, 
and  ^o  blind  and  harden  themselves 
ag -inst  ('hrist ;  but  when  that  nation 
and  their  blinded  hfarts,  shall  be 
turned  to  the  Lord,  they  shall  relin 
quish  these  aboli?!ied  ceremonies,  and 
embrace  the  gospel,  2  Cor.  ii.  15, 
16.  The  vail  ami  face  of  covering 
spread  over  the  nations,  which  Jesus 
destroys,  is  their  ignorance,  unbeliet, 
error,  and  marks  of  divine  condemna- 
tion, Isa.  XXV.  7. 

VAIN,  (I.)  Empty,  worthless,  nn- 
profitable,  Psa.  Ix.  11.  (2.)  Wicked, 

2  Sam.  vi.  20.  (3.)  Groundless, 
false,  Psa.  ii.  1,  4.  (4.)  Proud,  fool- 
ish, light,  and  inconstant,  Job  xi. 
11,  12.  Psa.  xxvi.  4.  The  Jews 
imagined  a  vain  thing  concerning  the 
Messiah;  that  he  would  be  a  tem- 
poral potentate  and  deliverer;  and 
that  the  debasement  of  Jesus  of  Na- 
zareth, and  his  |)roressing  to  be  (he 
Son  of  Goi!,  were  evidences  of  his 
being  not  the  Messiah,  but  an  im- 


postor, Psa.  ii,  1.  In  vain,  with- 
out full  truth,  without  due  reason, 
without  proper  tendency,  Exod.  xx. 
7.  Rom.  xiii.  4.  Vanity  is,  (1.) 
What  is  empty  and  unprofitable, 
Eccl.  i.  2.  (2.)  Changeableness,  cor- 
ruption,. Rom.  viii.  20.  (3.)  Wick- 
edness, falsehood,  Psa.  cxix.  37.  and 
iv.  2.  and  xii.  2.  (4.)  Pride,  light- 
ness, and  inconstancy,  Eph.  iv.  17. 
(5.)  Fruitless  toil,  trouble,  wretch- 
edness, Psa.  Ixxviii.  33.  Job  vii.  3, 
16.  To  take  the  name  of  God  in 
vain,  is  either  to  swear  falsely,  Exod. 
XX.  7.  or  treat  the  name  of  God  ir- 
reverently, by  citing  it  on  every  trif- 
ling occasion,  Beut.  xxviii.  48.  Idols 
are  vanity ,  and  lying  vanities ;  they 
hare  no  real  divinity;  the  serviced 
them  can  do  no  real  good,  as  is  pre- 
tended, Jer.  ii.  5.  and  x.  14,  15.  Acts 
xiv.  15.  Jon.  ii.  8.  Treasures  got 
by  lying,  are  a  vanity  tossed  to  and 
fro,  of  them  that  seek  death ;  they 
are  very  uncertain  and  unstable  ;  and 
tend  to  the  ruin  of  their  possessors. 
Prov.  xxi.  6. 

VALE,  VALLEY,  a  hollow  ground 
between  mountains,  whether  along 
the  banks  of  rivers  or  not.  The  scrip- 
ture mentions  a  great  number  of  vai- 
lies :  as  the  valley  of  Siddim,  in  or 
ne^rto  which  Sodom  and  Gomorrah 
stood.  Gen.  xiv.  3.  of  Berachah, 
west  of  the  Bead  Sea ;  of  Zeboim, 
near  Jericlio,  1  Sam.  xiii.  18.  2  Chr. 
XX.  6.  of  Zephathah,  near  Mareshah, 
2  Chron.  xiv.  10.  of  Eshcol  Numb. 
xxxii.  9.  of  Gerar,  Gen.  xxvi.  17. 
of  Sorek,  where  Delilah  dwelt,  Judg. 
xvi.  4.  of  Aijalon,  Joshua  x.  12. 
of  Rephaim,  or  the  giants,  Isa.  xvii. 
5.  of  Elah,  where  Goliath  was  shiin, 
1  Sam.  xxi.  9.  of  Achor,  Josh.  vii. 
24.  of  Gibea,  Judges  xx.  33.  of 
Tophet,  Hinnom,  or  slaughter,  Jer. 
vii.  32.  of  (he  mountains  about  Je- 
rusalem, Zech.  xiv.  5.  of  Jr-hosha- 
phat,  or  <lecision.  perhaps  the  same 
as  Berachah,  or  Tophet,  Joel  iii.  14. 
of  Baca,  Psa.  Ixxxiv.  6.  of  Kanah, 
or  rc^ds,  Josh.  xvi.  8.  of  Ono,  Ch:t- 
rashim,  or  craflsmen,  1  Chron.  i v.  14. 
of  Keziz,  Joifh.  sviii.  24.  These 
were  ail  in  the  s.oii{h  of  western  Ca- 


V  A  P 


(     i>-i'i     ) 


V  E  S 


naan.     Norlhwnrd,  we  find  the  fat,      VARIABLENESS,  iiiconslaiicy, 
»ay/jV^,  near  Samaria,  Isa.  xxxviii.  1.  roadiiu'ijs    to  clians^e.      Our  natural 


perhaps  the  same  as  the  plain  or  vat 
Uy  oi'  Israel,  Josh.  xi.  10.  Wu^  vnllnf 
of  Moreh,  between  I'l)al  antl  lU- 
rizini,  Gen.  xii.  ti.  ol  Meonenini, 
Judges  ix.  37,  of  Zaanaim,  Judges 
iv.  11.  of  Shave,  near  Salem,  Gen. 
xiv.  17.  of  Je/.rcel,  John  xix.  IS. 
of  Megiddo,  2  Chron.  xxxv.  22. 
of  Jiphthali-el,  Josh.  xlx.  M,  27.  of 
LehancMi,  Josh.  xi.  17.  QMiose  be- 
yond Jordan,  were  (lie  i-alkTj  of  Shit- 
tim,  Joel  iii.  13.  of  A'larim,  or  pas- 
sengers, on  the  east  of  the  Dead  Seav 
Ezek.  xxxix.  11.  of  Zured,  Numb. 
xxi.  12.  of  Gad,  2  Sam.  xxiv.  5. 
of  Succoth,  Psal.  Ix.  5.  of  iNIizpeh, 
Josh.  xi.  8.  of  Salt,  near  Taihiior; 
Jerusalem,  or  the  land  of  Judea,  is 
called  a  vallej/  of  vision ;  as  they  had 
the  oracles,  ordinances,  and  prophets 
of  God  amone;  them,  Isaiah  xxii.  1. 
Hindrances  of  the  spread  and  suc- 
cess of  the  ffosjiel,   are    likened   to 


un  is  very  (•Iiaii2;ea!il('  in  his  appear- 
ance; now  in  the  east,  anon  in  the 
west;  now  as  far  north  as  to  create 
our  Su/iimer,  then  so  far  south  as  to 
occasion  our  Winter:  but  with  God, 
(he  Sun  or  Father  of  li-^hts,  there  is 
no  variableiuss  nor  shadow  of  lurn- 
inu; :  He  is  ever  tlie  same  in  his  na- 
ture and  purpose,  Jam.  i.  17. 

VASHl'l.     See  AiiASUERUs. 

To  VAUNT,  to  be  rash,  to  boast, 
1  Cor.  xiii.  14. 

VEHEMENT,  strong,  violent, 
Jon.iv.  8.  Fc/io/ifM//;/,eagerly,  fierce- 
ly, boldly,  Lake  xi.  33.  and  xxiii.  10. 

VEIN,  a  place  lor  silver  to  spread 
itself  in  the  mine;  or  a  passage  to 
bring  it  out  of  it.  Job  xxviii.  1. 

VENGEANCE.     See  Revenge. 

VENOM.     See  Poison. 

VENT,  outlet.  Job  xxxii.  19. 

At  a  VENTURE,  is  by  guess, 
without  minding  where  it  hit,  1  Kings 


vallies  ;  and  they  are  JiUed  up,  whenj  xxi.  34. 
rendered  incapalde  of  hindering  its!  VERIFIED,  proved  to  be  true, 
progress,  Luke  iii.  5.  Of  the  four!  Gen.  xlii.  40.  God's  promise  is  re- 
words which  tlie  Hebrews  use  to  ex-^rifirJ,  when  it  is  fulfilled,  1  Kings  viii. 
press   a  valley,    nachal  signifies  onej2t). 

with  a  brook  in  it,  <re,  a  kind  of  round-]  VERILY,  without  mistake  or  fail- 
ish  hollow  without  a  lirook,  and  H/jc-l  ure.  When  doul)Ied,  it  approaches 
mck,  one  large  and  wide,  or  a  plain, [to  the  solenmily  of  an  oath,  and  de- 
and  hikhkath,  a  narrow  cliff;  yet  thisf  notes  tlie  great  importance  of  what 
observation  will  scarcely  ahvayshold. I  is  said,  and  the  necessity  and  diffi- 


VALOUR,  courage  and  strength, 
Judg.  iii.  2n. 

VALUE,  the  worth  of  a  thing, 
Matt.  X.  31.  and  to  value  a  thing,  is 
to  set  a  proper  price  upon  it,  Lev. 
xxvii.  IG. 

To  VANISH,  (1.)  To  cease  to  be 
seen,  Luke  xxiv.  31.  (2.)  To  come 
to  nought,  Heb.  viii.  1 3.  (3.)  To  Uy 
away  im|»erceptibly,  so  as  to  be  no 
more  seen,  Jam.iv.  14. 

VAPOUR,  a  dewy  mi^t  like  the 
steam  of  a  boiling  pot,  Job  xxxvi. 
27.  The  confounding  judgments  of 
God,  or  the   terril>Ie  srnoke  ascend- 


culty  of  believiuL'  it,  John  iii.  3. 

VKRITY.     See  Truk. 

VERY,  (1.)  Real,  true.  Gen. 
xxvii.  21.  (2.J  Exceeding,  Numb, 
xii.  3. 

VERMILION,  a  kind  of  red 
earth  used  by  painters,  for  garnish- 
ing chambers,  Jer.  x!{ii.  14.  or  co- 
louring images,  Ezek.  xxiii.  14.  Uut 
[)erhaps  the  Hebrew  shashar  was 
the  cinnabar  of  the  Arabians,  which 
is  also  a  red  paint.  Stochius,  hud 
some  other  good  authors,  render  it 
indi2;o. 

VESSEL,  a  dish,  or  any  uten.sil 


ing  from  the  burning  of  Jerusalcfn,  isj  in  a  house,  2  Tim.  ii.  20.  The  ve.s- 
cailed  vapour  of  smoke.  Acts  ii.  19.  selsof  the  Lord's  tabernacle  or  teni- 
Our  life  is  like  a  ra/»o//r;  how  unsul)-|ple  were  holy;  but  other  vessels 
stantial,  short,  and  easily  destroyed'.!  were  called  common.  Men  are  ws- 
Jam.  iv,  14.  \scls,  d,n^  vessels  of  mercy  ov  wrath,  as 


y  E  s 


(     544     ) 


V  I  A 


ihej-  receive  or  reject  the  blessed  of- 
fers of  salvation  by  Jesus  Christ, 
Rom.  ix.  22,  23.  Meu  are  calle<l 
vessels  wherein  there  is  no  pleasure, 
i.  e.  either  broken  or  tainted,  to  mark 
how  full  they  are  of  ahominaole 
corruptions,  and  how  quickly  they 
shall  he  emptied  and  ruined,  Jer. 
xxii.  28.  and  viii.  22,.  and  xlviii. 
38.  They  are  likened  to  broken  ves- 
sels, or  potters^  vessels,  to  denote  their 
great  and  irrecoverable  distress,  so 
easily  inflicted  by  God,  Psa.  xxxi.  1 2. 
and  ii.  9.  Ministers  are  chosen,  but 
earthen  vessels,  appointed  to  hold  the 
gospel,  and  publish  it  to  others:  but 
how  mean  and  frail  in  themselves ! 
and  how  often  contemned  by  men ! 
Acts  ix.  15.  2  Cor.  iv.  7.  Women 
are  weaker  vessels;  the  strength  of 
their  body,  if  not  the  understanding 
of  their  mind,  is  ordinarily  inl'erior 
to  those  of  men,  1  Pet.  iii.  7.  Men's 
bodies  are  called  vessels;  they  are 
curiously  fashioned  by  the  Lord,  to 
be  the  lodging  of  the  soul  and  her 
furniture,  Isa.  Ixvi.  20.  1  Thess.  iv. 
4.  Jerusalem,  and  the  country  round 
about,  were  made  an  empty  vessel, 
when  mo!?t  of  the  inhabitants  and 
wealth  were  ilestroyed,  or  carried  oft' 
by  the  Chaldeans,  Jer.  li.  34.  To 
be  emptied  from  vessel  to  vessel,  is  to  lie 
variously  distressed,  and  driven  from 
one  place  or  condition  to  another, 
Jer.  xlviii.  1 1. 

VESTMENTS,  robes  for  the  idol- 
atrous priests;  and  the  vestuv  was 
the  place  where  they  lay,  and  were 
put  off  and  on,  2  Kings  x.  22.  A 
VESTURE  is  chiefly  an  upper  robe, 
Deut.  xxii.  12.  The  Hebrews  wore 
no  other  clothes  than  a  coat,  called 
chetonet,  or  a  cloak,  called  mehil. — 
The  coat  was  their  under-garment, 
which  they  wore  next  to  the  skin, 
and  the  cloak  over  this.  These  two 
garments  together  made  what  the 
scripture  call.^  a  change  of  raiment,  2 
Kings  V.  15.  which  Naaman  brought 
as  a  present  to  the  pro])het  Elisha. 
The  coat  was  commonly  of  linen,  and 
the  cloak  of  stufl",  or  woollen.  We 
do  not  know  that  tlie  Hebrews  ever 
chacged  the  lashipu  of   their  vest- 


ments; but  they  dressed  generally 
according  to  the  manner  of  the  coun- 
try wherein  they  dwelt.  Mention  is 
made  in  scripture  of  a  coat  of  many 
colours,  Cien.  xxxvii.  3.  2  Sam.  xiii, 
18.  but  most  interpreters  seem  to 
think  the  word  should  be  translated 
a  lonfy  g  own  or  vestment. 

Christ's  having  his  vesture  dipt  m 
blood,  and  inscribed  with  this  name, 
King  of  kings,  and  Lord  of  lords, 
imports,  that  in  conquering  and  de- 
stroying his  enemies,  he  mightily 
shows  his  sovereign  power  and  do- 
minion. Rev.  xix.  13,  16.  God  will 
change  the  heavens  and  earth,  and 
fold  them  up  as  a  vesture  or  garment, 
when,  at  the  end  of  the  world,  he 
shall  lay  aside  their  present  form, 
and  give  them  another,  Psa.  cii.  26. 
Heb.  i.  12. 

To  VEX,  to  distress  one  exceed- 
ingly, by  provocation, frowns,  torture, 
Avar,  «S:c.  Ezek.  xxii.  7.  Matt.  xv. 
22.  Numb.  xxxi.  2.  Sinners  vex  and 
grieve  the  Spirit  of  God,  when  they 
rebel  against  his  word,  resist  and 
quench  his  motions,  and  do  what  is 
detestable  to  him,  Isa.  Ixiii.  10. 
Lot's  soul  was  vexed  with  the  wicked- 
ness of  Sodom,  when  he  grieved  for 
the  dishonour  done  to  God,  and  the 
ruin  brought  on  souls  by  the  same,  2 
Pet.  ii.  8. 

VIAL,  a  kind  of  vessel;  but  whe- 
ther wider  or  narrower  at  the  top 
than  at  the  bottom,  I  cannot  cer- 
tainly say.  Perhaps  they  were  much 
of  the  form  of  the  censers,  1  Sam.  x. 
1.  The  complete  number  of  righte- 
ous and  ruinous  strokes  for  destroy- 
ing Antichrist,  arc  called  seven  gold- 
en vials  full  of  the  wrath  of  God, 
given  by  one  of  the  four  living  crea- 
tures, to  seven  angels  clothed  in  fine 
linen,  clean  and  white,  that  they 
might  in  their  turn  pour  them  out. 
According  to  the  prayers  and  jireach-- 
ing  of  faithful  ministers,  and  perhaps 
by  their  instrumentality,  shall  these 
plagues  be  gradually  executed  by 
persons.  Just  in  their  conduct,  and 
powerful,  courageous,  prudent,  and 
active.  Rev.  xv.  0,  7.  and  xvi.     Set; 

AXTKHRIST. 


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VICTORY.  (1.)  An  OTercoming 
of  an  entiny  in  battle.  It  is  tin 
Lord''s,  as  he  enables  men  to  «;ain  it, 
and  the  praise  of  it  ought  to  be  as- 
critied  to  hitn,  1  Chron.  xxix.  11. 
Christ's  viclonj,  is  his  conquest  of  Sa- 
tan, sin,  anil  death,  and  rendering 
the  whole  plan  of  our  salvation  suc- 
cessful, Isa.  XXV.  8.  Matt.  xii.  20. 
The  saints'  vidorij,  is  their  overcom 
lag  the  temptations  of  Satan,  the 
power  of  sin,  the  snares  of  Antichrist, 
and  the  world;  and  the  fear,  hurt, 
and,  in  due  time,  the  influence  of 
death,  Kev.  xv.  2.  1  Cor.  xv.  57. — 
(2.)  The  means  of  victory;  so  faith 
is  our  victory,  i.  e.  the  instrument  of 
obtaining  victory  over  the  world  in 
its  various  lusts  and  snares,  1  John  v. 
4.     See  Conquer. 

VICTUALS,  meat  and  drink  to 
live  on.  Gen.  xiv.  11. 

To  VIEW,  to  take  a  careful  look 
of,  Josh.  ii.  7. 

VIGILANT.     See  Watch. 

VILE,  (1.)  Of  no  val\ie  or  worth, 
Deut.  XXV.  3.  Jer.  xxix.  17.  (2.) 
Base,  corruptible,  Phil.  iii.  21.  (3. J 
Contemned,  distressed,  Lam.  i.  11. 
(4.)  Coarse,  unclean,  tilthy,  Jam.  ii. 
2.  (5.)  Unholy,  veiy  wicked,  and 
abominalile,  Rom.  i.  26.  Psal.  xv.  4. 
and  xii.  8.  Vilelv,  in  a  contemptu- 
ous and  disgraceful  manner,  2  Sam. 
i.  21. 

VILLAGE,  a  small  town  without 
walls,  Ezek.  xxxviii.  11.  Intimeof 
Avar,  the  inhabitants  sometimes  desert 
them,  and  flee  into  fortified  cities, 
Judg.  V.  7. 

V  ILL  ANY,  words  or  works  de- 
ceitful, dishonest,  or  very  wicked, 
Isa.  xxxii.  6.  Jer.  xxix.  23. 

VINE,  a  wide-spreading  shrub, 
which  bears  the  grapes  out  of  which 
wine  is  squeezed.  Vines  are  pro- 
duced either  by  layers  or  cuttings 
almost  buried  in  the  ground.  There 
are  about  20  kinds  of  vines,  and  all 
of  them  thrive  best  in  a  southern, 
warm,  and  dry  soil.  They  are  easily 
hurt  by  frost,  because  of  the  thinness 
of  their  juice.  A  great  deal  of  labour 
is  necessary  to  cultivate  vines;  for 
their  branches  are  so  weak  that  they 

Vol.  IL 


need  to  be  propped  by  walls,  trees, 
•takes,  &c.  Nor  is  their  wood  usetu! 
.or  any  thing  but  the  tire,  if  they  be 
larren.  Perhaps  Noah  was  the  tirst 
that  cultivated  vines,  and  squeezed 
their  grapes,  Gen.  ix.  20.  They 
were  anciently  very  plentiful  in  Ca- 
naan, especially  in  the  territory  of 
Judah,  God.  xlix.  11.  and  are  at 
present  |)lentiful  in  Italy,  France, 
Spain,  Portugal,  6n;.  and  there  are 
some  in  England.  Some  vines  bear 
very  large  clusters  of  grapes.  That 
cluster  which  the  Hebrew  spies 
brought  from  Eshcol,  was  carried  on 
a  stati'  between  two  of  them.  Numb, 
xiii.  23.  and  we  read  of  clusters  there 
about  25  pounds  weight.  We  read  of 
a  cluster  in  the  east  parts  of  Persia^, 
about  three  feet  and  a  half  long. — 
As  the  Hebrews  were  much  employ- 
ed about  their  vines  and  fig-trees; 
their  sitling  tinder  them,  imported 
their  safety  and  proij)erity,  1  Kings 
iv.  25.  Micah  iv.  4.  Zech.  iii.  10. 
They  had  among  them  a  rvild  vinCy 
which,  of  its  own  accord,  grew  by 
the  way-side,  and  which  jiroduced 
wild  grapes  of  a  sourish  and  bitter 
taste,  Isaiah  v.  4.  The  vine  of  Sodo7n, 
or  those  that  grew  near  to  the  Dead 
Sea,  being  impregnated  with  its  nitre 
and  sulphur,  produced  grajjcs  as  bit- 
ter as  gall,  Deut.  xxxii.  32.  These 
were  perhaps  the  same  as  the  wild 
gourds,  2  Kings  iv.  39.  They  had 
their  cultivated  vioes  often  inclosed 
in  a  kind  of  garden  or  orchard,  call- 
ed VINEYARDS,  that  the  vines  might 
not  be  hurt  by  cattle  :  one  vineyard, 
if  good,  procured  a  yearly  rent  of 
1000  shekels  of  silver,  Isaiah  vii.  23. 
it  required  200  to  pay  the  dressers, 
Song  viii.  12.  In  these  the  keepers 
and  vine-dressers  laboured;  planting, 
pruning,  and  propping  the  vines, 
and  in  gathering  the  grapes.  This 
was  at  once  a  laborious  task,  and 
often  reckoned  a  base  one,  2  Kings 
XXV.  12.  Isaiah  Ixi.  5.  Song  i.  6. 
Some  of  the  best  vineyards  were  at 
En-gedi,  or  perhaps  at  Baal-hamon, 
which  might  be  not  far  distant,  Eccl. 
ii.  4.  Songi.  14.  and  viii.  11.  The 
eating  ttp  of  vineyards,  imports  the 
3  Z 


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V  I  N 


spoiling  men  or  the  fruits  of  their 
ground,  Isa.iii.  14.  Samaria  became 
a  vineyard,  when,  being  desolate,  it 
became  arable  fields,  Mic.  i.  6.  Good 
vineyards  becoming  fields  of  briers 
and  thorns,  denotes  great  desolation 
in  the  country,  Isa.  vii.  23.  The 
gathering  and  treading  of  the  grapes, 
were  called  the  vintage;  and  when 
the  crop  was  very  large,  it  began  in 
June,  at  the  end  of  harvest,  and  con- 
tinued till  October,  Leviticus  xxvi. 
5.  They  generally  had  their  vats 
or  presses  for  treading  out  the  grapes, 
and  squeezing  out  the  wine,  without 
the  city,  Rev.  xiv.  20.  Of  the  juice 
of  the  squeezed  grapes  were  formed 
WINE  and  VINEGAR.  The  wines  of 
Helbon  near  Damascus,  and  of  Le- 
banon, where  the  vines  had  a  fine 
sun,  were  reckoned  most  excellent, 
Ezek.  xxvii.  18.  Hos.  xiv.  7.  The 
wines  of  Canaan  being  very  strong, 
were  ordinarily  mixed  with  water 
for  common  use,  and  sometimes  they 
scented  them  with  frankincense, 
myrrh,  calamus,  and  other  spices, 
Prov.  ix.  2,  5.  Song  viii.  2.  they 
also  either  scented  their  wine  with 
pomegranates,  or  made  wine  of  their 
juice,  as  we  do  of  the  juice  of  cur- 
rants, gooseberries,  «fec.  fermented 
with  sugar.  When  wine  ferments 
excessively,  and  is  in  danger  of  rend- 
ing the  strongest  cask,  a  little  smoke 
of  sulphur  below  it,  or  put  into  it, 
Avill  stop  it.  Wine  may  be  strength- 
ened by  causing  it  to  freeze,  and 
throwing  away  the  icy  part  of  it. 
Sour  wine  may  be  rectified  by  mix- 
ing it  .well  with  a  little  of  the  tar- 
tarized  spirit  of  wine.  No  Nazarite 
during  his  vow,  nor  priest  during  his 
service  at  the  sanctuary,  was  to  drink 
wine.  Numb.  vi.  3.  Lev.  x.  7.  Wine 
is  best  when  old  and  on  the  lees, 
the  dregs  having  sunk  to  the  bottom, 
and  is  very  useful  for  refreshing, 
strengthening,  and  cheering  persons, 
and  in  some  dangerous  diseases  is 
useful  as  a  medicine.  Wine  of  violence, 
is  that  which  is  procured  by  oppres- 
sion and  robbery,  Prov.  iv.  1 7.  Wine 
of  the  condemned,  is  that  which  is  ta- 
ken from  or  procured  at  the  expense 


of  persons  unjustly  condemned,  Amos 
ii.  8.  The  Hebrews  had  two  kinds 
of  VINEGAR ;  the  one  was  of  weak 
wine,  which  they  used  for  their  com- 
mon drink  on  harvest-fields,  &c.  as 
the  Spaniards  and  Italians  still  do, 
Ruth  ii.  14.  the  other  had  a  sharp 
and  acid  taste  like  ours;  and  hence 
Solomon  hints,  that  a  sluggard  vexes 
and  hurts  such  as  employ  him  in  bu- 
siness, as  vinegar  is  disagreeable  to 
the  teeth,  and  smoke  to  the  eyes, 
Prov.  X.  26.  and  as  vinegar  poured  on 
mire  spoils  its  virtue,  se  he  that  sings 
songs  to  an  heavy  heart  does  but  add 
to  its  grief,  Prov.  xxv.  20.  Vinegar 
may  be  made  of  middling  beer,  mash- 
ed with  rape  or  husks  of  grapes ;  af- 
ter which  the  liquid  part  being  cask- 
ed,  and  the  bung-hole  covered  with 
a  tile  and  set  in  a  hot  sun,  it,  in 
about  30  or  40  days,  will  be  formed 
into  vinegar.  Malaga  raisins  mash- 
ed with  spring  water  in  an  earthen 
jar,  and  set  in  a  hot  sun  three  or  four 
months,  form  vinegar.  Any  kind 
of  wine  mingled  with  its  lees,  or  the 
sourish  stalks  of  the  grapes,  and  pul- 
verized tartar,  and  put  into  a  vessel 
formerly  scented  with  vinegar,  will 
ferment  anew,  and  become  vinegar. 
If  the  watery  part  were  extracted 
from  vinegar,  it  might  be  render- 
ed so  strong  as  easily  to  dissolve  a 
large  mass  of  iron. Christ  is  li- 
kened to  a.  vine;  is  called  the  tnie 
vine,  John  xv.  1.  The  church  is  a 
VINEYARD.  God,  the  proprietor,  first 
planted  the  Jews  therein  as  his  vine, 
and  gave  him  his  tabernacle  or 
temple  as  their  mine-press,  and  his 
oracles,  ordinances,  and  blessings. 
He  let  out  this  vineyard  to  their 
keepers,  and  sent  the  prophets,  and 
at  last  his  Son,  to  demand  their  good 
fruits;  but  these  being  abused  and 
mal-treated,  he  gave  their  church- 
privileges  to  the  Gentiles,  and  at 
different  seasons  of  time  and  life> 
calls  men  to  labour  in  it,  Isaiah  v. 
1—7.  Matthew  xxi.  28—45.  Luke 
xiii.  6,  7.  Matthew  xx.  1—16.  It 
is  a  vineyard  of  red  ivine,  kept  and 
watered  night  and  day  by  the  Lord ; 
amidst  bloody  persecutions  and  sore 


V  I  N 


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V  I  0 


troubles,  God,  by  his  preserving  and 
actuating  influences,  causes  bis  peo- 
ple to  bring  forth  the  best  of  fruits, 
to  his  glory  and  their  own  good,  Isa. 
xsvii.  2,  3. 

The  Jews  are  likened  to  a  vine  or 
vineyard;  God  planted  them  a  noble 
and  choice  vine,  wholly  a  ri<iht  seed  : 
their  ancestors  being  pious,  and  their 
original  laws  good,  he  protected, 
pruned,  and  dressed,  and  caused  them 
to  spread  by  his  kind  providences; 
but  through  their  apostacy  and  ido- 
latry, they  render  themselves  a  bar- 
ren and  empty  vine,  bringing  lortl)  no 
good  fruit ;  a  degenerate  plant  of  a 
strange  vine,  like  other  idolatrous  na- 
tions ;  a  7vild  vine,  a  vine  of  Sodom, 
bringing  forth  sour  grapes  of  gall, 
and  which  produced  wine  like  the 
venom  of  asps,  wicked  courses,  very 
offensive  to  God,  and  in  the  issue 
tending  to  set  their  teeth  on  edge, 
bringing  many  and  painful  calamities 
upon  them,  Jer.  ii.  21,  22.  Psalm 
Ixxx.  8.  Ezek.  xv.  Hosea  x.  1.  Isa. 
V.  1 — 7.  Deut.  xxxii.  33.  Jer.  xxxi. 
29.  Ezek.  xviii.  2.  Antichrist  is  the 
vine  of  the  earth ;  the  Popish  state 
bears  some  resemblance  to  the  true 
church,  but  spreads  and  bears  fruits 
of  error  and  corruption,  hurtful  to 
the  souls  and  bodies  of  men,  as  the 
fruht  of  Avild  vines  is  to  the  body ; 
intoxicates  and  stupifies  multitudes 
with  the  ivine  of  her  fornication, 
her  superstition,  idolatry,  error,  and 
profaneness;  but  at  the  end,  in  the 
vintage  of  God's  judgments  against 
her,  shall  these  idolaters  be  terribly 
squeezed  and  pressed  with  distress- 
ing and  ruinous  calamities,  Rev. 
xiv.  18,  19,  20.  and  xvii.  2,  4.— 
The  destruction  of  a  nation  or  army, 
or  Christ's  destroying  his  enemies 
in  the  wine-press  of  his  wrath,  is 
likened  to  a  vintage,  in  which  some- 
times there  are  gleanings  left,  a  small 
remnant  spared  ;  and  sometimes  the 
poor  remains  are  gleaned,  and  put 
into  the  basket,  i.  e.  are  destroyed, 
or  carried  captive,  Isa.  Ixiii.  1 — 4. 
Rev.  xiv.  18 — 20.  Zech.  xi.  2.  Lam. 
i.  15.  Isa.  xxiv.  13.  Jer.  vi.  9.  and 
xlix.    9,  Obad.   5.  Judges   viii.   2. 


The  Chaldeans  are  cdWetigrapc-ga 
thcrcrs,  as  they  destroyed  the  nations 
and  carried  the  people  out  of  their 
own  lands,  Jer.   xlix.  9.     The  out- 
ward comforts  of  a  laud  are  called 
iviiu,  as  these  refresh  and  strengthen 
the  inhabitants,  Jer.  xlviii.  33,  Hos, 
ii.  9.  and  their  wine  is  mixed  with 
water,   when  their  rulers,   customs, 
ordinances,    and    best    people,   are 
much  corrupted  and  weakened,  Isa. 
i.  22.     Great  calamities  and  suffer- 
ings  appointed  by  God,  and  which 
disturb   men's  minds  with    anguish 
and  horror,  arc  called  wine,  Psal.  Ix. 
3.  and  Ixxv.  8.  Isa.  Ii.    17,  21.  22. 
Jer.  XXV.  15.     The  wine  wherewith 
Babylon    made  the  nations   drunk, 
was  the  judgments  of  God  executed 
by  the  Chaldeans,  or  the  idolatry  and 
superstition  into  which  they  seduced 
them,  Jer.  Ii,  7,  Rev.  xvii.  2.     Men 
shake  off  their  unripe  grapes,  when 
they  are  cut  off  by  an  unexpected 
stroke,    in  the  prime  of  their  days, 
or  amidst  the  growth  of  their  pros- 
perity ;  or  when  their  wealth  is  taken 
from  them,  as  they  are  busy  adding 
to  it,  Job  XV.  33.  After  death,  wick- 
ed men   behold  not  the  the  way  of 
vineyards ;  they  lose  all  their  wealth 
and  pleasure,   Job  xxiv.  18.     The 
fathers  have  eaten  the  sour  grapes,  and 
the  chihlreii's  teeth  are  set  on  edge ; 
the  parents  sinned,  and  their  children 
are   unjustly  punished  for  it,  Ezek. 
xviii.  2.     God's  judgments  on  men 
here,  or  in  hell,  are  called  wine,  and 
red  or  strong  wine,  wine  mixed  with 
spices,  wine  ivithout  mixture  of  jvater, 
and  wine  of  astonishment,  Jer.  xxv. 
15.   Psalm  Ix.  3.  and  Ixxv.  8.  Rev. 
xiv.  10.     His  judgments  are  as  sour 
grapes  ripening  in  the  flower,   when 
their  execution  is  very  near  at  hand, 
Isa.  xviii.  5. 

VINEGAR,  VINEYARD,  VIN- 
TAGE.    See  Vine. 

VIOL,  a  musical  instrument,  Isa. 
V.  12. 

To  VIOLATE,  profanely  to  trans- 
gress, Ezek.  xxii.  26. 

VIOLENT,  (1.)  Earnest  to  ob- 
tain what  is  necessary,  Luke  xvi.  1 6. 
(2.)  Given  to  exercise  unjust  force, 


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U  L  A 


2  Sam.  xxii.  49.  Violence,  is, 
(1.)  Enrnest  endeavour;  so  the  king- 
dom of  heaven  suffercih  violence,  and 
the  violent  take  it  by  force  ;  men  must 
strive  to  enter  in  at  the  strait  gate, 
into  a  new  covenant  state,  and  by 
earnest  diligence  in  holiness  prepare 
for  the  heavenly  glory,  Matt.  xi.  12. 
(2.)  Outrageous  force,  Acts  xxi.  25. 
and  xvii.  41.  (3.)  Unjust  and  for- 
cible harassing,  hurting,  oppressing 
and  robbing,  of  others,  Hab.  i.  2, 
3,  9.  and  ii.  8.  (4.)  What  is  got  by 
oppression  and  robbery,  Zeph.  i.  19. 
The  violence  of  Lebanon,  and  spoils 
of  beasts,  which  covered  the  Chal- 
deans, was  their  unjust  and  bruta! 
murder,  oppression,  and  robbery  of 
the  .lews,  which  brought  vengeance 
on  their  heads-,  Hab.  ii.  1  7. 

VIPERS,  a  kind  of  serpents, 
which  are  scarcely  ever  above  an  ell 
long,  and  an  inch  thick,  and  whose 
bead  is  flat,  and  they  have  a  snout 
like  that  of  a  pig.  Whereas  other 
serpents  have  two  rows  of  teeth,  vi- 
pers have  but  one,  consisting  of  six- 
teen small  ones  in  each  jaw  ;  and  at 
least  the  male  vipers  have  two  large 
teeth,  Avhich  being  raised  when  they 
are  angry,  their  bite  distils  poison 
into  the  wound.  Their  body  is  ei- 
ther of  an  ash  or  yellow  colour, 
speckled  with  longish  brown  spots, 
and  the  scales  under  their  belly  are 
of  the  colour  of  well-polished  steel. 
Theirt>oisoa  is  extremely  dangerous; 
but  their  flesh,  or  broth  made  of  it,  is 
said  to  be  an  excellent  meoicine  in 
some  dangerous  maladies,  and  was 
formerly  used  in  the  Venice  treacle. 
The  male  viper  is  blacker  than  the 
female.  The  females  brinir  forth 
their  young  about  20  at  a  birth,  and 
one  day  by  day,  wrapt  up  alive  in 
small  skins,  which  burst  about  the 
third  day  after,  Isa.  xxx.  6. — The 
Pharisees,  and  other  wicked  men, 
are  likened  to  vipers ;  by  their  poison- 
ous doctrines,  bad  examjjle,  and  sin- 
ful excitements,  they  effectually  ruin 
the  souls  of  men  ;  and  by  their  ma- 
lice, they  murder  such  as  oppose 
them.  Matt.  iii.  7.  Men's  wicked 
and  carnal  devices  and  errors  are  said 


to  break  out  into  a  viper,  when  they 
issue  in  the  tormenting  ruin  of  their 
projectors,  or  in  the  reproach  and 
persecution  of  such  as  study  to  op- 
pose and  crush  them,  Isa.  lix.  5. 
The  viper'' s  torigue  shall  slay  him  ;  he 
shall  die  of  a  certain,  sudden,  and 
tormenting  death,  .lob  xx.  16. 

VIRGIN.     See  Man. 

VIRTUE,  (1.)  Efficacy  for  pro- 
ducing  an  eSect,  Mark  v.  30.  (2.) 
A  wonderful  work  produced  by  dis- 
tinguished power.  Matt.  vii.  f  22. 
(3.)  Holiness  of  heart  and  practice, 
(4.)  Christian  courage  and  boldness, 
2  Pet.  i.  3,  5.  To  be  virtuous,  is, 
to  be  given  to  true  goodness  in  heart, 
?t)eech,  and  behaviour,  Ruth  iii.   11. 

VISAGE.     See  Face. 

VISIBLE,  VISION.  See  See. 

To  VISIT,  (1 .)  To  go  to  see,  and 
meet  with,  Acts  vii.  23.  and  xv.  26. 
(2.)  To  take  a  view  of,  in  order  to 
redress  grievances,  and  do  service: 
so  magistrates  and  ministers  ought  to 
visit  their  people,  Jer.  xxiii.  2.  God 
vidls  men,  either  in  mercy,  when  he 
manifests  his  presence,  grants  them 
their  requests,  delivers  them  from 
distress,  and  upholds  and  comforts 
them,  Zech.  x.  3.  Luke  vii.  16.  Gen. 
xxi.  1.  1  Sam.  ii.  21.  or  in  wrath, 
when  he  visits  their  iniquities,  in 
chastising  or  punishing  persons  for 
them,  Exod.  xx.  5.  Jer.  vi.  6.  Isa. 
xxvi.  14.Ezek.xxxviii.  8.  And  hence 
Visitation  is,  (1.)  Powerful  and 
comfortable  fellowship  with  God, 
Job  X.  12.  1  Pet.  ii.  12.  or,  (2.) 
Punishment  and  affliction,  Hos.  ix. 
7.  Mic.  vii.  4.  Christ  the  day-spring 
from  on  high  visited  men,  when  he 
assumed  our  nature,  and  when  he 
sent  his  Word  and  Spirit,  that  we 
might  have  fellowship  with  him,  and 
share  of  his  blessings,  Luke  i.  78. 
To  visit  the  fatherless  and  widow,  or 
the  sick  and  imjirisoned  members  of 
Christ,  is  to  show  them  regard  and 
pity,  and  to  help  them  according  to 
their  need  and  our  ability,  James  i. 
27.  Matt.  XXV.  36,  43. 

ULAI,  or  EuL.Eus,  strength,  a 
fool,  senseless,  a  river  of  Persia,  near 
to  the  city  of  Shushan,  and  on  whose 


U  N  B 


(     5-19     ) 


U  N  C 


bank  Daniel  had  his  vision  of  the  ram;  munnurine;,  the  fruit  of  unbelief,  it 


and  he-goat,  Dan.  viii.  2,  10.  Pro- 
bably it  is  thesame  with  thoC7iort5;?r.s' 
of  the  ancients,  and  the  Carm  of  the 
moderns. 

UNACCUSTOMED,  not  used  to, 
Jer.  xxxi.  18.  N.  B.  The  preposi- 
tion un  or  in,  prefixed  to  multitudes 
of  words,  signifies  not  only  the  ab- 
sence of  the  quality  imported  by  the 
separate  or  simple  word,  but  the  pre- 
sence of  contrary  qualities. 

U  N  AD  V 1 SEDL  Y,rashly,without 
deliberation,  Psa.  cvi.  33. 

UNAWARES,  (1.)  Secretly,  un- 
perceived,  Jude  4.  (2.)  Suddenly, 
not  expected,  Psa.  xxxv.  8.  Luke 
xxi.  35..  (3.)  Without  design  and 
intention.  Numb.  xxxv.  11. 

UNBELlEF,distru6tofGod'sfaitb- 
fulness,  pledged  in  his  declared  pro- 
mises and  threatenings,  and  particu- 
larly the  discredit  of  his  gospel-decla- 
rations, otlering  his  Son  to  sinners, 
even  the  chief.  This  is  a  most  horrid 
and  damning  crime,  as  it  makes  God  a 
liar,  blasphemes  all  his  perfections, 
contemns  and  refuses  Jesus  and  his 
whole  ««alvation,  and  leads  to  other 
sins,.lohn  xvi.  10.  Heb.  iii.  12. 1  John 
V.  10,  ll.Heb.x.  26— 31.  Unbelief  is 
cither  naralive,  in  such  as  have  not 
heard  the  gospel,  and  so  Heathens  are 
called  unbelievers  or  infidels,  1  Cor. 
vi.  6.  2  Cor.  vi.  14.  or  positive  ia  those 
unbelievers,  who,  though  they  hear  the 
gospel,  and  profess  to  regard  it,  yet 
believe  not  with  their  heart  the  re- 
cord which  God  hath  given  of  his 
Son,  Luke  xii.  46.  Tit.  i.  15.  Rev. 
xxi.  8.  Unbelief  is  either  with  re- 
spect to  a  particular  declaration  of 
God,  as  when  Zacharias  discredited 
God's  promise  of  a  son  to  him,  Luke 
i.  20.  or  universal,  with  respect  to 
the  whole  declarations  of  God. — It  is 
either  partial,  importing  some  de- 
grees of  distrust,  Mark  ix,  24.  or  to- 
tal, where  there  is  no  trust  at  all,  1 
Tim.  i.  13.  The  Jews,  who  came 
out  of  Egypt,  cmdd  not  enter  into  Ca- 
naan, because  of  unbelief,  on  account 
of  their  distrusting  God's  power  and 
kindness,  and  his  promise  to  brine 
them  in ;  and  for  their  rebellion  and 


was  inconsistent  w  itii  the  <livine  ho- 
nour and  purpose  to  admit  them. 
Hel).  iii.  I'J.  Christ  could  not  do 
many  7ni<iJdy  n-orks  in  his  own  coun- 
\vy , because  of  Lhcir  unhilitf ;  Iheir  dis- 
trust of  him,  and  contempt  of  his  mi- 
racles rendered  them  unfit  objects  to 
have  miracles  wrought  upon  or  among 
them,  Mark  vi.  5,  6.  The  ajjostles' 
distrust  of  Christ's  promises  of  en- 
abling them  to  cast  out  devils,  ren- 
dered them  incapable  of  casting  one 
out,  Mark  xvii.  1 6.  and  Peter's  dis- 
trust of  his  Master's  power,  occa- 
sioned his  sinking  in  the  water.  Matt. 
xiv.  30,  31 .  The  unbelief  for  w  hich 
the  Jews  were  broken  off  from  their 
being  a  church,  was  their  distrust  of 
Christ's  Messiahship,  their  contempt 
and  refusal  of  him,  and  their  violent 
persecution  of  his  cause  and  mem- 
bers, Rom.  xi.  20.  Paul  was  for- 
given his  blasphemy  and  persecution 
of  the  saints,  as  he  did  it  ignorantly 
and  in  unbelief,  before  he  knew  the 
truth  concerning  Jesus,  or  felt  the 
powerful  drawings  of  his  Spirit,  1 
Tim.  i.  13. 

UNBLAMEABLE,    cnrebuka- 

ELE,    UNREPROVABLE,    AVithout   SCaU- 

dal,  without  faults  to  be  reproved  for 
or  complained  of,  1  Thess.  ii.  10.  1 
Tim.  vi.  14.  Col.i.  22. 

UNCERTAIN,  (1.)  Doubtful,  so 
that  one  knows  not  what  is  intended 
by  a  thing,  1  Cor.  xiv.  8.  (2.) 
Changeaiile,  hence  one  knows  not 
how  short  a  time  a  thing  may  endure 
or  be  possessed,  1  Tim.  vi.  17.  Un- 
certainly, without  knowing  the 
means  or  end,  or  without  any  secu- 
rity of  obtaining  it,  1  Cor.  ix.  26. 

UNCHANGEABLE,  that  cannot 
be  altered  in  itself,  or  which  cannot 
pass  to  another,  Heb.  vii.  24. 

UNCIRCUMCISED.     See  Cir 

CUMCISION. 

UNCLEAN.  Persons  or  things 
are  unclean,  (1.)  Naturally;  so  dung- 
hills and  hateful  animals  are  unclean^ 
Rev.  xviii.  2.  (2.)  Ceremonially; 
such  persons  as  touched  dead  bodies 
mourned  for  the  dead,  and  a  great 
number  of  beasts  were  thus  unclean. 


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U  N  D 


Numb.  xix.  Lev.  xi.  to  xvi.  (3.) 
Federally;  thus  the  children  of  Hea- 
thens, or  unbelievers,  are  unclean,  1 
Cor.  vii.  14.  (4.)  In  scrupulous 
opinion;  so  some  meats  were  reck- 
oned tinclean  by  the  primitive  Chris 
tians,  Rom.  xiv.  14.  (5.)  Morally, 
beinw  polluted  with  sin;  so  devils  are 
tinclean  spirits.  Matt.  x.  1.  and  all 
men  are  as  an  tinclean  thing,  Isa 
Ixiv.  6.  Particularly,  sinners  against 
the  seventh  commandment,which  sins 
at  once  pollute  both  soul  and  body, 
are  unclean,  Eph.  v.  5.  unclean- 
?fEss,  is  either  natural  filthiness, 
Matt,  xxiii.  27,  or  ceremonial  pollu- 
tion, Lev.  XV.  31,  or  moral,  i.  e.  all 
kinds  of  sin,  Ezek.  xxxvi.  29.  or 
Iasciviousuess,Col.  iii.  5.  2  Pet.  ii.  10. 

UNCLOTHED,  so  our  souls  are 
at  death,  when  dislodged  from  our 
bodies,  which  are,  as  it  were,  a  co- 
vering or  robe  to  them,  2  Cor.  v.  4. 

UNC03IELY,  (1.)  Not  becom- 
ing, 1  Cor.  vii.  37.  (2.)  Shame- 
ful; such  i)arts  of  our  body  as  are 
so,  have  more  abundant  comelinrss 
put  upon  them  when  we  carefully 
cover  them,  1  Cor.  xii.  23. 

UNCONDEMNED,  not  examin- 
ed, not  convinced  or  found  guilty, 
Acts  xvi.  37.  and  xxii.  25. 

UNCORRUPTNESS,  freedom 
from  error.  Tit.  ii.  7. 

UNCOVER.     See  Discover. 

UNCTION.     See  Anointing. 

UNDEFILED,  Clean.  Christ  is 
undefiled ;  is  free  from  all  sin,  infi- 
nitely holy  as  God,  and  perfectly 
holy  in  his  manhood,  Heb.  vii.  26. 
Saints  are  undefiled i  are  righteous 
through  faith  in  Christ,  and  they  aim 
at  perfection  in  holiness,  Psal.  cxix. 
1.  ilesiv en  is  uncorruptible  and  ?/«- 
defiled;  great  is  the  shining  glory 
thereof,  and  every  person  and  act 
there,  are  perfectly  pure  and  holy,  1 
Pet.  i.  4. 

UNDER,  (1.)  Below  with  respect 
to  plHce;  so  things  on  the  earth  are 
under  the  sun,  tinder  the  heavens,  Judg. 
i.  7.  Deut.  iv.  11.  (2.)  Below  with 
respect  to  condition,  state,  power, 
authority ;  hence  we  read  of  being 
underfoot,  Rom.  xvi.  20.  tmder  sin, 


under  the  lam,  under  grace,  under  the 
curse,  i.  e.  under  the  impression,  in- 
fluence, and  reign  thereof,  Rom.  iii. 
9.  and  vi.  14.  and  men  are  under 
God,  when  subject  to  his  laws,  Hos. 
iv.  12.  (3.)  Below  with  respect  to 
protection  :  thus  the  saints  are  tmder 
the  shadow,  feathers,  or  wings  of  God, 
Matt,  xxiii.  37.  Psa.  xci.  1—3.  (4.) 
Below  with  respect  to  effectual  sup- 
port; so  the  arms  of  God  are  under 
his  people,  to  uphold  them  under 
every  burden,  Deut.  xxxiii.  27.  (5.) 
Ready  to  be  brought  forth :  so  good 
and  bad  language  is  under  the  tongue, 
when  in  the  heart,  and  ready  to  be 
uttered,  Psal.  cxl.  3. 

To  UNDERGIRD  a  ship,  is  to 
bind  her  round  with  ropes,  that  she 
may  not  be  torn  asunder,  Acts 
xxvii.  17. 

UNDERSETTERS,  a  kiudof  sup- 
porters or  feet  at  the  corners  of  the 
sacred  lavers,  which,  together  with 
the  wheels,  held  them  up  from  the 
ground,  1  Kings  vii.  30,  34. 

To  UNDERSTAND,  to  know 
things  in  a  natural,  supernatural,  or 
spiritual  manner,  2  Sam.  iii.  27.  Gen. 
xli.  15.  Dan.  iv.  19.  Psa.  cxix.  100. 
1  Cor.  ii.  9 — 14.  Understand- 
ing, is,  (1.)  Knowledge,  wisdom, 
Exod.  xxxi.  3.  Prov.  ii.  2,  3.  (2.) 
The  power  or  faculty  of  the  soul, 
whereby  it  perceives  objects,  Luke 
xxiv.  A5,  Eph.  i.  18.  A  people  of 
no  understanding,  are  persons  igno- 
rant, and  unwilling  to  learn,  Isa. 
xxvii.  1 1 .  My  understanding  is  un- 
fruitful; what  I  say,  however  sensi- 
ble and  well  understood  by  me,  is 
useless  to  others,  if  I  speak  it  in  an 
unknown  tongue,  1  Cor.  xiv.  14.  To 
love  God  with  the  understanding  or 
niind,  is  to  love  him  judiciously,  from 
a  real  and  spiritual  knowledge  of  his 
excellency  and  kindness,  Mark  xii. 
33.  A  fool  hath  no  delight  in  un- 
derstanding, but  that  his  heart  may 
discover  itself:  he  is  not  earnest  and 
diligent  in  the  study  of  solid  know- 
ledge and  wisdom;  but  his  great 
study  and  pleasure  is  to  vent  his  own 
foolishness,  being  slow  to  hear,  and 
swift  to  speak,  Prov.  xviii.  2. 


UNI 


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U  N  I 


To  UNDERTAKE,  (1.)  To  be- 
come boumi,  Esth.  ix.  23.  (2.)  To 
secure,  siH)[)ort,  and  deliver,  as  a 
surety  does,  who  engages  for  another 

to  get  him  out  of  prison,  Isa.  xxxviii.  I  authors  contend,  that  tliere  is  no  sucb 
14. 


RiiKEM,  which  we  render  unicorn. 
is,  whether  the  wild  ox,  the  wild 
goat,  or  deer,  or  a  creature  called 
the  unicorn,   is  not  agreed.     Many 


To  UNDO,  to  destroy,  remove, 
Zeph.  iii.  10.  Isa.  Iviii.  6.  Undonk, 
is,  (1.)  Not  performed.  Josh.  xi.  15. 
(2.)  Destroyed,  ruined.  Numb.  xxi. 
39.  Isa.  vi.  6. 

UNDRESSED,  or  separated.  The 
Hebrews  did  not  dress  their  vines  on 
the  year  of  release,  and  so  had  no 
Claim  to  their  fruit,  Lev.  xxv.  5. 

UNEQUAL,(1.)  Contrary  to  what 
equity  and  reason  requires,  Ezek. 
xviii.  25.  (2.)  Not  right  matched, 
as  to  religion,  temper,  and  condi- 
tion, 2  Cor.  vi.  14. 

UNFEIGNED,  true  and  real ;  sin- 
cere, without  dissimulation,  2  Cor. 
vi.  6.  1  Tim.  i.  5. 

UNFAITHFUL,  not  exact  in  ful- 
filling vows,  nor  acting  according  to 
relations  and  trust,  Prov.  xxv.  19 
Psa.  Ixxviii.  57. 

UNFRUITFUL,barren,  not  tend- 
ing to  any  good  purpose.  Matt.  xiii. 
22.  (2.)  Of  no  good  tendency, 
but  hurtful,  defiling,  and  destructive, 
Eph.v.  11. 

UNGODLY,  unlike  to,  and  con- 
trary to  God's  will  and  glory.  Un- 
godly persons  are  such  as  are  with- 
out God  as  to  their  state,  and  unlike 
God  in  their  heart  and  life,  Rom.iv. 
5.  Ungodliness,  wickedness  in 
general,  but,  particularly,  it  compre- 
hends all  sins  against  the  first  table 
of  the  law,  as  ignorance,  atheism, 
idolatry,  superstition,  blasphemy,  ne- 
glect of  the  worship  of  God,  &:c.  Tit. 
ii.  11. 

UNHOLY,  (1.)  Common,  as  Uie 
blood  of  a  beast  unsacrificed.  Men 
so  account  of  Christ's  blood,  when 
they  look  on  him  as  an  impostor, 
or  abuse  the  notion  of  his  righteous- 
ness to  encourage  them  in  sinful 
practices,  Heb.  x.  29.  (2.)  Not  sanc- 
tified according  to  the  ceremonial 
law,  Levit.  x.  10.  (3.)  Uninfluenced 
by  divine  grace,wicked,  2  Tim.  iii.  2 

UNICORN.     What  animal  the 


creature  as  the  unicorn ;  others, 
more  addicted  to  the  marvellous, 
talk  of  the  unicorn  as  a  most  terrible 
creature,  with  a  prodigious  horn  in  its 
forehead,  which  it  can  push  through 
trees,  and  almost  every  thing  else; 
but  their  descriptions  are  so  dillerent, 
that  I  cannot  rest  in  any  of  them. 
I  have  been  told  of  an  unicorn's  horn, 
in  the  British  Museum  at  London, 
about  10  or  12  feet  long,  and  ex- 
ceedingly strong ;  but  this,  I  suppose, 
must  be  the  horn  of  a  narvel,  or  sca- 
unicorn,  whose  horn,  I  am  assured,  is 
sometimes  1 4  or  1 5  feet  in  length,  and 
of  which,  it  is  said,  there  is  a  whole 
throne  made  in  Denmark.  It  is  cer- 
tain the  scripture  rheems  are  fierce, 
strong,  and  almost  untameable  ani- 
mals. I  suppose  the  urus,  or  wild 
ox,  which  is  found  in  Arabia,  Hun- 
gary, and  many  other  places,  is  of 
that  kind  ;  or  the  rhinoceros,  which 
is  the  strongest  of  all  four-footed 
beasts,  and  hath  one,  and  sometimes 
two  horns  growing  on  its  nose,  about 
a  yard  or  more  in  length.  It  is  cer- 
tain these  animals  are  extremely 
strong,  fierce,  and  untameable,  and 
have  large  horns.  Men  powerful 
and  wicked,  are  likened  to  uni- 
corns :  how  fierce,  strong,  and  iuri- 
rious,  are  they !  and  how  dangerous 
to  others  are  the  horns  of  theie 
power!  Isa.  xxxiv.  7.  Psa.  xxii.  21. 
Strength,  as  of  an  unicorn,  is  that 
which  is  very  great,  to  defend  one's 
self,  and  destroy  enemies.  Numb, 
xxiii.  22.  To  have  horns  as  of  the 
unicorn,  is  to  have  great  authority, 
power,  and  honour,  Psa.  xcii.  10. 
Deut.  xxxiii.  17.  To  be  delivered 
froin  the  Iiorn  of  the  unicorn,  is  to 
be  extricated  out  of  the  ver}'  great- 
est, nearest,  and  most  dreadful  dan- 
gers, Psa.  xxii.  21. 

To  UNITE,  to  join  into  one  fel- 
lowship, &c.  Gen.  xlix.  G.  Man's 
heart  is  united,  to  fear  God''s  name, 
when  it  is  strongly  inclined  to,  and 


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U  N  R 


ail  its  powers  join  together  in  the  fear 
and  service  of  God,  with  ardour  and 
tlelight,  Psa.  Ixxxvi.  11.  Unity, 
oneness,  whether  of  sentiment,  affec- 
tion, or  behaviour,  Psa.  cxxxiii.  1. 
The  unity  of  the  faith,  is  a  joint  be- 
lief of  the  same  truths  of  God,  and  a 
possession  of  the  grace  of  faith,  Eph. 
iv.  13.  The  unity  of  the  spirit,  is 
that  oneness  between  Christ  and  his 
eaints,  whereby  the  same  divine  Spi- 
rit dwells  in  both,  and  they  have  the 
same  dispositions  and  aims ;  and  that 
oneness  of  the  saints  among  them- 
selves, whereby,  being  united  to  the 
same  head,  and  having  the  same  Spi- 
rit dwelling  in  them,  they  have  the 
same  graces  of  faith,  love,  hope,  &c. 
and  are  rooted  and  groiuuled  in  si- 
milar doctrines  of  Christ,  and  have  a 
mutual  affection  to,  and  care  for,  one 
another,  Eph.  iv.  3. 

UNJUST.     See  Unrighteous. 

UNKNOWN.  (1.)  Not  known; 
what  one  is  not  acquainted  with, 
Actsxvii.  23.  (2.)  Not  famed  or  re- 
nowned. Paul  and  his  fe!low-i»reach- 
ers  were  as  unknown  to  the  world  in 
their  spiritual  state  and  exercise,  and 
were  unapproved,  unesteemed,  and 
uniamed,  by  carnal  men;  but  well 
known  to,  and  approved  of,  God,  Fa- 
ther,Son,and  Holy  Spirit,2  Cor.  vi.  9. 

TO  UNLADE,  to  put  out,  or  take 
off,  burdens  or  loading,  Acts  xxi.  3. 

UNLAWFUL,  (1.)  Not  agreeable 
to  the  moral  law,  1  Pet.  ii.  8.  (2.) 
Not  agreeable  to  the  ceremonial  law, 
Acts  X.  28. 

UNLEARNED  persons,  are  such 
as  have  had  little  instruction  in  sci- 
ence. Acts  iv.  13.  or  are  little  ac- 
quainted with  the  mind  of  God,  and 
the  teaching  of  his  Spirit,  2  Pet.  iii. 
16.  Unearned  questions,  are  such 
as  minister  no  true  and  substantial 
knowledge,  2  Tim.  ii.  23. 

UNLEAVENED.  See  Bread, 
Leaven. 

To  UNLOOSE,  to  bind,  to  tie, 
Mark  i.  7. 

UNMERCIFUL,  cruel,  without 
pity,  Rom.  i.  31. 

UNMINDFUL,  forgetful,  un- 
thankful, regardless,  Deut.  xxxii.  18. 


UN  MO  VE  ABLE,  (1 .)  Firmly  fix- 
ed, Acts  xxvii.  41.  (2.)  Constant 
in  the  way  of  the  Lord,  not  to  be  di- 
verted or  drawn  aside  by  temptations 
and  opposition,  1  Cor.  xv.  58. 

UNOCCUPIED,  not  used  for  bu- 
siness or  trade ;  not  travelled  in,  lor 
fear  of  enemies  and  robbers,  Judg. 
V.  6. 

UNPERFECT,  wanting  parts  or 
degree?  of  solid  substance  or  shape., 
Psa.  cxxxix.  16. 

UNPREPARED,  not  ready,  2 
Cor.  ix.  4. 

UNPROFITABLE,useless,tend. 
ing  to  no  real  advantage,  but  hurt. 
Job  XV.  3.  Wicked  men  are  unpro- 
fitable, are  spiritually  rotten,  and 
abominable  to  God,  neither  study- 
ing his  glory,  nor  the  real  good  of 
themselves  or  others,  Psa.  xiv.  3. 
Philem.  11.  The  ceremonial  law 
was  unprofitable;  it  could  not  really 
remove  the  guilt  or  |)ower  of  sin,  by 
the  observance  of  all  its  rites,  Heb. 
vii.  18.  The  grieving  of  ministers 
is  unprofitable  to  their  people,  as  it 
mars  their  studies  and  the  discharge 
of  their  office,  leads  them  out  to  com- 
plain of  the  injury  to  God,  who  will 
not  fail  to  punish  it  in  this  or  in  the 
world  to  come,  Heb.  xiii.  17. 

UNQUENCHABLE,  that  can  ne- 
ver be  put  out,  and  made  to  cease 
from  burning,  Matt.  iii.  12. 

UNREASON  ABLE,  what  is  con- 
trary  to  reason  and  common  sense. 
Acts  XXV.  27.  Unreasonable  men^ 
are  such  as  either  know  not,  or  re- 
gard not  reason,  but  furiously  act 
as  their  lusts  excite  them,  2  Thess. 
iii.  2. 

UNREBUKABLE,  unreprov- 
ABLE.     See  Unblameable. 

UNRIGHTEOUS,  unjust,  what 
is  contrary  to  justice  or  equity,  Heb. 
vi.  10.  Unrighteousness,  or  what 
h  unrighteous,  is  either,  (1.)  What 
is  contrary  to  the  law  of  God  in  ge- 
neral, 1  Cor.  vi.  9.  1  John  i.  9.  or, 
(2.)  What  is  contrary  to  the  duty 
we  owe  to  men,  Rom.  i.  8.  Exod. 
xxiii.  1.  or,  (3.)  What  is  deceitful, 
false,  and  erroneous,  and  unjustly 
tends  to  mislead  men,  Joha  vii.  18. 


tr  N  g 


(  55:?  ) 


U  N  W 


Vnjtisl  or  unrii^htcotts  persons,  are, 
(1.)  Such  as  wront;  their  neighhours, 
as  David's  oppoaers  uniler  Saul,  or 
Ahsalom,  did  him,  Psa.  xliii.  1.  or, 
(2.)  Sinners  in  general,  who  wrong 
God  of  his  due  service  and  honour, 
and  in  his  sigl*t  they  also  much  wrong 
their  neighljours,  1  Pet.  iii.  8. 

UNRULY,per30ns  who  will  not  I)e 
brought  under  due  order  and  govern- 
ment, but  are  as  headstrong  beasts 
that  cannot  be  yoked  :  they  arc  much 
the  same  as  children  0/  Belial,  Tit  i 
t),  iO.  1  Thess.  v.  14. 

UNSATIABLE,  that  can  never 
get  what  they  reckon  enough.  The 
Jews  were  unsaliable  in  their  idola- 
tries, still  following  after  the  idols 
around,  and  still  eager  after  new 
gods,  Ezek.  xvi.  18. 

UNSAVOURY,  tasteless,  or  of  an 
ill  taste  or  smell;  it  denotes,  (1.) 
What  is  void  of  sense,  Job  vi.  6. 
(2.)  What  is  horrid  and  abomina- 
ble, Jer.  xxiii.  13. 

UNSEARCHABLE,  that  cannot 
be  fully  known  in  number,  proper- 
ties, or  extent;  so  the  heart,  or  se- 
cret schemes  of  kings,  is  unsearcha- 
ble, hard  to  be  known  or  pried  into, 
Prov.  XXV.  3.  But  the  riches  of 
Christ,  the  judgments  of  God,  and 
his  greatness,  are  much  more  so,  and 
eannot  be  fully  understood  by  any 
but  God  himself,  Eph.  iii.  8.  Rom. 
xi.  33.  Psa.  cxlv.  3. 

UNSEEMLY,  (1.)  Abominable; 
what  is  not  to  be  seen,  heard,  or 
thought  of,  Rom.  i.  27.  (2.)  Un- 
mannerly, indiscreetly,  1  Cor.  xiii.  5. 

UN  SHOD.  Withhold  thy  foot  from 
being  unshod,  and  thy  throat  from 
thirst.  Do  not  wear  out  your  shoes 
in  going  to  seek  foreign  alliances  and 
foreign  idols :  do  not  eagerly  desire 
that  which  will  issue  in  your  future 
misery,  Jer.  ii.  25. 

UNSKILFUL,  withoutknowledge 
and  experience,  Heb.  v.  13. 

UNSPEAKABLE,  what  cannot  be 
expressed  in  words  proportioned  to 
its  excellency  and  greatness,  2  Cor. 
xi.  15.  1  Pet.i.  8. 

UNSPOTTED  from  the  world  : 
Bot  defiled  with  the  sinfttl  fashions  of 

Vol,  U. 


the  world  :    without  ofTence  towafU^^ 
God  and  men,  James  i.  27. 

UNSTABLE,  not  fixed  in  afTeo- 
tion  ur  condition,  like  a  man  upon 
one  leg,  who  is  easily  overturned  ;  or 
like  a  rolling  wave  of  the  sea  tossed 
to  and  fro,  Gen.  xlix.  4.  James  i.  8. 
2  Ptt.  ii.  14.  and  iii.  10. 

UNSTOPPED,opened,  Isa.  35.  5. 

UNTEMPEREl).  not  4luly  mix- 
ed and  wrought  together.  The  Hat- 
teriesof  talse  teachers  are  like  mortar 
made  of  sand  not  mixed  or  wrought 
with  lime ;  and  hence  all  the  wall-like 
schemes  they  build  therewith  shall 
quickly  come  to  an  end,  Ezek.  xiii, 
10,  15.  and  xxii.  23. 

UNTHANKFUL,  having  no  pro- 
per sense  of  kindness  received  from 
God  or  men;  indisposed  to,  and  neg- 
ligent of,  rendering  thanks  for  the 
same,  Luke  vi.  35. 

UNTL\1ELY,  not  ia  the  proper 
season.  Wicked  men  pass  away  like 
an  untimely  birth,  which  happens  too 
soon,  and  so  the  embryo  or  child  is 
imperfect ;  their  ruin  comes  on  them 
suddenly,  ere  they  expect  it,  and  ere 
they  get  time  to  enjoy  their  honour, 
ease,  or  wealth.  Psalm  Iviii.  8.  The 
Heathen  persecutors  are  likened  to 
untimely  figs,  that  fall  ofif  the  trees 
ere  they  be  ripe ;  they  were  destroy- 
ed by  Constantine  ere  they  expected 
it,  Rev.  vi.  13. 

UNTOWARD,  perverse,  rebelli- 
ous against  the  calls  of  the  gospel, 
and  the  voice  of  providence:  such 
were  the  Jews  who  contemned,  oppo- 
sed, and  crucified,  our  Saviour,  and 
violently  persecuted  his  followers, 
Acts  ii.  40. 

UN  WALLED, cities  withoutwalls 
built  around  them  for  their  defence, 
Ezek.  38.  11. 

UNWISE,  (1.)  Such  as  never 
learned  sciences,  Rom.  i.  14.  (2.) 
Foolish,  without  the  true  knowledge 
of  God  and  his  ways,  Eph.  v.  17. 

UNWITTINGLY,  (1.)  Without 
intending  it.  Josh.  xx.  3.  (2.)  Not 
knowing  it.  Lev.  xxii.  14. 

UNWORTHY,  not  meet,  not  de- 
serving, 1  Cor.  vi.  2.  The  Jews 
iudged  themselves  unworthy  of  ever- 
4  A 


V  O  I 


(     554     ) 


u  p  n 


lasting  lije^  when  they  act^d  as  if 
set  upon  ruining  themselves.  Acts 
xiii.  46.  Men  cat  and  drink  unrvor- 
ihily  at  the  Lord's  table,  when  they 
do  it  in  a  state  of  voluntary  subjec- 
tion to  sia  and  Satan,  in  an  unworthy 
frame  of  spirit,  ignorant,  unbelieving, 
impenitent,  envious,  malicious,  and 
with  an  unworthy  end  of  self-ap- 
plause, self-righteousness,  or  to  qua- 
lify for  a  civil  [)ost ;  and  when  the 
elements  are  used  as  if  they  were 
common  provision,  not  as  the  sym- 
bols of  Jesus  Christ,  1  Cor.  xi.  27, 
29. 

VOCATION,  that  calling  where- 
by God  brings  men  out  of  a  state  of 
sin  and  misery  into  a  state  of  salva- 
tion, by  his  vyord  and  Spirit,  Eph. 
iv.  1. 

VOICE,  in  general,  signifies  any 
kind  of  noise,  whether  made  by  ani- 
mals or  not.  God's  voice  is,  ( 1 .)  The 
thunder,  which  is  very  terrible,  and 
loudly  declares  the  existence  and 
providence  of  God,  Psa  xxix.  or, 
(2.)  His  laws  and  the  offers  of  his 
grace,  in  which  he  declares  his  will 
to  men,  Exod.  xv.  26.  or,  (3.)  His 
alarming  providences,  wherein  he 
publishes  his  own  excellencies,  awak- 
ens Us  from  our  stupidity,  and  calls  us 
to  turn  from  our  sin  to  duty,  Mic.  vi. 
9.  Amos  i.  3.  Christ's  voice  is  the  de- 
claration of  his  gospel,  and  the  influ- 
ence of  his  Spirit,  Song  ii.  8,  12. 
Men's  voice  denotes  their  words  of 
command,  instruction,  and  advice, 
Judg.  XX.  13.  and  xiii.  9.  1  Sam.  ii. 
25.  and  xix.  6.  One  changes  his 
voice,  when,  from  sharp  reproofs,  he 
turns  to  commendation  and  comfort, 
Gal.  iv.  20.  Voices,  in  the  Revela- 
tion, denote,  (1.)  The  glorious  and 
loud  proclamation  of  the  gospel,  by 
the  authority  of  God,  Rev.  iv.  5.  and 
xi.  19,  or,  (2.)  The  astonishing  events 
of  providence,  that  rouse  and  alarm 
the  world,  Rev.  viii.  5,  13.  and  x.  3. 
or,  (3.)  The  great  joy  of  the  saints, 
and  their  praises  of  God,  for  bis 
deliverance  of  the  church,  and  the 
destruciion  of  her  enemies.  Rev.  xi. 
15.  To  mark  John  Baptist  as  not 
the  true  Messiah,  but  a  procleimerof 


his  appearance,  he  is  called  a  voice., 
Isa.  xl.  6.  The  terrible  outcries  trom 
cities,  which  use  to  attend  the  a|> 
preach  of  a  furious  enemy  towards 
them,  are  called  a  voice,  Isa.  x.  30. 
The  ceasing  of  the  voice,  or  sound  of 
harps,  mirth,  millstones,  and  of  the 
light  of  candles,  &c.  imports  that  the 
place  is  reduced  to  desolation,  Isa, 
XV.  1.  Jer.  vii.  34.  and  xlviii.  33, 
Rev.  xviii,  22,  23. 

VOID,  (1.)  Empty,  without  in- 
habitants or  furniture,  Gen.  i.  2.  (2,) 
Destitute  of;  quite  wanting,  Deut, 
32,  48.  (3.)  Clear  from.  Acts  xxiv. 
16.  (4.)  Of  no  force  or  effect: 
hence  vows  are  said  to  be  7nadc  void 
when  they  are  broken.  Numb,  xxx, 
1 2 — 1 5.  The  counsel  of  Judah  was 
inade  void,  when  their  })rojects  had 
no  good  success,  Jer.  xix.  7.  God'^s 
law  is  tnade  void,  when  men  break 
it,  and  live  as  if  it  laid  no  obligation 
upon  them,  Rom,  iii.  31,  Psa.  cxix. 
126.  and  faith  is  made  void,  when  it 
is  useless,  as  all  the  promises  of  God, 
and  our  faith  that  embraces  them, 
would  be,  if  happiness  could  come 
by  the  works  of  the  law,  Rom.  iv. 
14. 

VOLUME.     See  Roll. 

VOLUNTARY,  not  required  by 
any  law  ;  but  proceeding  from  a  per- 
son's free  inclination,  Ezek.xlvi.  12. 
Col.  ii.  18. 

VOMIT.     See  Sple. 

VOW.    See  Oath. 

To  UPBRAID,(1.)  Seriously  and 
sharply  to  reprove  men  for  their 
faults :  so  our  Saviour  upbraided  the 
people  of  Capernaum,  Bethsaida,  and 
Chorazin,  for  their  sins,  Matt.  xi.  20. 
(2.)  To  scoff  and  scold  at  one  to  his 
face.  Jam.  i.  5.  Judg.  viii.  15. 

UPHAZ,  pure  gold,  gold  of  Pha- 
sis,  a  place  where  there  was  fine  gold  : 
but  whether  it  was  the  same  as  Ophjr 
or  some  other  place  called  Paz,  of 
Topaz,  we  know  not.  Calmet  thinks 
it  was  the  river  Phasis,  on  the  east 
of  the  Black  orEuxine  Sea,  Jer.  x.  9. 
Dau.  X,  5. 

To  UPHOLD,  to  MAINTAIN  and 
preserve;  to  cause  things  to  continue 
ia  t-heir  being  and  station.     God  up- 


U  R  I 


(     555      ) 


U  R  I 


holtls  his  people:  hy  his  proviilrncf?, 
he  streiijrtlu'nd  and  lit-ars  flicm  up 
against  evrry  Toe,  and  uinler  every 
pressure;  and  1)}'  his  promises  and 
inHuenoes,  lie  relreslu's  and  invijror- 
atestheir  spirits,  Isa.  xlii.  1.  Ps.cxix. 
IG.  He  upholds  allthiin:;s,  maintain? 
them  in  existence  and  operation,  l)y  his 
providential  inlluenres,  Hel).  i.  3.  Men 
uphold  others,  when  they  encoiirii2;e, 
comfort,  and  assist  them,  that  their 
spirits  sink  not,  nor  their  lives,  ofliees, 
or  estates  be  ruined,  Psa.  liv.  4.  E/.ek. 
XXX.  0.  Job's  inahitaininn-  liis  ways 
before  God,  imports  his  defending  his 
integrity,  and  candour,  and  his  con- 
tinuance therein.  Job  xiii.  15. 

UPPERMOST,  (1.)  Highest  in 
plare.  Gen.  xl.  1  7.  (2.)  Highest  in 
dignity  and  honour.  Malt,  xxiii.  ti. 

UPRIGHT,  (1.)  Straight  pointed 
towards  heaven;  standing  like  pil- 
lars, Jer.  X.  5.  (2.)  Perfect,  with- 
out sin,  or  tendency  thereto,  Eccl. 
vii.  29.  (3.)  Honest,  candid,  sin- 
cere, without  allowed  guile,  Mic.  vii. 
2.  The  Jews  might  be  the  upriglU 
ones,  who  attended  Antiochus  the 
Great  to  Egypt,  and  adhering  to  their 
own  religion,  were  more  to  be  trusted 
than  others  ;  or  the  text  may  import, 
that  Antiochus  did  mamj  things  up- 
right in  appearance,  and  made  agree- 
ments on  terms  seemingly  right,  Dan. 
xi.  17. 

UPROAR.     See  Tumult. 

UR,  fire,  or  light,  an  ancient  city 
of  Chaldea  or  Mesopotamia,  where 
Terah  and  Abraham  dwelt.  Some 
think  it  was  the  same  as  Orchoe  in 
Pro[)er  Chaldea :  but  I  rather  suppose 
it  was  Ura,  which  stood  in  eastern 
Mesopotamia,  between  the  city  Ni- 
sibis  and  the  river  Tigris.  About  A. 
D.  360,  as  Jovinian  retreated  this 
way,  after  the  wild  invasion  of  Per- 
sia by  Julian  his  predecessor,  he 
found  a  Persian  fort  here,  Acts  vii. 
2.  Gen.  xi.  28. 

ToURGE,(l.)  Toentreat  earnest- 
ly, Gen.  xxxiii.  12.  (2.)  To  pro- 
voke to  the  utmost  of  one's  power, 
Luke  xi.  53.      ^ 

URIAH,  UROAH,  URIAS,  tlu: 
fire  or  light  of  the  Lord,  (1.)  An 


Hitlite,  one  of  David's  worthies,  and 
husband  of  Batiisiikii a.  '^Phe  de- 
tilenuiit  ofhis  wifr  by  David,  the  call- 
ing him  from  the  army,  and  endea- 
vouring to  mak«"  him  drunk,  and  cause 
him  to  sleep  with  his  uilV,  in  order  to 
father  the  spurious  child;  and  his  re- 
sistance of  these  tenijttations,  and  ix'- 
ing  made  the  carrier  of  a  letter,  <li- 
reeling  the  murder  of  hir)jself;  hia 
<leath,  and  the  vensreanceof  God  upon 
David  and  his  family,  on  account  of 
his  conduct  towartls  him  ;  are  relat***! 
underthe  article  David,  2  Sam.  xxiii. 
39.  and  xi.  (2.)  The  idolatrous  high 
priest,  who,  by  Ahaz's  direction, 
formed  an  altar  like  to  another  idola- 
trous one  at  Damascus,  and  ot!ered  sa- 
crifices thereon,  instead  of  the  altar 
of  the  Lord,  2  Kings  xvi.  10,  11,  12. 
(3.)  A  faithful  prophet,  who  warned 
the  Jews  of  their  approaching  ruin, 
and  admonished  them  to  repent  of 
their  evil  ways;  but  Jehoiakiji 
hearing  thereof,  resolved  to  put  him 
to  death.  He  fled  into  Egypt,  but  Je- 
hoiakini  sent  and  brought  him  back, 
and  having  ordered  him  to  be  mur- 
dered, caused  his  corpse  to  be  disho- 
nourably cast  into  the  graves  of  the 
common  people,  Jer.  xxvi.  20,  21. 

URIM  and  THUMMIM,  signify 
light  and  perfection,  and  are  men- 
tioned as  in  the  high  priest's  breast- 
[)late  ;  but  what  they  were,  we  can- 
not (ietermine.  Some  think  they 
were  two  precious  stones  added  to 
the  other  twelve,  by  the  extraordi- 
nary lustre  of  which,  God  marked 
his  approbation  of  a  design,  and  by 
their  dimness,  his  disallowance  of  it : 
others  think,  these  two  words  were 
written  on  a  precious  stone,  or  plate 
of  gold,  fixed  in  the  breastplate : 
others  will  have  the  name  Jehovah 
inscribed  on  a  plate  of  gold,  and 
therein  fixed :  others  think,  the  let- 
ters of  the  names  of  the  ten  tribes,  were 
the  Urim  and  Thummim ;  and  that 
the  letters,  by  standing  out,  or  by  an 
extraordinary  illumination,  marked 
such  words  as  contained  the  answer 
of  God  to  him  Avho  consulted  tliis 
oracle.  Le  Clerc  will  have  them  to 
be  the  names  of  two  precious  stones. 


U  R  I 


(     356     ) 


u  s  u 


set  in  a  golden  collar,  and  coming 
down  to  Ills  breast,  as  the  magistrates 
ol'  Egy:)t  wore  a  golden  chain,  at  (he 
end  of  which  hung  the  figures  of 
Justice  and  Truth,  engraven  on  pre- 
cious stones.  Weems  thinks,  they 
were  some  ornament  formed  by  God 
himself,  and  given  to  Moses.  Hot- 
tingeris  of  opinion,  they  might  mean 
no  more  than  tliat  Moses  was  to 
choose  the  most  shining  and  perfect 
stones  of  the  various  kinds,to  be  ])ut  in- 
to the  breastplate.  Prideaux  thinks, 
the  words  chiefly  denote  the  clearness 
of  the  oracles  dictated  to  the  high 
priest,  though  perhaps  the  lustre  of 
the  stones  in  his  breastplate  might 
represent  this  clearness.  When  this 
oracle  of  Urim  and  Thummim  was 
to  be  consulted,  it  is  said,  the  high 
priest  put  on  his  golden  vestments, 
and  in  ordinary  cases  went  into  the 
sanctuary,  and  stood  with  his  face  to 
the  holy  of  holies,  and  the  consulter 
stood  as  near  him  as  the  law  per- 
mitted: but  how  the  answer  was 
given,  whether  by  an  articulate  voice 
from  the  mercy-seat,  or  by  tlie  out- 
standing or  lustre  of  the  letters  in  the 
breastplate,  we  know  not.  This 
oracle  was  neverconsulled  in  matters 
of  faith,  as  in  these  the  Jews  had  the 
written  law  for  their  rule,  nor  was  it 
consulted  in  matters  of  small  moment; 
and  it  is  even  said,  I  suppose  with- 
out ground,  that  none  but  sovereign 
judges,  kings,  and  generals,  con- 
sulted it.  It  is  certain,  David  con- 
sulted the  Lord  in  this  manner,  be- 
fore he  came  to  the  throne.  While 
Moses  lived,  there  was  no  occasion 
to  consult  this  oracle,  as  the  Lord 
spake  to  him  face  to  face.  After  his 
death,  it  was  consulted  till  the  age 
of  the  temple  and  prophets,  the  latter 
of  which  seem  to  have  supplied  its 
room ;  for  we  read  not  of  one  single 
instance  of  the  then  consulting  it. 
Isor  did  Josiah,  when  terrified  with 
the  threalenings  of  God,  consult  it, 
but  Huldah  the  prophetess,  in  order 
to  know  the  mind  of  God,  2  Kings 
xxii.  14.  Josephus  will  have  the 
stones  of  the  Urim  and  Thummim  to 
have  retained  their  lustre  till  about 


A.  M.  3890;  but  it  is  certain,  the 
oracle  was  wanting  some  ages  before, 
in  the  days  of  Ezra  and  Nehemiah, 
Ezra  ii.  63.  Neh.  vii.  65.  Nor  do  I 
know  of  the  least  ground  to  believe 
that  it  existed  under  the  second  tem- 
ple. The  Jews  pretend  that  the 
Bathcol  supplied  its  place,  whose 
oracles,  they  say,  were  often  attend- 
ed with  a  clap  of  thunder;  and  it 
seems  those  with  our  Saviour  ima- 
gined the  voice  that  spake  from  hea- 
ven to  be  of  this  kind,  John  xii.  29. 
See  Oracle. 

US.  God  sometimes  uses  this  plu- 
ral, to  denote  there  being  more  than 
one  person  in  the  Godhead,  Gen.  i. 
26.  and  xi.  7,  Isa.  vi.  8. 

USE,  (1.)  Service,  purpose.  Lev. 
vii.  24.  (2.)  Custom,  often  repeat- 
ed exercise,  Heb.  V.  14.  AndfoMsc 
is  to  make  use  of,  act  with,  employ 
one's  self  in.  Matt.  vi.  7.  2  Cor.  i.  1 7. 

To  USURP,  haughtily  to  claim  or 
take  possession  of  power  and  autho- 
rity which  doth  not  belong  to  us,  1 
Tim.  ii.  12. 

USURY,  the  gain  taken  for  the 
loan  of  money  or  wares.  The  law 
of  nature  forbids  not  the  receiving 
of  moderate  interest  for  the  loan  of 
money,  any  more  than  the  taking 
of  rents  for  the  lease  of  fields  or 
houses.  If  another  trade  on  my  stock. 
Reason  says,  I  may  receive  part  of 
the  gain.  The  interest,  however, 
ought  to  be  moderate;  and  if  the 
borrower  be  a  very  poor  man,  it  ought 
to  be  Utile  or  nothing  at  all,  as  Rea- 
son requires  us  to  be  compassionate, 
and  the  Divine  law  requires  us  to  do 
to  others  as  w^e  would  they  should 
do  to  us  in  like  cases.  If  Provi- 
dence frown  upon  those  persons  who 
have  our  money  in  loan,  it  is  proper 
we  should  willingly  share  with  them 
in  their  loss,  as  well  as  we  would 
wish  to  do  in  their  profit.  As  the 
Jews  had  very  little  concern  in  trade, 
and  so  only  borrowed  in  case  of  ne- 
cessity;  and  as  their  sj'stem  was  cal- 
culated to  estsblish  every  man's  in- 
heritance to  nis  QMn  family,   they 


lend 


were  allowed  to  Tend   money    upon 
usury  to  strangers,  Deut.  xxiii.  20, 


V  U  L 


(     557     ) 


u  z  z 


but  were  proliiUifed  to  take  iisurj' 
from  their  biethen  ol"  Israel,  at  least 
if  they  were  poor,  Exod.  xxii.  2;'>. 
Lev.  XXV.  3.') — 37. 

To  LJTTEK,  i^l.)  to  reveal,  speak 
out,  declare.  Lev.  V.  1.  (2.)  To  make 
plain,  Hel).  v.  11.  God  utters  jutls;- 
mtnls,  when  he  threatens  and  exe- 
cutes them  on  men.  Jer.  i.  13.  And 
itti;ranck,  is  ability,  ireedom,  and 
boldness,  in  speaking,  Acts  ii.  4. 
Eph.  vi.  19. 

Uttf.r  or  OUTER,  (1.)  Most  out- 
ward, Ezek.  X.  3.  (2.)  Complete, 
to  the  utmost  extent,  1  Kinsrs  xx. 
42.  And  so  ltterly,  is  altogether, 
wholly,  Exodus  xvii.  14.  or  very 
much,  Ezek.  xxix.  10,  Psa.  cxix.  8. 
Uttermost  or  utmost,  is,  (1.) 
The  most  outward,  Exod.  xxvi.  4. 
(2.)  Farther  distant,  to  the  greatest 
extent,  2  Kings  vii.  5.  (3.)  The 
very  last,  Matt.  v.  26.  Christ  saves 
to  the  uttermost :  he  saves  certainly, 
fully,  and  perpetually  ;  or  he,  by  an 
infinite  price,  saves  from  the  deep- 
est guilt,  |)olIution,  and  misery,  and 
brings  to  the  highest  degrees  of  hap- 
piness, and  preserves  the  saved  there- 
in to  eternity,  Heb.  vii.  25.  Wrath 
came  upon  the  Jews  to  the  uilermo.st: 
their  ruin  was  wide-spread,  almost 
universal  in  extent,  most  terrible  in 
degree,  and  lasting  in  duration,  2 
Thess.  ii.  1 6.  To  knoiv  ike  uttermost 
of  a  matter,  is  to  know  it  completely, 
in  all  its  points  and  circumstances, 
Actsxxiv.  22. 

VULTURE,  a  large  fowl  of  the 
eagle  kind.  I'here  are  six  kinds  of 
vultures.  Their  neck  is  long,  and 
almost  bare  of  feathers;  and  their 
legs  are  feathered  to  the  feet,  on  each 
of  which  they  have  four  toes,  three 
forward,  and  one  backward.  They 
build  their  nests  in  high  rocks,  and 
are  said  to  live  about  100  years. 
They  have  a  very  quick  sight,  haunt 
desolate  places,  and  delight  to  feed 
on  human  flesh,  but  feed  on  nothing 
living.  It  is  said  they  attend  ar- 
mies, expecting  death  and  blood, 
and  smell  carri(jn  at  a  very  great 
distance.  They  are  said  to  be  great 
enemies  to  serpents,  and  to  feed  their 


young  with  their  own  l)Iood,  in  cagr 
of  neccssily, Lev.  xiv.  14.  l.'eut.  xiv. 
13.  Job  \xviii.  7.  Isa.  xxi\.  15. 

UZ,  council,  war  s,  or  JtLstoied  lo^ 
( 1 .)  The  eldest  son  ol  Aram,  and  grand- 
son of  Sl;em.  (len.  x.  23.  (2.)  The  son 
of  Dishiin  an  liorite,  (jeii.  xxxvi.  28. 
(3.)  A  country;  hut  where  is  not  so 
well  agreed.  Some  have  placed  it  at 
the  sourrt-  ol  the  Hiddf  kel,  or  Tigris, 
where  Pliny  and  Straho  pbue  the 
(.'xii;  and  here,  prrliap?,  J'z,  the 
son  of  Aram,  resided.  The  Hebrews 
call  the  country  about  Damascus,  the 
land  of  Uz,  and  the  Arabs  call  it 
(}aut  or  Gauta,  which  is  the  same. 
We  are  moreover  told,  that  Uz,  the 
son  of  Aram,  built  Damascus.  Bo- 
chart,  the  authors  of  the  Universal 
History,  and  others,  place  the  land 
of  Uz  a  good  way  to  the  south-east 
of  Damascus,  and  almost  straight 
east  from  the  lot  oi"  the  Reubenites, 
and  west  from  Clialdeain  Arabia  the 
Desert.  This,  they  think,  received 
its  name  from  Huz,  the  son  of  Na- 
hor,  the  brother  of  Abraham  :  and 
hereabouts  Ptolemy  places  the  ^Esitae 
or  Ausitfe.  This,  Spanheim  and 
others  reckon  to  have  been  the  coun- 
try of  Job,  as  it  was  near  the  Chal- 
deans, Job  i.  1,17.  I  suj)nose  there 
was  another  land  of  Uz  in  the  ter- 
ritories of  the  Edomites,  which  had 
its  name  from  TJz  the  Horite.  Nay, 
the  Ara'oian  writers  say,  that  the 
Adites  descended  of  Uz  the  son  of 
Aram,  resided  here  for  some  time 
before  they  removed  into  Arabia 
Felix,  Lam.  iv.  21 

UZAL,  wanderins,,  sailin^i  dis- 
iillint!^  from  the  head,  the  sixth  son 
of  Joktan,  and  whose  posterity  ap- 
pear to  have  settled  in  the  south  of 
Arabia  Felix.  Here  was  anciently  the 
sea- port  Ocila  or  Ocelis,  and  Ausal  or 
Ausar,  in  the  kingdom  of  the  Geban- 
ites,  whose  myrrh  was  very  much  cele- 
brated. Some  Jewish  writers  call  the 
capital  city  of  Yaman,  or  Arabia  Fe- 
lix, by  the  name  of  Uzal,  Gen.  x.  27. 

UZZAH,  strength,  a  goat,  and 
AHIO,  his  brother,  the  sons  of  Abi- 
nadab,  in  whose  house  the  ark  of  God 
had  long  resided,  by  David's  orders. 


u  z  z 


(     558     ) 


u  z  z 


eonducted  it,  upon'  a  new  cart,  from 
Kirjalh-jearim  to  Jerusalem.  When 
the  oxen  stuck  in  the  mire,  or  stum- 
bled as  they  passed  the  threshing-floor 
of  Nachon  or  Chidon,  Uzzah,  though 
no  priest,  and  perhaps  not  a  Levite, 
presumed  to  touch  the  ark,  in  order 
to  hold  it  on  the  cart.  Offended  that 
the  ark  was  not  carried  on  the  shoul- 
ders of  the  Levites,  according  to  or- 
der, and  with  Uzzah's  presuming  to 
touch  it,  and  probably  also  for  his 
advising  to  convey  it  on  a  cart,  God 
struck  him  dead  on  the  spot,  to  the 


I  no  small  grief  and  terror  of  king  Da- 
vid, 2  Sam.  vi.  Whether  it  was  in  a 
I  garden  which  belonged  to  this  Uzzah 
j  that  king  Amon  was  buried,  we  know 
'not. 

I  UZ  ZENSHER  AH,  far  o/^/^<?y^w/l, 
or  the  car  of  him  that  retiiains,  a  city 
'  of  the  Ephraimites,  and  at  no  great 
■  distance  from  Beth-horon,  was  built 
;by  Serah,  the  daughter,  or  grand- 
daughter, of  Beriah,  1  Chron.  vii.  22. 
—24. 

IJZZIAH,  or  OziAS.     See  AzA- 
RiAH  the  son  of  Jotham. 


W 


W  A  I 


W  A  L 


WAFER,  a  thin  cake  of  fine 
tiour,  anointed  or  baked  with 
«il.  Such  wafers  were  used  in  th<' 
consecration-oflerings  of  the  priests, 
Esod.  xxix.  2,  25.  and  in  meat-of- 
ferings, Lev.  ii.  4.  and  in  thank-of- 
ferings, Lev.  vii.  1 2.  and  in  the  Na- 
zarites'  otierings.  Numb.  vi.  13. 

WAGGING  of  the  head  or  hand, 
imported  mocking  and  insult,  Jer. 
xviii.  16.  Zeph.  ii.  15. 

WAGES.     See  Reward. 

To  WAIL,  to  mourn  by  crying, 
howling,  wringing  the  hands,  or 
healing  the  breasts,  thighs,  or  the 
like,  Ezek.  xxxii.  18. 

To  WAIT,  (1.)  To  attend,  as  rea- 
dy to  serve,  Numb.  viii.  24.  (2.) 
Patiently  to  stay,  desiring  and  look- 
ing for.  Gen.  xlix.  18.  God  waits 
to  be  gracious:  he  patiently  bears 
with  sinners;  with  delight  and  rea- 
diness he  seizes  the  first  proper  op- 
portunity of  bestowing  his  favours 
on  his  [>eople,  and  wisely  defers  them 
till  that  time  comes,  Isa.  xxx.  18. 
Our  waiting  upon  God,  imports  our 
attendance  on  him  as  a  Master,  being 
ready  to  serve  him  :  and  our  patient 
and  earnest  looking  to  him  as. a  Sa- 
viour for  deliverance  and  comfort, 
Psa.  xxv.  3.  Job's  neighbours  waited 
for  him  ;  they  highly  esteemed  him, 
and  were  ready  to  receive  his  coun- 
sel, Job  xxiv.  21.  To  lie  in  wait, 
is  to  lie  hid,  in  order  to  seize  an 
opportunity  of  assaulting;  and  thus 


the  words  of  the  wicked  are  to  lie  in 
wait  for  blood;  they  tend  to  ruin 
men  before  they  are  aware;  but  the 
mouth  or  words  of  the  upright  tend 
to  deliver  men,  Prov.  xii.  6.  Wick- 
ed men  lie  in  wait  for  their  own  blood, 
as  all  their  crafty  and  violent  schemes 
tend  to  hasten  ruin  on  their  own 
head,  Prov.  i.  19.  They  are  waiferf 
for  of  the  sword;  are  in  perpetual 
danger  of  distress  and  ruin,  Job  xv. 
22. 

To  WAKE,  (1.)  To  watch  with- 
out sleep,  natural  or  spiritual,  Psa. 
cxxvii.  1.  Sougv.  2.  (2.'>  To  raisea 
person  from  sleep,  Psa.  cxxxix.  18. 
(3.)  To  stir  up,  rouse  from  sleep  or 
slumber,  Zech.  iv.  1.  (4.)  To  stir  up 
to  war,  Joel  iii.  9, 12.  God  wakened 
Christ  morning  by  morning:  by  the 
continued  influences  of  his  Spirit, 
he  rendered  him  alert  and  active  in 
his  work  of  obedience  and  sutfering, 
Isa.  1.  4.  Whether  the  saints  wake 
or  slcep^  i.  e.  whether  they  live  or 
die,  they  live  together  in  Christ,  1 
Thess.  v.  10.     See  Awake,  Sleep. 

ToWALK,(l.)  To  move  from  one 
place  to  another,  Exod.  xxi.  19.  (2.) 
To  act  and  behave  in  the  tenor  of 
conversation ;  and  when  thus  meta- 
phorically taken,  WALKING  denotes 
deliberation,  pleasure,  perseverance, 
and  progress.  Christ's  walking  in 
his  church,  or  among  his  people, 
imports  his  gracious  presence  with 
them,  his  constant  delight  in  them- 


W  A  L 


(     659     ) 


W  A  L 


his  observation  of  them,  ami  reaiU- 
ness  to  do  them  good,  Lev.  xxvi.  12. 
Rev.  ii.  1.  His  walkins; on  tin  wavis 
of  the  sea,  and  the  mn<j;s  of  the  wind, 
tienotes  the  uncontrollable  sove- 
reignty, speed,  comiiosure,  and  mys- 
terious nature  ol"  ins  providential 
conduct,  Job  ix.  8.  Psa.  xviii.  10. 
God'b  walking  in  the  circuit  of  Ivavcn, 
im()orts  the  immensity  ol'  his  pre- 
sence. Job  xxii.  1-1.  but  his  /valkim^ 
contrari/  to  men,  implies  his  thwart- 
ing their  pur|)oses  and  attemj)t8,  and 
his  executing  his  judgmeuts  upon 
them,  Lev.  xxvi.  25.  To  walk  in 
Christ,  is,  to  make  daily  advances  in 
Loliuess,  and  nearness  to  heaven, 
with  proper  com.posure  and  delight, 
Col.  ii.  b.  To  walk  in  and  after  the 
Spirit,  is,  to  order  our  whole  conver- 
sation according  to  his  word  and  in- 
fluence, and  agreeably  to  the  incli- 
nations of  the  new  heart,  Gal.  v.  21. 
Rom.  viii.  1.  To  walk  b\j  faith,  is, 
relying  upon  Christ,  as  freely  and 
fully  given  to  us  in  the  gospel,  and 
firmly  crediting  the  accomplishment 
of  the  promises,  and  receiving  out 
of  Christ's  fulness  thereby  grace  for 
grace,  to  make  a  constant  progress 
iu  holiness,  and  towards  eternal  glo 
ry,  2  Cor.  v.  7.  To  7mlk  wkh  tlu 
Lord,  before  God,  and  after  the  Lord, 
or  in  his  name,  is  to  hear  and  believe 
his  word,  depend  on  him,  and,  under 
a  continued  impression  of  his  pre- 
sence, to  worship,  obey,  and  please 
him,  Gen.  v.  24.  and  xvi.  2.  Hos. 
X.  12.  Zeeh.  x.  12.  To  walk  in  the 
truth,  or  in  God's  fear,  may,  or  com- 
mandments,  is,  with  steadfastness  to 
persevere  in  the  profession,  faith,  and 
practical  improvement,  of  the  gospel 
of  Christ,  and  to  live  in  a  course  of 
obedience  to  his  law,  2  John  4. 
Deut.  V.  33.  2  Chron.  xvii.  4.  To 
walk  in  the  light,  or  in  the  light  of 
God's  cottntenancc,  is,  to  enjoy  the 
oracles  and  influences  of  Christ,  and 
improve  them  to  promote  a  life  of 
entire  conformity  to  the  command 
and  example  of  Christ,  Isa.  ii.  5.  1 
John  i.  6,  7.  To  walk  in  the  comforts 
of  the  Holy  Ghost,  is  habitually  to 
enjoy  them  in  a  clearrf>anri  certain 


manner.  Acts  ix.  31.  To  7valk  wor- 
thy of  the  Lord,  is,  to  behave  as  per- 
sontj  redeemed  by,  called  to,  united 
with,  and  receiving;  intluence  from, 
and  in  subjection  to,  the  holy  Jesus, 
\\  ho  left  ufi  an  example,  t  hat  we  bhould 
walk  in  his  step?;.  Col.  i.  10.  1  Thess. 
ii.  12.  To  n'rt//i  worthy  of  our  voca- 
tion, or  calling  out  of  the  world  into 
the  fellowshi|)  of  God's  Son,  is,  de- 
nying ungodliness,  and  worldly  lusts, 
to  live  soberly,  righteously,  and  god- 
ly, in  this  present  world,  Eph.  iv.  1. 
To  7valk  as  men,  is,  to. behave  like  the 
unregenerate  part  of  the  world,  1 
Cor.  iii,  3.  'J'o  walk  after  the  flesh, 
or  after  lusts,  is,  to  be  directed  and 
influenceii  in  our  practice  by  the 
lusts,  appetites,  and  inclinations,  of 
our  corrupt  nature,  Rom.  viii.  1.  1 
Pet.  iv.  3.  Jude  16.  To  walk  in 
darkness,  in  falsehood,  and  craftiness^ 
is,  to  live  in  an  unregenerate  state, 
with  a  mind  ignorant  of  divine  things, 
and  with  pleasure  to  proceed  on 
more  and  more  in  lying,  deceit,  or 
other  wicked  courses,  1  John  i.  6. 
2  Cor.  iv.  2.  And  false  prophets 
walk  in  the  spirit  and  falsehood,  wlien 
pretending  to  have  the  Spirit  of  God, 
and  being  instigated  by  the  devil, 
they  i)ropbesy  falsely  to  the  people, 
Mic.  ii.  11.  To  walk  in  the  way  of 
the  people  of  Judah,  was  to  relish 
their  forsaking  of  the  Lord,  and  their 
depending  on  the  Assyrians  and 
Egyptians  for  help,  Isa.  viii.  12.  Men 
7valk  through  fire  and  water,  when 
they  pass  through  great  dangers  and 
troubles,  Isa.  Isiii.  Psa.  Ixvi.  12. 
The  king  of  Tyre  ivalked  in  the  midst 
of  stoms  of  fire :  his  very  garments 
and  palace  were  hung,  or  set  thick 
with  shining  and  sparkling  gems, 
Ezek.  xxviii.  14. 

WALL,  serves  for  defence,  and 
for  division  of  things,  Josh.  ii.  15. 
Numb.  xxii.  24.  Hence  God  and  his 
salvation  are  a  wall,  and  wall  off. re, 
to  the  church,  whereby  she  is  pro- 
tected from  all  danger,  Zech.  ii.  5. 
Isa.  xxvi.  1.  Ezek.  xl.  &:c.  and  the 
government,  safety,  and  strength,  ol' 
a  church  or  nation,  are  represented 
as  their  walls.  Psa.  H.  18.   Isa.  V..5, 


WAN 


(     560     ) 


WAR 


Rev.  XX.  12.  Ezek.  xl.  &c.  The 
church  is  likened  to  a  mail,  to  de- 
note her  sure  foundation,  her  firm 
union  of  meniners  among  themselves 
and  with  Christ;  her  exposure  to 
trouble,  and  hor  ability  from  Christ 
to  bear  the  assaults  of  enemies,  Song 
viii.  9,  10.  Great  men  are  likened 
to  walls ;  they  are  eminently  instru- 
mental in  the  protection  and  safe- 
guard of  a  nation,  Isa.  ii.  15.  and 
David  and  his  men  were  as  a  wall  to 
protect  Nabal's  flocks  from  the  Arabs 
and  wild  beasts,  1  Sam.  xxv.  1 6.  Jere- 
miah was  like  a  fenced  brazen  wall; 
God  enabled  him  courageously  to 
declare  the  truth,  and  preserved  him 
amidst  all  the  attempts  of  his  enemies, 
Jer.  i.  18.  and  xv.  20.  The  ceremoni- 
al law  was  a  wall  of  partition,  that  so 
separatejl  between  the  Jews  and  Gen- 
tiles, as  that  few  of  the  latter  entered 
the  church  during  the  continuance 
of  its  obligation,  Eph.  ii.  14.  'the 
Chaldeans  were  like  a  wall  of  iron 
round  about  Jerusalem;  they,  in  a 
bold  and  determined  manner,  laid 
siege  to  it  till  they  had  taken  it,  Ezek. 
iv.  3.  Wicked  men  are  like  a  bojv- 
ing  wall:  their  ruin  proceeds  from 
themselves,  and  it  is  very  sudden 
and  dreadful.  Psalm  Ixii.  3.  Jeru- 
salem was  inhabited  without  7valls, 
when  it  had  full  peace,  and  its  sub- 
urbs were  large,  Zech.  ii.  4.  In  that 
day  thy  walls  are  to  he  built,  shall  the 
decree  for  repairing  it  be  [)ublished, 
and  the  decree  against  it  he  far  re- 
moved, or  hindered,  Mic.  vii.  11. 
compare  Ezra  i. — vi.  with  Neh.  ii. 
— vi.  Violence  and  strife  go  about  on 
the  walls  of  a  city,  when  they  are 
openly  practised,  and  even  by  those 
that  ought  to  defend  and  protect 
men,  Psa.  Iv.  10. 

To  WALLOW,  to  roll  or  turn  from 
one  side  to  another,  Mark  ix.  21. 

To  WANDER,  to  travel  hither 
and  thither  without  knowing  where  to 
go,  Jer.  xlix.  5,  Apostacy  from  the 
worship  and  ways  of  God,  and  fol- 
lowing after  idols,  are  called  a  wan- 
dering. Psalm  cxix.  10.  Jer.  iv.  10. 
David's  wanderings,  are  either  his 
removals  frgm  place  to  place,  or  his 


diversified  afflictions.  Psalm  Ivi.  8, 
He  that  wandcrcth  out  of  the  way  of 
understanding,  shall  remain  in  the 
congregation  of  the  dead:  he  that  lives 
in  ignorance  and  wickedness,  and 
shuns  the  means  of  reformation,  shall 
continue  among  the  unregenerate, 
dead  in  trespasses  and  sins;  and 
saints,  if  they  stray  from  the  paths  of 
duty,  will  much  resemble  common 
sinners,  Prov.  xxi.  16.  The  Chaldean 
armies  are  called  wanderers,  as  they 
went  from  one  country  to  another  in 
their  ravages  and  wars,  Jer.  xlviii.  12. 
Those  in  captivity  and  exile,  are 
wanderers,  driven  hither  and  thither, 
and  know  not  where  they  must  go, 
Hos.  ix.  17.  Ezek.  xxxiv.  6.  Isaiab 
xvi.  2,  3. 

WANT,  denotes  either,  (1.)  The 
entire  lack  of  a  thing,  Deut.  xxviii* 
57.  or,  (2.)  Penury,  scarcity,  Mark 
xii.  44.  and  it  either  respects  the 
wants  of  soul  or  body.  Prodigal 
sinners  are  said  to  begin  to  be  in  want^ 
when  God,  by  distress  and  convic- 
tion, renders  them  sensible  of  their 
need  of  Christ  and  his  salvation,  and 
pained  for  the  w  ant  of  it,  Luke  xv.  4. 
WANTON,  LASCIVIOUS,  light, 
disposed  to  unchastity,  James  v.  5. 
Wanton  eyes,  are  such  as  by  their  air 
of  light,  tend  to  entice  others  to 
unchastity,  Isa.  iii.  1 6.  To  wax  wan- 
ton against  Christ,  is,  for  persons, 
contrary  to  their  Christian  profession, 
to  become  light,  and  disposed  to  un- 
chastity, 1  Tim.  V.  11. 

Wantonness,  or  Lascivious- 
NESS,  includes  every  thing  tending 
to  promote  or  fulfil  fleshly  lusts ;  and 
to  give  over  one's  self  to  it,  is  to  de- 
light in,  and  practise  it,  without 
shame  or  remorse,  Matt.  xv.  19. 
Rom.  xiii.  13.  Gal.  v.  19,  Ejh.  iv. 
1 9.  To  turn  the  grace  of  God  into 
lasciviousness,  is  to  turn  it  into  an  oc- 
casion of  more  abandoned  wicked- 
ness, Jude  4. 

WAR,  WARFARE.  See  Fight. 
WARD,  (1.)  A  prison,  Gen.  xl. 
3 — 7.  (2.)  Watch,  garrison,  Neh. 
xii.  25.  1  Chron.  xii.  29.  (3.)  A 
class  of  persons  that  serve  together 
at  a  time,  as  soldiers  ou  a  watch :  so 


WAS 


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\V  A  H 


the  classes  of  th**  priests  and  i^ingers 
are  c.illed  ivtnls.  NVli.  xiii.  3t).  1 
Ch'-oii.  \Kv.  H.  The  siujns  tnd por- 
ters kpt  lilt  fvird  of  Iher  (ioil,  ami 
the  HKirrl  of  pt/rijicftdon  :  (he  sinirrrs 
atteiuied  (lie  service  dI'  (he  teinple  in 
their  turns  :  :inil  the  porters  took  r;ire 
th.tt  no  unelean  perstuis  shouUl  enter 
by  tlie  cHtes,  to  det\le  the  court,  Neh. 
xii.  -I."k 

WARHROBE,  a  i»Iace  for  laying 
up  tlie  royal  and  otiier  garments 
belonging:  to  the  court,  or  lor  hiy- 
ing  up  the  priests'  robes,  who  uere 
otficidling  in  the  tem[)lc,  2  Kings 
XX ii.  IJ. 

To  BEWARE,  is  to  get  notice  of 
a  thing,  and  prudently  prepare  for,  or 
shun  it,  Matt.  xxiv.  50.  Acts  xiv.  C. 

WARE,  WARES,  (1.)  Merchant 
goods,  such  as  precious  stones,  cloth, 
corn,  «fcc.  (2.)  What  the  Antichris- 
tians  pretend  to  sell  lor  money,  as 
masses,  pardons,  indulgences,  &c. 
Rev.  xviii.  1 2.  The  Jews'  i^athcritis^ 
vp  7varcs  out  of  the  land.,  imports  their 
carryiug  their  moveable  effects  into 
Jerusalem,  to  secure  (hem  from  the 
-Chaldeans;  or  that  they  should  be 
quickly  obliged  to  leave  their  coun- 
try, Jer.  X.  17. 

WARM,  (1.)  Moderately  hot,  2 
Kings  iv.  34.  (2.)  Clothed,  James 
ii.  It).  Jobxxxi.  20.  What  time  the 
Arabian  rivulets  wax  warm,  they  va- 
nish away,  i.  c.  they  are  dried  up  in 
the  heat  of  summer,  Job  vi.  17. 

To  WARN,  to  advertise  of  dan- 
ger, and  beforehand  advise  and  ad- 
monish how  to  avoid  sin,  or  perlbrm 
duty,  or  obtain  safety,  Acts  xx.  31. 
and  X.  22.    Heb.  xi.  6. 

WASHING  was  much  used 
among  the  eastern  nations.  As  they 
often  walked  barefoot,  or  only  with 
sandals,  they  used,  for  cleanliness  and 
lor  refreshment,  to  wash  their  feet 
when  they  came  fron»  a  journey. 
Gen.  xviii.  4.  and  xxiv.  32.  and  xliii. 
24.  Ordinarily,  servants  washed  the 
feet  of  those  of  the  family  :  only, 
daughters  often  washed  the  feet  of 
their  parents.  To  wash  the  saints'' 
feet,  therefore,  implied  much  humi- 
lity or  kindness,  1  Tim.  V.  10.  What 

Vol.  II. 


love  nud  condeso^ni'ion  did  it  the  a 
show  ill  our  tSaviour,  to  wash  his 
disci, lies'  feet !  J()ho  xiii.  1—8. 
The  su»icr8(ilious  Jeivs  Wcu-Ih'<I  their 
h.mds  <i|i  to  tlie  elljows  before  they 
toiik  their  meals,  and  evrn  u.ibhed 
tlit'ir  beds  whereon  they  sat  at  meat, 
and  their  tables,  Mark  vii.  3,  4. 
At  (he  marriage  of  Caun  the  guests 
h;id  |)ot?  full  of  water  set  (o  wash 
in  as  they  entered,  John  ii.  0.  The 
ceremonial  washing  of  dollies,  and 
flesh,  imported  our  washing  (he  gar- 
ments of  our  conversation  in  (he 
blootl  of  Christ,  depending  on  him 
as  our  only  ground  of  acceptance 
before  God,  and  our  being  influ- 
enced thereby  to  repent  of  our  sin, 
and  turn  from  it  to  God,  Exodus 
xix.  10.  Rev.  vii.  14.  All  the  wash- 
ings of  [iriests  and  sacrifices,  figu- 
red out  (he  spotless  purity  of  Christ, 
and  our  justification  and  sanclifi- 
cation  by  his  blood  and  Spirit, 
Heb.  ix.  10.  Christ's  washing  men, 
imjiorls  his  removal  of  their  guilt 
and  pollution,  by  the  application 
of  his  word,  blood,  and  Spirit, 
John  xiii.  8.  Isa.  iv.  4.  Psa.  Ii.  2, 
7.  And  biptism  washes  away  sin, 
as  it  rejiresents,  seals,  and  ajiplies, 
the  blood  and  Spirit  of  Jesus  Christ, 
for  the  removal  of  the  guilt,  power, 
and  pollution  of  sin,  which  is  called 
the  washing-  of  regeneration.  Acts 
xxii.  10.  Tit.  iii.  5.  Men's  washing 
themselves,  imports,  (1.)  Their  set- 
ting out  their  own  excellencies  to 
the  best  advantage,  Ezek.  xxiii.  40. 
or,  (2.)  Their  endeavours  to  clear 
or  purify  themselves;  notwithstand- 
ing all  which,  God  shall  plunge 
them  in  the  ditch,  making  their  si« 
evident  in  the  troubles  inflicted  on 
them.  Job  ix.  30.  Jer.  ii.  22.  (3.) 
'Fheir  application  of  Jesus's  word, 
and  endeavouring,  under  the  influ- 
ence of  the  Sjiirit,  to  mortify  the 
deeds  of  the  body,  Isa.  i.  10.  Jer. 
iv.  14.  Washing  of  steps  in  butter, 
and  clothes  in  wine,  imports  great 
plenty  of  these  things,  or  of  the  like 
comforts.  Job  xxix.  0.  Gen.  xlix. 
1 1 .  Eyes  washed  in  milk,  are  such 
as  are  very  clear  and  sbiniog,  ^od^ 
A  B 


WAT 


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WAT 


V.  12.  Moab  was  David's  wflw^-pof  ; 
the  Moahites  were  by  him  re(!uced 
to  a  most  base  and  servile  condition, 
Psa.  Ix.  8.     See  Foot,  Hand. 

WASTE,  empty,  desolate,  ruin- 
ous, as  ruined  cities,  a  wilderness, 
Ezra  V.  14.  and  xxxiii.  24,  27.  To 
waste,  is,  (1.)  To  come  to  nothing, 
1  Kings  xvii.  14.  to  spend  to  little 
or  bad  purpose,  Matt.  xxvi.  8.  Luke 
XV.  13.  (2.)  To  harass,  to  cut  ofiF, 
to  make  ruinous.  Numb.  xxiv.  22. 
Gal.  L  13.  1  Chron.  xx.  1.  Jer.  xlix. 
13.  The  Gentile  world,  or  the  sin- 
ful and  ruinous  condition  of  a  church 
or  nation,  is  called  7vastcs,  Isa.  Ixi. 
4. —  And  WASTERS  are,  (1.)  Such  as 
lavishly  spend  what  they  have  to  no 
good  purpose,  Prov.  xviii.  9.  (2.) 
Armies,  who  ravage  countries,  and 
render  them  ruinous  or  desolate;  or 
persecutors,  who  seek  to  destroy  the 
members  of  the  church,  and  fill  her 
with  disorder,  Isa.  liv.  16. 

To  WATCH,  (1.)  To  keep  awake. 
Matt.  xxvi.  40.  (2.)  To  shake  off 
carnal  and  sinful  security,  and  take 
the  utsnost  heed,  lest  sin,  Satan,  or 
the  world,  should  deceive,  overcome, 
and  hurt  us;  this  is  called  being  vi- 
gilant or  WATCHFUL,  1  Pet.  V.  8. 
Rev.  iii.  2.  (3.)  To  wait  and  look 
for  a  thing  coming,  with  eager  de- 
sire, Lam.  iv.  1  7,  as  servants  do  for 
their  master's  return,  Luke  xii.  37. 
(4.)  Carefully  to  observe  and  guard  a 
thing,  that  it  may  neither  do  nor  re- 
ceive hurt.  So  shepherds  watch  their 
flocks,  to  prevent  their  straying  or 
hurting  the  corn,  or  being  hurt  by 
wild  beasts,  Luke  ii.  §.  God  watch- 
ing, imports  his  exr.ct  observation  of 
men's  conduct.  Job  xiv.  16.  his  pa- 
tient readiness  and  care  to  relieve 
bis  people,  Jer.  xxxi.  28.  aud  the 
slow  but  certain  execution  of  his 
judgments  in  the  properest  season, 
Jer.  xliv.  27.  Ministers'  watching  for 
men's  souls,  imports  their  eager  and 
active  care  to  observe  the  danger 
men  are  in,  and  warn  them  of  it; 
their  easnest  endeavour  to  promote 
their  holiness,  safety,  and  happiness, 
and  to  check  and  reclaim  unrul\'  j 
members,  Heb.  xiii.  1 7.     The  saints'  | 


watching,  denotes  their  shaking  off 
carnal  security;  their  eager  expec- 
tation of  Christ's  gracious  visits  and 
second  coming;  their  careful  keep- 
ing of  their  heart,  care  to  espy  temp- 
tations at  a  distance,  and  to  prevent 
their  being  seduced  by  sin,  Satan,  or 
the  world,  Rev.  xvi.  15.  1  Cor.  xvi. 
13.  Luke  xii.  37.  To  watch  unto 
and  in  prayer,  is  carefully  to  keep 
our  heart  in  a  proper-frame  for  pray- 
er, eagerly  espy  and  seize  on  every 
opportunity  for  it;  and  while  praying, 
to  guard  against  wandering  thoughts; 
and  after  prayer,  wait  for  and  care- 
fully observe  the  answer  granted  to 
it.  Col.  iv.  2.  Eph.  vi.  18.  Christ's 
enemies  watched  him,  and  the  wicked 
watch  the  righteous,  eagerly  looking 
for  any  advantage  against  them,  or 
opportunity  to  do  them  hurt,  Luke 
XX.  20.  Psa.  xxxvii.  32.  The  end 
watched  for  the  Jews,  when  their 
ruin  was  just  ready  to  overtake 
them,  Ezek.  vii.  6.  The  angels  are 
called  matchers,  to  import  their  rea- 
diness to  obey  the  will  of  God,  and 
inspect  the  nations,  chiefly  the 
church,  Dan.  iv.  16.  The  Chal- 
deans are  called  watchers  ;  they  wait- 
ed for  and  seized  their  op{iortunity 
of  destroying  the  natioirs;  they  ])ro- 
ceeded  with  caution  in  their  wars, 
and  their  sieges  of  cities  were  so  or- 
derly and  determined  that  lew  could 
escape,  Jer.  iv.  16.  A  watch  is, 
(1.)  A  guard  of  persons  set  to 
observe  the  motions  of  an  enemy, 
or  to  keep  order  in  a  city,  or  to 
keep  a  trust,  Jer.  li.  12.  Neh.  iv.  9. 
Matt,  xxviii.  11.  And  tkey  who 
keep  watch  in  a  city  or  camp,  are 
called  watchmen,  2  Kings  ix.  18.  Mi- 
nisters, and  perhaps  also  rulers  in  the 
state,  are  called  rvatchnun ;  in  the 
night  of  time,  ministers  do  or  ought 
to  watch  over  the  souls  of  men,  dis- 
cern spiritual  dangers,  and  lailhlully 
warn  them  thereof;  and  magistrates 
are  to  netice  and  take  all  proper  me- 
thods to  prevent  them,  Song  iii.  3, 
and  V.  7.  Ezek.  iii.  1  7.  Isa.  Iii.  8. 
(2.)  The  place  or  station  where  the 
guard  is  kept,  which  is  also  called  the 
watchtower,  Hab.  ii.  1.     (3.)  Watch- 


W  A  T 


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W  A  T 


mrn's  discharge  of  their  duty,  doing 
what  in  them  lies  to  espy  and  (ire- 
vent  danger  or  loss,  2  Kings  xi.  6. 
Luke  ii.  8,  (4.)  The  tinie  in  which 
a  [)articular  set  of  persons  iveep 
watch  at  once,  in  a  city  or  camp. 
It  seems  (he  night  was  once  divided 
into  the  evening,  the  mi«l(lle,  and 
the  morning  watch,  eacli  containing 
four  hours  apiece,  .Imlg.  vii.  10. 
Exod.  xiv.  2-t.  hut  afterwards  the 
Greeks  and  Romans  relieved  their 
cenfinels  at  the  end  of  tliree  hours, 
and  made  (our  watclies  of  the  night, 
Luke  xii.  38.  Mark  vi.  48. 

WATEK,  signifies  not  only  that 
which  is  most  proj)erly  so  called,  hut 
almost  every  thing  liquitl,  as  tears, 
Jer.   ix.   1.  rain,  Job  xxii.   11.  and 
clouds,  Psa.  civ.  3.  and  every  thing 
proper  to  he  drunk,  1  Sam.  xxv.  11. 1 
Isa.  xxxiii.  1  b.    Water  is  of  a  cleans- 1 
ing,  refreshing,  and  healing  nature,  I 
an<l  is  a  common  and  free  gift  of  God 
to  men;  but  streams  of  it  are  some-| 
times  noisy  and  destructive.     Jesus; 
Christ,  his  Spirit,   and  gospel  ordi-, 
nances,  are   likened  to  waters,  still 
waters,  and  strcanis,  living  water,  or. 
water  of  life.     How  abundant !  how  ■ 
free !  how  fitted  for,  offered  to,  and ' 
bestowed  on   multitudes,   are  Jesus  I 
and  his  salvation,  the  Holy  Ghost  and 
his   influenct-s,  and    the  truths   and 
promises  of  the  everlasting  gospel ! 
and  how  effectually,  when  ai)[)lied, 
tliey  cleanse  the  conscience,  heart, 
and  life,  of  men !  how  they  refresh 
our  souls,  and  cure  our  spiritual  ma- 
ladies! how  they  spread  and  over- 
jjower  what    stands   in   their   way  ! 
how  they   defend   from   danger,  en- 
rich,   and    render    fruitful    in    good 
works!    how    still,    deep,    pleasant, 
and  abundant!  and  how  they  beget, 
restore,   maintain,   and  perfect,  s[)i- 
ri(ual  life  in  our  soul !  how  they  now 
run  into  om*  desert  Gentile  world ! 
Song  iv.  15.     Rev.  xxi.  17.     Psalm 
xxiii.  2.  Isa.  xxxii.  21.  and  xxxv.  6. 
Ezek.  xlvii.  1 — 11.     Christ  came  by 
rvotcr  and  by  blood;  by  holiness  of 
nature,  an  obedient  life,  and  bloody 
death;  or  with  fulness  of  spiritual  in- 
fluence and  atonement,  for  our  justi- 


fication and  sanctification,  1  John  v. 
0.  As  the  .lews  had  their  markets 
for  fish  by  the  water-gide,  perhaps 
waters, 'n\  Isa.  iv.  1.  may  (lennte  (he 
ordinances  of  the  gospel,  as  market- 
places for  buying,  f.  c.  considerately, 
but  freely,  receiving  Jesus  Christ 
and  his  fulness.  The  waters  of  di- 
vine (rudis  and  ordinances  arc  made 
liitter,  when  corrupted  witherrorand 
superstition,  Rev.  viii.  11.  What- 
ever tends  to  comfort,  is  called  wa- 
ters;  the  delight  which  peo|)le  en- 
joy in  the  marriage  stale,  is  called 
waters,  and  nnniing  or  fresh  waters, 
far  more  truly  delightful  than  the 
pleasures  of  whoredom,  Avhich  are 
stolen  waters,  Prov.  v.  15.  and  ix.  17. 
and  idols  are  represented  as  broken 
cisterns,  tliat  can  hold  no  water,  i.  e. 
can  afford  no  true  help  or  comfort, 
Jer.  ii.  13.  The  state  of  captivity 
in  Babylon,  and  a  state  of  corrupt 
nature,  are  re[)resented  as  a  prison 
wherein  there  j.v  no  water,  i.  e.  no 
true  comfort,  Zech.  ix.  11.  The 
abundant  increase  and  glory  of  the 
gospel-church  are  likened  to  a  flow- 
ing stream  ;  in  what  multitudes,  and 
in  what  pleasant  and  comely  order, 
did  the  Gentiles,  notwithstanding 
manifold  oppositions,  come  towards 
Jesus  and  his  truth!  Isa.  Ixvi.  12. 
Multitudes  of  men,  as  armies  and 
persecutors,  are  likenetl  to  waters ; 
how  numerous  and  noisy  !  how  they 
spread  abroad,  and  bear  down  and 
ruin  whatever  stands  in  their  way ! 
Rev.  xvii.  15.  Isa.  viii.  7.  and  xvii. 
12.  Psa.  cxxiv.  5.  Men  are  as  ivatcr 
spilt  on  the  ground;  when  once  dead, 
they  cannot,  without  a  miracle,  be 
restored  to  life,  2  Sam.  xiv.  14. — 
Wicked  men  are  swift  as  the  waters, 
and  melt  away  as  the  waters ;  the}' 
are  not  to  be  dejiended  on :  and  how 
quickly  shall  (hey  come  to  nought, 
be  buried  into  the  ocean  of  divine 
wrath,  and  feel  the  fire  of  God's 
indignation!  Job  xxiv.  18.  Psa.  Iviii. 
7.  Jol)'s  enemies  came  in  as  a  wide 
hreakingin  of  waters,  in  great  num- 
bers, and  with  mighty  force,  to  ha- 
rass and  overwhelm.  Job  xxx.  14. 
Counsel  in  the  heart  of  a  many  is  a^ 


WAV 


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W  A  Y 


^■^ 
V^:' 


deep  maters;  serious  thouglits  and 
purposes,  are  pure  and  settled,  and 
hard  to  come  at,  Prov.  xx.  5.  The 
words  of  a  man's  mouth  are  is  deep 
waters,  and  the  well-s[)ring  ol"  wisdom 
as  iifiowin^  brook  ;  good  instructions 
are  deHghtfuI  and  refreshing  to  men's 
souls,  Prov.  xviii.  4.  Judgment  runs 
down  as  waters,  and  righteousness 
as  a  mip;htij  stream,  when  there  is 
great  uprightness  and  equity  in. judg- 
ing causes,  and  (ruth  and  holiness 
are  every  where  practised,  and  make 
iniquity  ashamed  to  show  itself, 
Amos  V.  24.  The  wrath  of  God's 
terrors,  i.  c.  fears  and  great  troubles, 
calamities,  or  tem[)tations,  are  liken- 
ed to  waters ;  in  what  forcible  and 
resistless  manner  they  sometimes  at- 
tack men  I  ?im\  how  fearful,  peqdex- 
ing, or  destructive!  Isa.  xxx.  28,  33. 
Job  xxvii.  20.  Psal.  Ixix.  1.  Song 
viii.  7.  As  waters  and  streams  stop 
the  way,  impediments  of  access  to 
the  church,  or  to  the  land  of  Canaan, 
are  caiied  waters.  Rev.  xvi.  12.  Isa, 
xi.  15.  As  waters  or  streams  flow 
from  fountains,  men's  children  or  pos- 
terity are  called  waters,  Isa.  xlviii, 
1.  Prov.  vi.  16.  Water-springs 
denote  ground  well  moistened  or 
fruitful,  in  Psal.  cvii.  33.  Water 
COURSES  are  either  the  beds  of  rivers, 
wherein  they  run,  or  the  running 
streams,  Isa.  xlv.  4.  Water-spouts 
are  falls  of  water  from  the  clouds,  in 
the  manner  that  a  river  bursts  over 
a  precisfice;  or  which  are  forced 
with  a  mighty  noise  from  the  sea, by 
an  earthquake  at  the  bottom.  To 
these  heavy,  overwhelming,  and  ter- 
jrifyiog  atRiclions,  are  compared  the 
sorrows  and  afllictions  of  David,  Psa. 
Xlii.     7. To    AVATER,     is,     (1.)     To 

moisten,  Psal.  vi.  6.  Gen.  ii.  6.  (2.) 
To  comfort,  refresh,  and  render 
fruitful :  thus  God  waters  his  church 
every  moment  Avith  new  influences  of 
his  love  and  Spirit,  Isaiah  xxvii.  3. 
and  tTtinisters  ivater  tJie  church,  by 
the  frequent  preaching  of  divine 
truths  to  them,  as  gardeners  do  their 
httih  in  the  time  of  drought,  1  Cor.  iii. 
B— 8. 

To  WAVE,  to  shake  to  and  fro. 


Some  will  have  the  wave-offerings  to 
hf>ve  been  waved  toward  the  four 
quarters  ;  but  others  think  X\\{.y  Avere 
only  turned  from  the  one  hand  to  the 
other,  Lev.  viii.  27.  See  Billoav. 

To  WAVER,  is  to  be  like  an  un- 
settled Avave  of  the  sea,  unfixed  in 
f.Jth,  profession,  ur  practice;  particu- 
larly tossed  betAveeu  doubts  and  faith 
of  the  power  and  Avill  of  God  as  to 
what  we  request  in  prayer,  Heb.  x. 
23.  James  i.  16. 

WAX,  a  Avell-knoAvn  substance 
wherewith  bees  form  their  combs. 
It  is  excellent  for  candles,  and  is  ea- 
sily melted ;  it  is  also  much  used  in 
the  sealing  of  letters,  Psal.  xcvii.  5. 
Chrij^t's  heart  Avas  melted  as  the  wax; 
astonishing  Avas  his  inAvard  trouble 
and  perjdexity,  Avhen  suffering  for 
our  sake,  Psal.  xxii.  14.  The  wicked 
melt  as  ivax^  Avhen  terrible  calamities 
from  an  angry  God  annoy,  torment, 
and  ruin  them,  Psal.  Ixviii.  2.  Mic, 
i.  4. 

WAY,  PATH,  (1.)  A  road  to 
Avalk  in,  1  Kings  xviii.  6.  (2.)  A 
method  of  formation  or  agency  :  how 
the  Spirit  acts  in  forming  us,  or 
how  our  soul  is  joined  to  our  body, 
John  iii.  8.  Eccl.  xi.  5.  God's  paths 
or  ivaijs,  are  his  works  of  creation. 
Job  xi.  19.  the  dispensations  of  his 
providence,  Avhereiu  he  walks  to- 
Avards  his  creatures,  Psal.  xxv.  10. 
Isa.  Iv.  8,  9.  or  the  clouds  Avhich  dis- 
til his  rain,  Psal.  Ixv.  1 1 .  or  his  truths 
and  precepts,  in  Avhich  he  requires 
men  to  walk,  Psal.  xvii.  5.  Christ  is 
the  way,  a  7ieiv  and  living  ivay.  He 
is  the  mean  and  pattern  of  our  ap- 
jtroach  to  God;  and  in  the  Avay  of 
union  to  him,  and  fellowship  Avith 
him,  are  Ave  justified,  sanctified, 
and  prepared  for  heaven.  This  Avay 
succeeds  the  old  covenant  way  of 
hap[>iness  b}'^  Avorks ;  and  it  is  ever 
the  same,  and  through  it  Ave  pass 
from  a  slate  of  sin  and  misery  in- 
to a  state  of  endless  felicity,  John 
xiv.  6.  Heb.  x.  20.  The  laAvs  and 
doctrines  of  God  are  the  way  of 
truth,  altogether  true  in  themselves, 
and  Avith  an  honest  and  true  heart 
and  practice  must  we  Avalk  therein. 


WAY 


C     585     ) 


W  E  A 


and  so  shall  arrive  nt  true  a  nil  ever- 
lasfinc;  ha[ij)i!ies9,  2  Pet.  ii.  2.  Alen's 
pa-ths  and  ivatf.s,  are  their  practire  or 
Musjuess,  jiooil  (ir  ha<l ;  or  their  cir- 
cuiiistaucea  in  life  which  tliey  |las^^* 
throii;j;ii,  Prov.  ii.  20.  Isa.  i.\.  7. 
Lain.  iii.  0.  Tlie  waif  of  the  Lord  is 
strength  to  the  ujrriiihl  ;  .Ioj<iis  atVor(l>* 
him  spiritual  strenirt'i;  d.v  ine  provi- 
dences and  ordin.t'.'t:-  c'o  him  ptMxl; 
and  his  pious  course  (ends  to  strength- 
en and  cornlort  his  sotil,  Prov.  v.  29. 
'V\w  paths  ot  tlie  righteous  are  paths 
of  jiiilirmnft,  of  uprishtness,  and  of 
life;  his  religious  course  is  ju»licious- 
ly  chosen,  he  is  candid  and  upright 
iu  following  it;  in  his  present  walk, 
he  has  spiritual  life  here,  and,  if  faith- 
ful, shall  attain  eternal  life  hereafter, 
Isa.  xl.  14.  Prov.  ii.  13.  an«l  v.  6. 
(iod  makes  a  straii(ht  way  or  path, 
when  he  removes  every  thing  tend- 
ing" to  the  hindrance  of  his  glory 
and  gospel,  Isa.  xlii.  16.  and  xl.  3, 
I.  and  of  his  |)eople's  hippiness, 
Jer.  xxxi.  0.  Christ's;?fl</j5  are  made 
straight,  when  things  are  prepared 
(or  his  public  appearances  on  earth, 
Matt.  iii.  3.  Men  make  straii^ht 
paths  for  their  feet,  lest  that  which 
is  lame  be  turned  out  of  the  way, 
when  they  take  care  of  adding  to, 
or  taking  from,  the  rules  of  God's 
word,  and  study  to  walk  exactly  ac- 
cording to  it,  lest  some  should  stum- 
ble at  religion  on  their  account, 
Heh.  xii.  13.  Men  do  not  find  their 
paths,  when  they  cannot  get  their 
purposes  fulfilled,  Hos.  ii.  6.  To 
go  in  the  rvay  of  one,  is  to  follow  his 
example,  Jude  II.  The  Jews  went 
in  the  ivaxj  of  Assyria  and  EjQjpl, 
when  tiiey  courted  tteir  alliances, 
and  depended  on  them  for  support, 
Jer.  ii.  13.  The  house  of  harlots  is 
the  way  to  hell,  as  most  of  those  that 
deal  with  such,  inherit  everlasting 
damnatien,  Prov.  vii.  27.  Tho.se  in 
the  high-ways  and  hedges  invited  to 
Christ,  may  be  the  Gentiles,  or  the 
worst  and  meanest  of  men,  Luke  xiv. 
13.  WAYFARfNc-MEX,  are  pas- 
sengers.  See  TaAVEii.  Way- 
marks,  are  tokens  set  up  by  the 
way-side,  or  at  cross-ways,  to  direct 


l)a?sengers.  To  encourage  the  Jews 
in  the  hope  of  a  return  lr.)mBanylon 
they  were  conunandcd  to  set  up  way- 
marks  as  they  went  to  it,  to  direct 
their  children  how  to  find  the  way 
back.  .ler.  xxxi.  21. 

WEAK,  KEEBLK,  (1.)  Of  little 
jtrenglh  ol  body  or  soul,  IMatl.  xxvi. 
-11.1  Thess.  V.  44.  One  weak  in  the 
fiiith^  is  one  who  has  little  knowledge 
an<l  an  infirm  persuasion  of  the  doc- 
trines of  the  gospel,  Kom.  xiv.  1. 
A  conscience  is,  wcalc,  when  it  is  not 
well  informed,  1  Cor.  viij.  7.  ?den 
are  said  to  have  weak  hands  am]fcchle 
knus,  when  they  have  small  courage 
and  vigour,  Isa.  xxxv.  3.  and  men  are 
weak-handed,  when  they  have  neither 
counsel,  courage,  nor  strength  to 
withstand  an  enemy,  2  Sam.  xvii.  2. 
One  is  made  weak  by  ofifences,  is 
confounded  injudgment,  and  vexed, 
dispirited,  and  discouraged,  Rom. 
xiv.  21.  To  the  wrak,  Paul  became 
us  weak ;  he  syni|)athized  with  and 
condescended  to  their  weakness,  1 
Cor.  ix.  22.  (2.)  Of  no  strength 
at  all:  thus  death  is  called  a  weak- 
ness, 1  Cor.  XV.  43.  The- law  a?  a 
covenant  is  7vcak,  through  sin  it  is 
wholly  unai)le  to  Justify  us,  though 
strong  enough  to  condemn  us,  Rom. 
viii.  3.  Man's  heart  is  weak,  has  na- 
turally no  power  at  all  to  resist  sin, 
Ezek.  xvi.  30.  (3.)  Suiiject  to  trouble 
and  death  ;  and  so  Christ  was  cruci- 
fied through  7veakticss,  2  Cor.  xiii.  4. 
(4.)  Actually  under  reproach,  distress, 
persecution,  temptation,  Psal.  vi.  2. 
and  xxxviii.  8.  thus  the  saints  are 
weak  in  Christ,  when  [)erseeuted  and 
distressed  for  his  sake,  2  Cor.  xiii.  4, 
0.  When  I  am  weak,  then  am  I  strong  ; 
when  I  am  in  the  deepest  distresses, 
and  most  sensitile  of  inj'  own  weak- 
ness, I  feel  the  strength  of  Christ 
most  eminently  exertea  to  support, 
actuate,  and  encourage  me,  2  Cor. 
xii.  10. 

Weakness,  infirmity,  (1.)  Dis- 
ease or  w  eakness  of  the  body.  Lev. 
xii.  2.  1  Tim.  v.  23.  (2.)  Outward 
afflictions,  reproaches,  jiereecutions, 
and  temptations,  Heb.  v.  2.  2  Cor. 
xii.  5,  10.     (3.)  Spiritual  weakness, 


W  E  A 


(     566     ) 


W  E  A 


anil  tlefects  in  grace,  Rom.  vi.  19.1 
Failings  and  mistakes  committed  j 
through  surprise,  and  want  of  spiri-j 
tual  courage  and  strength,  Rom.  xv.' 
1 .  The  jveahuss  of  God  is  stronger 
than  men:  the  contemned  method  of 
salvation  through  the  death  of  Christ,  ^ 
is  more  effectual  to  render  men  holy' 
and  happy,  than  all  the  supposedi}"- ' 
wise  schemes  of  men,  1  Cor.  i.  2b. 
The  weahiess  and  infirmity  of  Christ 
that  he  had,  was  his  frail  human  na-| 
ture,  and  the  various  reproaches,' 
temptations,  and  troubles,  he  was 
compassed  with,  2  Cor.  xiii.  4.  Heb.' 
V.  2.  The  weakness  of  the  ceremo- 
nial law,  that  occasioned  its  abolish- 
ment, was  its  insufficiency  to  justii'y, 
sanctify,  or  save  men,  Heb.  vii.  18.^ 
Christ  took  our  infirmities  on  him,  and 
bare  our  sickness ;  he  bare  the  pun-| 
ishment  of  our  iniquity;  he  tender-; 
ly  sym[iathizes  with  his  people,  and' 
testified  so  much  by  his  curing  of  the, 
distressed.  Matt.  viii.  17.  Heb.  iv.l 
15.  The  Holy  Ghost  helps  our  in-, 
firmities  ;  he  graciously  heals  our 
spiritual  diseases;  and  daily  ena-! 
bles  us  to  worship  and  serve  God, 
Romans  viii.  26.  We  ought  to 
hear  with  the  infirmities  of  the  weak  ;\ 
exercising  patience  and  love  towards 
the  weak,  by  kindly  endeavouring! 
to  help  them,  Romans  xv.  1.  The  I 
saints  glory  and  take  pleasure  in] 
their  infirmities  and  troubles,  not 
in  themselves,  but  as  they  are  means 
.  of  glorifying  God,  and  occasions 
of  his  communicating  his  fulness  to 
them,  2  Cor.  xii.  5,  10. 

WEALTH.     See  Riches. 

WEAN,  It  seems  the  Jewish 
children  had  three  weanings :  one 
from  the  breasts,  when  they  were 
about  three  years  of  age,  or  far  sooner 
in  most  cases  ;  the  second  from  their 
dry  nurse,  at  seven  years  of  age  : 
and  the  third  from  their  childish  man- 
ners, at  twelve.  The  saints  are  li- 
kened to  weaned  children,  to  denote 
their  humilitj'',  teachableness,  keep- 
ing within  the  bounds  of  their  own 
station,  and  quiet  contentment  with 
the  will  of  God,  Psa.  cxxxi.  2.  or  to 
point  out  their  weakness  and  inability 


to  help  and  defend  themselves,  Isa. 
xi.  8. 

WEAPONS.  God's  weapon.?  of  in- 
dignation against  the  Chaldeans,  were 
the  Medes  and  Persians,  by  whom 
he  executed  his  just  vengeance  in 
destroying  that  people,  Jer.  xiii.  5. 
and  I.  25.  The  not  carnal,  but  mighty 
weapons  of  ivarfare,  used  by  gospel- 
ministers,  are  earnest  [irayer,  and  the 
faithful  preaching  of  the  gosjiel  for 
the  purpose  ol  conquering  our  hearts 
to  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  reforming  our 
lives  according  to  his  law,  2  Cor.  x. 
4.  When  the  xvicket]  fiies  from  the 
iron  weapon,  the  bow  of  steel  strikes 
him  through;  when  he  shuns  one  ca- 
lamity, he  talis  into  another  more 
dreadful.  Job  xx.  2-1. 

To  WEAR  out  the  saints,  is  gra- 
dually to  destroy  them  till  none  be 
left,  ban.  vii.  25. 

WEARY,  (1.)  Fatigued  in  body, 
2  Sam.  xvii,  2.  (2.)  Desirous  to  be 
rid  of  a  thing,  as  if  it  was  a  burden. 
Gen.  xxvii.  46.  (3.)  Slack,  care- 
less. Gal.  vi.  7.  (4.)  Sore  afHicted, 
having  great  need  of  rest,  Isa.  xxviii. 
12.  God  is  7vearied  with  men's  ini- 
quities, and  tnade  to  serve  with  their 
sins,  -when  he  has  been  long  pro- 
voked ^vith  grievous  transgressions^ 
and  even  a  turning  of  his  kindness 
and  grace  into  licentiousness,  and 
his  judgments  may  be  expected  to 
be  quickly  executed,  Isa.  i.  14.  and 
vii.  13.  and  xliii.  24.  Men  are 
weary  and  heavy  laden,  Avhen  they 
have  spent  their  strength  in  carnal 
and  wicked  courses,  or  can  find  no 
rest  in  them,  but  are  laden  with  the 
guilt  and  domineering  power  of  sin, 
or  with  a  ser^e  of  it,  and  with  fears 
and  cares  about  happiness.  Matt,  xi- 
28.  David  was  tveary  of  his  crying, 
when  he  had  continued  instant  in 
prayer,  till  he  could  scarcely  pray 
any  more,  Psa.  Ixix.  3.  Jeremiah 
was  weary  with  holding  in  and  for- 
bearing:  he  could  get  no  ease,  but 
in  a  way  of  faithfully  declaring  the 
threatenings  of  God  against  Ihe 
wicked  Jews,  Jer.  vi.  11.  and  xx. 
9.  I\len  wca.ry  Ihemselvesfor  very  va- 
nity, when  the}'  take  great  labour  and 


WEE 


(     507     ) 


W  E  E 


toil  to  no  good  iiurpose.  Tlius  tlie 
Cliakleans  laligued  themselves,  in 
eiideavouritis;  to  (luench  llie  tire  of 
their  cily,   Hah.  ii.  1:5. 

VVEA8ELS  are  of  two  kiruls,  the 
house  weasel,  atul  (he  fuUI  weai^el  or 
fbiiiiiart ;  tiiey  are  considerably  sub- 
tle, and  thoup;h  of  small  ?ize,  have  a 
good  deairee  of  strength;  they  are 
enemies  to  serpents,  moiea,  rats,  and 
mice,  and  no  friends  to  poultry  :  they 
will  sport  with  hares  till  (hey  luive 
wearied  them,  and  then  they  kill 
them:  they  bi(e  worse  than  a  doj^, 
Avhen  they  are  provoked.  It  is  said 
the  females  carry  their  young  ones 
daily  from  one  place  to  another,  that 
none  may  catcli  them.  They  were 
unclean  by  the  ceremonial  law,  Lev. 
xi.  29. 

WEATHER,  the  temper  of  the 
air,  Prov.  xxv.  20.  Fjir  weather 
comdh  out  of  the  north  ;  with  God  is 
terrible  majestij ;  might  be  rendered, 
the  frold-likc  irlancing  lisJU nings 
coins  out  of  the  north :  on  God  is  a 
robe  of  terrible  majt  sty,  Jobxxxvii.  22. 

WEAVERS  are  such  as  work 
WEBS  of  cloth,  of  which  the  threads 
that  run  from  end  to  end  are  called 
the  WARP,  and  the  threads  that  run 
from  side  to  side  are  the  woof  :  but 
it  seems,  from  the  account  we  have 
of  our  Saviour's  seamless  coat,  that 
they  then  understood  the  art  of  knit- 
ting cloth  in  the  way  v.e  do  stock- 
ings, nay,  perhaps  they  had  looms  for 
working  garments  without  any  seam 
at  all.  Hezekiah  compares  God's 
cutting  otf  his  life  to  the  tvcavcr's 
cutting  his  web  out  of  the  loom  when 
it  is  finished,  Isa.  xxxviii.  12. 

WEDDING,  the  celebration  of 
MARRIAGE,  Luke  xiv.  8.  Matt.  sxii. 
3.  Wedlock,  the  tie  of  marriage; 
and  to  break  it  is  to  commit  atluitery, 
Ezek.  xvi.  38. 

WEEDS,  that  grow  among  corn, 
or  herbs.  The  weeds  were  wrapt 
about  JondlCs  head;  he  was  in  the 
depth  of  the  sea,  where  the  sea- 
weeds grow;  or,  weeds  swallowed 
by  the  fi.ih  might  be  wrapt  about  his 
head,  .Ion.  ii.  5. 

WEEK,  a  natural  one  is  the  space 


of  seven  days;  «uch  a  week  of  nup- 
tial feasting  for  Leah's  marriage,  .la- 
cob  tinished,  ere  he  obtained  Ra- 
chel, Gen.  xxix.  27.  A  prophetic  week 
is  the  8|)ace  of  seven  days,  a  day  for 
a  year.  Nor  was  (111;?  method  of  cal- 
culation abtruse  to  the  Jeus,  who 
hati  their  seventh  year  a  Sahhath,  as 
well  a^  (heir  seventh  day  :  and  who, 
at  the  end  of  seven  proidietical 
weeks,  had  their  Sabbatical  jubilee. 
That  the  70  weeks  mentioned  by  Da- 
niel, deiK)te  weeks  ofijieirs,  is  agreed 
l»y  every  sensible  commentator,  but 
not  the  time  when  these  70  weeks  or 
490  years  began. — It  is  plain,  they 
began  Irom  an  edict  or  warrant  to 
build  the  city  of  .Jerusalem,  and  not 
from  an  edict  to  rebuiiti  the  temple: 
they  could  not  therelore  begin  at 
the  edict  of  Cyrus  or  Darius  fo  re- 
building tiie  temple;  but  at  the  edict 
of  Artaxerxes  Longimanus  for  re- 
pairing the  city,  either  in  the  se- 
venth year  of  his  reign,  when  he 
gave  Ezra  his  commission  to  that 
etfect,  Ezra  vii.  and  viii.  or  in  the 
20th  year  of  it,  when  he  gave  Ne- 
hemiah  his,  Neh.  ii.  'J'he  edict  in 
the  seventh  year  of  his  reign  was 
inost  favourable,  and  was  ratified  by 
the  counsellors,  as  well  as  by  the 
king,  and  appears  to  have  been  just 
490  years  before  our  Saviour's  death, 
wherein  he  finished  transgression,  and 
made  an  end  of  sin,  by  his  com|)lete 
atonement.  Of  these,  seven  weeks, 
or  49  years,  were  spent  in  rebuild- 
ing the  city  and  its  walls,  amidst  no 
small  troul)le,  and  these  ended  about 
the  death  of  Nehemiah.  Sixty-two 
more  weeks,  or  434  years,  elapsed 
ere  the  public  ministry  of  John  or 
Christ  began;  an<l  after  confirming 
the  covenant  with  many,  Jesus,  in 
the  last  half  of  the  seventieth  week, 
that  is,  at  the  end  of  it,  made  the  sa- 
crifice and  oblation  to  cease  in  point 
of  obligation.  If,  with  Mercatorand 
Petavius,  weshouldallow  Artaxerxes 
to  have  reigned  ten  years  along  with 
his  father,  and  so  the  20(h  to  be  but 
the  10th  after  (he  death  of  his  father 
Xerxes;  then  433  years  elapsed  be- 
tween that  and  the  cooiineucement 


WEI 


(     568     ) 


W  E  I 


df  our  Saviour's  pubMc  luinistrjs  and 
in  the  midst  of  the  70th  week,  or 
about  three  years  ami  a  half  after, 
the  sacrifices  were  abolished  by  his 
death.  If  we  date  the  commence- 
ment of  these  Aveeks  trom  the  20th 
of  Artaxerxes  after  the  death  of  his 
father,  the  death  of  our  Saviour  hap- 
pened 478  years  after,  in  the  middle 
«f  the  69th  week ;  and  we  must  leave 
the  70th  for  the  events  at  the  de- 
struction of  the  Jewish  nation,  be- 
tween A.  D.  65  and  72,  in  which, 
after  making  covenants  or  leagues 
with  a  variety  of  the  eastern  princes, 
Vespasian,  and  his  son  Titus,  entire- 
ly overturned  the  Jewish  church  and 
state.  But,  after  all,  it  must  be  al- 
lowed, that  the  chronology  of  that 
period  is  not  so  absolutely  fixed  and 
elear  as  to  occasion  any  warm  dis- 
pute about  a  fcAV  years ;  so  that  to 
me,  it  appears  a  small  matter  whether 
these  490  years  be  reckoned  from  the 
7th  or  20th  year  of  Artaxerxes  Lon- 
jimanus,  Dan.  ix.  24 — 26. 

WEEP.     See  Mourn. 

To  WEIGH,  to  examine  the  hea- 
viness of  things.  A  cubic  foot  of 
common  water,  which  is  near  1 7 
Scotch  pints,  weighs  1000  avoirdu- 
poise  ounces;  a  cubic  foot  of  pure 
gold,  19,637  ounces;  one  of  guinea 
gold,  17,793,  of  quicksilver  14,000, 
of  lead  11,325,  of  standard  silver 
10,535,  of  copper  9000,  of  plate- 
biass  8000,  of  steel  7852,  of  iron 
7645,  of  block- tin  7321,  of  proof 
•pirits  928,  of  pure  spirits  860. 
All  stones  are,  in  different  degrees, 
heavier  than  water :  wood  is  for  the 
most  part  lighter,  and  accordingly 
iswims.  A  cubic  foot  of  common  air 
weighs  507  grains,  or  one  ounce  27 
grains.  God's  weighing  the  moun- 
tains, imports  his  exact  knowledge 
of,  and  power  over  them,  Isa.  xl. 
12.  He  weighs  men,  or  their  spi- 
rits and  paths,  when  he  exactly  ob- 


serves and  judges  them,  that  he  may 
punish  or  reward  them  in  a  proper 
manner,  Dan.  v.  27.  Prov.  xvi.  2. 
Isa.  xxxvi.  7.  1  Sam.  ii.  3.  He  sets 
a  weight  for  the  winds,  when  he 
determines  them  to  blow  precisely 
with  such  force,  and  from  such  a 
quarter,  and  during  such  a  time,  .as 
he  [ileaseth;  or  when  he  checks 
them  with  the  pressure  of  a  thick 
cloud  pregnant  with  rain,  Jobxxviii. 
25.  A  Weight,  is  what  is  heavy, 
and  weighs  much.  So  carnal  affec- 
tions and  sins,  lying  on  the  con- 
science, and  prevalent  in  the  heart, 
or  tem[>tations  thereto,  are  a  weight 
that  oppresses  the  spirits  of  men, 
and  disqualifies  them  for  running  the 
Christian  race,  Heb.  xii.  1.  Eternal 
glory  is  called  a  weight,  because  of  its 
unspeakable  abundance  and  degree; 
nor  could  one  subsist  under  its  de- 
lightful pressure,  2  Cor.  iv.  17.  And 
uhat  is  of  great  force  or  importance 
is  cnWeA  weighty,  2  Cor.  x.  10,  Matt, 
xxiii.  23. 

Weights,  denote  standards  for 
weighing  things  in  merchandise. 
As  neither  the  Jews,  nor  any  others, 
had  any  coined  money  for  a  long 
time,  they  weighed  it  in  their  traffic. 
The  shekel,  the  maneh,  and  the  ta- 
lent, were  all  originally  names  of 
weights.  We  can  find  no  foundation 
for  supposing  the  Jews  to  have  had 
two  kinds  of  weights,  the  one  sacred, 
and  the  other  common,  and  the  latter 
only  one-half  of  the  former.  The 
weights  are  denominated  from  the 
sanctuary ;  as  a  shekel  of  the  sanclu- 
ary,  because  the  exact  standards  of 
weight  and  measure  were  kept  in  the 
sanctuary;  even  as  we  call  exact 
measure,  Linlithgow  measure.  Divers 
weights  and  measures,  fort)idden  by 
the  divine  law,  are  unjust  ones;  a 
larger  to  receive  things  with,  and  a 
less  to  give  them  out,  Deut.  xxv.  13. 
Prov.  XX.  10. 


WEI  (     5Gd    )  W  E  f 

Tlie  less  ancient  Grecian  and  Roman  weights,  reduced  to  English  Troy 

weight. 

licntes  -  -  .  , 


Poun.l!)      Oun.      Penwt         OrsirtS. 

0  0  0  0^/j 


1-2 


Siliquae 


2-1 


96 


114 


19-2 


576 


691-2 


3,0boliis 

Scripluluni 


6 


10 


21 


36 


48 


141 


172B 


12 


16 


48 


576 


',i\  Drachma 


Sextula 
1    ISicilicus 


0 

0 

0 

3,V 

0 

0 

0 

0^ 

0 

0 

0 

leA 

0 

0 

2 

Gt\ 

0 

0 

3 

0! 

0 

0 

4 

13f 

8  2?-  2    1 


21  8    6    4 


Duella 


288 


96172  18'36 


Uncia   -   0         0       18 


H 


12  Libra   0 


10 


18       134 


The  Roman  ounce  is  the  Enji;lisli  avoirdupois  ounce,  which  they  divided 
into  seven  Denarii,  as  well  as  eight  Drachms;  and  since  they  reckoned 
their  Denarius  equal  (o  the  Attic  Drachm,  this  will  make  the  Attic 
weights  one  eighth  heavier  than  the  correspondent  Roman  weights. 

Note,  The  Grecians  divided  their  Obolusintu  Chaici  and  Lepta.  Some, 
as  Diodorus  and  Suidas,  divided  the  Obolus  into  six  Chaici,  and  every 
Chalcus  into  seven  Lepta  or  Mites:  others  divided  the  Obolus  into  eight 
Chaici,  and  every  Chalcus  into  eight  Lepta  or  Minuta. 

The  greater  weights  reduced  to  English  Troy  weight. 

Podnds.     Oiiii.      Penwt.      Grains. 

Libra  -  -  -  -  0       10       18       13f 


h\ 

Mina 

Attica  comrauni-s 

0 

1 
56 

11 
o 

11 

7 

11 

0 

16f 

H 

Hj 

Mina  Attica  Medica 

lOf 

62i  jeo 

46|;Talentum  Attica  comm. 

17A 

Note,  There  was  another  Attic  Talent,  by  some  said  to  consist  of  80,  by 
others  ol"  100  Attic  Mins. 

Note,  Every  Mina  contains  100  Drachma?,  and  every  Talent  60  MinaJ;  but 
the  Talents  differ  in  weight  according  to  the  differejit  standards  of  the 
Drachma;  and  Minas  of  which  they  are  composed.  The  value  of  some 
different  Mina?  and  Talents  in  Attic  Drachma;,  Mina;,  and  English  Troy 
weight,  is  exhibited  in  Uie  following  table: 
MINA,  or  Pound. 


Pounds. 

Oun. 

Penwt. 

Gralus. 

Egyptiaca            -             ^ 

r  1334 

1 

5 

6 

22f^ 

Antiochia             -             f 

est  Drachm. 

)l33i 

1 

5 

6 

22H 

Cleopatrae  Ptolemaica      / 

Atlicar. 

)144 

1 

G 

14 

16^? 

Alexandrina  Dio.scoridis) 

f  160 

1 

8 

16 

m 

Vol.  IL 

4C 

W  H  E 


(      ^70     ) 


W  H  E 


TALENTUM. 

lb. 

oz. 

(Iwts. 

grs. 

iEgyptiacum     -     -     "^ 

f  80 

86 

8 

16 

8 

Autiochicum     -     - 

tJO 

86 

8 

16 

8 

Pfolemaicum  Cleop.     1 
Alexandrise     -      -        r 

est  Minar. 

86| 

93 

11 

11 

0 

Atlicar. 

^    96 

104 

0 

19 

14 

Insulanum 

120 

130 

1 

4 

12 

Antiochiae       -      -      J 

^360 

390 

3 

13 

11 

The  most  ancient  weights  of  the  Greeks  were  a  Drachma,  weighing;  6  penny- 
weights, 2i-2-  grains;  a  Mina,  weighing  1  pound,  1  ounce,  4|f  grains; 
and  a  Tale'nt,  weighing  65  pounds,  12  penny-weights,  5|f  grains. 

Jewish  Weights,  reduced  to  English  Troy  Weight. 


Shekel 

lbs. 

0 

2 
-    113 

oz. 

0 

3 

10 

dwts. 

9 
6 

1 

gra. 

^ 

60  Maneh 

lOf 

3000  oO'Talent    - 

lOf 

Note,    In  reckoning  money,  50  shekels  made  a  Maneh ;  but  in  weight 
60  shekels. 


WELL.  See  Fountain. 
WELL,  (1.)  Rightly,  according 
to  rule.  Gen.  iv.  7.  (2.)  Happily, 
Deut.  XV.  16.  and  so  Jiappiness  or 
prosperity  is  called  welfare,  Exod. 
xviii.  7.  (3.)  Fully,  Acts  xxv.  10. 
and  so  Christ  is  called  well-heloved, 
because  his  Father  and  his  people 
esteem,  desire,  and  delight  in  him, 
above  all  things,  Mark  xii.  6.  Isa. 
V.  1.  Well- pleasing,  is  what  is  very 
aeceptable  and  pleasant  to  one,  Phil. 
iv.  1 8.  God  is  ivcll  pleased  in  Christ, 
and /or  his  righleousncss  sake;  O  his 
Infinite  delight  in  his  person,  office, 
and  in  his  full  atonement  for  us ! 
and  he  is  kindly  reconciled  to  us  in 
him,  and  for  the  sake  of  what  he  has 
done  as  our  Mediator,  Matt.  iii.  17. 
and  xvii.  5.  Isa.  xlii.  21. 

WEN,  a  wart,  a  hard  knob  within 
the  skin.  It  unfitted  an  animal  for 
sacrifice.  Lev.  xxii.  22. 

WENCH,  a  young  girl,  2  Sam. 
xvii.  17. 

WHALE.     See  Leviathan. 

WHEAT,  a  grain  well  known 
for  its  durfibleness,  and  delightful 
and  nouri'^hing  substance.  Part  of 
it  grows  with  long  awns  at  the  ear 
thereof,  and  part  of  it  without  them. 
The  Jews  began  their  wheat  harvest 


about  Whitsuntide;  and  their  writers 
say,  their  best  wheat  grew  in  Mich- 
mash,  Mezronichah,  and  Ephraim; 
but  it  seems,  that  of  Minnith  and  Pan- 
nag,  was  every  whit  as  good,  Ezek. 
xxvii.  1 7.  With  us,  wheat  is  gene- 
rally sown  soon  after  the  end  of  har- 
vest, and  is  nine  or  ten  months  in 
the  field.  Jesus  Christ  is  a  corn  of 
wheat ;  how  substantial  and  durable ; 
able  to  endure  winters  of  trouble! 
and  what  precious,  nourishing,  and 
pleasant  fruits  of  righteousness  and 
blessings,  he  brings  forth  to  men,  in 
consequence  of  his  death  and  resur- 
rection, John  xii.  24.  The  saints 
are  called  wheal,  to  mark  their  solidi- 
ty, usefulness,  and  good  fruit,  accept- 
able to  God  through  Jesus  Christ, 
Matt.  iii.  12.  The  word  of  God  is 
likened  to  wheat;  how  sweet,  sub- 
stantial, and  nourishing,  is  the  ful- 
ness of  Jesus  therein  included  and 
communicated  to  our  soul,  Jer.  xxiii. 
28.  To  he  fed  with  the  finest  of  the 
wheat,  is  to  possess  great  happiness 
and  comfort,  Psal.  Ixxxi.  1 6.  The 
Jews  soived  wheat,  and  reaped  thorns  ; 
when  their  apparently  Avell-planned 
schemes  of  alliance  with  Egypt, 
and  the  nations  around,  and  the 
like,  did  but  in  the  issue  increase 


'Wr  H  E 


(     571      ) 


W   H  1 


tlicir  vexation  and  miserj',  Jer.  xii. 
13. 

WHEEL,  (1.)  A  ••""nd  instru- 
ment lor  chariots  and  wairiions.  A:**., 
to  roll  n|)on.  it  onlinarily  fonsists 
o\t'f('llflcs,  lorniinK  t'le  cin-nrnfeirnce 
or  rins;  and  a  nave  in  the  middle, 
in  whifh  the  axle-tree  runs;  and 
spokes  that  reach  between  the  nave 
P  and  I'elloes,  Exod.  xiv.  2.'3.  (2.)  A 
kind  of  punWhment  inllicled  on  oi- 
tenders;  or  one  kind  put  for  all, 
Prov.  xxviii.  2(3.  (3.)  The  great 
arterj',  which  beins;  joined  to  the 
left  ventricle  of  the  heart,  sets  the 
bloo<l  in  motion,  and  keeps  it  in 
perpetual  circulation,  Eccl.  xii.  b. 
The  yvhcels  in  Ezekiel's  vision,  very 
his;h,  an<l  with  dreadful  rinirs,  and 
formed  as  a  ivhecl  within  a  wheel,  and 
actuated  by  the  spirit  of  the  living 
creatures  ;  may  either  denote  the  aw- 
ful and  mj'sterious  providence  of 
God,  much  executed  by  the  minis- 
tration of  angels;  or  the  various 
churches  of  Christ,  mj'^steriously  uni- 
ted into  one,  and  actuated  by  the 
same  spirit  as  gospel  ministers  are, 
Ezek.  i.  10,  Ami  God  makes  men 
like  a  wheel,  when  he  suddenly  turns 
their  high  honour,  power,  and  pros- 
perity, into  debasement,  distress,  and 
ruin,  Psal.  Ixxxiii.  13. 

WHELP,  the  young  of  lion?, 
bears,  dogs,  6cc,.  So  .losiah's  sons, 
and  the  courtiers  or  subjects  of  the 
Assyrians,  are  called,  to  denote  their 
readiness  to  spoil  and  oppress  their 
people,  Ezek.  xix.  2 — 5.  Nah.  ii.  12. 

AVHENCE,  (1.)  From  what  place, 
Gen.  xvi.  8.  (2.)  From  what  cause, 
or  by  what  means,  Matt.  xiii.  54. 
John  i.  4S. 

WHERE,  (1.)  In  Avhat  place, 
Exod.  XX.  24.  (2.)  In  what  condi- 
tion, Zech.  i.  5.  Where  is  God? 
where,  or  in  what  are  his  presence 
and  power  manifested?  Psa.  Ixxix. 
10.  or  how  shall  I  obtain  relief  from 
him  ?  Jer.  ii.  G.  Job  xxxv.  10. 

To  WHET,  to  make  sharp.  God 
whets  his  sword,  when  he  prepares 
things,  in  his  providence,  for  the 
execution  of  his  judgments,  Deut. 
xxxiv.  41.  Psa.  vii.  12.     Men  w/jf^ 


God's  laws  upon  their  children,  when 
they  teach  tli«-m  diligently  the  know- 
ledge thereol,  Deut.  vi.  7.  Men  whet 
their  tongues,  when  they  actively 
em[doy  them  in  slander  and  re- 
proach, Psa.  Ixiv.  3. 

WHIP,  (1.)  A  lash  to  drive  horses 
or  other  cattle,  Prov.  xxvi.  3.  (2.)  A 
luminhment  for  lazy  and  disobedient 
subjects,   1  Kings  xii.  11. 

WHIRLWIND.     See  Wind. 

To  WHISPEII,(1.)  To  speak  very 
softlj',  80  as  scarcely  to  be  heard,  2 
Sam.  xii.  10.  (2.)  To  bear  tales, 
backbite,  Prov.  xvi.  23.  (3.)  To 
plot  secretly,  Psa.  xii.  7.  The  Jews 
whispered  out  of  the  dust,  when  they 
were  so  famished  as  to  be  scarcely 
able  to  speak,  or  when  ready  to  yield 
to  what  terms  the  Assyrians  pleased, 
Isa.  xxix.  4. 

WHITE,  being  the  purest  and 
most  shining  colour,  is  often  used  to 
represent  what  is  pure  and  glorious. 
God's  appearing  in  a  vision  with 
white  hair  as  wool,  and  white  gar- 
ments, and  riding  on  a  white  cloud, 
denotes  his  eternity ,  wisdom,  holiness, 
and  the  equity  of  his  providential  con- 
duct, Dan.  vii.  9.  Isa.  xix.  1.  Rev. 
xiv.  14.  Christ  is  white,  pure  in  his 
Godhead,  holy,  highly  e.xalted,  and 
abounding  in  love;  and  he  is  ruddy, 
and  red  in  his  apparel,  he  appeared 
in  our  nature,  and  sutfered  therein ; 
and  in  the  execution  of  his  wrath, 
conquers  and  destroys  his  enemies. 
Song  v.  10.  Isa.  Ixiii.  1,  2.  Uhnhite 
hairs  as  wool,  denote  his  eternity  and 
wisdom.  Rev.  i.  14.  The  7vhileness 
of  his  throne,  imjwrts  the  holiness, 
equity,  and  glory  of  his  procedure  in 
the  last  judgment.  Rev.  xx.  11.  The 
white  horses  of  Christ  and  his  people, 
are  the  pure  truths  of  the  gospel,  by 
means  of  which  they  obtain  spiritual 
victories.  Rev.  vi.  2.  and  xix.  11. 
Saintsare  white,  when  freed  from  guilt 
and  |)ollution,  Psal.  Ii.  7.  and  their 
while  raiment  is  their  sanctification: 
and  their  state  of  heavenly  glory, 
wherein  they  areas  peaceable,  noble, 
and  triumphant  kings  and  priests  un- 
to God,  Rev.  iii.  4,  .").  iv.  4.  xv.  10. 
and  vii.   14.     Nazarites  were  wkxtcr 


WHO 


(     572     ) 


WHO 


than  milk,  when  they  kept  their  vows, 
and  looked  fresh  and  comely,  Lam.iv. 
7.  The  fields  were  white  to  har- 
vest, or  ripe,  when  multitudes  seem- 
ed ready  to  hear  the  gospel,  by  the 
power  of  which  men  are  cut  off  from 
their  natural  state,  gathered  to  Jesus, 
and  bound  up  in  the  bundle  of  life 
with  him,  John  iv.  38. 

WHOLE,  (1.)  Full,  complete, 
Exod.  xxix.  18.  (2.)  Not  broken, 
Jer.  xix.  11.  (3.)  Sound,  healthy, 
prosperous,  Josh.  v.  8.  Job  v.  18. 
Wholly,  (1.)  Altogether,  com- 
pletely. Lev.  vi.  22.  and  xix.  9. 
(2.)  Sincerely,  uprightly,  Josh.  xiv. 
8 — 14.  (3.)  In  a  great  part  or 
<legree,  Isa.  xxii.  1.  Job  xxi.  23. 
Wholesome,  is  what  makes  or  pro- 
motes health.  A  wholesome  tongue, 
is  one  that  speaks  much  to  the  edi- 
fication of  others,  Prov.  xv.  4. — 
Wholesome  words,  are  the  sound  truths 
of  the  gospel,  which  promote  the 
health  and  cure  of  men's  soul,  1 
Tim.  vi.  3. 


the  heart,  that  persons  gui'lty  of  it 
rarely  obtain  grace  to  repent,  Hos. 
vi.  11.  Eccl.  vii.  26.  Rev.  xxi.  11. 
Hos.  xiv.  14.  It  is  a  beastly  vice  in 
itself,  and  those  who  are  guilty  of  it 
are  called  dogs,  and  abominable,  &c. 
and  it  is  called  villany  and  abomi- 
nation, 2  Sam,  iii.  8.  Jer.  v.  8.  and 
xxix.  23.  Rev.  xxi.  8.  It  is  an  in- 
let to  all  manner  of  impiety  and 
wickedness,  Prov.  v.  12 — 14.  It 
exposes  persons  to  the  vengeance  of 
God  in  this  life,  brings  the  curse  of 
God  on  families  and  nations,  and  or- 
dinarily leads  men  to  eternal  fire, 
Prov.  vii.  2G,  27.  and  ix.  18.  and 
ii.  19.  Hos.  iv.  1—3.  Jer.  v.  7,  9. 
Ephes.  V.  3— C.  Rom.  i.  24 — 29. 
Rev.  xxi.  8.  To  avoid  falling  into 
this  abominable  sin,  it  is  necessary 
to  be  united  to  Christ,  and  habitually 
washed  by  his  blood,  and  directed 
by  his  word  and  Spirit,  1  Cor.  vi.  10, 
11.  and  to  live  under  the  deep  im- 
pression of  God's  holiness,  omnis- 
cience,  and  of  the  future  judgment, 


WHORE,  or  harlot,  u,  (l.)jGen.  xxxix.  9.  Heb.  xiii.  4.  it  is  ne- 
One  that  for  wantonness  or  gain  cessary  to  shun  light  and  lewd  com- 
yields  her  body  to  unchastity;  andipanions,  and  all  immodest  apparel, 
a  WHOREMONGER,  is  One  that  un- 
chastely  deals  with  her.  It  seems, 
that  anciently  the  women  who  kept 


inns,  were  generally  reckoned  har- 
lots ;  and  so  a  hostess  and  a  harlot 
had  the  same  name.  Whores  quickly 
become  entirely  void  of  modesty  and 
shame,  and  even  decoy  men  to  their 
lewd  embraces,  Jer.  iii.  3.  Prov.  v. 
and  vii.  Whoredom,  unclean- 
NESs,  or  FORNICATION,  compre- 
hends all  kinds  of  unchastity  be- 
tween men  and  women,  whether  be- 
tween persons  unmarried  ;  or  adul- 
tery, where  one  or  both  is  married ; 
or  incest,  where  they  are  too  near 
of  kin  one  to  another,  Gen.  xsxviii. 
24.  Gal.  V.  19.  1  Cor.  vi.  13.  and 
V.  1.  This  sin,  however  lightly  re- 
garded by  muUiludes,  is  of  an  hor- 
rible nature;  it  disgraces  and  de-| 
slroj's  the  body, 
xxxi.  12.  Prov.  v 


Prov.  V.  8,  9.  to  be  diligent  in  law- 
ful business,  2  Sam.  xi.  2.  Gen. 
xxxiv.  1.  and  to  marry,  if  needful 


and  proper,  and  to  cultivate  a  Chris- 
tian atfection  in  the  married  state, 
1  Cor.  vii.  2,  9.  Prov.  v.  19,  20. 
(2.)  Such  as,  contrary  to  covenant 
and  profession,  apostatize  from  the 
true  worship  and  service  of  God. 
The  Jews  are  represented  as  whores, 
harlots,  and  adulteresses,  because  in 
apostacy  from  God,  they  prostituted 
themselves  to  a  dependence  on  the 
Assj'rians,  Egyptians,  Chaldeans,  and 
others,  instead  of  God,  and  copied 
after  their  idolatries,  Jer.  iii.  Ezek. 
xvi.  and  xxiii.  The  Popish  state 
is  called  the  great  whore,  and  mo- 
ther of  harlots  and  abominations,  be- 
cause of   her   noted    apostacy  and 


idolatry,  and  her  decoying  others 
1  Cor.  vi.  18.  Job!  into  it;  and  such  apostacy  is  called 
.11.     It  briags  an] fornication,   whoredom,    or    adultery. 


indelible  stain  on  the  character,!  Rev.  xvii.  and  xix.  2.  Tyre  5?/n^ 
Prov.  vi.  33.  It  infatuates  and  stu-  a^  aw  harlot,  when,  by  fair  speeches, 
pifies  the  conscience,  and  so  hardens' t|ie  Tyrians  enticed  the  nations  to 


W  I  D 


(     573     ) 


W  I  L 


renew  their  trade  with  them,  Isa. 
xxiii.  15.  M'liuRisu,  is,  (I.)  Gi- 
ven to  lomicatioii  or  aiUiltery,  Prov. 
vi.  26.  (2.)  Given  to  idolatry  and 
apostacy  Iroin  God,  Ezek.  vi.  0. 

WICKED.     See  Sin. 

WIDE.  The  gate  and  way  that 
leads  to  destruction,  h  tviile ;  there 
are  innumerable  methods  of  i<innins, 
by  which  men  may  eternally  ruin 
themselves,  Malt.  vii.  13.  To  open 
the  handwutc,  is  to  be  very  liberal, 
Deut.  XV.  8.  To  open  the  mouth  wide 
imports  either  the  most  earnest  at- 
tention to,  request  of,  and  desire  af- 
ter things,  Job  xxix.  23.  Psa.  Ixxxi. 
10.  or  the  most  outrageous  mockery 
and  reproach,  Psa.  xxxv.  21. 

WIDOW,  a  woma<i  whose  hus- 
band is  dead.  More  than  200  years 
before  the  giving  of  the  law,  widows 
whose  husbands  had  left  them  child- 
less, married  their  younger  unmarried 
brothers,  to  obtain  seed  for  the  de- 
ceased one :  So  Tamar  married  the 
two  elder  sons  of  Judab,  and  iiad  the 
third  promised  to  her,  Gen.  xxxviii. 
Under  the  IMosaic  law  this  was  ex- 
pressly enjoined,  Deut.  xv.  5,  G,  &ic. 
or  the  nearest  kinsman  might  do  it, 
Ruth  iv.  As  to  have  children  was  es- 
teemed a  great  honour,  especially  in  a 
nation  whence  the  Messiah  was  ex- 
pected, \;idowhood,  in  such  as  were 
not  past  the  age  of  child-bearing,  as 
well  as  barrenness,  was  reckoned  a 
great  shame  and  reproach,  Isa.  iv.  1. 
and  liv.  4.  It  was  presumed  any 
young  woman  of  character  wouhl 
certainly  find  a  husband,  either  in  the 
family  of  her  deceased  husband,  or 
some  other.  The  widows  of  kings, 
however,  continued  in  their  widow- 
liood,  and  were  the  propert}^  though 
not  always  the  wives,  of  the  succes- 
sor;  and  to  ask  any  of  them  in  marriage, 
was  considered  as  an  indirect  claim 
of  the  kingdom,  1  Kings  ii.  13,  14, 
&ic.  As  widows  are  too  often  over- 
looked by  men,  God  has  showed  a 
peculiar  concern  for  them,  as  their 
husband,  supporter,  and  Judge,  Psa. 
Ixvii.  5.  and  cxivi.  9.  He  charged 
the  Hebrews  to  take  peculiar  care 
of  them,  and  of  fatherless  children, ; 


Deut.  xiv.  20.  He  hath  threatened 
terrible  punii<bnu'nt  on  such  as  op- 
press and  injure  them.  Psalm  xciv. 
().  Mai.  iii.  b.  Under  (he  gospel,  the 
church  is  to  provide  for  those  that 
are  widows  indeed,  i.  e.  widows  of  a 
good  character,  liumble,  and  liberal 
when  alile,  and  now  grown  old  and 
truly  (leslilule;  but  younger  widows 
jare  advised  to  marry  again,  1  Tim. 
V.  3 — 10.  To  show  kindness  to  wi- 
dows, is  a  noted  branch  of  the  true 
religion.  Job  xxix.  13.  James  i.  27. 
To  mark  their  desolation,  and  being 
deprived  of  all  joy,  honour,  and  com- 
fort, Jerusalem  and  Babylon  are  li- 
kened to  widows.  Lam.  i.  1.  Isa.  xlvii. 
8.  and  often  the  leaving  wives  wi- 
dows, imports  the  being  cut  off  by 
the  sword,  or  by  some  untimely 
death.  Lam.  v.  3.  Ezek.  xxii.  25. 
Widowhood  and  loss  of  children  came 
upon  Bab}ilo7i  in  one  day.  Suddenly 
she  lost  Belshazzar,  and  her  rulers, 
and  dignity;  and  had  vast  numbers 
of  her  inhabitants  slain  by  Cyrus. 
Under  Darius  Hystas()is,  her  inhabit- 
ants slew  their  wives  and  childrea, 
and  almost  all  that  were  not  able  to 
bear  arms,  that  the  provision  of  their 
besieged  city  might  not  be  wasted 
by  useless  mouths,  Isa.  xlvii.  9. 

WIFE.  See  Marriage,  Adul- 
tery. 

WILD,  (1.)  Untamed,  fierce.  Job 
xxxix.  15.  (2.)  Uncultivated.  Thus 
vines,  gourds,  grapes,  and  olives, 
are  represented  as  wild,  2  Kings  iv. 
35,  39.  Isa.  x.  2.  Horn.  xi.  17.  and 
wild  honey,  is  what  is  found  in  fields, 
rocks,  or  wood.^'.  Matt.  iii.  4.  Ish- 
mael  was  a  wild,  or  wild  free-man ; 
he  and  his  seed  have  generally  been 
a  kind  of  savage  people,  robbers  of 
all  around  them,  but  never  subjected 
to  any,  Gen.  xvi.  12. 

WILDERNESS.     See  Desert. 

WILES,  crafty  tricks,  enticing 
temptations,  Numb.  xxv.  18.  Eph. 
vi.  11. 

WILL,  (1.)  That  power  of  our 
soul  whereby  we  freely  choose  or 
refuse  objects.  It  however  cannot 
choose  any  thing  spiritually  good, 
till  it  be  renewed  by  the  Spirit  of 


W  I  L 


(     574     ) 


W  I  N 


Christ,  Rom.  viii.  7,  8.  The  7vell of  \used  branches  of  willows  in  erecting 
thejlesh,  is  the  inclinations  and  lusts  {their  tents  at  the  feast  of  tabernacles, 
of  an  unrenewed  heart,  Eph.  ii.  3.;  Lev.  xxiii.  40.  The  saints  are  liken- 
(2.)  The  thing  chosen  by  the  will: led  to  willows  by  the  water  courses  ; 
t\mi  i\\e  will  of  enemies,  is  the  mis- •  being  planted  in  a  new  covenant 
chief  they  desire  or  devise  against  stale,  and  watered  by  God  every 
one,  Psa.  xxvii.  12.  God's  will  de-  moment,  how  quick  is  their  spiritual 
notes,    (1.)    His    natural   power   to  growth,  and  how  fresh  they   conti- 


choose  or  reject,  Rom.  ix.  14.  (2.) 
His  purpose  and  decree,  which  is 
his  rule  in  all  his  works,  Eph.  i.  11. 
(3.)  His  word,  hi?  laws,  and  gospel- 
declarations,  whereby  he  intimates 
what  he  is  willing  to  give  to  us :  or 


nue  amidst  winters  of  trouble  !    Isa. 
xliv.  4. 

WIMPLES,  Isaiah  iii.  22.  This 
same  word  is  translated  veil,  Ruth 
iii.  15.  In  both  places,  I  am  per- 
suaded, MiTPACHATH  signifies  a  co- 
what  we  should  do  in  obedience  tojvering  sheet,  cloak,  or  apron.  la 
liim,  Rom.  xii.  2.  Matt.  vii.  21.  (4.)|the  Dutch  language,  wimple  signi- 
His  kindness  and  favour  manifested  i  fies  the  large  plaiied  linen  cloth 
in  acts  of  grace,  Deut.  xxxiii.  16.  i  wherewith  nuns  covered  their  necks 
Lukeii.  14.  Our  sanctification  is  the  and  breasts;  as  well  as  the  streamers 
will  of  God  ;  it  is  provided,  promised,  or /?a^  of  a  ship,  and  sometimes  the 
and  commanded  by  him,  1  Thess.  \v.\sail. 

3.  God  will  have  all  mcii  to  be  saved,  i  To  WIN,  ( 1 .)  To  get  possession  of, 
and  to  come  to  the  knowledge  of  2  Chron.  xxxii.  A  man  wins  Christ 
the  truth  ;  he  hath  prepared  a  reme-lwhen  he  gains  possession  of  him  as 
dy  for  all  men,  and  saves  from  sin | an  eternal  portion  and  comfort,  Phil, 
such  as  believe  and  obey  him,  1  Tim.  |  iii.  8.  (2)  To  recover.  Men  win 
ii.  4.  To  WILL,  is,  (1.)  To  choose,' sotds,  when  they  are  instrumental  of 
desire,  Phil.  ii.  13.  (2)  Boldly  tO;SO  gaining  them  to  Christ,  as  that 
ask,  .John  xvii.  23.  (3.)  To  com- j  they  receive  salvation  through  him, 
mand  with  authority,  John  xxi.  23..Prov.  xi.  30. 

(4.)  To  permit,  James  iv.  15.  Sal- 1  WIND,  a  sensible  current  of  the 
ration  is  not  of  him  that  willcth,  /lor  atmosphere,  upon  its  equilibrium  be- 
of  him  that  runneth  ;  it  is  not  thejing  destroyed,  and  therefore  it  is  pro- 
effect  either  of  the  will  or  the  works  jbably  thought  to  come  from  that  part 
of  jnan>  but  of  the  grace  and  poweriwhereitsgravity  or  elasticity  is  great- 
of  God,  Rom.  ix.  16.  Willing,  is,'er ;  as  two  portions  of  air,  which  are 
desirous,  cheerful,  ready  from  choice  equal  in  elasticity  or  gravity,  remain 
and  inclination,  1  Tliess.  ii.  8.  Matt,  mutually  immoveable.  The  causes 
xxvi.  41.  Wilfully,  of  set  pur- (therefore  of  wind,  are  such  as  aug- 
pose  and  malice  ;  contrary  to  light  |ment  or  diminish  the  gravity  or  elas- 
and  conviction,  Heb.  x.  20.  Seejticity  of  the  atmosphere  ;  as  first. 
Superstition.  jfire,  which  expands  and  rarefies  the 

WILLOWS,  a  well-known  kind  air,  consequently  diminishes  its  elas- 
of  trees  that  grow  in  moist  places;  ticity  :  and  hence  the  pressure  of  the 


they  readilj-  spring  from  cuts  ;  and 
grow  much  in  a  very  short  lis'.c. 
Nay,  if  an  old  stump,  not  altogether 
rotten,  do  but  lie  on  the  sround,  it 


ambient  air  is  greater  than  that  of  the 
rarefied,  whence  a  motion  of  the  air 
arises,  and  thus  a  wind,  blowing  to- 
wards the  part  where  the  air  is  rare- 


will  sprout  forth  twigs.  It  seems  jfied  by  the  heat ;  and  this  is  the  rea- 
Avillows  were  very  plentiful  on  the  son  of  the  draught  in  furnaces  and 
banks  or  the  Euphrates,  and  on  them  chimnies.  And  for  the  same  reason, 
the  captive  Heljrews  hanged  their  a  wind  generall}^  arises  in  a  great  fire 
harps,  as  useless  to  them  in  their  or  conflagration.  The  heat  of  the 
distressed  and  mournful  condition,  I  sun  must  also  ac<'idenlly  he  a  fre- 
Ps,  cxxxvii.  2.  Isa.  xv.  7.    The  Jcwsl  quent  cause  of  wind,  as  between  the 


W  I  N 


(     ^"5     ) 


W  I  N 


tropics  it  produces  a  constant  wiiur  ruin  !  Or  are  the  Assyrians,  who, 
the  year  round.  Another  probable' Ironi  the  east,  came  and  ahnost  ru- 
cause,  whiclideotroyslhecquilibriunr  ined  tlw^  wliole  nation  of  the  .lews, 
ofthe  auiosphere,  may  he  found  in  va-land  bound  lliem  up  in  liitir  wings, 
l^ours  lor  an  air  filled  with  them  i?]  to  carry  them  captive  to  a  t'oreigu 
heavier  than  another  that  is  witliuut  land,  this  fa.s<  wind/  Isa,  xxvii.  8. 
tiitin,  conse(|uently  more  elastic,  and!  Hos.  iv.  !'.».  Jcr.  xxiii.  10.  and  xxv. 
tinisa  wind  must  Idovv  Iromtliat  (piar-  32.  and  xxx.  23.  Tlie  Chaldeans 
ter.  The  trade  winds  which  are  met  are  called  a  ilnf  wind,  and  >\Jidl  wiiul 
Avith  on  the  vast  ocean,  chielly  on  the' Ironi    the  wilderness,  not   to  fan   or 


Pacific,  blow  not  directly  from  east 
to  west,  or  from  west  to  east,  but  in- 
cline towards  the  equator,  where  tlie 
air  is  more  raretied.  This  rarefac- 
tion of  the  air  under  the  equator,  1 
suppose,  is  also  the  reason  why  so 


cleanse;  or  a  whirhvind ;  from  the 
side  of  the  Arabian  desert  they  came, 
and  furiously  marcliing  against  the 
Jews,  they  wasted  their  country,  and 
destroyed  their  lives  and  wealth,  Jer. 
xiii.  24.    and  iv.    12.     The  Turks 


much  rain  happens  iu  the  torrid  zone  tare  like  to  a  whirhvind;  how  furi- 
iu  the  summer  season,  the  clouds  |oiis  and  destructive  were  their  in- 
froni other  places  pourinc;  themselves  j roads!  Dan.  xi.  40.  Temptations 
iuto  that  rei^ion,  where  the  heat  has  .of  any  kind  axe  called  wind;  (hey 
so  exceedingly  rarefied  the  air. —  tend  to  toss  men  from  one  i)rinciple 
Winds  blow  almost  constantly  from '  and    practice    to  another,    and    put 


oS'  the  sea,  in  |)laces  exceeding  hot 
Winds  from  the  sea  iire  warmest  in 
winter,  and  coldest  in  summer ;  and 
land  winds  are  coldest  in  winter,  and 
hottest  in  summer.  Winds  blowing 
over  hills  covered  with  snow,  or  over 
cold  countries,  are  hereby  rendered 
colder.  In  dilYerent  countries,  the 
wind  is  often  in  ditlerent,  or  even 
opposite  quarters  at  the  same  time; 
and  the  north  and  south  winds  are 
wet  or  dry,  Prov.  xxv.  23.  A 
whirlwind,  is  a  strong  blast,  wliich 
winds  about  in  a  somewhat  circular 
manner.  ^Multitudes  of  such  blasts 
come  from  the  deserts  of  Arabia :  ami 
out  of  one  of  them  the  Loril  spake  to 
Job,  Isa.  xxi.  1.  Job  xxxvii.  9.  and 
xxxviii.  1.  Whirlwinds  sometimes 
sweep  down  trees,  houses,  and  every 
thing  in  their  way. 

Tiie  Holy  Ghost  is  likened  to  wind 
or  windi ;  how  incomjjrehensible  is 
his  nature  I  and  how  powerful,  con 
Tin<'in'4.  (|uickenina;,  comforting,  and 
purifying,  are  his  influences!  John 
iii.  8.  Ezek.  xxxvii.  The  destruc- 
tive or  afflicting  juilgmenfs  of  C?od 
are  like  wind,  or  cast  wind,  or  whirl- 
wind;  how  unsearcliable  in  their  na- 
ture and  number!  how  violently 
they  bear  down  men  before  them, 
and  blow  the^  and  their  property  to 


them  to  the  trial  whether  they  be 
rooted  and  grounded  in  Christ  atnl 
his  truth,  or  not,  Matt.  vii.  27. 
God's  lifting-  up  Job  to  the  windy 
imports  his  exposure  of  him  to  ter- 
rible troubles  and  temptations,  in 
order  to  try  the  truth  and  strength 
of  his  grace,  and  to  purge  away  his 
corrui)tions;  even  as  men  lift  up 
threshed  corn  to  the  wind,  to  sepa- 
rate the  chatf  from  it.  Job  xxx.  22. 
and  Satan  is  said  to  sijt  men,  Luke 
xxiv.  31 .  Men's  sins  are  called  wind; 
how  they  unsettle  men,  and  toss  them 
from  goodness  or  hapitiness,  Isa.  Ixiv. 
G.  Any  thing  unprofitable  and  un- 
substantial, is  called  wind.  The  He- 
brews in  the  desert,  and  proud  men 
in  any  age,  are  likened  to  wind; 
how  unsubstanliai !  and  how  quickly- 
driven  away,  and  passed  out  of  life ! 
Psal.  Ixxviii.  39.  Prov.  xxv.  14. 
Man's  life  is  likened  to  wind:  it  de- 
pends on  breath ;  how  vaia  and  un- 
settled, dm!  how  quickly  doesitpasa 
away!  Job  vii.  7.  False  prophets 
become  wind,  when  their  predictiojia 
are  falsified,  and  themselves  contemn- 
ed, Jer.  V.  13.  Words  are  wind,  or 
itroni^  wind,  when  they  are  destitute 
of  sense,  are  noisy,  or  passionate,  Job 
vi.  2U.  and  viii.  2.  False  doctrines 
are  called  wind;  how  unsettled,  incoa- 


W  I  N 


(     576,    ) 


W  I  N 


stant,  and  noisy!  liow  they  carry  ixxxviii.  t  13.  Isa.  xxiv.  16.  (3.) 
off  light  and  unsettled  persons  !  but  |  The  battlement  of  a  house  :  hence 
make  little  impression  on  such  as  are  I  perhaps,  what  of  the  temple  our  Sa- 
well  rooted  and  grounded  in  the  iviour  stood  upon,  is  called  a  pinna- 
truth,  Eph.  iv.  14.  Molten  images  jcle  or  wing.  Matt.  iv.  5.  (4.)  The 
are  called  mind  and  confusion ;  in-  spreading  and  warming  rays  of  the 
stead  of  doing  men  service,  they  con-,  sun,  Mai.  iv.  2.  (5.)  The  sails  of 
tribute  to  their  disgrace,  shame,  and  j  ships,  or  the  shadows  of  high  moun- 
perplexity,  Isa.  xli.  29.  To  sow  the  \  tains,  Isa.  xviii.  1 .  (0.)  An  army 
wind,  and  reap  the  whirhvind,  is  to  [spread  out  like  wings,  Isa.  viii.  8. 
eontrive  unprofitable  schemes,  that  and  so  the  wm^  of  abomination,  may 
issue  in  the  ruin  of  the  contrivers,  denote  the  Roman  armies  who  ren- 
Hos.  viii.  7.  To  inherit  wind,  is  tOjdered  Judea  a  desolation,  Dan.ix.f 
possess  what  is  unsubstantial  and  1 27.  (7.)  The  motions  of  the  wind, 
hurtful,  Prov.  xi.  29.  The  Israelites  iPsa.  xviii.  10.  As  the  wings  and 
fed  on  wind,  and  fallowed  after  </ic|  feathers  of  birds  are  instrumental  of 
east7vind;  their  dependence  on  the  their  flight,  and  of  hiding,  protect- 
Syrians,  Assyrians,  or  Egyptians,  did  jing,  and  warming  their  young,  wings 
them  no  real  service,  but  much  hurt,  land  feathers,    ascribed  to  God,  im- 


blasting  and  ruining  their  country, 
and  so  increased  their  lies  and  false 
hood,  and  hastened  the  desolation  of 
their  country,  Hos.  xii.  1. 

To  WIND,  (1.)  To  go  round  about, 
Ezek.  xli.  7.  (2.)  To  wrap,  roll  up, 
John  xix.  40. 

WINDOW,  a  well-known  passage 
for  the  light  to  enter  into  ami  illumi- 
nate houses.  Lattices,  or  case- 
ments, were  the  windows,  or  the 
net-work  of  wire  in  them,  before  the 
invention  of  glass,  Judg.  v.  28.  2 
Kin2;s  i.  2.  Our  eyes  are  called 
windows,  because  we  receive  the 
light  by  them,  Eccl.  xii.  3.  The 
clouds,  especially  when  they  plen- 
fifully  pour  forth  their  rain,  are  call- 
ed the  windows  of  heaven;  but  aru- 
coTH  may  signify  cataracts  or  spmits, 
Gen.  vii.  11.  and  viii.  2.  In  allu- 
sion whereto,  the  windows  of  heaven 
are  said  to  be  opened,  when  God  be- 
stows his  blessing  upon  men  in  a 
plentiful  degree,  Mai.  iii.  10.  or 
when  he  pours  forth  terrible  and  over- 
whelming judgments  upon  them,  Isa. 
xxiv.  18. 

WINE.  See  Vine. 
WINGS,  the  limbs  of  fowls  where 
with  they  fly  in  the  air.  Job  xxxix. 
13.  The  Hebrews  gave  the  name 
oi&wing  to  any  thing  that  resembled 
it:  as,  (1.)  The  skirt  of  a  garment, 
Ruth  iii.  t  9.  Jer.  ii.  j  34.  (2.)  The 
oatside   or  end  of  a  country,    Job 


port  his  speed  to  deliver  his  people, 
and  the  full  and  comfortable  protec- 
tion and  influence  they  receive  from 
his  lore,  power,  promise,  and  provi- 
dence, Ruth  ii.  12.  Psa.  xvii.  8.  and 
xci.  4.  Matt,  xxiii.  37.  Wings  as- 
cribed to  cherubims,  seraphims,  and 
living  creatures,  import  the  readiness 
and  activity  of  angels  and  ministers 
in  the  service  of  God,  Isa.  vi.  Ezek. 
i.  and  x.  The  saints'  tvings,  are  their 
faith,  love,  hope,  holy  aflection,  and 
heavenly  meditation,  whereby  they 
mount  up  towards  their  Saviour,  and 
things  above,  Isa.  xl.  31.  The  two 
tvings  of  a  great  eagle,  given  to  the 
true  church  with  which  to  fly  into  the 
wilderness,  may  denote  God's  special 
assistance,  in  beariiig  her  up,  protect- 
ing, and  comforting  her,  and  directing 
to  proper  methods  of  security  against 
Antichristian  corruptions.  Rev.  xii. 
14.  Wings  ascribed  to  Pharaoh,  Ne- 
buchadnezzar, and  Alexander,  and 
their  kingdoms  or  armies,  may  denote 
the  rapidity  of  their  conquests,  the 
extent  of  their  dominion,  and  their 
great  power  to  protect  their  subjects 
and  allies;  but  Alexander's  four 
wings,  may  also  denote  the  partition 
of  his  empire  into  four  kingdoms, 
soon  after  his  death,  Ezek.  xvii.  3,  4. 
Dan.  vii.  4,  b.  The  noisy  wings  of 
the  locusts  under  the  fifth  trumpet, 
may  denote  the  wide-spread  armies 
of  the  Saracens,  or  the  wide-spread 


W  I  P 


(     577     ) 


W  I  s 


threatenings  autl  oxcommunlcatious 
of  the  Romish  dersry,  llev.  ix.  9. 

WINKING  wilh  the  eye,  inex- 
pressive of  mockery  aiul  derision;  or 
of  giviiip;  one  a  token  to  do  his  neigh- 
bour an  injury,  Prov.  vi.  13.  and  x. 
10.  Psa.  XXXV.  10.  God's  wmkimr 
at  the  times  of  is^norancc^  imports  liis 
long-suffering  goodness  towards  the 
heathen  worUI,  Acts  xvii.  30. 

To  W If} NOW,  to  clean  corn  by 
exposing  it  to  the  Avind,  that  the  chafl' 
and  dusf  may  be  blown  away,  Isa. 
XXX.  24.  God's  winnowins:  ol"  men"'s 
path,  and  lying  down,  denotes  his 
perfect  knowledge  thereof,  ami  his 
bringing  men  into  frequent  trials, 
Psa.  cxxxix.  t  3. 

WINTER,  the  cold  season  when 
fields  and  trees  are  barren,  grass 
is  withered,  and  storms  are  frequent. 
In  the  middle  division  of  the  earth, 
called  the  torrid  zone,  which  is  about 
3270  miles  broad  from  south  to  north, 
they  have  generally  two  winters  a 
year,  but  both  of  them  very  warm. 
In  coimtries  near  to  the  poles,  they 
have  what  we  might  call  a  perpetual 
winter ;  nay,  even  in  Sweden,  the  in- 
habitants have  nine  months  severe 
winter,  and  all  the  rest  of  the  year  is 
summer.  In  some  places,  the  win- 
ter is  so  excessively  cold,  that  it  is 
almost  impossible  to  escape  being 
frozen  to  death,  Gen.  viii.  22.  Even 
iu  Canaan,  great  men  had  their 
warmer  houses  for  the  winter-season 
as  well  as  their  cooler  ones  for  the 
summer,  Jer.  xxxvi.  22.  Amos  iii. 
15.  Seasons  of  temptation,  persecu- 
tion, and  distress,  are  likened  to  a 
winter :  or,  summer  and  winter  may 
signify  all  the  year  long,  perpetually, 
Zech.  xiv.  8.  T» winter,  is  to  live 
or  stay  during  the  winter,  Isa.  xviii. 
0.  Acts  xxvii.  12. 

To  WIPE,  gently  to  rub  off  dust, 
moisture,  or  the  like,  from  any  thing, 
John  xiii.  5.  God  ivipes  away  his 
pcopWs  tears,  when  he  removes  all 
their  grounds  of  grief,  and  fills  them 
wi  th  joy  unspeakable  and  ful  1  of  glory, 
Isa.  XXV.  8.  Rev.  vii,  17.  Hetvipes 
not  out  men's  good  deeds,  when  he 
accepts  and  rewards  them,  Neb.  xiii. 

Vol.  XL 


14.  God  wiped  Jerusahm  as  a  dish, 
turning  it  u;.t.id(>  ddwn,  w  lu  ii  he 
grievously  aillicted  the  Jew^,  and 
uiddugt-d  the  constitution  o  their 
church  and  slate,  l)y  tiie  Assyrians, 
Egyjitians,  and  Chaldeans,  2  Kings 
xxi.  13.  A  lewd  woman's  ivipins  of 
her  mouth,  inqtorts  her  iiri;  udenl  ile- 
nial  of  guilt,  or  her  pretences  to  ho- 
liness and  chastity,  Prov.  xxx.  20. 
An  adulterer's  reproach  shall  not  be 
wiped  away,  i,  e.  it  shall  scarcely 
ever  cense,  Prov.  vi.  33. 

WISE,  (1.)  Prudent  in  the  ma- 
nagement of  things.  Gen.  xli.  33. 
(2.)  Learned,  knowing,  Rom.  i.  l^l. 
God  h  pnhj  wise  ;  he 'alone  has  in 
and  of  himself  an  infinite  knowledge 
of  all  things,  and  is  jjossessed  of  au 
infinite  j)rudence  for  the  directiofi  an«l 
management  of  all  things,  Rom.  xvi. 
27.  1  Tim.  i.  17.  (3.)  Godly,  jiious, 
being  taught  of  God,  and  made  wise 
unto  salvation,  Prov.  xiii.  14.  2  Tim, 
iii.  15.  (4.)  Skilful  artiticers,  Exod. 
xxviii.  3.  (5.)  Subtile,  witty,  2  Sam. 
xiv.  2.  (6.)  Putled  up  with  a  con- 
ceit of  their  own  wisdom,  2  Cor.  xi. 
19.  Rom.  xii.  16.  Wise  also  signi- 
fies manner,  respect,  rato.  Numb.  vi. 
23.  Exod.  xxii.  13.  The  ivisc  men 
of  Egypt,  Chaldea,  &:c.  not  only 
comprehended  their  philosojjhers, 
astronomers,  and  other  adepts  in  na- 
tural science,  but  also  their  diviners. 
See  DiviNATiox,  Gen.  xli.  8.  Dan. 
ii.  10 — 14.  What  the  wise  men, 
who,  excited  by  the  reports  of  the 
speedy  coming  of  the  Messiah,  and 
by  the  appearance  of  an  extraordi- 
nary star,  came  to  visit  our  Saviour 
just  after  his  birth,  were;  whether 
magicians,  or  whether  of  the  sect  of 
the  Persian  magician?,  who  believed 
two  subordinate  [iriuciples,  one  of 
good,  and  another  of  evil,  and  detest- 
ed images  and  temples,  and  wor- 
shipped God  only  by  the  emblem 
of  fire;  or  whether  they  were  only 
philosophers,  we  cannot  determine. 
Neither  know  we  a  whit  better,  what 
particular  country  they  came  from  ; 
whether  from  Persia,  Chaldea,  or 
eastern  Arabia  ;  nor  what  time  they 
took  up  in  their  journey ;  uor  whe- 
4  D 


W  I  s 


(     578     ) 


W  1  s 


ther  the  extraordinary  star  went  be- 
fore them  all  the  way  till  they  came 
near  to  Jerusalem.  But  being  arri- 
ved there,  they  inquired  where  was 
the  born  King  of  the  Jews,  whose 
star  they  had  seen  in  the  east.  In- 
formed by  Herod,  after  his  delibera- 
tion with  his  council,  that  Bethlehem 
was  the  place  marked  out  in  prophe- 
cy for  the  birth  of  the  Messiah,  they 
had  scarcely  departed  from  Jerusalem, 
when  the  star,  to  their  great  joy,  ap- 
peared, and  directed  them  to  the  very 
house.  As  soon  as  they  came  in 
they  worshipped  him,  and  presented 
him  with  various  gifts,  gold,  frank- 
incense, and  mjrrh.  Thus  the  Gen- 
tiles began  to  gather  to  Shiloh. — He- 
rod had  charged  them  to  come  back, 
and  inform  him  where  they  found  the 
young  Messiah ;  but  beifig  warned 
by  an  angel  in  a  dream,  they  went 
home  another  way,  and  no  doubt 
spread  the  report  of  the  Messiah's 
birth,  Matt.  ii. 

WISDOM,  (1.)  Prudence  and  dis- 
cretion to  perceive  what  is  fit  or  un- 
fit to  be  done  with  respect  to  time, 
place,  manner,  instruments,  or  end 
of  an  action,  Eccl.  ii.  13.  (2.)  Know- 
ledge of  sciences ;  so  Moses  was 
learned  in  all  the  ivisdoni  of  the  Egyp- 
tians, Acts  vii.  22.  (3.)  Quickness 
of  invention,  and  dexterity  in  fram- 
ing curious  works ;  with  such  wis- 
dom Bezaleel  and  Aholia!)  were  qua- 
lified to  fashion  the  diw'erent  parts  of 
tlifi  tabernacle,  Kxod.  xxxi.  2,  5. 
(4.)  Craftiness  in  carrying  on  pro- 
jects :  such  was  the  wisdotn  of  Pha- 
raoh in  oppressing  the  Hebrews, 
Exod.  i.  10.  and  of  Jonadab,  who 
contrived  how  Aninon  might  lie 
with  his  half  sister,  2  Sam.  xiii.  3, 
Tlie  two  last  are  called  the  wisdom 
of  this  world,  1  Cor.  ii.  6.  (5.)  Na- 
tural instinct  and  sagacity  ;  thus  the 
ostrich  is  made  without  wisdom.  Job 
xxxix.  17.  (6.)  True  godliness, 
wherein  a  person  being  taught  of 
God  to  know  his  will,  seeks  what  is 
proper,  shuns  what  is  improper,  and 
studies  to  perform  every  duty  in  the 
proper  season  thereof,  Psa.  xc.  12. 
Job  xxviii.  2§.    thia  wisdom  hfrom 


above,  is  a  special  gift  of  God ;  u 
pure,  making  men  careful  to  avoid 
error,  and  every  thing  sinful,  and  to 
cleave  to  truth  and  holiness ;  hpeacc- 
ablc,  disposing  men  to  make  and 
keep  peace  with  others,  as  far  as  is 
consistent  with  holiness ;  it  \% gentle^ 
disposing  men  to  bear  with  the  in- 
firmities of  others,  to  forgive  inju- 
ries, and  interpret  every  thing  in 
the  best  sense  it  will  bear  ;^t  is  easy 
to  be  entreated,  making  men  readily 
to  receive  the  persuasions  of  God's 
word,  and  yield  to  good  counsel  and 
reason;  it  is  full  of  mercy,  and  pity 
towards  such  as  are  in  poverty  or 
distress,  or  have  offended :  it  is  full 
o^  good  fruits,  benevolence,  liberality, 
brotherly  kindness ;  it  is  wiihont  par- 
tiality, not  preferring  one  to  another 
on  carnal  accounts ;  and  without  hy- 
pocrisy, dis|)osing  a  man  to  unfeigned 
holiness,  and  to  judge  himself  t)y  the 
same  law  whereby  he  judges  others, 
Jam.  17,  (7.)  The  gospel  is  called 
wisdom,  and  the  wisdom  of  God  in  a 
mystery,  or  hidden  wisdom  ;  it  is  a  dis- 
play of  the  wise  purposes  and  me- 
thods of  God  concerning  the  salva- 
tion of  men,  and  renders  them  wise 
unto  salvation.  No  creature  could 
discover  it.  Anciently,  it  was  un- 
known among  the  Gentile  nations, 
and  was  but  darkly  revealed  to  the 
Jews  in  mysterious  types :  nor  is  it 
even  now  fully  understood,  1  Cor.  ii, 
6,  7.  (8.)  Christ  is  called  wisdom, 
and  the  wisdom  of  God ;  as  God  he 
is  infinitely  wise;  as  God-man  Me- 
diator, all  ihelreasures  of  wisdom  and 
hnoivlcdgcHre  hid  in  him  :  he  hath  in- 
finite wisdom  for  managing  all  the 
affairs  of  providence  and  grace,  to 
promote  our  salvation  :  in  him  is  gi- 
ven the  most  grand  and  full  display 
of  the  v.'isdom  and  knowledge  of 
God  :  he  is  made  of  God  to  us  wis- 
dom ;  he  savingly  reveals  to  us  the 
nature  and  will  of  God,  and  renders 
us  wise  unto  salvation,  Prov.  iii,  19. 
and  viii.  and  ix.  Wisdom  is  justified 
of  her  children :  that  Jesus  Christ  was 
no  wine-bibber,  or  gluttonous  per- 
son, but  one  perfectly  righteous, 
and  the  trije  Messiah,  is  truly  believ- 


W  I  s 


(     579     ) 


W  I  T 


(?d,  proFessed,  and  evidenced  by  the 
practice  ol'  his  true  followers:  and 
tbe  gospel,  and  true  godliness  found- 
ctl  thereon,  are  sufficiently  acknow- 
ledged to  be  lull  of  wisdom,  holiness, 
and  equity  ;  and  i)y  such  as  devote 
themselves  to  the  study  and  practice 
of  holiness,  are  vindicated  against 
all  the  cavils  of  the  ungodly,  Matt. 
xi.  19. 

The  inputh  of  the  righteous  spcak- 
€th  wisdom  :  when  the  discourses  of 
others  are  wicked  or  vain,  his  are 
pious  and  profitable,  flowing  from  an 
cx[»erimental  knowledge  ol  God,  turn- 
ing upon  divine  things  as  their  object, 
and  tending  to  render  men  wise  unto 
salvation,  Psa.  xxxvii.  30.  The/vj*- 
dom  of  God  in  the  hand  of  Ezra,  was 
either  the  law  of  God  which  he  stu- 
died the  knowledge  of,  or  his  know- 
ledge of  it,  Ezra  vii.  25.  The  wis- 
dom that  Solomon  had,  implied  know- 
ledge of  sciences,  and  sagacity  and 
prudence  for  government,  1  Kings 
iii.  9,  12.  In  the  wisdom  of  God, 
Ihe  world  by  ivisdom  knew  not  God  ; 
God  wisely  so  ordered,  that  neither 
by  the  discoveries  of  God  in  the 
works  of  creation  and  providence, 
nor  by  all  their  philosophy,  did  the 
Heathens  attain  to  the  true  and  sav- 
ing knowledge  of  God,  1  Cor.  i.  21. 
The  wisdom  of  this  world,  and  of  its 
princes,  which  comes  to  nought,  is 
their  policy  in  managing  temporal  or 
state  affairs;  or  the  maxims  relative 
thereto,  which  often  rather  promote 
ruin  than  secure  men  against  it,  1 
Cor.  ii.  7.  Fleshly  wisdom,  is  that 
craft  and  carnal  polic}'  which  tends  lo 
promote  the  service  of  sin,  2  Cor.  i. 
1 2.  No  doubt  yc  arc  the  pcojde,  and 
wisdom  shall  die  with  you,  that  is, 
you  imagine  yourselves  the  only  w  ise 
persons,  and  that  if  you  were  dead, 
knowledge  of  divine  things  would 
perish  from  the  earth;  an  irony,  Job 
xii.  2.  Scorners  seek  wisdom,  but 
find  it  not ;  their  attempts  towards 
knowledge  do  but  render  them  vain 
and  self-conceited,  Prov.  xiv.  6.  To 
preach  the  gospel  with  wisdom  of 
words,  or  words  of  man\s  wisdom,  or 
excellency  of  speech,  is  to  do   it  with 


bombast  and  affected  eloquence, 
|)ompous  and  swollen  phrases,  1  Cor. 
i.  17.  and  ii.  1,  4. 

To  AVIS II,  to  desire,  to  pray  for, 
3  John  2.  Jon.  iv.  8. 

To  WIT,  w  oT,  to  know,  Gen.  xxi. 
20.  IVc  do  you  to  wit,  is  an  obsolete 
phrase  for  IVc  inform  you,  2  Cor.  viii. 
1.  'J'o  be  at  one's  wiCs  end,  is  to  be 
in  such  perplexity  as  not  to  know 
what  to  do,  Psa.  cvii.  27.— Wit- 
ting r,v,  is  wisely,  warily,  well  know- 
ing what  he  did,  Gen.  xlviii.  14. — 
Witty,  is  dexterous,  that  requires 
great  wisdom  and  skill,  Prov.  viii.  12. 

WITCH,  is  a  woman,  and  Wi- 
zard is  a  man,  that  \»  peculiarly  sub- 
ject to  Satan,  if  he  be  not  actually' 
entered  into  formal  compact  with 
him.  That  such  persons  are  gmong 
men,  is  abundantly  evident  from  scrip- 
ture, and  also  that  they  ought  to  be 
|)ut  to  death,  Deut.  xviii.  10.  Exod. 
xxii.  18.  It  is  plain,  however,  that 
great  caution  is  necessary  in  the  de- 
tection of  the  guilty,  and  in  jiunishing 
them,  lest  theinnocent  suffer,  as  many 
instances  in  New  England,  and  other 
[ilaces,  show.  Nor  can  I  believe  that 
peo[)le's  standing  in  awe  of  persons  as 
suspected  of  this  infernal  ()ower,  is 
any  thing  else  than  an  indirect  wor- 
bhip|)ing  of  Satan.  Witchcraft 
com|)rehends  all  kinds  of  influence 
produced  by  collusion  with  Satan,  and 
excludes  the  user  of  it  from  the  king- 
dom of  God,  Gal.  v.  20.  The  ivilch- 
crafls  of  Nineveh,  may  import  the 
divinations  there  practised,  and  also 
their  deceitful  and  ensnaring  behavi- 
our to  the  nations  around,  Nah.  iii.  4. 
See  Bewitch. 

WITHAL,  (1.)  Also,  1  Kings xix. 
1.  (2.)  Wholly,  Psa.  cxii.  10.  (3.) 
With,  by  means  of,  Exod.  xxv.  29. 
and  XXX.  4. 

ToWlTHnRAW,(l.)  To  cease, 
leave  off,  1  Sam.  xiv.  19.  (2.)  To 
remove,  Jobxiii.  21.  (3.)  To  draw 
or  turn  aside.  Job  xxxiii.  17.  ^4.) 
To  entice,  seduce,  Deut.  xiii.  23.  (5.) 
To  absent,  forbear  keeping  company 
with,  Prov.  xxv.  17.  God  withdraws 
himself,  when  he  ceases  granting 
sweet    jntimncy  with  men,  and  in 


.a 


W  I  T 


(     580     ) 


W  I  T 


steail  of  delivering  them,  gives  them 
up  into  the  hands  of  their  enemies, 
or  (o  distress  and  sorrow,  Hos.  v.  6. 
God  withdraws  his  right  hand,  when 
he  seemingly  works  nothing  for  their 
adv  intage,  and  does  not  support  or 
protect  lljemas  formerly,  Psa.  Ixxiv. 
11.  He  wiihdraweth  ?iot  his  eyes 
from  tlie  righteous ;  never  ceases  his 
tender  observation  of,  or  care  about 
them,  Job  xxsvi.  7.  To  withdraw 
from  brethren  that  walk  disorderly, 
from  men  of  corrupt  minds,  or  anti- 
christians,  is  to  forbear  familiar  inti- 
macy AVJth  them,  and  cease  from  reli- 
gious fellowship  with  them,  2  Thess. 
iii.  ti.  1  Tim.  vi.  5.  and  2  Tim.  iii.  5. 

To  WITHER,to  dry  up  and  decay, 
Jer.  xii.  4.  Menwiihcr,  when  they 
lose  their  vigour  of  life  or  prosperity, 
and  fall  into  weakness,  poverty,  and 
distress,  Psa.  xc.  6.  Ezek.  xvii.  9. 
10.  Psa.  cii.  4.  or  when  they  lose 
their  fair  profession,  or  activity  in 
grace,  and  become  wicked,  or  sloth- 
ful in  the  practice  of  holiness.  Matt, 
xiii.  6.  Jiide  12.  Psa.  cii.  4.  The 
top  of  Carmel  shfill  wither  ;  the  most 
fertile  and  well-inhabited  places  shall 
become  barren  and  desolate,  Amos 
i.  2. 

WITHHOLD.     See    Restrain. 

WITHIN,  (1.)  In  the  inside  of 
a  house,  city,  vessel,  &c.  Ezek.  iii. 
24.  (2.)  Ere  a  certain  time  be 
finished,  Lev.  xxv.  29.  Judg,  xi. 
26,  (3.)  In  the  heart.  Malt,  xxiii.  25 
—27.  2  Cor.  v.  7.  (4.)  In  the  church, 
as  members  thereof,  2  Cor.  v.  12. 
Without,  (1.)  On  the  outside  of 
a  house,  &c.  2  Kings  x.  24.  (2.) 
Wanting  possession,  worship,  com- 
mand, assistance,  companj-,  happi- 
ness, Eph.  ii.  12.  2  Chron.  xv.  3. 
2  Kings  xviii.  25.  1  Pet.  iii.  1.  (3.) 
Not  members  of  the  church,  1  Cor. 
V.  12,  13.  Col.  iv.  5.  (4.)  Shutout 
from  heaven;  cast  into  hell.  Rev. 
xxii.  15.  (5.)  Publicly  in  the  ordi- 
nances of  the  gospel,  and  among  the 
Gentiles,  Prov.  i.  20.  Song  viii.  1. 

WITHES,  twisted  boughs,  wil- 
lows, ttc.  such  as  those  Avherewith 
faggots  are  often  bound  together, 
Judg.  xvi.  7,  3. 


To  WITHSTAND,  effectually  to 
oppose,  Dan.  xi.  15.  Paul  withstood 
Peter  to  the  face,  when  he  sharply 
rebuked  him,  and  timely  checked  his 
dissimulation.  Gal.  ii.  11. 

WITNESS,  (1.)  One  who  so- 
lemnly, or  upon  oath,  gives  his  de- 
clarationconcerninga  matter,  Numb. 
V.  13.  No  person  is  to  be  condemn- 
ed on  the  testimony  of  one  witness  ; 
but  at  least  two  or  three  jire  to  de- 
l)Ose  harmoniously  in  proof  of  the 
same,  or  a  similar  fact.  As  some 
men,  especially  such  as  are  given  to 
swearing  in  their  common  conver- 
sation, by  prejudice,  or  by  the  influ- 
ence of  a  bribe,  are  ready  to  swear 
falsel)',  God,  to  defer  the  Hebrew  wit- 
nesses from  false  swearing,  appointed 
them  to  begin  the  execution  of  the 
sentence  against  him  that  was  con- 
demned to  death,  upon  the  footing 
of  their  deposition,  by  casting  the 
first  stone  at  him,  Deut,  xvii.  6,  7. 
If  a  witness  was  detected  of  false 
testimony,  he  was  condemned  to  the 
very  same  form  of  punishment  which 
his  false  deposition  tended  to  bring 
his  neighbour  to,  Deut.  xix.  16 — 18. 
When  our  Saviour  was  crucified,  his 
adversaries  suborned  as  many  false 
witnesses  as  they  could ;  but  (heir  tes- 
timonies never  agreed  in  any  thing 
criminal,  Mark  xiv.  55,  56.  False 
witnesses  too  were  suborned  against 
Naboth  and  Stephen,  1  Kings 
xxi.  10,  13.  Acts  vi.  13.  God  is  a 
witness,  and  swift  witness,  against 
sinners,  false  swearers,  or  others;  he 
observes,  and  will  speedily  manifest 
and  jiunish  their  sins,  Jer.  xxix.  23. 
Mai.  iii.  5.  Christ  is  a  Witness  given 
to  the  people:  faithfully  and  solemn- 
ly he  declares  to  men  the  various 
truthsof  the  gospel ;  and  the  consti- 
tution of  his  person  and  mediation, 
and  his  word,  miracles,  oath,  death, 
and  ordinances,  do  all  concur  to  at- 
test the  same.  Rev.  i.  5.  and  iii.  15, 
Isa.  Iv.  4.  The  Holy  Ghost  is  awit- 
iiess  :  by  his  powerful  miracles,  and 
by  his  infiuences  on  the  consciences 
of  men,  he  attests  the  truths  of  God's 
word,  and  the  Messiahsliij)  of  Christ ; 
bv  enabling  them  to  understand  the 


W  I  T 


(     581     ) 


W  I  T 


work  of  prace  as  described  in  gcrip- 
Jure,  by  shining  on  and  quickening 
their  holy  dispositions,  <ind  by  a 
mighty  application  of  the  promises, 
lie  hears  wilncss  with  the  spirit  ol  true 
believers,  that  they  are  children  of 
God,  Koni.  vii.  10.  Heb.  x,  15. — 
Thirc  arc  three  that  hear  tvitncsti  on 
rarlh-t — the  Sjiirit.,  the  water,  and  the 
hlooff,  1  John  V.  8.  The  blood  which 
our  Saviour  shed  at  his  death,  jiroved 
his  humanity  ;  and  the  water  which 
issued  with  the  blood,  when  his  side 
was  pierced  by  one  of  the  soldiers 
who  attended  his  crucifixion  ascer- 
tained the  reality  of  his  death,  as  it 
showed  the  pericardium  to  be  per- 
forated. The  S])irit  also  bears  wit- 
ness as  a  spirit  of  prophecy,  the  au- 
thor of  miracles,  and  of  all  holiness. 
He  bore  witness  to  Christ  as  the  JMes- 
siah  at  his  baptism,  when  poured  out 
on  the  day  of  Pentecost,  and  in  every 
true  believer,  1  John  v.  10. 

Men's  own  conscience  or  spirit 
hears  witness,  by  causing  them  to  as- 
sent to  the  truth  of  the  gospel,  Rom.  vi. 
1 G.  Prophets,  apostles,  and  ministers, 
are  witnesses ;  upon  their  certain 
knowledge,  they  solemnly  declare  the 
truth  concerning  God's  perfections, 
will,  and  work  ;  concerning  the  per- 
son and  offices  of  Christ ;  and  concern- 
ing the  world,  that  the  deeds  of  i  are 
evil,  Rom.  iii.  22.  Acts  x.  43.  and 
V.  32.  The  saints  are  God's  witnesses; 
by  their  profession  and  practice,  they 
solemnly  attest  the  excellencies  of 
God  in  Christ,  the  truth  and  im|)or- 
tance  of  his  word,  the  grace  and  glo- 
ry of  his  works,  and  the  vanity  of 
every  thing  in  comparison  of  him, 
Isa.  xliii.  10,  12.  and  xliv.  8.  and 
when  they  bear  7vitness  unto  death, 
they  are  called  martyrs.  Rev.  ii. 
13.  The  ministers  and  Christians 
who  oppose  the  abominations  of  An- 
tichrist, are  Christ's  tivo,  small,  but 
sutAcient  number  of  ivitncsses,  who, 
assisted  by  God,  continue  prophcsy- 
WLf,  adhering  to,  and  declaring  divine 
truths,  dotJicd  in  sackcloth,  in  a  hum- 
ble, distressed,  and  mourning  condi- 
tion. They  stand  before  God,  are 
under  his  special  care  and  protection, 


and  live  a?  tinder  his  eye  ;  fire  c^octh 
out  of  their  mouth  to  iuirt  t.ieir  ene- 
niie->  ;  thego»|'fl  they  preach  or  jiro- 
fess,  tends  to  the  ruin  of  Anlichrist, 
and  their  prayers  bring  jutlgments 
u;»on  him  :  they  shut  heaven  hy  so- 
lemn censure,  or  by  declaring  God'u 
threatenings.  Nor  does  the  rain  of 
gospel-truth  or  influence  tail  on  the 
Popish  state  ;  and  their  witnessing 
occasions  bloody  wars.  Antichrist 
at  last  almost  ruins  them  ;  but  God 
shall  suddenly  render  them  more 
powerful  than  ever,  Rev.  xi.  3 — 19. 
See  Chl'rch. 

Whatever  manifests  the  truth  of 
any  point,  is  called  a  witness  ;  so  the 
imj)udeut  show  of  sinner's  counte- 
nance, and  their  boldness  in  sin,  isa 
witncssas^ainM  them,  thai  they  deserve 
and  are  n\)e  for  calamities,  Isa.  iii.  9. 
Job  thought  his  troubles  were  7vit- 
nesses  of  God's  great  displeasure  with 
him,  Job  X.  17.  and  xvi.  8.  The 
moon  is  a  faithful  yvitness,  that  God 
keeps  his  covenant  with  David's 
seed,  and  that  as  certainly  as  day 
and  night  return  in  their  season  :  and 
the  rainbow  is  a  faithful  witness,  a 
never-failing  token  of  God's  cove- 
nant to  preserve  the  earth  from  a 
second  deluge.  Psalm  Ixxxix.  27. 
Rain  and  fruitful  seasons  are  wit- 
nesses of  God's  continued  patience 
and  kindness  to  men,  Acts  xiv.  ]  7. 
i  The  settlement  of  the  true  religion  in 
Egypt,  was  a  7vitncss  to  the  Lord ; 
a  proof  of  his  redeeming  power  an(T 
kindness,  and  of  his  exact  accom- 
plishment of  his  promises,  Isa.  xiy. 
20.  (2.)  Witness  or  testimont, 
signifies  also  the  solemn  declaration 
of  a  witness,  or  the  truth  attested, 
1  John  V.  Q.  Acts  xiv.  5.  The  two 
tallies  of  the  moral  law,  are  called  a 
testimony,  because  they  were  proofs 
of  the  covenant-relation  between 
God  and  Israel,  and  infallibly  de- 
clared what  he  required  of  them, 
Exod.  XXV.  lU,  21.  and  xxxi.  18. 
The  whole  word  of  God  is  called 
his  testimonies,  as  therein  is  declared 
what  we  ought  to  believe  and  prac- 
tise or  expect,  Psa.  xix.  7.  His 
law  is  a /fs/jwio/iy,  as  it  solemnly  de- 


W  O  L 


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W  O  L 


dares  his  will  and  our  duty,  2  Kings 
xi.  12.  The  gospel  is  a  testimony, 
that  declares  v/hat  God  has  done  (or, 
and  is  ready  to  give  to  sinners,  for 
their  eternal  salvation,  1  Cor.  i.  6. 
and  ii.  1.  2  Tim.  i.  8.  The  tvUness 
or  testimony  of  Jesus,  is  the  truths  he 
declared,  and  of  u  hich  he  is  the  sub- 
ject-matter and  end,  and  which  his 
peoj'Ie  believe  and  proiess  concern- 
ing him.  Rev.  xx.  4.  and  i.  9.  and  it 
is  called  the  saints'  testimony,  as  they 
profess  and  adhere  to  them  even  unto 
death,  Rev.  xii.  11.  and  xi.  7.  To 
have  the  testimony  of  Jcst/s  Christ,  is 
to  preach  his  gospel,  nnd  abide  firm 
in  the  profession,  faith,  and  main- 
tenance  of  his  truth.  Rev.  xix.   10. 

To     WITNESS,      BEAR     WITNESS,      Or 

TESTIFY,  is,  (1.)  Solemnly  to  declare 
a  point  before  a  judge,  Acts  xs.  24, 
and  xxvi.  (5.)  Boldly  and  so- 
lemnly to  declare  any  point,  .lohn  iii. 
11.  and  V.  32.  1  Tim.  vi.  13.  (3.) 
Seriously  to  lay  a  charge  or  a  truth 
home  to  men's  conscience,  Psa.  1.  7. 
Neh.  xiii.  15. 

WIZARD.     See  Witch. 

WO,  is  a  word  of  mourning.  Wo 
wcrih  ;  alas  for  !  Ezek.  xxx.  2.  Wo 
isme  ;  alas,  how  unhappy  I  am  !  Psal. 
cxx.  5.  A  wo  is  a  heavy  calamity ; 
the  rise  of  Popery  and  Mahometanism, 
the  396  years  ravage  of  the  Ottoman 
Turks,  and  the  fearful  overthrow  of 
Popery  and  Mahometanism,  are  the 
three  terrible  woes,  that  under  the 
."^ih,  6lh,  and  7th,  apocaltyptic  trum- 
pets, fall  on  the  inhabitants  of  the 
earth.  Rev.  viii.  13.  and  ix.  12.  and 
si.  14.  Wo,  in  curses  and  threaten- 
ings,  denotes  the  approach  of  some 
heavy  calamity.  Matt,  xxiii.  13 — 
29.  WoFUL,  full  of  distress  and 
sorrow,  Jer.  xvij.  26. 

WOLF.     Wolves  are  four-footed 
beasts  of  the  dog  kind,  with   their 
tail  bending  inward,  and  their  ears 
pricked  up.     Tiieir  head  is  squarish 
and  their  hair  grayish.       They   are 
crafty,    greedy,    ravenous,    and    of; 
a  quick  smell  :  they  abide  in  forests, ; 
and    are    great   enemies  to  cattle  : ' 
i\\ey  howl  instead  of  barking  :  they ; 
can  bear  hunger  long,  but  are  then ! 


exceedingly  fierce,  and  will  faH  oft 
either  man  or  beast  that  comes  in 
their  way,  or  even  upon  one  another. 
Hence  in  the  evening,  when  they 
come  hungry  out  of  their  holes,  they 
are  most  lurious  and  dangerous,  Jer. 
v.  6.  Hab.  i.  8.  Nay,  they  are  or- 
dinarily timorous,  except  when  hun- 
ger prom{)ts  them.  Throwing  Of 
stones,  sight  of  fire,  sound  of  bells, 
or  of  singing,  it  is  said,  terrifies 
them.  In  cloudy  and  dark  days, 
they  attack  flocks  of  sheep,  but  go 
contrary  to  the  wind,  that  the  sheep- 
dogs may  not  smell  them  out.  It  is 
said,  the  females  grow  more  fruitful 
by  one  every  year  till  the  ninth. 
Many  other  things  I  omit,  as  I  suspect 
them  to  be  fabulous.  Wicked  rulers 
.uid  others,  chiefly  persecutors,  are 
likened  to  wolves  :  their  god  is  their 
belly :  they  delight  in  darkness :  they 
harass  and  destroy  Christ's  sheep  ; 
and,  if  mercy  change  them  not,  they 
shall  howl  for  ever  in  hell,  Ezek. 
xxii.  27.  Matt.  x.  16.  The  '  wolf 
'  dwells  with  the  lamb,  and  the  leo- 
'  pard  lies  down  with  the  kid ;  and 
'  the  young  lion  and  the  falling  toge- 
'  ther,  and  a  little  child  leads  them  ; 
'  and  the  cow  and  bear  feed  and  lie 
'  down  together  ;  and  the  sucking 
'  child  puts  his  hand  on  the  hole  of 
'  the  asp,  and  the  weaned  child  puts 
'  his  hand  upon  the  cockatrice  den  ;' 
when  persecutors,  and  the  very 
worst  of  men,  are  converted  by  the 
gospel,  and  kindly  coalesce  with  the 
I  poorest  and  meekest  saints,  in  one 
church,  Isa.  xi.  6 — 8.  and  Ixv.  25. 
The  Chaldeans,  and  the  Jewish  ru 
lers,  are  likened  to  evening  wolves., 
to  mark  their  insatiable  avarice,  and 
readiness  to  destroy  every  one  that 
comes  in  the  wa3%  Jer.  v.  6.  Hab. 
i.  8.  Zeph.  iii.  3.  The  tribe  of  l^en- 
yAmm  ravened  as  a  wolf;  their  war- 
riors were  fierce  ;  twice,  25,000  of 
them  put  aiiout  360,000  of  the  other 
tribes  to  flight  near  Gibeah,  and  the 
remnant  of  them  seized  the  young 
women  of  Shiloh,  Judg.  xx.  and  xxi. 
In  the  beginning  of  his  reign,  Saul 
mightily  harassed  the  Philistines, 
Moabites,  and  others,  and  destroyed 


WON 


{     ^S3     ) 


WOO 


most  of  the  Auiftlekites,  1  Saoi.  xi\'. 
and  XV.  By  means  of  Moiilrcai  ami 
Esther,  two  Bonjamites,  Hainan  and 
about  70,000  ol  the  Jews''  enemies, 
werti  slain,  Estii.  i\.  Alter  ce.i^ing 
his  persecnlion  of  the  saints,  how  n-e- 
ful  WH3  Paul  in  ravau^'niij;  tht'  kingdom 
of  riatan,  ami  eonverling  multitudes 
to  Olirist,  (Jen.  xlix.  27. 

WOMAN.     See  Ma.v. 

WOAIB,  that  part  of  the  mother'? 
bmly,  \vh-.'i>^iri  children  are  conceiv- 
ed and  nouri?hetl  till  their  Idrth. 
Luke  i.  31.  By  the  wo>nb  of' Ike  morn- 
imr,  is  meant  ti»e  clouds  which  distil 
their  drops  of  deiv;  and  may  re|tit;- 
seiit  thechurc!),  in  the  aiio^-lolic  age, 
bri.jj^i'iJ  forth  niuititutles  to  Christ, 
Psa.  c\.  3. 

To  WO.VDER,  MARVEL,  (1.)  To 

be  sfrsick  wi(h  surjjri.se  ?if  the  sight 
©r  tlioui^htol'  any  thing  strange  and 
nncommon,  Jer.  iv.  9.  (2.)  To  ex- 
ercise a  reverential  re;5ard  to  any 
thing,  or  with  wonder  to  adore  and 
serve  it.  Rev.  iii.  13.  A\''o>derb  or 
MARVELS,  (I.)  IMiings  strange  and 
astonishing,  as  the  more  rare  appear- 
ances of  nature,  Psa.  cvii.  27.  or 
the  miracles  which  God  wrought  in 
delivering  Israel  out  of  Egypt,  Psa. 
cv.  27.  (2.)  A  token,  or  sign:  thus 
Isaiah  was  a  wonder  to  Egypt  and 
Ethiopia,  as  his  walking  without  liLs 
upper  robe,  and  barefoot,  was  a  pre 
sage  of  calamities  to  these  couiitriej, 
Isa.  XX.  3.  The  saints  are  wonders, 
or  men  tvondtrcd  at :  they  are  oiiject:- 
of  the  wonderful  kindness  and  care 
ol"  God,  and  are  wondered  at  by 
car.vil  men,  as  persons  foolish  and 
extravagant  in  their  faith  and  prac- 
tice, Isa.  viii.  18.  David  w.is  a  ivon- 
dcr  to  many  ;  was  a  kind  of  spectacle, 
because  of  his  distress,  Psa.  Ixxi.  7. 

WoNDERFL'L,       MARVELLOIS,        hard 

to  be  done,  not  easy,  nor  imimsoible 
to  he  understood,  2  Sam.  xiii.  2.  Job 
r.  0.  Chri.-t  is  nwnderjuU  in  his  di- 
vine nature  united  to  the  human,  in 
hia  office  of  Medintor,  and  the  execu- 
tion thereof,  in  tiie  depth  of  his  de- 
bis.^ment,  and  glory  of  his  exaltation, 
in  his  kin<!a>.'ss  to  his  [)eople,  and  hi^ 
dwelling  iu  their  heart  by  faith,  Isa. 


ix.  6.  God  sliowed  himself  marvU- 
lou.s  upon  Job  ;  he  inthctt'd  very  un- 
conunou  (roubles  upon  him,  Job  x. 
10. 

WOOD,  (1.)  The  timber  of  trees, 
Gon.  xxii.  0.  It  was  used  for  fuel: 
•ind  to  fall  inuLr  the  wood,  is  to 
laint  umlcr  the  most  slavish  service, 
as  Itearing  of  wood,  Lam.  v.  13. 
</edaris  the  wood  of  Lebanon,  Song 
iii.  9.  See  (Jmakm.t.  The  A?sy- 
rian  army  i)elore  Jerusalem  were  as 
wood  or  J'nct,  when  the  Lord,  by- 
some  fiery  plague,  cut  otf  185,000  of 
them  in  one  night,  Isa.  xxx.  33. 
Doctrines,  vain,  em|ity,  and  false, 
which  cannot  abide  the  trial  of  God's 
word,  which  is  likened  to  a  fire,  are 
called  ivood,  1  Cor.  iii.  12.  (2.) 
An  idol  made  of  wood,  Hab.  ii.  19. 
(3.)  A  FOREST,  or  multitude  of  trees 
growing  together;  or  the  place 
where  they  grow.  There  were  r 
variety  of  forests  in  Canaan;  as  the 
forest  of  Hareth,  in  the  south  ol" 
ludah,.  1  Sam.  xxii.  5.  of  mount 
Ephraim,  Josh.  xvii.  18.  of  Bethel, 
2  Kings  ii.  14.  and  of  Carmel,  2 
Kings  xix.  23.  On  the  east  of  Jor- 
flan  was  a  forest  called  the  wood  of 
Ephraim,  because  there  Jephthah 
had  routed  and  cat  otf  multitudes  ot 
the  Ephraimites,  2  Sam.  xviii.  6. 
hulg.  sii.  5.  We  read  also  of  the 
forest  of  Arabia,  Isa.  xxi.  13.  but 
that  of  Lebanon  is  the  most  noted, 
aud  it  is  called  the  king's  forest,  as 
the  Persian  kings  took  it  under  theic 
special  care,  Neh.  ii.  8.  aud  called  it 
the  forest  of  Lebanon.  Besides  thft 
true  lorest  of  Lebanon,  there  was  s^ 
)  dace  of  this  name,  so  called  because 
.'ast  quantities  of  cedar-wooti  were 
used  iu  its  erection,  which  grew  on 
mount  Lebanon,  built  by  Solomon  ia 
•Jerusalem,  next  to  that  of  Pharaoh'8 
daughter,  1  Kings  vii.  2.  and  x.  17. 
'!'he  Assyrian  army  is  called  uforest: 
how  numerous  and  how  stately  was 
Jheir  ap])earance!  but  how  soon 
•vere  they  consumed  by  the  wrath 
)f  God!  Isa.  X.  18,  19.  and  xxxii. 
19.  Egypt  and  her  numerous  cities, 
or  their  large  araiy  under  Pharaoh- 
oecho,  is  called  &  forest,  Jer.  xlvi. 


won 


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W  O  R 


23.  Jerusalem  is  called  the  forest 
of  the  south  field ;  it  lay  near  the 
south  of  Canaan;  the  Chaldeans 
marched  southward  to  it,  and  nume- 
rous were  its  houses  and  inhabitants, 
Ezek.  XX.  46.  A  dangerous  and  trou- 
blesome-like condition,  is  likened  to 
a  tvood,  where  serpents  and  wild 
beasts  abound ;  and  to  sleep  safely  in 
wildernesses  and  fvoods,  is  to  enjoy 
yery  great  safety  and  happiness, 
Ezek.  xxxiv.  25. 

AVOOL,  was  anciently  plucked  off 
the  sheep  when  alive :  and  so  a 
fleece  borne  by  a  sheep  at  a  time, 
was  called  by  the  Romans  Vellus,  the 
plucking.  In  China,  the  sheep  are 
shorn  thrice  every  year.  Ancientljs 
the  best  wool  was  grown  about  Da- 
mascus, Ezek.  xxvii.  18.  at  present, 
the  Spanish  is  reckoned  the  best  in 
Europe,  though  that  of  England  is 
now  very  little  inferior  to  it  in  qua- 
lity or  price.  In  countries  either 
too  cold  or  too  hot,  the  wool  is  coarse 
or  short.  Snow  is  like  ivool  in  soft- 
ness and  whiteness;  its  broad  flakes 
are  like  locks  of  wool,  especially  in 
Asia,  and  it  warms  the  earth  as  a 
woollen  garment  does  the  body,  Psa. 
cxlvii.  16.  Crimson-like,  or  very 
aggravated  transgressions,  are  as 
white  wool,  when  they  are  fully  par- 
doned, Isa.  i.  18.  Superstition,  car- 
nal sloth,  and  self-righteousness,  are 
like  wool  that  cmiseth  sweat ;  how  de- 
filing and  fatiguing!  Ezek.  xliv.  17. 
See  White. 

WORD,  (1.)  A  speech  express- 
ing report,  request,  command,  pro- 
mise, &c.  Gen.xxxvii.  14.  and  xliv. 
18.  Exod.  viii.  13.  Dan.  iii.  28.  2 
Sam.  vii.  25.  The  kingdom  of  God 
h  not  in  word,  but  in  power.  God 
does  not  erect  his  church  by  mere 
words,  but  by  the  almighty  influ- 
ences of  his  Spirit,  1  Cor.  iv.  20. 
Men  love  not  in  word  nor  in  tongue, 
but  in  deed  and  in  truth,  when  they 
show  their  love,  not  chiefly  in  kind 
speeches,  but  in  kind  actions,  1  John 
iii.  18.  (2.)  The  thing  about  which 
a  speech  is  made;  so  the  affair  of 
John  Baptist's  birth  is  called  a  word, 
Ijuke  i.  65.     T«  whom  hast  thou  ut- 


tered words?  and  whose  spirit  come 
from  thee?  Do  you  not  know  that 
he  to  whom  you  speak  knows  ail  that 
you  have  said,  and  that  his  circum- 
stances are  not  proper  for  such  a  dis- 
course? Have  you  not  rather  re- 
peated what  Eliphaz  said,  than  spo- 
ken under  the  direction  of  God's  Spi- 
rit ?  and  what  encouragement  have 
you  ever  given  to  my  drooping  spi- 
rit? Job  xxvi.  4.  The  won/ ©/"Gorf  is, 
(1.)  Jesus  Christ,  who,  by  the  Chal- 
dee  paraphrast,  and  by  the  apostles 
and  others,  is  called  the  Word.  He 
is  the  express  image  of  his  Father,  as 
words  are  of  thoughts.  He  spoke  all 
things  into  being  at  the  creation  ?  he 
spoke  to  the  ancient  patriarchs  and 
prophets;  he  preached  the  gospel  in 
the  days  of  his  flesh ;  he  speaks  for 
men  in  his  intercession,  and  speaks 
to  their  hearts  by  his  word  and  Spi- 
rit ;  and  he  is  the  great  subject-mat- 
ter of  what  is  spoken  in  scripture, 
John  i.  1,  4.  Rev.  xix.  13.  (2.) 
The  declared  will  of  God  in  the 
scripture,  doctrines,  commands,  pro- 
mises, threatenings,  histories,  predic- 
tions. Rev.  xix.  9.  Rom.  ix.  6.  and 
it,  chiefly  the  gospel,  is  the  word  of 
Christ,  as  he  is  the  author,  subject- 
matter,  and  end  of  it.  Col.  iii.  16. 
The  word  of  righteousness,  as  it  re- 
veals to  us  the  righteousness  and 
death  of  Christ,  as  the  sole  price  of 
our  salvation;  and  it  teaches  us  to 
follow  righteousness,  faith,  and  cha- 
rity, Heb.  V.  13.  It  is  the  word  of 
faith,  a  declaration  of  divine  truths,  to 
be  received  and  credited  by  us  as  the 
sure  ground  of  our  claim  lo  salvat'on, 
Rom.  X.  3.  It  is  the  word  of  salva- 
tion, as  it  reveals  and  offers  to  us  a 
full  salvation,  and  by  believing  and 
improving  it,  are  we  possessed  of 
begun  salvation,  and  prepared  for 
eternal  glory,  Acts  xiii.  26.  It  is  the 
word  of  this  life ;  it  is  now  preached 
to  men,  and  by  it  they  become  par- 
takers of  eternal  life,  Acts  v.  20. 
The  word  of  God^s  grace,  and  the 
word  of  life,  or  eternal  life,  is  either 
Christ,  who  is  freely  given  to  be  our 
Saviour,  and  by  whom  we  have  our 
spiritual  and  eternal  life,  or  the  word 


W  0  R 


(     .085     ) 


W  0  R 


<.f  God's  gospel  promises,  whicli  de 
tiare  and  convey  the  free  favours  of 
God  to  men,  lor  (he  present  and 
eternal  salvation  of  (heir  souls,  Acts 
XX.  32.  1  John  i.  1.  John  vi.  G«. 
Phil.  ii.  IG.  The  ivonl  of  the  oalh, 
is  God'b  anricnt  ond  solemn  declara- 
tion, (hat  Christ  should  he  a  |)rit?s(  for 
ever,  Heh.  vii.  28.  The  ivord  of 
wisdom  and  of  knowlcd<>r,  is  an  emi- 
nent faculty  wisely  to  take  up  and 
publish  olivine  things,  1  Cor.  xii.  o. 

To  WORK,  to  act  in  making, 
forming,  ordering,  or  ni)hoIding 
things,  1  Cor.  xii.  G.  James  i.  3. 
Psa.  Hi.  2.  (2.)  To  prepare,  to  make 
meet;  so  God  works  glory  for  his 
people,  and  he  works  them  iuto  a 
meetness  for  it,  Psa.  xxxi.  19.  2  Cor. 
V.  5.  To  rvork  God's  judgments,  is, 
to  obey  his  laws,  observe  hib  ordi- 
nances, and  be  duly  atTected  with  his 
strokes,  Zeph.  ii.  3.  All  things  work 
toicethcr  for  the  good  of  the  saints ; 
their  troubles  work  for  them  an  ex- 
ceeding and  eternal  weightof  glory ; 
God,  by  his  wise  disposal  of  them, 
and  by  his  influence  accompanying 
them,  makes  them  concur  to  alarm 
and  excite  them  to  their  duty  Jiere, 
and  to  prepare  them  for  the  future 
glory  hereafter,  Rom.  viii.  28.  2 
Cor.  iv.  1 7. 

A  WORK,  or  DEEP,  (1.)  Temporal 
labour,  such  as  may  l)e  done  on  the 
six  labouring  days.  Exodus  xx.  9. 
(2.)  Any  kind  of  agency  in  thouglit, 
word,  or  act,  Eccl.  xii.  14.  (3.)  An 
uncommon  or  miraculous  work,  John 
vii.  21.  (4.)  The  thing  effected  by 
any  agency  or  influence  ;  so  all  crea- 
tures are  the  ^vork  of  God's  hands. 
Job  xxxiv.  19.  (.0.)  The  materials 
for  forming  an  effect  out  of,  parti- 
cularly for  building,  Prov.  xxiv.  27. 
(6.)  The  wages  or  reward  of  a  work, 
Lev.  xix.  1 13.  Job  vii.  f  2.  Rev.  xiv. 
1 3.  The  work  of  God,  is,  (1  •)  That 
wiiich  heeffects,  as  of  creation,  Gen. 
ii.  2.  or  of  providence,  Jolm  v.  17. 
Isa.  V.  19.  Hab.  iii.  2.  or  o(  redemp- 
tion, Jolni  ix.  4.  or  of  grace,  Pliil.  ii. 
13.  These  are  God's  7narrcllous 
works,  1  Chron.  xvi.  12.  Rev.  xv.  3. 
(2.)  The  works  which  God  coniirtand? 

Vnl,.    jl. 


US  to  do,  John  vi.  2o.  and  hence  ser- 
vice done  to  Christ  is  called  his  work, 
1  Cor.  XV.  58.  and  xvi.  10.  Phil.  ii.  30. 
Faith  is  the  work  of  God,  :is  he  pro- 
duces and  maintains  the  grace  of  it  in 
u^,  and  as  he  commands  us  to  act 
faith,  John  vi.  20.  Mens  works,  me 
either,  (1.)  Good,  proceeding  from  a 
right  princi|)le  and  motive,  directed 
by  God's  law,  and  in  a  rigid  manner, 
calculated  to  promote  his  honour  and 
our  own  true  hap|)iness.  Such  works 
manifest  a  man  to  be  justified  and 
possessed  of  true  faith,  and  justify 
him  against  the  charges  of  men,  Eph. 
ii.  10.  Rom.  iii.  20.  Gal.  ii.  IG.  Jam. 
ii.  24.  Or,  (2.)  Bad  works,  which 
are  performed  by  men  not  united  to 
Christ,  not  possessed  of  grace,  not 
performed  from  due  regard  io  the  au- 
thority of  God,  nor  with  a  view  to  pro- 
mote his  glory ;  these  are  works  of 
the  flesh,  and  deeds  of  the  body  of  in- 
dwelling sin,  flow  from  a  carnal  and 
corrupt  nature,  and  cannot  justify  us, 
but  are  an  abomination  unto  the  Lord, 
Psa.  lix.  6.  Isa.  Ivii.  12.  Gal.  v.  19. 
Rom.  viii.  1 3.  They  are  (had  woi'ks ; 
they  proceed  from  a  i)erson  dead  in 
trespasses  and  sins,  and  of  themselves 
tend  to  prepare  for  eternal  death, 
Heb.  vi.  1.  and  ix.  14. — Some  of 
these  are  works  of  the  law,  that  have 
some  semblance  of  conformity  to  the 
law  as  a  covenant ;  and  to  be  of 
the  works  of  the  law,  is  to  trust  to 
our  own  works  for  eternal  happiness. 
Gal.  iii.  10.  but  works  of  the  Imv,  in 
general,  are  whatever  it  commands, 
Rom.  iii.  20,  28.  Some  are  works  of 
dai-fcttess,  shameful  transgressions  of 
God's  law,  Rom.  xiii.  12.  Eph.  v. 
12.  These  are  also  the  deeds  and 
works  of  the  devil,  as  he  tempts  to 
and  exemplifies  many  of  them,  John 
viii.  41,  54,  But  his  works  also  in- 
clude the  ruin  of  men,  which  he  la- 
bours to  effect,  1  John  iii.  8.  Idols 
are  the  work  of  errors ;  error  insti- 
gates men  to  form  and  w  orL^hip  them, 
and  they  lead  men  from  one  error  to 
another,  Jer.  x.  1.5.  A  workman 
is,  (1.)  One  that  hdiours  in  some 
handicraft,  Isa.  xl.  10.  (2.)  A  minis- 
tinr  who  labonrs  hard  in  preaching  the 

4  \: 


W  O  R 


(     536     ) 


W  0  R 


gospt'l,  2  Tim.  ii.  15.  Ami  work- 
manship is,  (1.)  The  art  and  labour 
of  a  person  in  forming  things,  Exod. 
xxxi.  3.  (2.)  The  thing  formed  by  art, 
2  Kings  xvi.  10.  We  are  God's  icork- 
manship,  made  by  him  in  creation, 
renewed  by  him  in  regeneration,being 
created  anew  in  Christ  Jesu?,  capable 
of,  and  disposed  to,  good  works, 
Eph.  ii.  10. 

WORLD.  The  Jews  distinguish 
the  world,  with  respect  to  places,  into 
the  lower  world  of  earth  and  air,  the 
world  of  heavens  and  stars,  and  the 
highest  world,  called  the  third  hea- 
ven :  or,  as  others,  the  Avorld  of  earf  h 
and  air,  the  world  of  angels,  the 
world  of  spheres  and  stars,  and  the 
highest  world.of  spirits  departed.  In 
respect  to  duration,  they  distinguish 
it  into  the  world  before  the  flood, 
the  world  before  the  Messiah,  the 
world  to  come  under  the  Messiah, 
the  world  of  the  resurrection,  and 
the  eternal  world.  In  allusion  to 
these  divisions,  Paul  mentions  worlds, 
Heb.  i.  2.  In  scripture,  world 
denotes,  (1.)  The  world  containing, 
and  that  either  the  whole  frame  of 
heaven  and  earth  together,  and  all 
things  therein,  John  i.  10.  or  the 
heavens,  and  what  they  contain. 
Psalm  xc.  2.  or  the  habitable  part 
of  the  earth.  Psalm  xxiv.  1.  and 
xcviii.  7.  (2.)  The  men  that  dwell 
on  this  earth,  and  that  either  all  of 
them,  Rom.  v.  12.  John  iii.  16.  and 
vi.  33,  51.  1  John  ii.  2.  or  an  inde- 
finite numl>er  of  them,  John  vii.  4. 
Isa.  xiii.  1 1.  Matt,  xviii.  7.  xxiv.  14. 
and  xxvi.  13.  Rom.  i.  8.  and  x.  18. 
or  all  or  most  of  the  subjects  of  the 
Roman  empire,  so  called  because  of 
its  extent,  Luke  ii.  1 .  Rev.  xiii.  3.  or 
the  wicked  part  of  the  men  on  earth, 
so  called  because  of  their  attachment 
to  the  world  as  their  chief  good,  1 
John  V.  19.  John  xiv.  17,  22.  and 
XV.  19.  and  xvii.  9.  Rev.  xiii.  3.  (3.) 
The  carnal  corruption  that  prevails 
on  earth,  Gal.  i.  4.  Eph.ii.  2.  James 
i.  27.  1  John  ii.  16.  (4.)  A  worldly 
or  earthly  state  and  condition,  Psal. 
Ixxiii.  12.  Luke  xvi.  8.  John  xviii. 
36.  1  John  iv.  5.  to  which  may  be 


reduced  the  outward  pomp,  plea- 
sure, and  good  things  of  the  present 
life,  Gal.iv,  14.  1  Cor.  vii.  31.  This 
rvorld,  denotes  this  earth,  in  its  pre- 
sent corrupt  state.  Tit.  ii.  12.  Christ's 
kingdom  is  not  of  it,  is  not  of  an 
earthly  rise,  form,  or  tendency,  John 
xviii.  36.  That  rvorld,  denotes  the 
heavenly  state,  Luke  xx.  35.  The 
world  to  come,  signifies  the  gospel- 
period  after  the  resurrection  of  Christ, 
or  the  church  in  her  new-testament 
form,  Heb.  ii.  5.  and  vi.  5.  or  the 
future  ai.d  eternal  state.  Matt.  xii. 
32.  The  saints  are  calletl  out  of  the 
world,  are  set  aside  from  the  rest  of 
jnankind,  to  be  saved  hy,  and  to  be 
subject  to,  Christ,  John  xvii.  0.  hut 
they  are  not  otit  of  it  in  respect  to 
their  abode  while  they  live  on  earth, 
Jolm  xvii.  15.  Man's  tongue  is  a 
world  of  iniquity  ;  its  words  contain 
inconceivable  wickedness;  or  it  is  au 
ornament  of  iniquity,  which  olten 
sets  otr  sin  in  fair  colours,  James  iii. 
6. — ■ — 'Worldly,  is  what  is  of  a 
carnal  and  earthly  nature,  Tit.  ii.  12. 
Heb.  ix.  1. 

WORMS,  are  creeping  animals, 
almost  infinite  in  number,  and  even 
in  kinds;  nay,  vast  numbers  of  in- 
sects, as  bees,  wasps,  flies,  «fcc.  are 
worms  in  their  first  state  of  life.  As 
worms  are  produced  from  eggs,  mul- 
titudes of  them  breed  in  the  human 
body  from  eggs  thither  conveyed. 
A  number  of  diseases,  as  the  itch, 
&ZC.  are  produced  in  the  f«kin  by  a 
kind  of  worms.  It  seems  Job's  dis- 
temper was  owing  to  a  collection  of 
worms  nestling  in  his  skin  and  flesh. 
Job  vii.  5.  It  is  certain  Herod  was 
eaten  up  alive  by  them,  Acts  xii.  23. 
and  some  think  dead  bodies  are  de- 
voured by  them.  Job  xxi.  26.  Isaiah 
xiv.  11.  Some  have  even  thought, 
that  all  matter  was  composed  of  liv- 
ing vermin.  To  denote  men's  earth- 
liness,  meanness,  weakness,  and  ex- 
posure to  danger  and  corruption, 
they  are  called  worms,  Job  xxv.  6. 
Mic.  vii.  1 7.  To  mark  our  Saviour's 
debasement  and  bloody  suffering,  he 
calls  himself  a  scarlet-coloured  worm, 
andnoman,  Psa.  xxii.  6.  vonscience. 


W  0  R 


(      587     ^ 


W  0  u 


a*  for  ever  uphraidinj;  and   iovinvnt-fcct,  when  tlu'y  subject  them?elve9  to 


inii;  the  wicked  in  hell,  is  called  a 
rvann  that  ilnlh  not,  but  as  it  were, 
for  <"ver  preys  on  their  vitals,  Isaiaii 
hjvi.  21.  3Iark  ix.  J  1. 

WORMWOOD,  an  herb,  of  which 
Tuurnefort  says  there  are  24  kinds. 


her  authority,  and  M)anili>t  a  due  re- 
verenceof,  and  regard  to,  her,  Rev.iii. 
9.  MetMVorship  thcdraiion  uinlhcasl^ 
when  they  adore  the  Romish  emiui- 
rors  and  po|)e9,  and  comply  witli 
their  superstitions,    sitd'ul,  and  bias- 


It  has  a  very  bitter  taste,  but  is :  phemous  law^,  Rev.  xiii.  4.  INIeu 
!iaid  to  be  useful  for  \i\\\'u\z,y^'o\'m%ivof  ship  devils,  wlien,  incompliance 
in  the  belly  :  is  a  line  medicine  for  with  their  temptations,  they  profess 
the  stomach  and  liver,  and  is  useful ,  their  false  doctrines,  adore  idols  that 
in  the  jaundice  and  leprosy:  the  very  rejiresent  them,  and  deal  with  them 
sniell  of  it  is  odious  to  vermin.     Ido-  in  charms  and  divination  ;  or  when 


latry,  proHineness,  apostacy,  and 
other  wickedness,  are  likened  to 
wormwood ;  how  exceedingly  detesta- 
ble in  the  sight  of  God  and  his  i>eo- 


they    worship,    under  the    name  of 
saints,  persons  monetrously  wicked, 
Rev.  xix.  20.   Deut.  xxxii.   17. 
WORST.     'n\e  Chaldeans  were 


pie!  and  in   the  end,  how  bitter  to  |  the  ?j;o/a<o/"</ic  Iif(7//tfK,  exceedingly 

given  to  idolatrj^  divination,  covet- 
ousness,  cruelty,  (tc.  Ezek.  vii.  24. 
WORTH,  is  the  just  value  of  any- 
thing, 1  Kings  xxi.  2.  Worth,  or 
woHTHY,  is,  (1.)  Valuable,  deserv- 
ing; thus,  Jesus  is  worthy  of  all  ho- 
nour and  glory.  Rev.  iv.  11.  and  v. 
9,  12.  Valiant  men  are  called  wor- 
thies ;  the}'  performed  great  and  migh- 
ty ex|)loits,  which  deserved  [)raiseand 
reward.  Nab.  ii.  5.  and  wicked  men 
are  w(rrthy  of  fearful  calamities,  Rev. 


sinners  themselves!  Deut.  xxix.  18 
Heb.  xii.  15.  The  end  of  an  harlot 
is  hitter  as  wormwood,  and  sharp  as 
a  two-edged  sword  :  w'hat  pain  and 
ruin  of  character,  bod}',  and  soul,  fol- 
low upon  whoredom  and  uncleanness! 
Prov.v.  4. — Affliction  andoppression 
are  like  wormwood.  Lam.  iii.  14.  19. 
Amosv.  7.     See  SxAa. 

To  WORSHIP,  to  bow  down  with 
reverence;  and  so  worship,  is,  (1.) 
Civil  reverence  given  to  one  baving 


authority  or  worth,  Matt.  ix.  18.  and]  xvi.  6.  and  the  world  is  not  worthy 
sviii.  26.  Luke  xiv.  10.  (2.)  Out-  of  eminent  saints;  it  deserves  net 
ward  religious  homage,  given  as  an  i  their  presence  or  usefulness,  Heb.  xi. 
acknowledgment  of  Deity,  Matt,  iv.'  .38.  (2.)  Meet,  answerable  to  ;  thus 
10.  Dan.  iii.  5,  12,  14.     (3.)  Inward!  the  saints  walk  worthy  of  the  Lardy 


religious  honour,  wherein  a  person 
thinks  on,  trusts  to,  loves  and  fears 
God,  because  of  his  infinite  excel- 
lency, mercy,  power,  wisdom,  and 
goodness,  John  iv.  24.  The  saints 
are  the  ciratmcision,  or  really  renew- 
ed persons,  who  ivorship  God  in  the 
spirit,  with  their  spiritual  powers, 
actuated  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  in 
the  way  of  viewing  and  dealing  with 
God  as  a  most  pure  spirit,  and  have 
no  confidence  in  the  flesh,  renouncing 
all  dependence  ou  the  world,  and 
particularly  en  their  own   righteous 


and  of  their  vocation,  Col.  i.  10.  1 
Thess.  ii.  12.  Eph.  iv.  1.  The  saints 
are  ivorlhy,  being  accepted  in  Jesus  : 
they,  by  sanctification,  are  made  meet 
for  the  eternal  glory.  Rev.  iii.  4. 
Luke  xxi.  36. 

WOULD  to  God!  O  if  God 
would  grant!  1  wish  to  God  !  Exod, 
xvi.  3. 

To  WOUND,  (1.)  To  make  sores 
in  the  body  with  a  sword,  scourge, 
or  the  like ;  and  a  wound,  is  a  sore 
made  by  a  fall,  a  sword,  or  other  in- 
strument, 2  Kings  Tjii.  29.     (2.)  To 


ness,  for  acceptance,  or  on  their' distress,  Deut.  xxxii.  39.  and  so 
strength  for  performance  of  duty,  but!  great  alBiction  in  the  soul,  Prov. 
rejoice  in  Christ,  as  their  husband, i  xviii.  14.  and  outward  on  the  body, 
righteousness,  strength,  portion,  andi  character,  family,  or  nation,  is  called 
Lord,  Phil.  iii.  3.  The  church's  ene-l  a  wound,  Jo!)  xxxiv.  6.  Prov.  vi.  33. 
mies   come  and  worship  before   fterj  Jer.  x.  19.  and  xv.  13.     Reproof  is 


W  R  A 


( 


) 


W  11  E 


called  a  wound,  because  it  pains  the 
offender,  and  tends  to  bring  forth  or 
expel  the  corruption  of  his  offence, 
iC  it  be  kindly  taken,  Prov.  xxvii.  6. 
The  words  of  a  tale-bearer  are  as 
7vounds ;  they  mar  or  ruin  the  cha- 
racter, trade,  health,  and  prosperity, 
of  men,  Prov.  xxvi.  22.  Both  sins 
and  afflictions  are  wounds,  Isa.  i.  6. 
One's  wounds  stink,  and  are  corrupt, 
when  sins  prevail  and  lie  heavy  on 
the  mind,  and  when  afflictions  ex- 
ceedingly abound,  Psa.  xxxviii.  4. 
See  Sound. 

To  WRAP,  (1.)  To  roll  up  in  a 
covering,  1  Kings  xix.  13.  Men7vrap 
up  sin,  when  they  agree  together 
in  it,  and  take  methods  to  conceal 
it,  i^Iic.  vii.  3.  The  sword  is  wrapt 
up  for  slaughter  ;  it  is  kept  from  rust 
by  sheathing,  and  is  just  ready  to 
execute  the  judgments  of  God  on 
the  Jews,  Ezck.  xxi.  15.  (2.)  To 
fasten,  take  hold  of:  the  roots  of 
the  wicked  are  wrapt  ahout  the  heaps 
of  good  soil,  when  they  have  a  pro- 
mising appearance  of  a  stable  pros- 
perity. Job  viii.  17. 

WRATH,  (1.)  as  applied  to  men 
is  a  furious  passion,  prompting  them 
to  revenge  injuries,  Gal.  v.  20.  (2.) 
The  hurtful  effects  of  such  a  furious 
passion,  Prov.  xxvii.  3.  (3.)  The 
just  punishment  of  crimes,  Rom.  xiii. 
4,  5.  God's  n;rflf/i  denotes,  (1.)  His 
holy  indignation  at,  and  readiness  to 
punish  sin,  Rom.  i.  18.  (2.)  His 
manifestation  of  his  hatred  of  sin 
in  the  just  punishment  of  it  in  time 
and  eternity,  Psal.  xc.  12.  1  Thess. 
V.  9.  Men  pass  their  days  in  God's 
wrath,  when  they  spend  them  un- 
der the  tokens  of  his  displeasure, 
Psa.  xc.  n.  His  chastisement  of  his 
peoj»le,  is  called  a  little  wrath ;  it 
marks  his  displeasure  at  their  sin, 
but  it  is  far  less  durable  or  heavy 
than  the  destruction  of  the  Jewish 
nation,  which  is  called  wrath  to  the 
uttermost ;  or  than  the  future  pu- 
liishmeut  of  the  wicked,  which  is 
wrath  to  come,  still  luit  a  beginning, 
Isa.  liv.  8.  1  Thcss.  ii.  lU.  and  i. 
10.  IVrath  bringeih  the  punishments 
of  Ihc  sword ;  man's  wrath  against  the 


saints  procures,  and  God's  wrath 
against  men  brings  on,  fearful  cala- 
mities. Job  xix.  29.  Men  treasure  up 
for  themselves  wrath  etgainst  the  day 
of  wrath,  when  they  expose  them- 
selves to  just  jjunishments  in  time 
and  through  eternity,  Rom.  ii.  5. 
To  be  WROTH,  is  to  be  displeased : 
God  is  wroth  with  his  peo[»le  as  a 
kind  father,  Psa.  Ixxxix.  38.  but  he 
is  not  wroth  with  them  as  an  angry 
judge,  Isa.  liv.  9. 

WREATHS,  or  wreathen- 
woRK,  was  a  kind  of  net-work  inter- 
laced with  the  form  of  sprigs,  leaves, 
flowers,  and  fruit,  and  as  it  were, 
twisted  in  the  form  of  a  rope  :  with 
such  a  golden  wreath  was  the  epliod 
fastened  on  the  high  priest's  shoul- 
ders :  such  a  wreath,  with  200  figures 
of  pomegranates,  was  around  the 
pommel  of  the  pillars  in  the  porch  of 
Solomon's  temple,  Exod.  xxviii.  14, 
2  Chron.  iv.  12,  13.  Men's  trans- 
gressions are  wreathed  or  twisted 
about  their  neck,  when  they  are  fast 
entangled  in  the  punishment  of  their 
sin.  Lam.  i.  14. 

To  WREST,  to  turn  by  force  to 
a  wrong  sense  or  purpose ;  so  ^vords 
are  wrested,  2  Pet.  iii.  16.  Psa.  Ivi. 
3.  Judgment  is  wrested,  when  un- 
just sentences  are  given  for  or  against 
men,  Exod.  xxiii.  2,  U. 

To  WRESTLE,  to  struggle  with 
one  for  victory.  Jacob  wrestled  with 
the  angel,  chiefly  by  earnest  and 
humble  prayers  for  the  blessing.  Gen. 
xxxii.  24 — 26.  With  greeit  wrest- 
lings, or  wrestlings  of  God,  i.  e.  with 
violent  desires,  and  earnest  endea- 
vours, Rachel  thought  she  obtained 
children  by  her  handmaid.  Gen. 
XXX.  8.  The  saints  wrestle  not  with 
flesh  and  blood,  but  with  princi- 
palities and  powers :  they  watch 
against,  they  resist  temptations,  and 
cry  to  God  for  support  and  deliver- 
ance from  sin,  Satan,  and  the  world, 
Eph.  V.  12. 

W  RETCHED, outwardly,  and  mi- 
serable    inwardly.      Sinners     are 
wretched,  destitute  of  the  grace  and 
favour  of  God,  under  the  power  of 
1  their  lusts,  and  liable  to  the  everlast- 


W   I{  I 


(     589     ) 


W  R  O 


(Uij;  vfugeancc  of  God,  Rev.  iii.  17.] 
Saiiifrf   iiro   not  ivrelchid  ov«Mi  \vlu*ii  , 
sort'ly  anVirtnl  with  l€'m|»t:itu)iisainl 
troubles,  Rom.  v.  :).  To  sec  onc\so)vn 
ivrctchalncsa,  is  to  tfufler  great  misery 
and  disgrace,  Niiinh.  xi.  IJ. 

To  WRING,  to  iiress  out  moisture. 
The  n!rinii;i>i<(  oft' the  head  of  the  sa- 
eriticed  hird,  imi)orte<l  the  exqui- 
sitcness  of  Christ's  suffering;,  Lev.  i. 
15.  and  v.  P..  The  wicked  7vrini( 
out  anil  drink  the  dreu^s  of  God\s  cup 
ojivrath,  when  with  great  pain,  they 
sutler  his  vengeance  to  the  very  ut- 
termost, Psal.  Ixxv.  8. 

WRINKLE,  (1.)  A  furrowy  ble- 
mish in  the  i'lice  or  body,  occasioned 
b}--  oUl  age  or  distress.  Job  xviii.  8. 
(2.)  Deformity  of  sin,  or  aflliction, 
Eph.  V.  25. 

To  WRITE,  (1.)  To  note  down 
any  thing  on  a  book  or  table,  Isa.  x. 
1.  (2.)  To  count  the  number  in  wri- 
ting, Isa.  X.  19.  (3.)  To  declare  a 
thing  as  quite  certain,  and  mark  it 
in  a  prophecy,  Jer.  xxii.  30.  God's 
sealed  book  being  written  within  and 
without,  or  on  both  sides  of  the  paper, 
im[)orted  the  vast  quantity  of  mat- 
ter contained  in  it,  Rev.  v.  1.     God 


writes  his  law  on  nun's  hcarU;,  when 
he  (biply  impresses  it  on  their  soul, 
and  IbriiH  their  inward  qualities  into 
a  eontbrmity  to  it.  Job  xxxi.  32. 
Heb.  viii.  U).  Ht:  jvrotc  hitter  things 
against  .lob,  when  he  sentencwl  him 
to,  and  executed  upon  him,  sore  afllic- 
tions.  Job  xiii.  2tj.  The  saints'  be- 
ing written  in  heaven,  in  the  book  of 
life,  or  anions;  the  living,  denotes  Iheir 
being  in  a  state  of  grace,  and  en- 
titled to  eternal  life  and  happiness, 
Luku  X.  25.  Heb.  xii.  23.  Rev.  xxi. 
27.  But  God's  writing  up  the  people, 
denotes  his  enrolment  of  them  among 
the  true  members  of  his  church,  Psal. 
Ixxxvii.  5.  IMen's  writing  Ood''s  law 
on  the  posts  of  their  house,  or  the  table 
of  their  heart,  imports  their  frequent 
thinking  and  sjjcaking  of  it,  as  an 
evidence  of  its  being  deejjly  impress- 
ed on  their  heart,  Deut.  vi.  9.  Prov. 
iii.  3.  Men  are  written  in  the  earth, 
when  they  are  rendered  very  wretch- 
ed and  debased,  as  if  they  were  for- 
gotten by  God  and  his  church,  Jer. 
xvii.  13. 

WRONG,  what   is  unreasonable 
and  unjust,  Exod.  ii.  13. 

WROTH.     See  Wrath. 


X  E  R 

XERXES,  son  of  Darius,  son  of 
Hystaspes,  and  his  successor  in 
the  kingdom  of  Persia.  He  ascend- 
ed the  throned.  M.  3519.  Atossa, 
the  daughter  of  Cyrus,  was  mother 
of  Xerxes :  and  Darius  liis  father 
declared  him  king  a  little  before  his 
own  death.  To  him  is  applied  a  pas- 
sage in  Daniel  xi.  2,  3,  c^c.  "  Be- 
hold, there  shall  stand  up  yet  three 
kings  in  Persia,"  (these  three  are  Cy- 
rus, Cambyses,  and  Darius  the  son  of 
Hystaspes,)  "  and  the  fourth,  (i.  c. 
Xerxes,)  shall  be  far  richer  than  th«y 
all.  And  by  his  strength,  througli 
his  riches,  he  shall  stir  up  all  against 
the  realm  of  Grecia."  And  in  ef- 
fect, Avhen  Xerxes  had  subdued  the 
Egyptians,  Phenicians,  the  Isle  of 
Cy{)nis,  Cllicia,  Pamphylia,  Pisidia, 


X  E  R 

Lydia,  Caria,  Mysia,  Troas,  the 
Hellespont,  Bithynia,  and  Pontus, 
with  whom  he  made  war  for  the 
space  of  three  or  four  years ;  he  then, 
A.  ill.  3523,  sent  ambassadors  into 
Greece  to  demand  earth  and  water, 
as  a  token  of  their  submission :  this 
being  refused,  he  set  out  the  year  fol- 
lowing, and  attacked  the  Greeks,  bj' 
sea  and  land,  with  the  greatest  army 
ever  beheld.  This  great  undertak- 
ing miscarried,  and  Xerxes  returned 
to  Susa,  and  tlicnce  to  Ecbatana. 
He  was  slain,  A.  M.  3531,  and  was 
succeedetl  by  Artaxerxes  Longima- 
nus.  After  Xerxes  returned  from 
this  famous  and  unfortunate  expedi- 
tion, he  gave  orders  for  the  demo- 
lition of  all  the  temjiies  of  the  Gre- 
cian cities  in  Asia  ^  Avhich  was  exe- 


X  E  R 


(     590     ) 


X  E  R 


cuteil  accordingh^  There  were 
none  spared  but  tliat  of  Diana  at 
E{)l«esus,  probably  by  reason  of  its 
magnificence.  He  did  the  same  in 
all  the  jjlaces  through  whieh  he  pass- 
ed, destroying  all  the  idolatrous  tem- 
ples he  met  with.  This  was  neither 
from  aversion  to  the  people,  nor  from 
any  singalarlty  of  temper,  but  from 


a  zeal  for  the  religion  of  the  Magi, 
As  he  returned  through  Babylon 
he  destroyed  idolatry  and  idols,  for 
the  same  reason  that  prompted  him 
to  destroy  those  belonging  to  the 
Grecians.  Thus  the  |)rophecies  of 
Jeremiah  were  most  iaithiully  iul- 
tilled.  See  Jeremiah  1.  2.  and  li.  44, 
47,  53. 


YEA 

YARN.  Solomon  brought  great 
quantities  of  linen  yarn  from 
Egypt ;  but  some  render  the  word 
iMiKVEH,  a  collection,  which  may  sig- 
nify a  large  quantity,  1  Kings  x.  28. 

YEA,  denotes,  (1.)  Affinnation, 
Matt.  ix.  28.  (2.)  Constancy  and 
earnestness,  Philem.  20.  Phil,  i,  18. 
and  iii.  8.  (3.)  Doubting,  Gen.  iii,  1 . 
The  Son  of  God  preached  to  men,  is 
not  jym  and  nay,  but  in  him  it  is  yea  ; 
all  the  promises  are  in  him,  yea  and 
amen.  The  gospel  doctrines  concern- 
ing Jesus  Christ  have  no  inconsist- 
encies, no  inconstancy,  but  all  harmo- 
nize in  matter  and  tendency;  every 
promise  is  infallil)ly  confirmed  by  his 
word,  and  ratified  by  his  blood,  2  Cor. 
i.  19,  20.  There  is  with  a  man,  yea, 
yea,  and  nay,  nay,  v/hen  his  pur[)oses 
are  inconstant,  and  his  declarations 
inconsistent,  2  Cor.  i.  1 7.  Let  your 
conversation  be  yea, yea;  nay,  nay ; 
Set  your  speech  consist  of  sim[)!e  af- 
firmations or  denials,  without  the 
least  appearance  of  an  oath  or  impre- 
t;ation  to  confirm  what  you  say, 
Matt.  V.  37.  Let  your  yea  be  yea  ; 
and  your  nay,  nay ;  let  j'our  affirma- 
tions and  denials  l--3altogethersimple 
and  cmdid,  James  v.  12. 

YEAR,  that  space  of  time  where- 
in the  sun  finishes  his  course  through 
all  the  signs  of  the  Zodiac  circle  of 
the  heavens;  and  consisting  of  the 
four  seasons  of  Spring,  Summer, 
Autumn,  and  Winter,  it  consists  of 
;>05  days,  5  hours,  49  minutes.  The 
patriarchs  before  the  flood  appear 
to  have  divided  tiicir  year  into  12 
mouths,  each  consisting  of  30  days : 


YEA 

and  whether  they  added  5  days 
to  the  last,  or  had  an  intercalary 
month  every  5th  or  6th  year,  to  ex- 
haust the  odd  time  of  5  days,  5  hours, 
and  49  minutes,  that  was  over  in 
each  year,  we  know  not.  Some  think 
the  Egyptians  and  others  once  reck- 
oned the  time  of  one  revolution  of 
the  moon  their  year,  and  that  this  is 
the  source  of  their  extravagant  reck- 
onings concerning  antiquity.  It  is 
more  certain  that  before  the  He- 
brews' departure  from  Egypt,  they 
reckoned  by  a  year  consisting  of  12 
months,  each  of  which  consisted  of 
30  days,  and  began  their  j^ear  about 
the  beginning  of  our  September. 
Possibly  the  Chaldean  year  was  much 
the  same,  till  Nabonassar,  about  the 
time  of  Hezekiah,  ordered  them  to 
reckon  the  year  by  12  months,  or 
365  days;  and,  I  suppose,  the  Egyp- 
tians soon  after  admitted  this  form. 
After  long  confusion,  the  Greeks 
reckoned  the  year  by  12  months, 
of  30  days  each;  but  seem  after- 
wards to  have  reckoned  by  12  moons, 
or  354  days.  They  generally  be- 
gan their  year  at  the  summer  sol- 
stice, when  the  sun  is  most  norther- 
ly in  June;  but  the  Macedonians 
began  theirs  about  the  middle  of  our 
September.  At  first,  the  Roman 
3'ear  consisted  of  10  months,  or  304 
days.  King  Numa  extended  it  to  12 
months,  or  355  days;  and  every  se- 
cond year,  they  added  22  or  23  days 
by  turns.  Julius  Cesar,  their  first 
emperor,  fixed  it  at  365  days  and  6 
hours,  which  in  four  years  make  one 
day,  Avhich,  in  the  fourth,  is  added  to 


YEA 


(     591     ) 


YEA 


l^ebruary,  aiul  occasions  that  year 
being  called  leap  year.  By  this  year 
we  stili  reckon  our  time  ;  but  as  it 
includes  about  1 1  minutes  too  much, 
this,  in  130  years,  runs  the  reckon- 
ing forward  one  day,  and  in  our 
reckoning  had  run  forward  the  year 
full  1 1  days,  till  this  was  rectitied  by 
the  introduction  of  the  new  style 
among  us,  as  it  was  in  several  coun- 
tries abroad,  by  po|ie  Gregory,  above 
200  years  aj:;o.  The  old  Persian 
year  began  about  the  beginning  of 
June,  and  consisted  of  3t35  days,  or 
12  months.  Most  of  the  Mahomet- 
ans reckon  their  year  by  12  moons, 
or  354  days,  8  hours,  48  minulcs, 
38  seconds,  and  12  tliirds;  and  so 
in  about  35  years,  the  lieginniug  of 
their   year  runs   backward  through 

all  the  seasons. Months,  in  the 

reckoning  of  all  nations,  appear  to 
have  had  their  rise  from  the  revolu- 
tions of  the  moon. 

Ignorance  of  chronology,  and  pride 
of  antiquity,  made  the  Egyptians, 
Chaldeans,  Chinese,  Indians,  and 
others,  to  run  up  the  creation  of  the 
world,  or  even  the  rise  of  their  own 
nation,  to  the  distance  of  a  ridicu- 
lous number  of  years.  But  the  learn- 
ed now  generally  acquiesce  in,  or 
near  to,  the  chronology  of  bishop 
Usher,  according  to  which,  the  crea- 
tion took  place  4004  years  before 
our  common  account  from  the  birth 
of  our  Saviour ;  but  it  is  suspected  by 
some  that  the  common  reckoning  be- 
gins two  or  three  years  too  late.  But 
Dr.  Caverhill  will  have  it  our  Saviour 
was  born  A.  D.  G.  The  430  years  of 
the  Hebrews'  sojourning  began  at 
Abraham's  call  to  leave  his  native 
country,  Gen.  xii.  1.  Exod.  xii.  40, 
41 .  The  400  years  of  the  sojourning 
of  his  seed  began  at  the  birth  of  Isaac, 
Gen.  XV.  13.  The  about  450  years 
mentioned.  Acts  xiii.  20.  may  reach 
from  the  birth  of  Isaac  to  the  set- 
tlement in  Canaan ;  or  from  that 
settlement,  reckoning  the  years  of 
bondage  different  from  the  years  of 
the  Judges,  to  the  government  of  Sa- 
muel. The  sixty^vc  years,  against 
the   end  of  which   Ephralni  or  the 


j  ten  tribes,  were  to  be  no  peojde,  i.  (. 
have  no  form  of  government  at  all, 
and  scarcely  any  be  left  in  Canaan, 
extends  from  the  fourth  year  of 
Ahaz  to  the  22d  of  Manasseh,  Isa. 
vii.  8.  The  years  of  an  hireling,  de- 
note exact  ones  ;  and  it  seems,  were 
three  together,  Isa.  xxi.  16.  and  xvi. 
14.  In  prori)hetie  siylQ,  ^  year  sig- 
nifies three  hundred  and  sixty  years, 
and  a  month  30,  a  day  being  put  for 
a  year;  and  so  three  years  and  an 
I  half,  and  times,  time,  and  half  a  time, 
or  42  months,  or  12130  days,  denote 
the  twelve  hundred  and  sixty  years' 
duration  of  Antichrist,  Rev.  xi.  2, 
3.  and  xii.  G,  14.  The  five  months'' 
ravage  of  the  locusts,  may  denote 
the  period  between  A.  D.  GOG  and 
75G,  in  which  Popery  and  IMahomet- 
ism  mightily  gained  ground,  Rev. 
ix.  5,  10.     See  Antichrist,  Goc. 

Year  also  signifies  the  season  or 
period  in  which  a  thing  happens. 
The  three  years  of  God's  patience 
with  the  barren  Jews,  may  denote 
the  time  of  tlie  ministry  of  John 
Baptist  and  Christ;  and  the  fourth 
may  denote  the  time  after  Christ's 
resurrection,  before  the  breaking  out 
of  their  ruinous  war,  Luke  xiii.  6 — 
10.  The  year  of  visiteition,  is  a  sea- 
son of  remarkable  calamities,  Jer.  xi. 
23.  The  year  of  God's  redeemed, 
is  that  season  in  which  he  accom- 
plishes the  work  of  redemption;  as, 
the  period  of  our  Saviour's  debase- 
ment, the  primitive  gospel-period, 
and  the  period  of  Antichrist's  ruin, 
Isa.  Ixiii.  4.  In  allusion  to  the  year 
of  release  and  jubilee,  the  tim.e  of 
sinners'  conversion  to  Christ,  or  the 
gospel-period,  is  called  the  accepta- 
ble year  of  the  Lord,  Isa.  Ixi.  2.  God's 
years  are  the  unbounded  duration  of 
his  existence,  Heb.  i.  11.  or  the  pe- 
riods of  his  most  noted  works,  as  of 
bringing  Israel  out  of  Egy[)t,  the 
incarnation  of  Christ,  d:c.  Psalm 
Ixxvii.  10.  So  man's  months  are  his 
lime  of  life.  Job  xiv.  5.  and  he  po;- 
sesseth  months  of  vanity  when  he  is 
long  under  trouble  and  disappoint- 
ment, Job  vii.  3. 

Whether  the   MJllcnniimi  or  \hf 


YEA 


(     592     ) 


YEA 


THOUSAND  YEARS  of  Sataii's  Confine- 
ment and  the  saints'  reigning  with 
Christ,  denote  precisely  so  many 
years,  or  only  a  very  long  time,  we 
dare  not  affirm.  AVhen  this  period  will 
begin,  is  not  agreed.  The  oj)inion  of 
its  beginning  at  Christ's  resurrection, 
or  at  the  fall  of  Heathenism  in  the  Ro- 
man empire,  about  A.  D.  323,  is 
scarcely  worth  while  to  notice ;  nor 
can  we  think,  with  others,  that  it  be- 
gan at  the  reformation  from  Popery, 
near  200  years  ago.  The  condition 
of  the  church  too  plainly  testifies, 
that  Satan  is  not  yet  bound,  but  gofes 
about  seeking  whom  he  may  devour. 
Rev.  xi.  2,  37  Dan.  vii.  25—27.  and 
xi.  7,  11,  12.  Some  think,  that  dur- 
in2  the  Millennium,  the  wicked  shall 
all  ue  cut  off  from  the  earth,  and  the 
deceased  saints,  or  at  least  the  mar- 
tyrs, arise  from  the  dead,  and  reign  . 
wiUi  Christ,  who  shall  descend  from  j 
heavea,  and  in  his  manhood  reside  I 
among  them;  and  that  at  the  end  of 
the  thousand  years,  the  wicked  be- 
ing raised  from  their  graves,  sliall 
attack  tlve  saints  in  war,  and  think 
to  destroy  them.  An  opinion  of  this 
nature,  with  some  variations,  ob- 
tained not  long  after  the  age  of  the 
apofitlcs,  and  has  been  espoused  by 
a  variety  of  very  learned  Protestants. 
They  plead  that  the  martj'rs  are 
said  to  I'ise  from  the  dead,  in  the  same 
sense  (hat  the  rest  of  the  dead  rise  at 
the  end  of  the  Millennium ;  that  the 
saints  shall  enjoy  7iew  heavens  and  a 
new  earthy  wherein  dwelleth  righ- 
teousness ;  that  God  shall  bring  his 
only  begotten  Son  into  the  world,  and 
put  all  things  under  his  feet ;  that 
the  meek  shall  inherit  the  earth,  shall 
sit  npon  thrones,  and  receive  an  hint- 
drcd-J'old  in  this  life,  and  the  irra- 
tional creatures  be  delivered  from  the 
bondage  of  corruption,  into  the  glori- 
ous liberty  of  the  sons  of  God,  and 
the  time  of  the  restitution  of  all  things 
happen,  Rev.  xx.  4,  5,  6.  2  Pet.  iii. 
5—13.  Ileb.  i.  6.  and  ii.  5.  Matt. 
V.  5.  and  xix.  27 — 29.  Rom.  viii. 
18,  20.  Acts  iii.  20,  21.  But  it  may 
be  replied.  That  sundry  of  these  tests 
do  not  in  the  least  come  up  to  the 


point,  -but  may  denote  the  saints' 
spiritual  privileges  here,  or  their  eter- 
nal glory  hereafter;  or  may  relate 
to  the  last  judgment,  or  even  could 
quadrate  with  a  happj^  state  of  the 
church  on  earth,  without  supposing 
the  human  presence  of  Christ,  the 
death  of  all  the  wicked,  or  the  resur- 
rection of  the  martyrs  in  their  bodies. 
This  resurrection  of  the  saints  does 
not  necessarily  import  the  revival 
of  the  deceased,  but  the  noted  re- 
formation, deliverance,  and  comfort, 
of  the  church,  in  the  successors  of 
the  martyrs,  Rom.  xi.  15.  Ezek. 
xxxvii.  1 — 14.  Psa.  Ixxxv.  6.  Hos. 
vi.  2,  3.  Zech.  x.  9.  And  the  death 
of  the  wicked  during  the  Millennium 
must,  in  like  manner,  signify  a  di- 
minution of  their  power  and  autho- 
rity; and  their  revival  at  the  end, 
import  a  recovery  of  their  power 
and  influence.  We  maj'  add.  How 
can  this  doctrine  of  the  Millennium,  as 
above  hinted,  accord  with  other  pas- 
sages of  scripture  ?  How  can  it  con- 
sist with  the  saints'  setting  their  affec- 
tions on  things  above,  and  not  on 
things  on  the  earth;  or  looking  at 
things  eternal,  not  at  things  tem- 
poral? Col.  iii.  1.  2  Cor.  iv.  18.— 
How  could  it  consist  with  the  saints' 
happiness,  to  leave  the  celestial  state, 
and  return  to  our  earth,  not  in  bo- 
dies fashioned  like  unto  Christ's  glo- 
rious body,  but  in  bodies  needing 
meat  and  drink  ?  Phil.  i.  23.  and  iii. 
21.  If  their  bodies  are  raised  spi- 
ritual and  incorruptible,  as  it  is  saijj,, 
1  Cor.  XV.  42,  49.  what  comfort 
could  even  these  receive  from  the 
meat,  drink,  or  clothing,  on  earth  ? 
or  what  folly  would  it  be  for  Satan 
to  gather  his  troops  to  cut  off  incor- 
ruptible and  spiritual  bodies  ?  Nay, 
who  can  imagine  that  the  wicked, 
when  raised  up  to  everlasting  dam- 
nation, shall  have  leisure  to  attack 
the  saints  ?  Moreover,  the  dead  in 
C?;rist  are  represented  as  a!l  rising 
together;  and  such  as  are  alive  on 
the  earth,  will  have  their  bodies 
changed  in  a  moment,  1  Cor.  xv. 
51,  52.  On  these,  and  the  like  ac- 
counts, we  cannot  lielieve  that  the 


Y  I  E 


(     503     ) 


YOU 


liap])iness  of  the  Millenniiun  will 
amuuat  to  any  thing  more  tlian  a 
glorious  state  ol'  the  church,  uiiereiii 
great  multitudes  of  Jews  niul  Gentiles 
shall  be  converted  to  Chrisi,  and  en- 
joy much  hiessed  and  deliifhtlul  IVI- 
lo".vshi[»  with  him,  and  with  one  ano- 
ther. One  diuf  is  nilli  the  Lord  as  a 
thousand  years,  and  a  tlwusand  years 
as  otic  dii/ ;  in  proportion  to  his  infi- 
nite duration,  the  one  is  no  longer 
than  the  other,  2  Pet.  iii.  8. 

To  Y  ELL,  to  cry  as  a  young  lion. 
The  Assyrians  and  Chahleans  T/f'^"' 
against  the  Jews ;  with  terrible  noise, 
and  avaricious  avidity,  they  ravaged 
the  country,  and  murdered  the  inha- 
bitants, Jer.  ii.  13.  The  Medes  and 
Persians,  and  even  the  Chaldeans, 
made  a  terrible  yelling,  and  outcry 
of  joy  or  griel,  when  Babylon  was 
taken,  Jer.  li.  38. 

YEARNING  of  bonicls,  imports 
the  stirring  of  the  most  tender  pity 
and  atTectiou,  Gen.  xliii.  30.  1  Kings 
iii.  26. 

YESTERDAY,  (L)  The  day  be- 
fore, 1  Sam.  XX.  27.  (2.)  Any  time 
lately  past,  Job  viii.  7.  (3.)  All 
time  past.  Christ  is  the  same  yes- 
terday, to-day,  and  for  ever ;  he  is 
the  same  under  the  old  testament, 
and  during  the  gospel  and  eternal  pe- 
riod, Heb.  xiii.  8.  He  is  the  same  in 
the  dignity  of  his  person,  Micah  v.  2. 
Heb.  i.  1 1.  Rev.  i.  3.  in  the  extent 
of  his  power,  Heb.  i.  10.  in  the  vir- 
tue of  his  sacriiice,  Heb.  vii.  27.  1 
John  i.  7.  in  the  tenderness  of  his 
compassion,  Isa.  Ixiii.  9.  Heb.  iv.  25. 
and  in  his  fidelity  to  his  promise, 
Josh,  xxiii.  14.  A  thousand  years 
are  in  God's  sight  &?■  yesterday :  he  ex- 
actly knows  all  past  things,  and  thou- 
sands of  years  bear  no  proportion  to 
his  infinite  duration,  Psa.  xc.  4. 

YET,  (1.)  At  that  or  this  time, 
John  ii.  4.  (2.)  Notwithstanding, 
James  ii.  10. 

To  YIELD,  (1 .)  To  produce.  Gen. 
iv.  12.  and  xlix.  20.  (2.)  To  sur- 
render, submit,  Prov.  vii.  2L  Rom. 
vi.  19.  Men  yield  themselves  to  the 
Lord,  when  they  receive  his  unspeak- 
able gilt,  submit  to  his  righteousness, 

VOL.  IL 


and  to  his  law  as  their  mle,  2Chron. 

XXX.   H. 

YOKE,  an  instrument  [lut  on  the 
neck  of  cattle,  for  drawing  ploughs, 
waggons,  and  the  like;  and  the  cattle 
yoked  together  in  one  plough,  are 
called  a  yoke,  1  Kings  xix.  H».  The 
law  of  God  is  a  yoke,  which  galls 
the  carnal  man,  as  it  binds  him  to 
his  duty  ;  but  as  received  in  Christ, 
it  is  an  easy  yoke,  receiving  excite- 
ment and  strength  from  Jesus;  men 
with  pleasure  and  comfort  obey  it; 
and  it  is  abundantly  easier  than  the 
service  of  sin,  or  the  bondage  of  the 
ceremonial  law,  which  is  called  a 
yoke,  or  yoke  of  bondage,  as  the  ser- 
vice required  by  it  was  burthensome, 
Matt.  xi.  29,  30.  Gal.  v.  i.  Bondage 
or  slavery  is  called  a  yoke  ;  in  it  men 
are  obliged  to  suffer  and  labour  in  a 
most  debased  manner.  Lev.  xxvi.  13. 
Isa.  ix.  4.  and  x.  27.  and  a  yoke  of 
iron,  to  express  its  hard  and  painful 
influence,l  Kings  viii.  5 1 .  Deut.  xxviii. 
48.  Affliction,  w  hether  penal  or  eor- 
rective,  is  called  a  yoke :  it  distresses 
men  in  their  persons,  circumstances, 
and  spirit:  and  it  is  the  yoke  of  trans- 
gressions, because  inflicted  on  their 
account,  Lam.  iii.  27.  and  i.  14. — 
Marriage  is  called  a  yoke,  as  persons 
therein  joined  are  bound  to  serve 
God,  and  assist  each  other ;  and 
they  are  unequally  yoked,  when  they 
are  different  as  to  their  religion,  or 
are  much  so  in  their  tempers  and  cir- 
cumstances, 2  Cor.  vi.  14.  Paul  calls 
his  lellow-preachers  his  true  yoke-fel- 
lows, as  they  laboured  in  the  same  ser- 
vice of  Christ  as  he  did,  Phil.  iv.  3. 

YOUNG,  that  which  has  lived  but 
a  short  time,  John  xii.  14.  The  Jews 
reckoned  [jersons  young  till  married 
or  marriageable,  Deut.  xxviii.  57. 
Nay,  Joshua  is  called  young  at  56 
years  of  age,  as  it  seems  he  was  then 
in  the  prime  of  his  strength.  Reho- 
boam  is  called  young  and  tender  at 
41,2  Chr.  xiii.  7.  Sodom  is  called  the 
.Jewi' younger  sister,  because  the  pow- 
er thereof  was  far  inferior  to  that  of 
the  Jews,  Ezek.  xvi.  45,  61.  Youth, 
(1.)  Early  age,  or  what  is  done  in  it, 
Eccl.  xi.  9, 10.  And  hence  the  first  be- 
4  P 


Y  0  TJ 


(     594     ) 


Y  0  U 


ginnings  of  nations,  as  of  Israel  in  the 
Wiiderness,  and  at  their  entrance  into 
Canaan,  is  called  their  vouth,  Jer.  ii. 
2.  £zek.  xvi.  22.  Hos.'ii.  13.     (2.J 


Young  persons,  Job  xxx.  1 2,  Isa.  xl. 

30.  ChvhV s youlh^  is  either  the  early 
i)eriod  oi  the  Christian  church,  or  of 
his  new  converts,  Psa.  ex.  3. 


Z 


Z  A  C 


Z  A  C 


AANAIM,    'movinjrs,  one  sleep-  temple.      In  his  dying  moments,  he 


ing,  a  city  of  the  tribe  of  Naph 
ta.i,  Josh.  xix.  33.  called  Zaanati, 
Mic.  j.  1 1.  near  Cadesh;  antl  hard  hy 
Avas  a  valley  of  the  same  name,  where 
HebtT  the  Kenile  dwelt,  .huig.  iv.  1 1. 

ZACCHEUS,  ptirc,  clean,  just, 
jut-lifi'd.  Whet  her  he  was  a  Gentile,  or 
rather  a  .lew,  is  not  so  certain  as  that 
he  was  a  chief  publican.  As  Jesus 
passed  through  .Jericho,  going  to  suf- 
fer at  .Jerusalem,  Zaccheus  had  a 
great  curiosity  to  see  him;  hut,  being 
low  of  stature,  he  could  not,  till  he 
climf)ed  U[)  into  a  sycar;iorfc-tree. 
Wiiesi  Jesus  cajue  to  the  5j)ot,  he  bade 
him  come  down  hastily,  as  he  intended 
to  stoj)  at  his  house.  With  great  joy 
Zaccheus  came  down,  and  conducted 
our  Saviour  to  his  house.  While  the 
.Tews  murmured  that  Jesus  was  gone 
to  be  the  guest  of  a  publican,  Zac- 
cheus convinced  of  his  sin,  express- 
ed a  firm  resolution  to  give  the  half 
of  his  goods  to  the  poor,  and,  ac- 
cording to  the  Jewish  law,  to  restore 
four-fold  to  every  body  he  might 
have  wronged  by  false  accusation. 
Jesus  assured  him,  that  salvation  was 
come  to  his  house,  Luke  xix.  1  — 10. 

ZACHARIAH,  Zaciiarias,  Ze- 
ciiARiAH,  mindful  of  the  Lord,  or 
man  cf  the  Lord,  (1.)  The  son  of 
Jeroboam  II.  and  the  4th  descendant 
of  Jehu.  Probably  his  fatiier  left  him 
an  infant.  It  was  about  23,  or  as  some 
think,  no  more  than  1 1  years  after, 
that  he  ascended  the  throne,  and  hav- 
ing reigned  6  months,  was  murdered 
by  Shalium,  the  son  of  Jabesh,  A.  M. 
3232,  2  Kings  xv.  8—1 1 .  (2.)  The  son 
of  Jchoiada,  the  chief  priest,  who  is 
probably  also  called  Azariah.  Hav- 
ing reproved  king  Jo  ash,  his  cousin, 
for  his  idolatry  and  wickedness,  that 
ungrateful  wretch  ordered  him  to  be 
stoued  to  death  in  the  court  of  the 


told  them  that  the  Lord  wouhl  speed- 
ily avenge  his  death,  2  Clir.  xxiv.  20, 
25.  (3.)  The  son  of  Jeberechiah,  or 
Barachiah,  who  had  understanding  in 
the  visions  of  God,  and  encouraged 
I  zziah  in  his  pieij',  and  perhaps  witii- 
stood  him  when  he  attempted  to  otler 
incense,  2  Chron.  xxvi.  5.  lie  was 
one  of  the  faithful  witnesses  that  at- 
tested Isaiah's  writing  concerning 
Maher-shalal-hash-baz,  Isaiah  viii.  2. 
(4.)  The  son  of  Barachiah,  grand- 
son of  iddo,  and  11th  of  the  lesser 
prophets.  He  returned  from  Baby- 
lon with  Zerubbabel ;  and  while  yet 
young,  began  to  prophesy  in  the 
second  year  of  Darius  Hystaspes, 
A.  M.  3484,  about  two  months  after 
Haggai.  These  two  men  of  God 
mightily  encouraged  the  Jews  in  their 
building  of  the  second  temple,  Ezra 
vi.  After  Zerubbabel  had  exhorted 
the  people  to  repentance,  the  Lord 
appeared  to  him  as  a  man  on  horse- 
hack,  in  the  middle  of  a  plot  of  myr- 
ilc-trfcs,  in  a  low  place,  thereby  inti- 
mating the  presence  of  God  with,  and 
care  for  his  i)eople  in  their  distress  ; 
and  hinteil  to  him,  that  Jerusalem 
should  be  rebuilt.  By  the  vision  of 
Jour  horns  frayed  away  by  four  car- 
penters, was  intimated,  that  God 
would  raise  up  Jewish  governors, 
that  should  resist  and  harass  the  Am- 
monites, Moabites,  Samaritans,  and 
Philistines,  the  enemies  of  Judah, 
Zech.  i.  By  i\w  visionary  me asnriiig 
of  Jerusalem,  it  was  hinted,  that  it 
should  be  rebuilt  ;  and  the  prophet 
was  informed,  that  its  inhabitants 
should  be  very  numerous,  and  the 
Lord  should  marvellously  |)rotect 
them,  chap  ii.  By  the  vision  oj  Jo- 
shua the  high  priest's  preservation 
from  Satan,  and  the  change  of  his  fl- 
thy  robis  for  fine  apparel,  and  he  and 


Z  A  C 


(     595     ) 


Z  A  C 


his  fellow-priests  being  crowned  wilh 
^»id^  WAS.  hiiite<l,  the  safety  and  ^\o- 
ry  of  the  priests  un<ler  th*-  second 
temple.  By  tlie  vision  of  the  .stone 
with  seven  eyes  on  it,  was  hinted,  tiiat 
the  temple  should,  uiuier  llie  care  ol' 
divine  providence,  be  tinished,  anil 
Clirist  come  in  his  season,  chap.  iii. 
By  the  vision  of  a  camllestic/c  with  se- 
ven hranches,  placed  belwien  two  olive- 
trees,  that  issued  oil  out.  of  themselves, 
iiii,2:ht  be  signified  the  conilort  ol"  the 
Jews  by  means  olZerubijabel  and  Jo- 
shua, and  the  comfort  of  the  cluirch 
liy  Christ  and  his  Spirit,  cli.  iv.  By  a 
lar^c fii)in<r  roll,  written  all  over  with 
curses,  was  intimated  the  speedy  and 
extensive  vengeance  of  iJou  against 
false  swearers  and  thieves.  Tlie  vi- 
sionary cpliah,  filled  wilh  a  woman 
called  IVicladacss,  and  sl»ut  in  with  a 
hcamf  corerins:  of  lead,  and  carried 
by  two  winded  women  into  the  land 
of' Shinar,  imported  the  s|»ei'dy  and 
terrible  vengeance  taken  on  Bal)ylon 
about  four  years  alter,  by  the  Aledes 
and  Persians,  or  the  temble  ruin  and 
dispersion  of  the  Jews  about  -JO  years 
after  our  Saviour's  ascension,  ch.  v. 
By  four  chariots  proceeding  from  be- 
tv\een  brazen  mountains,  and  travers- 
ing (he  earth,  was  signified  the  fate  of 
the  Chaldean,  Persian,  Grecian,  and 
Roman  empires,  and  the  fate  of  mi- 
nisters in  the  various  periods  of  the 
gospel-church.  By  an  order  to  make 
crowns  of  silver  and  gold  for  Joshua, 
and  for  Heldai  or  Helem,  Tobijah,  Je- 
daiah,  and  Hen.  was  hinted  the  glory 
of  the  Jewish  priest iiood,  and  that  of 
Christ  as  the  builder  of  his  church, 
chap,  vi.  Alter  directing  the  Jews 
concerning  fasting,  and  inculcating 
a  variety  of  moral  duties,  he  foretels 
their  happiness,  and  the  vast  number 
of  their  proselytes  and  favourites, 
chap.  vii.  viii.  He  then  predicts  the 
destructive  wars  of  Syria,  Phenicia, 
and  the  country  of  the  Philistines  ; 
the  preservation  of  the  Jews  under 
their  Egypto-Grecian  and  Syro-Gre- 
cian  oppressors;  the  birth  and  inju- 
rious abuse  of  the  Messiah  ;  the  pub- 
lication and  success  of  the  gospel; 
the  ruia  of  the  Jewish  church  and 


state;  and  the  conversion  of  the  Gen- 
,  tiles  (o  Chrit^t  in  the   apostolic   and 
I  ndlU  nnial  periods,  cliap.  i\ — xiv.  (5.) 
.  Zkih.uuas  ;  an  ordinary  prie^tof  the 
Icourseof  Abia.  He  and  liis  wile  Lli/a- 
j  l)eth    were    eininently  righ'tous  and 
.  blaiiieUs^;  but  she  hail  i)ei'n  long  bar- 
ren.  About  13  n)onllis  bi'iore  our  Sa- 
viour's birth, as  Zecbarias- was  burning 
incense  in  the  temple,  llie  aiii:i'l  («a- 
briel  a|»pearedtohini,and  assured  him 
I  that  his  wile  sliouUI  bear  him  a  son, 
j  who  should  be  called  John, and  be  the 
successful  harbinger  of  the  Messiah. 
!  As  the  priest  refused  to  credit  the  mes- 
sage, the  angel  told  him  that  his  being 
smitten  dumb  till  the  event  should  ve- 
rify the  prediction.     AVlien  he  came 
out  of  the  temple,  he  could  not  speak, 
but  made  signs    to  the   people,  who 
were  praying  in  the  court,  that  he  liail 
seen  a  vision. — When  his  turn  of  mi- 
nistration was  finished, he  went  home: 
his  wife,  after  about  nine  months,  was 
haj)i)ily  delivered  of  a  son.  Contrary 
to  the  remonstrances  of  their  friends, 
Elizabeth  insisted  the  child  should  be 
named  John:  Zecharias   being  con- 
sulted by  signs,  wrote  that  he  should 
be  so  called.  Hereupon  he  recovered 
the  use  of  his  speech,  and  uttered  a 
hymn  of  praise  to  God,  for  the  dona- 
tion of  the  Messiah,  whose  birth  was 
at  hand;  and,   turning  himself  to  his 
child,  foretold  that  he  should,  by  his 
instructions,    prepare  the  nation  to 
receive  the  Messiah,  Luke  i. 

Who  that  Zecharias,  the  son  of 
Barachias,  who  was  slain  between 
the  |)orch  of  the  temple  and  the  al- 
tar; whether  he  was  the  son  of  Je- 
hoiada,  whose  name  has  much  the 
same  signification  as  Barachias,  i.  e. 
the  knowlcd'^c  of  the  Lord,  or  who 
blesses  the  Lord ;  or  the  son  of  Jebe- 
rechiah,  whom  perhaps  Ahaz  mur- 
dered between  the  porch  and  the  al- 
tar, for  opposing  his  idolatrous  wor- 
ship; or  the  prophet  above-mention- 
ed, who  it  is  thought,  was  murdered 
in  that  place;  or  the  father  of  the 
Baptist,  who  might  have  shared  the 
same  fate,  about  the  time  when  his 
son  was  a  public  |)reacher ;  or  if  it 
was  one  Zecharias  the  son  of  Barnch, 


Z  A  L 


( 


»96 


; 


Z  E  A 


whom  Jesus  foresaw  the  Jews  would 
murder  in  that  place,  a  little  before  the 
last  destruction  of  their  city ;  is  not 
.agreed  by  the  learned.  But  be  who 
he  wouUI,  the  punishment  of  all  the 
blood  shed  from  that  of  Abel  to  that 
of  this  Zecharias,  coming  upon  the 
Jewish  nation,  imports,  that  as  their 
rejection  and  murder  of  Christ  and  his 
apostles  approved  the  whole  of  it,  it 
should  l>e  all  reven2;ed  on  them,  Matt, 
xxiii.  34 — 36.  Luke  xi.  50,  51. 

ZADOK,  JM.sf,  or  justified,  the  son 
of  Ahitub.  In  his  person,  ai)pointed 
high  priest  by  Saul,  that  high  office 
was  returned  to  the  family  of  Eleazar, 
after  it  had  continued  near  120  years 
in  the  house  of  Eli,  and  the  family  of 
Ithamar.  Both  he  and  Abiatharwere 
a  kind  of  high  priests  under  the  reign 
of  king  David  :  but  it  seems  David 
chit  {jy  consulted  Zadok,  as  probably 
he  was  a  propliet.  They  both,  at  Da- 
vid's desire,  tarried  at  Jerusalem  du- 
ring Absalom's  rebellion,  and  pro- 
cured him  proper  information,  2  Sam. 
XV.  and  xvii.  They  also  prompted  the 
tribeof  Judah  to  make  all  the  haste 
they  could  to  bring  David  home  after 
the  rebellion  was  suppressed,  lest  the 
other  tribes  should  get  the  stavt  of 
them,  2  Sam.  xix.  11,12.  As  Zadok, 
instead  of  joining  Adonijah,  was  one 
of  those  most  active  in  the  corona- 
tion of  Solomon,  and  actually  anoint- 
ed him  to  the  royalty,  he  came  to  be 
sole  high  priest  after  Abiathar's  con- 
finement, 1  Kings  i.  and  ii.  and  was 
succeeded  by  his  sou  Ahimaaz :  ano- 
ther Zadok,  son  of  another  Ahitub, 
was  high  priest  long  after,  and  Je- 
rusha  his  daughter  seems  to  have  been 
the  wife  of  king  Uzziah,and  mother  of 
Jotham,  1  Chr.  vi.  22. 2  Chr.  xxvii.  1 . 

ZAIR,  liltle,  in  tribulatmi,  a 
broken  flail,  a  place  in  the  land  of 
Edom,  2  Kings  viii.  21. 

ZALMON,  darkness,  or  Salmon, 
peaceable,  a  hill  near  Shechem,  where 
it  seems  the  snow  lay  thick :  and  the 
Canaanitish  carcasses  were  like  the 
snow  of  Salnion,  when  they  covered 
the  whole  surface  of  the  ground, 
which  was  a  delightful  sight  to  the 
Hebrews,  Judg.  ix.  48.  Psa.  Ixviii.  14. 


ZAMZUMMIMS,  thinking  wick- 
edness, or  ZuziMS,  the  lintels  of  a  door, 
a  race  of  terrible  giants,  probably 
sprung  from  Ham,  and  who  dwelt 
on  the  east  of  the  Jordan,  and  had 
their  country  ravaged  by'Chedorla- 
omer.  Gen.  xiv.  5.  They  were  after- 
wards cut  off,  or  driven  from  it  by 
the  Ammonites,  Deut.  ii.  20. 

ZAPHNATH.     See  Joseph. 

ZARAH,or  Zerah,  clearness,  or 
rising  itp,  the  son  of  Judah  by 
Tamar,  and  twin-brother  of  Pharez. 
Of  his  tive  sons,  Ethan,  Zimri,  Heman, 
Calcol,  and  Dara,  sprung  theZarhites, 
who  were  less  numerous  than  the  pos- 
terity of  Pharez,  Gen.  xxxviii.  28,  29. 
1  Chron.  ii.  G.  Numb.  xxvi.  20. 

ZARED,  a  strange  going  down, 
or  Zered  ;  the  name  of  v.  brook  that 
runs  into  the  river  Arnon;  or  of  a 
valley.  Numb.  xxi.  12. 

ZAREPHTHAH,  or  Sarepta, 
ambnsh  of  the  mouth,  or  crucible,  a 
city  of  the  Zidonians,  on  the  shore  of 
the  Mediterrjanean  Sea.  It  seems  they 
had  a  glass-work  at  it.  Here  Elijah 
lodged  some  time  with  a  widow,  1 
Kings  xvii.  9,10.  Luke  i v.  20.  About 
A.  D.  400,  it  was  still  of  some  note, 
and  its  wines  were  exceedingly  strong. 

ZARETHAN,  Zartanah,  or 
Zeredathah,  tribulation,  perplexitt/, 
a  place  on  the  west  of  Jordan,  near 
to  which  the  vv'aters  stood  in  heaps 
as  Joshua  passed  a  good  way  below. 
Near  to  this  place,  in  the  plain  of 
Jericho,  and  almost  over  against  Suc- 
coth,  were  the  large  vessels  of  the 
temple  formed  of  metal,  Joshua  iii. 
16.  1  Kings  iv.  12.  2  Chronicles 
iv.  17. 

ZEAL,  an  eagerness  towards  or 
against  a  thing,  2  Kings  x.  14.  God's 
seal,  is  his  wise,  high,  and  holy  re- 
gard to  his  own  honour,  and  to  the 
welfare  of  his  people,  2  Kings  xix. 
21,  Men's  seal  is  either  hah/,  which 
is  an  intelligent  and  prudent  eager- 
ness to  have  God  honoured,  true  ho- 
liness promoted,  and  error  and  wick- 
edness opposed  and  extirpated,  Psa. 
Ixix.  9.  Numb.  xxv.  13.  or  ignorant 
and  furious,  when  men  are  zealous 
without  knowledge  of  the  nature  of 


Z  E  B 


(     507     ) 


ZED 


thiniyg,  nnd  prudence  to  manage 
tliem,  or  are  zealous  chielly  lor  (rlllts, 
or  even  for  sin,  Ron),  x.  2.  Plill.  iii. 
tJ. — Zkalois,  eagerly  concerned 
and  active  about  a  tiling,  Numb.  xxv. 
11.  Tit.  ii.  14. 

ZEKAH,    ZALMUNNA.      See 

MlOIAN,    (JlDl'.ON. 

ZEHEDEE.     See  James. 

ZEBOIIM,  little,  dear,  goats,  one 
of  the  lour  cities  which  perished  to- 
gether with  Sodom,  Gen.  xiv.  and 
xix.  Probably  it  stood  about  the 
nortii-west  corner  of  the  Dead  Sea. 
A  valley  of  Zeboiim,  or  spotted  ser- 
pents, was  near  to  Jericho,  1  Sam. 
xiii.  18.  and  hereabouts  the  Benja- 
mites  had  a  city  of  this  name,  which 
continued  till  after  A.  D.  400,  Neb. 
xi.  34. 

ZEBUL.     See  Gaal. 

ZEBULUN,or  Zabi  lon,  a  dwell- 
ing, the  sixth  son  of  Jacob  by  Leah, 
born  about  A.  M.  2256.  From  his 
three  sons,  Sered,  Elon,  and  Jahleel, 
sprunpi;  three  numerous  families.W hen 
this  tribe  came  out  of  Egypt,  their 
fighting  men  amounted  to  57,400, 
commanded  by  Eliab  the  son  of 
Elon  :  they  increased  3100  in  the 
•wilderness.  Their  spy  to  search  Ca- 
naan, was  Gaddiel  the  son  of  Sodi ; 
and  their  prince  to  divide  it  was  Eli- 
zaphan  the  son  of  Parnach,  Gen. 
XXX.  20.  and  xlvi.  11.  Numb.  i.  9, 
31.  and  xxvi.  20,  27.  and  xiii.  10. 
and  xxxiv.  25.  They  had  their  in- 
heritance on  the  south  of  the  tribes  of 
Asher  and  Naphtali,  and  had  the  Sea 
of  Galilee  on  the  east,  and  the  Me- 
diterranean on  the  west ;  they  en- 
riched themselves  by  their  fisheries, 
their  sea-trade,  and  their  making  of 
glass :  they  were  very  honest  in  their 
dealings,  and  notwithstanding  the  dis- 
tance they  very  punctually  attended 
the  worship  of  God  at  Jerusalem, 
Gen.  xlix.  13.  Deut.  xxxiii.  18,  19. 
Thej'  did  not  drive  out  the  Canaan- 
ites  from  Kitron  or  Nahalol,  Judges 
i.  30.  But  they  and  the  NaphtaHtes 
under  Barak,  were  very  active  in 
routing  the  host  of  Jabin,  Judg.  iv. 
10.  and  V.  14,  18.  They  assisted 
Gideon  against  the  rflidianites,  Judg. 


iv.  35.  Elon,  a  Zebulunite,  was  for 
ten  years  judge  of  li^rael,  Judg.  xii. 
11,  *and  50,000  of  them  attended  at 
Davici's  coronation  (o  be  king  over 
Israel,  and  brought  large  (juantitiesot' 
provision,  1  Chron.  xii.  33,  40.  Psa. 
Ixviii.  27.  They  were  oppressed, 
and  many  of  them  carried  captive  to 
the  east,  by  Tiglath-pileser,  1  Chron. 
V.  2(5.  Such  as  remained  in  their 
coimtr}-,  di<i  parlly  join  with  Heze- 
kiah  in  his  rel'orniation,  2  Chron. 
XXX.  11.  Their  country  was  sig- 
nally blessed  with  the  early  instruc- 
tious  and  miracles  of  our  Saviour, 
and  it  is  thorghl  most  of  his  disciples 
were  of  it,  Isa.  ix.  1,2.  Matt.  iv.  13, 
15.  Probably  there  was  also  a  city 
called  Zchidun  near  Accho,  which 
is  said  to  have  been  built  in  the  form 
of  Tyre  and  Sidon,  and  to  have  been 
taken  and  burnt  to  ashes  by  Cestius 
the  Roman,  about  A.  D.  06,  Josh, 
xix.  27. 

ZEDEKIAH,  ih£  justice  of  the 
Lord,  the  son  of  Josiah  by  Hamutal 
the  daughter  of  Jeremiah,  a  prince  of 
Lii)nah.  When  Nebuchadnezzar  car- 
ried Jehoiachin  prisoner  to  Babylon, 
he  made  Mattaniah  liis  uncle  king  in 
his  stead,  after  he  had  caused  him  to 
swear  to  be  his  tributary,  and  chang- 
ed his  name  to  Zedekiah.  He  began 
to  reign  when  he  was  21  year.^  of 
age,  and  reigned  1 1  years.  Contra- 
ry to  manifold  warnings  from  God, 
by  the  pro|)het  Jeremiah,  he  and  his 
people  hardened  themselves  in  their 
idolatry  and  other  impieties,  2  King.s 
xxiv.  17.  2  Chron.  xxxvi.  10 — 16. 
Ezek.  xvii.  13. — In  the  first  year  of 
his  reig!i,  he  sent  Elasali  the  son  of 
Shaphan,  and  Gemariah  tlie  son  ol 
Hilkiah,  to  Babylon,  probably  to  car- 
r}-^  his  tribute  :  with  these  Jeremiah 
seems  to  have  sent  his  letter  to  the 
captives  at  Babylon,  Jer.xxix.  About 
four3'ears  after,  he  either  w  ent  himself, 
or  at  least  sent  Seraiah  the  brother  of 
Baruch,  to  Babylon,  with  whom  Jere- 
miaii  sent  his  predictions  against  Ba- 
bylon, to  be  read  by  him,  and  then 
cast,  fixed  to  a  stone,  into  the  Euphra- 
tes, Jer.  li.  59 — 04.  I  n  the  ninth  j^ear 
of  his  reign.  Zedekiah,  contrary  to 


ZEE 


(     598     ) 


Z  E  P 


Solemn  treaty  with  Nebuchadnezzar, 
entered  into  a  league  Avith  Pharaoh- 
hophrah  of  Egj-^pt,  and,  it  seems,  with 
the  other  nations  around,  to  throw  ofi 
the  Chaltlean  yoke.  Nebuchadnez- 
zar quickly  marched  an  army  into 
Judea,  and  hiid  siege  to  Jerusalem. 
Alarmed  at  this,  he  and  his  subjects 
dismissed  their  bond-servants,  whom 
they  had  retained  longer  tlian  the  law 
allowed,  and  begged  that  Jeremiah 
Avould  pray  for  them.  Meanwhile,the 
Egyptians  marching  an  army  intoCa- 
naan,Nebuchadnezzarraised  the  siege 
of  Jerusalem  to  attack  them.  Duriog 
this  interval,  the  Jews  forced  back 
their  servants,  and  drew  new  [>unish- 
ment  on  their  heads.  Having  defeated 
or  driven  back  the  Egy[)tians,  Nebu- 
chadnezzar renewed  his  siege  of  Jeru- 
salem. Zedekiah  often  consulted  the 
prophet  Jeremiah,  but  had  not  pa- 
tience to  hear,  or  resolution  to  follow, 
his  good  counsels.  Jeremiah  urged 
bin)  iogooutand  submit  himselftoNe- 
buchadnezzar'e  mercy,  and  it  should 
be  well  with  him.  For  fear  of  derision, 
hedeclinedcompliauce,and  it  is  likely 
Pelatiah  the  prince,  who  soon  alter 
had  a  miserable  end,  disspaded  him, 
Ezeli.  xi.  1 3.  Zedekiah,  as  Jeremiah 
had  warned  him,  fell  into  greater  igno- 
miny by  his  refusal  to  surrender. 
When  Jerusalem  was  taken,  he  and  a 
number  of  his  troops  fled  otf  in  the 
night;  but  the  Chaldeans  pursued, 
and  overtook  them  near  Jericho.  He 
was  carried  prisoner  to  Nebuchadnez- 
zar at  Riblah  of  Syria,  who,  after  up- 
braiding him  with  his  treachery,  or- 
dered his  children  to  be  put  to  death 
before  his  face,  and  then  his  eyes  to  be 
plucked  out;  after  which  he  loaded 
him  with  chains,  and  sent  him  to  Ba- 
bylon, where,  after  some  time,  he  died 
peaceably,  and  was  honourably  inter- 
red by  his  friends,  Jeremiah  xxi. 
and  xxvii.  and  xxxii.  4 — 7.  and 
xxxiv.  and  xxxvii. — xxxix.  2  Kings 

XXV. 

Zedekiah,  the  son  of  Chenaanah, 
and  the  son  of  Maaseiah,  were  both 
false  |)rophets.  See  Micaiah,  Ahab. 

ZEEB,  a  wolf,  a  Midianitish 
prince  who  gave  name  to  a  place  in  or 


near  to  the  lot  of  the  Ephraimifes, 
and  not  far  from  Jordan,  Amn',.    '  .  25. 

Perhaps  Zt  LAH,  where  S.u.i ,  Jid 
his  family  were  imried,  wa^  th(^  si-iMC 
as  Zelzah,  not  far  from  Rainah, 
but  in  the  south  frontier  oi  thp  tribe 
of  Benjamin,  Josh,  xviii.  28.  1  Sam. 
X.  2.  2  Sam.  xxi.  14. 

ZELOPHEHAD,  the  shadow  of 
fear,  the  son  of  Hepher,  of  the  tribe 
4Manasseh,  died  in  the  wilderness, 
though  not  in  any  of  the  more  noted 
provocations.  Not  long  before  Moses 
died,  his  five  daughters,  Rlahlah, 
Tnzah,  Hoglah,  Milcah,  and  Noah, 
(or  he  had  no  son,  applied  to  Moses 
to  have  an  inheritance  in  Canaan,  as 
heirs  to  their  father.  The  juord  ap- 
proved their  demand,  and  only  con- 
fined them  to  marry  such  as  were  of 
their  own  tribe  :  and  it  was  divinely 
enacted,  that  to  prevent  the  portion 
of  one  tribe  going  into  that  of  ano- 
ther, no  heiress  should  marry  out  of 
her  own  tribe  ;  or  if  she  did,  she  lost 
her  inheritance.  Numb.  xxvi.  33.  and 
xxvii.  and  xxxvi. 

ZEMARAIM,  wool,  or  pitch  of 
trees,  a  city  of  the  Benjamites  near 
Bethel,  and  near  to  Avhich  was  a  mount 
of  the  same  name :  at  the  foot  where- 
of, Jeroiioam  had  500,000  of  his  ar- 
my killed  by  Abijah's  troops.  Josh, 
xviii.  22.  2  Chron.  xiii.  4. 

The  ZEMARITES,  were  the  de- 
scendants of  Canaan  by  his  tenth  son. 
It  is  likely  they  built  and  peopled 
Symira,  a  city  of  Phenicia,  near  Or- 
thosia.  Gen.  x.  18. 

ZEN  AS,  living,  the  only  i)ious 
lawj'er  we  read  of  in  scripture. 
Whether  his  learning  respected  the 
Jewish  or  the  Roman  law,  we  know 
not ;  but  he  was  a  noted  Christian, 
whom  together  with  Apollos,  Paul 
desired  Titus  to  bring  to  Nicopolis, 
and  to  take  care  they  were  suffici- 
ently provided  for  in  the  journey, 
Tit.iii.  13. 

ZEPHANIAH,  the  secret  of  the 
Lord,  (l.)  A  prophet,  the  son  of 
Cush,  and  grandson  of  Gedaliah  :  he 
appears  to  have  lived  in  the  tijne  of 
king  Josiah,  who  after  his  children 
were  grown  up,  sufleied  them  to  wear 


Z  E  R 


C     599     ) 


Z  I  P 


robes  of  a  foreign  fashion,  Zeph.  i. 
1,  8.  In  his  first  anil  third  chapters?, 
he  iiireiKh:?  a2;ain3t  the  wickeihiessof 
the  .lews;  foretels  their  calainitiesanil 
captivity,  and  theirdeliverancM- there- 
from,    in  tlie  second,  he  exhorts  tlie 


hahel  be  the  son  he  rais(!d  up  to  iiii^ 
Iirotiier,  1  Chron.  iii.  10.  Matt.  i.  12. 
As  Sheshl)a/,zar  is  said  to  huihl  the 
second  temple,  and  was  (trince  of  the 
Jews,  it  seems  he  is  the  very  same 
with  Zerul)l)aU<'l,  and  the  one  is  his 


Jews  to  rei)entanee,  and  foretels  the  l.lcwish,  and  the  other  his  Chaldean 
ruin  of  tlie  Philistines,  JMoabilcs,  ;i;ime,  Kzra  v.  IG.  and  i.  o,  1  1.  witii 
Ammonites,  Ethiopians,  and  Assy-  Zech.  iv.  .'i.  Cyrus  delivered  into 
rians.  (2.)  Zkpuamaii,  the  second  I  liis  hands  the  sacred  vessels  which 
priest  or  sagan  under  Seraiah  the  1  had  been  carried  to  Baliylon,  to  the 
chief  priest.  By  him  Zeilekiah  of-  numlier  of  j-100,  arnl  ap|)ointed  biin 
tener  than  once  consulted  Jeremiah,  jgovernor  of  the  returning  captives 
and  recpiested  his  prayers  in  behalf  |of  Judah.  After  conducting  42,.'360 
of  the  kiogdofn,  Jer.  xxi.  1.  and  !of  them,  together  with  7.337  servants, 
xxsvii.  1.  To  him  Sheuiaiah  di-  from  Baliylon  to  Judea,  belaid  the 
rected  his  letter  accusing  Jeremiah  ifountlation  of  the  second  temple,  and 
as  a  madman,  and  he  read  it  to  J e-  restored  the  worship  of  God  by  sa- 
remiah,  chap.  xxix.  24 — 20.  When  crifice.  Notwithstanding  manifold 
Jerusalem  was  taken,  he  and  Seraiah  | obstructions  to  the  work  by  the  Ba- 
the chiel  priest,  were  carried  to  Rib- jmaritaus,  whom  the  Jews  would  not 
lab,  and  there  murdered  by  the  or- 1  permit    to  act   with   them,    he   and 

Joshua  the  high  priest,  encouraged 
by  Haggai  and  Zecharlah  the  pro- 


der  of  Nebuchadnezzar,  2  Kings 
XXV.  18.  Perhaps  he  lived  too  early 
to  be  the  father  of  Hen  and  Josiah, 
tlie  priests,  Zech.  vi.  10,  14. 

ZEPHAATH,  or  Zephatah,  a 
mirror.     See  Hormah. 

ZERAH,  ri.sins;,  clearness,  (1.) 
A  son  of  Judah.  See  Zarah.  (2.) 
A  king  of  Ci  sH,  who,  in  the  time  of 
Asa,  invaded  the  kingdom  of  Judah 
with  a  million  of  footmen  and  300 
chariots;  but  being  seized  with  a 
panic,  most  of  them  were  cut  off,  2 
Chron.  xiv.  0—15. 

ZEREDATHAH.  See  Zaretan. 

ZERESH.     See  Hamax. 

Z  E  R  U  B  B  A  BE  L,  banisJicd,  or  dis- 
persion of  confusion,  the  son  of 
Sbealtiel  or  Salathiel,  and  of  the 
royal  family  of  David.  As  Salathiel, 
Avho  is  called  the  son  of  Jehoiachin, 
might  yet  be  the  son  of  Neri,  a  de- 
scendant of  Nathan  the  son  of  Da- 
vid, being  son  to  Jehoiachin  by  the 
widow  of  Neri,  whom  lie  had  mar- 
ried, or  he  might  be  adofited  by  Neri, 
or  might  many  the  only  daugbier  of 
Neri,  1  Chron.  iii.  17.  Luke  iii.  27. 
so  Zerubbahel  (night  at  once  be  the 
immediate  son  of  Pedai.ib,  and  the 
grandson  of  Salathiel;  or,  Pedaiah, 


phets,  at  last  I'lnished  the  temple, 
about  20  years  after  it  was  begun. 
Ezra  i.  to  vi.  Hag.  i.  and  ii.  Zech. 
iv.  He  left  behind  him  seven  sons, 
Meshullam,  Hananiah,  Hashubah, 
Ohel,  Berechiab,  Hasadiah,  Jushab- 
hesed,  and  a  daughter  called  Shelo- 
milh.  Some  two  of  these  sons, 
otherwise  named,  are  the  Rhesa, 
from  whom  the  virgin  Mary  de- 
scended, and  the  Abihud,  from 
whom  Joseph  her  husband  sprung, 
1  Chron.  iii.  19.  Luke  iii.  27.  Matt, 
i.  13.  Some  think  Zeriibbabel  pre- 
figured our  Saviour,  who  is  the 
signet  on  God's  right  hand;  and 
who  has  all  things  necessary  for  the 
welfare  of  the  church  delivered  into 
his  hand:  and  who  builds  the  lem- 
[)le  of  the  church,  with  shoutings  of 
grace  unto  it,  and  bears  all  the  glo- 
ry, Hag.  ii.  23. 

ZIBA.     See  Mkphiboshetii. 

ZIDON.     See  PiiENiciA. 

ZIF,  or  Jair,  the  second  month 
of  the  sacred,  and  eighth  of  the  Jew- 
ish civil  year.  It  consistetl  of  29 
days,  and  answered  in  part  to  our 
April.     On  the  14th  day  of  it,  such 


a  younger  brother,  mi<;ht  have  mar-  as  h:id  been,  by  uncleanness  orjour- 
ried  Sheaitiel's  widow,  and  Zerub- jneyiug,    prevented  from    observing 


Z  I  N 


(      600     ) 


Z  I  P 


the  passover  in  the  preceding  month, 
observed  it  now ;  and  on  it  the  pass- 
over-festival  viras  kept,  in  the  first 
j^ear  of  Hezekiah's  reformation, 
Numb.  ix.  2  Chron.  xxx.  15,  26. 
On  the  10th  of  it,  the  Jews  observe  a 
fast  for  the  death  of  Eli,  and  another 
on  the  23th  for  the  death  of  Samuel. 

Z I  LP  AH.     See  Jacob. 

Z I  MR  AN,  a  song,  singing,  a  vine, 
the  eldest  of  Abraham's  six  sons  by 
Keturah.  He  was  the  father  of  the 
Zimri,  orZamarenes,  in  Arabia-Felix, 
where  we  lind  the  city  Zebram  or 
Zimram,  Gen.  xxv.  2.   Jer.  xxv.  23. 

ZIMRI,  my  field,  my  vine,  my 
branch,  son  of  Saiu,  a  prince  of  the 
tribe  of  Simeon,  who  jtublicly  went 
into  the  tent  of  Cozbi,  a  Midianitish 
woman;  both  of  whom  Phinehas  stab- 
bed, amidst  their  lewd  embraces, 
Numb.  xxv.  14.  (2.)  General  of  half 
the  cavalry  of  Elah,  king  of  Israel, 
who  slew  his  master,  and  usurpeil  his 
throne,  1  Kings  xvi.  9.  While  Elah 
was  makin'jj  merry  at  Tirzah,  Zimri 
fell  upon  him,  slew  him,  and  usurped 
his  kingdom.  He  entirely  cut  off  the 
whole  family  of  his  master,  without 
sparing  any  of  his  relations  orfriends; 
by  all  which  was  fulfilled  the  word  of 
the  Lord,  as  it  was  denounced  to 
Baasha,  the  father  of  Elah,  by  the  pro- 
phet Jehu.  Zimri  reigned  but  seven 
days ;  for  the  army  of  Israel,  that  was 
then  besieging  Gibbethon,  a  city  of 
the  Philistines,  made  their  general 
Omri  king,  and  besieged  Zimri  in  the 
city  of  Tirzah.  Zimri,  perceiving 
that  the  city  was  upon  the  point  of 
being  taken,  burnt  himself  in  the  pa- 
lace with  all  the  riches  that  were 
therein.  He  did  evil  before  the  Lord, 
and  was  cut  off  in  his  iniquity.  The 
rest  of  his  actions  are  recorded  at 
length  in  the  annals  of  the  kings  of 
Israel.     See  Cozbi. 

ZIN,  7veapons,  target,  buckler, 
coMncss,  the  name  of  a  place  about 
the  south-west  of  Idumea ;  but  whe- 
ther it  was  the  name  of  a  city,  or  if 
it  was  the  name  of  a  part  or  of  the 
whole  of  the  wilderness  of  Paran,  we 
know  not,  Numb.  xiii.  21.  and  xx.  1. 
Josh.  XV.  3. 


ZION,  or  Sign,  a  heap,  tomb, 
drought,  (1.)  A  top  or  part  of 
mount  Hermon,  or  an  arrangement 
of  hills  near  to  it.  Psalm  cxxxiii.  3. 
(2.)  Cellarius,  Lightfoot,  and  others, 
think  the  other  famed  mount  Zion 
was  to  the  north  of  the  ancient 
Jebus;  but  Reland  has  offered  a 
variety  of  arguments  to  prove  that 
it  was  on  the  south  of  it.  We,  with 
Ihe  authors  of  the  Universal  His- 
tory, think  the  south  part  of  Jeru- 
salem stood  on  Mount  Zion,  and 
that  the  king''s  palace  stood  on  the 
north  side  of  it,  and  the  temple  on 
mount  Moriah,  to  the  north-east  of 
it,  2  Sam.  v.  1.  1  Kings  viii.  1.  Psa. 
xlviii.  2.  but  as  mount  Moriah  was 
only  at  the  end  of  it,  it  w  as  some- 
times called  Zion ;  and  even  the 
temple  and  its  courts  are  so  called. 
Psalm  Ixv.  1.  and  Ixxxiv.  7.  and  the 
worshippers  at  the  tem[)le,  if  not  the 
whole  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem,  are 
called  Zion,  Psalm  xcvii.  8.  In  al- 
lusion hereto,  the  church,  whether 
Jewish  or  Christian,  on  earth  or  in 
heaven,  is  called  Zion  ;  how  firm  is 
her  foundation,  and  how  delightful 
her  prospect !  how  solemn  and  sweet 
the  fellowship  with,  and  worship  of, 
God  therein!  Psa.  cii.  13.  Isa.  ii.  3. 
Heb.  xii.  22.  Rev.  xiv.  1.  Isa.  li.  11. 

ZIPH,  this  mouth,  or  cheek,  false- 
hood, two  cities  of  the  tribe  of  Judah, 
one  of  which  lay  about  8  miles  east- 
ward from  Hebron,  which  is  per- 
haps that  beside  Maon  and  South 
Carmel,  and  whose  inhabitants, 
though  of  the  same  tribe,  were  so 
eager  to  have  David  cut  off,  that 
they  informed  Saul  of  his  hiding 
places,  and  instigated  him  to  come 
and  apprehend  him ;  and  the  other 
Avas  somewhere  about  the  borders  of 
Edom,  Josh.  xv.  24, 35.  1  Sam.  xxiii. 
14 — 26.  and  xxvi.  1.  Psa  \iy.  title. 

ZIPPORAH,  a  mourning,  beau- 
ty, a  trumpet,  the  daughter  of 
Jethro,  orReuel.  Her  marriage  with 
Moses,  and  bearing  him  two  sons; 
her  accompanying  him  part  of  his 
way  to  Egypt ;  her  anger  on  account 
of  the  circumcision  of  her  child ;  her 
return  to  her  father's  house ;  her  com- 


Z  0  B 


(     GOl      ) 


z  u  z 


ing  with  her  father,  some  montlis 
alter,  to  Mo?es;  and  Aaron  and  Mi- 
riam's jealousy  of  l)er  influence  over 
him ;  have  been  related  under  the 
article  lAIoSBS,  Exodus  ii.  iv.  xviii. 
Numb.  xii. 

ZIZ,  a  Jloivcr^  a  branch,  a  lock  nj 
atrlid  hair,  2  Chron.  xx.  1  (3.  the  name 
of  a  cliif;  thought  to  he.  the  same 
with  Ziza,  placed  by  Ptolemy  in 
Arabia  Petraia. 

ZOAN,  motion,  moving,  moved,  or 
TAN  lS,a  very  ancient  city  of  Egypt, 
Numb.  xiii.  7.  and  somewhere  in  the 
lower  part  of  that  country,  not  very 
far  from  the  Mediterranean  Sea.  It 
was  probably  tlie  capital  for  many 
age?,  Isa.  xix.  11.  and  xxx.  4. 

ZOAK,,  lilllc,  small,  or  Bei.a,  was 
one  of  the  five  cities  that  rpi)elled 
against,  and  was  reduced  by,  Chedor- 
laomer,  Gen.  xiv.  It  seems  to  have 
been  in  the  utmost  danger  of  destruc- 
tion along  with  Sodom  and  the  other 
three ;  but  Lot  begged,  that  as  it  was 
but  small,  it  might  be  preserved  as  a 
residence  for  him.  His  request  was 
granted,  and  thereafter  the  place  was 
called  Zoar,  the  little  one.  Gen.  xix. 
20,  21,  22.  It  seems  to  have  stood 
somewhere  about  the  south  end  of 
the  Dead  Sea.  Probably  numbers  of 
the  Moabites  fled  hither  from  the  ra- 
vages of  the  Assyrian  and  Chaldean 
troops,  Isa.  xv.  5.  Jer.  xlviii.  34. 

ZOBAH,  an  army,  warring,  a 
swelling,  was  a  kingdom  of  Syria, 
near  about  where  Damascus  stands, 
and  had  Rehob  and  Hadadezer  for 
its  kings,  2  Sam.  viil. 


ZOHET-ETH,  creeping  much,  draw- 
ing, or  sliding,  n  stone  near  En-rogeb 
at  which  Adonijah  held  his  usurpa- 
tion feast,  ^\'llether  this  stone  was 
used  by  the  young  men  to  exercise 
themselves  in  rolling  it,  or  if  the  ful- 
lers beat  their  cloth  upon  it,  we  know 
not,  1  Kijigs  i.  9. 

ZOPHAR,  rising  earlt/,  the  morn- 
ing, a  crown,  a  sparrow,  the  Naama- 
thite,  one  of  Jon's  three  uncharitable 
Iriends,  and  who  spoke  twice  against 
him.  Job  ii.  11.  and  xi.  20.  but  was 
pardoned  in  answer  to  Job's  praj'ers. 
Job  xlii.  7 — 9.  Whether  Naamath 
was  the  name  of  his  ancestor,  or  of 
his  city,  we  cannot  determine;  nor 
whether  he  was  king  of  the  Mineans, 
or  of  the  Nomades,  or  wandering 
Arabs. 

ZORAH,  leprosy,  a  hornet,  a  city 
of  the  Dauites,  near  the  border  of 
Judiih.  Here  Samson  was  born, 
Judges  xiii.  2.  Its  inhabitants  are 
called  Zorites  and  Zorathites,  1 
Chron.  ii.  54.  and  iv.  1.  Proba- 
bly this  was  one  of  the  cities  which 
Rehoboam  fortified  for  the  secu- 
rity of  liis  kingdom,  2  Chronicles 
xi.  10. 

ZUPH,  a  ivatch,  covering,  a  roof, 
looking  for,  a  Levite,  and  one  of 
Samuel's  ancestors.  As  he  was  the 
chief  of  the  Zuphites,  he  probably 
occasioned  their  territory  to  be  call- 
ed the  land  of  Zuph,  and  their  city 
Ramath-zophim;  or  Ramath  of  the 
Zuphites,  1  Chron.  vi.  35.  1  Sam. 
ix.  5.  and  i.  1. 

ZUZIMS.     See  Zamzummims. 


Vol,,  ir. 


4G 


CHROISOLOGY  OF  FACTS 


RELATIVE    TO   THE 

HISTORY  OR  PREDICTIONS  OF  SCRIPTURE,  &c. 

N.  B.  (J.)  JVc  dare  not  affirm,  that  some  thinir^s  here  are  fixed  to  the  pre- 
cise year.  (2.)  Wc  have  somdimesfolloyved  a  different  authority  from  what 
wcftdlowcd  in  the  body  of  the  Dictionary,  as  we  knew  not  certainly  which  was 
most  exact. 


Year 
of  the 
world. 

Before 

Clu-ist. 

1 

1004 

129 

3875 

130 

3874 

9»7 

3017 

1536 

2408 

1636 


1758 


1787 


1920 


2348 


2246 


2217 


2084 


T. 


HE  world's  creation ;  Adam's  fall ;  Cain's  birth,  Gen.  i — iv. 

oain  murders  Abel,  and  is  divinely  banished  to  Nod. 

iSeth  is  born,  to  the  great  conilort  of  his  parents,  Gen.  iv.  v. 

Enoch,  the  seventh  from  Adam,  is  translated  to  heaven. 

God  commands  Noah  to  warn  the  now  fearfully  corrupted  inha- 
biiants  of  the  w  orld  of  the  approaching  flood,  and  to  call  them 
to  repent,  Gen.  vi. 

Methuselah  dies,  aged  909  years.  The  flood  overflows  the  earth, 
and  contines  a  whole  year,  Gen.  v — ix. 

Peleg  is  born.  About  this  time,  or  about  240  years  after,  at  his 
death.  Babel  is  built,  languages  confounded,  and  mankind  dis- 
persed ;  and  Noah  is  said  to  have  removed  eastward,  and 
founded  the  kingdom  of  China,  Gen.  xi. 

Or  240  years  later,  Nimrod  founds  his  kingdom  at  Babylon,  and 
Ashur,  his  in  Assyria;  and  soon  alter  Mizraim  founds  the  king- 
dom of  Egyi)t,  Gen.  x.  9,  10, 1 2! 

The  Arabian  shepherds  invade  Egypt,  and  found  a  kingdom, 
which  continues  about  259  years. 

Noah  dies,  aged  950  years;  and  two  years  after  Abram  is  born. 


2006;  1998 

2079]  925lChedor!aomer  subdues  Sodom,  and  the  adjacent  kingdoms. 

2083  1921 
2092  1912 


Abram  called  of  God,  leaves  Ur,  and  begins  his  pilgrimage. 
Chedoriaomer  an<l  his  allies  Avaste  the  eastern  part  of  Canaan, 
defeat  the  allied  army  of  Sodom,  Gomorrah,  &c.  take  Lot  cap- 
tive ;  but  are  liefeated  by  Abram,  Gen.  xiv. 
21071897  Sodom  and  its  neighbouring  cities  are  destroyed.  Gen.  xix. 
2108,1896  Isaac  is  born  to  Abraham;  and  not  long  after,  Moab  and  Ben- 

j  ammi  to  Lot,  Gen.  xix.  xxi. 

2143;  1863  Isaac  is  intentionally  offered  in  sacrifice;  and  seven  years  after 

j  he  is  married  to  Rehekah,  Gen.  xxii.  xxiv. 

2183  1821 1  Abraham  dies,  15  years  after  the  birth  of  Jacob  and  Esau. 


2265 


39  Jacob  returns  from  Padan-aram,  with  a  numerous  family,  after  he 
had  there  served  Laban  for  twenty  years.  About  a  year  after, 
Judah  marries  a  Canaanitess,  by  whom  he  had  three  sons,  Er, 
Onan,  and  Shelah,  Gen.  xxviii — xxxviii. 
2276  1728  Joseph  is  sold  into  Egypt,  five  j'ears  after  his  mother's  death. 

2288  1716  Isaac  dies,  about  43  years,  alter  he  had  blessed  Jacob  and  Esau, 

I     Gen.  XXXV.  with  xxxvii. 

2289  1  715  Joseph  interprets  Pharaoh's  dream;  and  the  seven  years  of  plen- 

ty begin,  Gen.  xli. 
2299jl  705  Jacob  and  his  family  come  into  Egypt,  in  the  third  of  the  seven 

j         I     years  of  famine,  Gen.  xlvi.  with  xlii — xlv, 
2369)1635  Joseph  dies,  aged  110  years,  Gen.  L 


Yr.  of  I  Before 

ivorM   I  Christ 

1374 


1491 


1451 


1434 


1413 


1404 


(     e03     )  " 

The  oppression  oflhe  Hebrews,  and  murder  of  their  children,  is 
hei^uii,  Exod.  i.  ii.  Acts  vii.   Psal.  cv. 

'»lo!<ts,  id  the  SOtii  year  of  his  ac^e,  brings  liie  Hebrews  out  of 
Kgyi't;  and  Egypt  is  almost  ruiinMl  l)y  ten  plagues,  and  the 
drowning  of  their  army,  Exod.  iii. — xv.  Psalin  cv. 

Moses  dies,  and  the  Hebrews  enter  Canaan  ;  and  at'ler  six  year* 
are  settled  in  it,  Drut.  xxxiv.  Josh.  i. — xxi.  Perliaps  a  bo«!y 
of  fugitive  Canaauites  found  a  second  kingdom  of  shepiierds 
in  Egypt. 

Joshua  dies.  Soon  after  Judah  and  Simeon  clear  their  lot  of  the 
Canaanites;  MicairsiiUd  iserectedat  Dan:  and  (he  Benjamites 
are  almost  utterly  destroyed.  Josh.  xxiv.  Jndg.  i.  xvii. — xxi. 

Cushan-rishathnim  oppreSf-<*th  tlie  Hebrews;  and,  al'tLT  eight 
years,  they  are  delivered  by  Othniel,  Judges  iii. 


1305  Jabin,  king  of  Canaan,  begins  to  oppress  the  Hebrews. 
1285  They  are  delivered  by  Barak,  Judf^es  iv.  v. 
1125  Tyre  is  built;  the  Midianites  begin  to  oppress  Israel ;  but,  after 
seven  years,  are  routed  by  Gideon,  Judges  iv. — viii. 


1197 
1188 

1 1 32 
1184 

1150 
1116 


1095 
1073 

1063 

1055 
1044 


1015 


3029'   975 


Jair  dies ;  and  Je{)hthah  delivers  Israel  from  the  Ammonites, 
Judges  X.  xi. 

According  to  most  authors,  Troy  is  taken  and  burnt  by  the 
Greeks,  after  a  siege  often  years.. 

Eli  begins  to  judge  Israel.     Samson  is  born,  Judges  xiii. 

Samson  pulls  down  the  idol-tem|)le  on  some  thousands  of  the 
Philistines.  Hereon  the  Hebrews  attack  them;  but  are  re- 
pulsed with  the  loss  of  4000.  Soon  after,  they  are  again  de- 
feated, with  the  loss  of  30,000:  and  the  ark  is  taken.  Eli's 
two  wicked  sons,  who  had  corrupted  tlie  nation,  are  slain,  and 
himself  dies  as  he  hears  the  tidings. — Perhaps  these  events  hap' 
pcncd  20  years  sooner  : 

Or  possibly  20  or  30  years  later,  Saul  is  made  king,  1  Sam.  x.  xi. 

Amasis  king  of  Egypt  drives  out  the  second  dynasty  of  shep- 
herds ;  and  they  probably  unite  with  the  Philistines. 

David  is  anointed  king  over  Israel;  and  about  four  years  after, 
Samuel  dies,  aged  98  years,  1  Sam.  xvi.  xxv. 

Saul  is  slain  ;  and  Davi<l  begins  his  reign  over  Judah. 

Multitudes  of  Syrians  and  Phenicians,  to  avoid  being  tributaries 
to  king  David,  fly  into  Crete,  Greece,  and  Lesser  Asia,  and 
the  north  parts  of  Africa,  under  the  command  of  Cadmus,  Ci- 
lix,  Phenix,  Thasis,  6cc.  and  carry  letters  and  arts  along  with 
them,  2  Sara.  viii. — x.    . 

David  dies,  and  is  succeeded  by  Solomon ;  who,  in  the  4th  year 
of  his  reign,  lays  the  foundation  of  the  temple,  and  finishes  it 
in  the  eleventh,  1  Chron.  xxix.  1  Kings  i. — viii. 

Ammon  is  king  of  Egypt ;  Minos,  of  Crete ;  Tros,  of  Troy ;  Cp- 
crops,  of  Athens ;  Hellen,  the  son  of  Deucalion,  in  Phthiotis; 
Amphion  and  Zethus  reign  at  Thebes  of  Greece,  Layus  the  son 
of  Cadmus  being  driven  out;  Sisyphus,  at  Corinth.  About 
this  time,  Dedalus,  the  famous  artist,  flourishes. 

Rehoboam  and  Jeroboam  begin  to  reign  over  the  Hebrews. 

Shishak  is  king  of  Egypt,  1  Kings  xii. — xiv.  2  Chron.  xi.  xii. 

Layus  recovers  the  kingdom  of  Thebes.     Thoas  the  Cretan  is 


iTr.  of  Before 
world   Christ  , 


3049 


3090 


3100 


5120 


I 


3150 


3142 

3194 


3228 
3233 
3234 
3257 


3262 

3283 

3294 


955 


(     604     ) 


914 


904 


884 


854 


862 
810 


776 
771 

750 

747 


721 
710 


king,  first  in  Lemnos,  and  afterward  of  Cyprus.   Hercules  and 
Eurystheus  are  born. 
Abijah  king  of  Judah  dies,  and  Asa  succeed^  him. 

Nadab,  Baasha,  Elah,  Zimri,  and  Oniri,  are  in  succession  kings 

I     of  Israel,  1  Kings  xv.xvi.  2Cbron.  xiv. — xvi. 

The  Etliiopians  invade  Egypt,  while  their  civil  war  continues, 
and  seize  on  that  country,  and  drown  Orus  the  king  in  the  Nile. 
His  wife  Isis  dies  of  grief.  Soon  after,  the  Ethiopians  are 
routed  by  Asa. — Evander,  and  his  mother  Carmenta,  carry  the 
letters  and  arts  of  Greece  into  Italy. — -About  this  time  happen- 
ed the  Grecian  expedition  of  the  Argonauts.  Hercules  and 
Esculapius  were  deified.  Theseus  was  banished  from  Athens, 
and  the  Heraclides  were  chased  out  of  Peloponnesus;  and 
Agamemnon  was  king  of  Mycena),  2  Chron.  xiv. 

Jehoshaphat  succeeds  his  father  Asa  in  the  kingdom  of  Judah. — 

1     Ahab,  Ahaziah,  and  Jehoram  reign  over  Israel. 

Ameno[)hls,  the  Ethio{)ian  king  of  Egypt,  is  perhaps  the  Memnon 
of  Persia ;  and  his  broWier  Proteus,  who  governed  Egypt, 
might  be  his  viceroy,  2  Chron.  xvii. — xx.  1  Kings  xvi. — xxii. 
2  Kings  i. — viii. 

According  to  Sir  Isaac  Newton  and  us,  Troy  is  taken  and  ruined ; 
and  about  20  years  after,  Carthage  is  built,  at  least  enlarged 
by  Dido  and  her  Phenicians; — and  not  long  after,  the  Greek 
poets,  Homer  and  Hesiod,  flourish. 

Jehu  murders  Jehoram  king  of  Israel,  and  Ahaziah  king  of  Ju- 
dah, and  reigns  over  Israel ;  he  and  his  descendants,  Jehoahaz, 
Jelioiish,  Jeroboan),  and  Zachariah,  retain  that  throne  112 
years.  Meanwhile,  Hazael  and  Benhadad  are  kings  of  Syria; 
Athaliali,  Joash,  Amaziah,  and  Uzziah,  are  kings  of  Judah.^ — 
Maoris,  Cheops,  and  Cephren,  of  Egypt,  2  Kings  ix.— xv.  2 
Chron.  xxii. — xxvi. 

A  colony  of  the  Eolians  remove  from  Greece  to  Lesser  Asia;  and 
about  50  years  after  another  of  lonians,  and  the  Heraclides  re- 
turn to  Peio|)onnesus. 

Or  perhaps  50  years  later,  Jonah  preached  to  the  Ninevites. 

Uzziah  begins  to  reign  over  Judah ;  with  him  were  successively 
contemporary,  Jeroboam,  Zachariah,  Shallum,  Menahem,  and 
Pekahiah,  kings  of  Israel ;  Mycerinus,  Nitocris,  Genephactus, 
Bocchoris,  and  others,  in  Egypt.  Amos,  Hosea,  Micah,  and 
Isaiah,  prophesy. 

The  Greek  Olympiads  begin;  each  of  which  contained  4  years. 

Pu!  the  founder  of  the  AssjM'ian  empire  invades  Canaan. 

Rome  is  built,  or  at  least  much  enlarged  and  walled. 

The  kingdom  of  Babylon  is  founded  by  Nabonassar,  or  Baladan, 
probably  the  son  of  Pul  the  Assyrian:  he  gave  name  to  the 
iamed  era  of  Ptolem}^  the  historian. 

Jotham  king  of  Judah  dies,  and  is  succeeded  by  Ahaz. 

Tigiath-pileser,  king  of  Assyria,  subdues  Media,  Syria,  and  part 
of  the  ten  Hebrew  tribes. — So  and  Sevechus  are  kings  of 
Egyjit,  2  Kings  xv.  xvi.  2  Chron.  xxviii. 

Shalnianeser  king  of  Assyria  carries  the  ten  tribes  of  Israel  into 
captivity,  in  the  sixth  year  of  Hezekiah,  2  Kings  xvii. 

Sennacheril),  and  his  Ass)'rian  host,  are  cut  oti'before  Jerusalem; 
and  soon  after  he  is  nnjrdered  by  two  of  his  own  sons,  and 
succeeded  by  E-ar-haddon,  2  Kings  xix.  Isa.  xxxvii. 


Vr  of  Befoio 
..J rid    Christ 


;jn-i 


3330 


710 


6t38 


3361 
3303 


043 
Oil 


3370 


63-1 


3394 
3393 


3399 
340C 

3116 
3430 
3432 


610 

006 


005 


601 


538 


574 


572 


3435 


3443 


569 


5G1 


(  005  ) 

The  I\[eiies  revolt  from  (he  Assyrians,  ami  trect  a  kingdom  of 
their  own.  Al.oiil  ti>b  lime  'J'iriuikali  is  kini;  ol  Kthiopiii ; 
Meroitu-h  kinsi  oi  Baliylon.;  LyeiiritMs  lavvjriver  at  Sj>;irta; 
iiinl  t'l'-  Greeks  invade  Ciicily,  ami  tht-ie  lound  a  imilti(ude  of 
eiti«"?. 

Esar-hrtiUlon,  king  of  Assyria,  after  extending  his  empire  from 
.Media  to  Aiiicaii  Kthiop'a,  difs;  and  m(»st  of  (lie  western 
provinces  ol  the  em,  ire  revolt.  Psammiticus,  after  a  lona;  war, 
defeats  tiie  ollter  eleven  princes  of  Egypt,  and  Ijecomes  king. 
— Ti>e  IMessenian^  ofPi^loponnesus,  after  two  long  and  l>loody 
wars  with  the  Lace«lemonians,  are  hetrayed  l>y  the  ArcadianH, 
and  obliged  to  retire  into  Sicily;  hut  Newton  places*  this  70 
years  later,  A.  M.  3400.    About  this  time  Nahum  prophesied. 

Alanasseh  king  of  Judahdies,  after  a  reign  of  55  years. 

Amon  king  of  Judah  dies,  and  Josiah  succeeds  him,  2  Kings 
xxi.  2  Chron.  xxxiii. 

A  terrible  war  rages  between  the  Medesand  Assyrians.  Nine- 
veh is  once  and  again  besieged. 

The  Scythians,  umler  Madyes  or  Oguz-kan,  extend  their  vic- 
tories into  western  China,  and  invade  Media  and  Assyria. — 
About  this  time  Zejihaniah  and  Jeremiah  begin  to  prophesy. 

About  this  time  Battus  founds  a  Grecian  kingdom  in  Cyrene; 
and  not  long  after,  Phalanlhus  founds  the  Greek  state  of  Ta- 
rentum  in  Italy. 

Josiah,  king  of  Judah,  is  slain,  2  Kings  xxiii.  2  Chron.  xxxv. 

Cyaxares,  king  of  Media,  causes  an  invitation  to  be  sent  to  all 
the  noble  Scythians,  who  ruled  his  kingdom,  to  a  feast,  and 
murders  them ;  drives  the  rest  out  of  his  territories,  and  seizes 
on  Armenia,  Ponius,  and  Cap[)adocia,  provinces  of  the  Assy- 
rian emjiire. 

Xabopolasser,  who  recovered  the  kingdom  of  Babylon  from  the 
Assyrians,  dies;  and  Nabocolasser,  or  Nebuchadnezzar  the 
Great,  succeeds  him,  2  Kings  xxiv.  Dan.  i. — iv. 

After  a  furious  war  of  six  years,  the  Medes  and  Lydians  make  a 
peace  ;  and  they,  together  with  the  Babylonians.,  besiege  and 
destroy  Nineveh,  and  put  an  end  to  the  Assyrian  empire,  af- 
ter it  had  continued  about  170  years,  Nah.  i. — lii. 

The  Jewish  capital  and  temple  are  burnt  to  the  ground,  by  the 
Chaldeans,  about  the  27th  of  July,  2  Kin^s  xxv.  Jer.  lii. 

Pharaoh-hojjhra,  or  A  pries,  receives  a  terrible  defeat  from  the 
Cyrenians:  this  begins  his  disasters. 

After  sustaining  a  siege  of  1 3  years,  the  Tyrians  leave  their  city 
to  the  Chaldeans,  who  cast  the  materials  of  it  into  the  sea,  and 
leave  the  place  like  a  scraped  rock,  Ezek.  xxvi. 

While  theEacyptians  are  in  a  state  of  rebellion  against  Pharaoh- 
hophra,  Nebuchadnezzar  invades  and  sulnlues  the  country, 
and  makes  Amasis,  the  chief  of  the  rebels,  his  general  or  de- 
putj'  in  that  kingdom,  Ezek.  xxix. — xxxii. 

Nebuchadnezzar  becomes  deranged,  Dan.  iv.  Pharaoh  hophra, 
having  got  a  number  of  mercenary  soldiers  from  Ionia  andCa- 
ria,  attempts  to  reduce  the  traitor  Amasis,  but  is  defcuted  ;  and 
Amasis  commences  king,  and  is  a  noted  lawgiver,  and  reigns 
44  years,  Ezek.  xxix. 

Nebuchadnezzar  dies,  and  is  succeeded  by  Evil-merodach. 

Solon,  the  Athenian  lawgiver,  and  Thales,  the  phi!oso[»her,  flou- 


Yt.  of  Bef«r«j 
world    Christ  j 


(     606    ; 


3456 

3466 
3468 


548 


538 


536 


3475 

3482 


3499 


3502 


529 
522 


505 


502 


3519 
3524 


485 


480 


3540 
3547 
3560 


3573 

3582 

3595 


464 
457 
444 


431 


422 


409 


rish.  Solon  dies,  A.  M.  3445,  and  Thales  twelve  years  after, 
Jer.  lii.  2  Kings  xxv. 

Cyrus  and  Darius  the  Mede,  after  a  long  war,  and  a  variety  of 
conquests,  defeat  the  huge  allied  army  of  Baalshazzar  king  of 
Babylon,  Croesus  kingof  Lydia,  and  Amasis  king  of  figjptf 
and  the  kingdom  of  Lydia,  after  it  had  stood  248  years,  is 
made  a  province  of  Persia. 

Babylon  is  taken  by  Cyrus  and  Darius,  and  an  end  put  to  the 
kingdom  of  the  Chaldeans,  after  it  had  stood  209  years,  and 
their  emj)ire  above  70,  Dan.  v. 

Cyrus  succeeds  his  uncle  and  father-in-law,  in  the  whole  Medo- 
Persian  empire ;  the  Jews  return  from  their  captivity  in  Ba- 
bylon, Ezra  1.  Neh.  vii. 

The  Carthaginians,  originally  a  colony  of  the  Phenicians,  reduce 
a  great  part  of  Sicily-  A  plague  raging  at  Carthage,  they  sa- 
crifice their  children  to  appease  their  gods.  The  CarthaginiaB 
army  being  defeated  in  Sardinia,  are  declared  exiles  by  their 
own  Senate ;  but,  returning  home,  they  take  Carthage  by  force, 
and  put  the  senators  to  death. 

Cyrus  dies,  and  is  succeeded  by  Ahasuerus  or  Cambyses. 

Artaxerxes  the  Magus  being  killed,  Darius  Hystaspis,  whom  we 
think  to  be  Ahasuerus  the  husband  of  Esther,  is  chosen  king  of 
Persia,  by  the  neighing  of  his  horse,  Ezra  vi.  Esth.  i. — x. 

Tarquin  the  second,  king  of  Rome,  having  ravished  the  young 
lady  Lucretia,  her  relations,  in  revenge,  abolished  the  royal 
government  of  the  state,  and  two  annual  consuls  were  ap- 
pointed instead  of  the  king. 

Aristagorus,  a  Persian  officer,  being  fined  for  his  miscarriage,  stirs 
up  the  Ionian  Greeks  to  revolt  from  Darius,  and  is  assisted  by 
the  Athenians.  This  begins  the  war  between  the  Persians  and 
Greeks,  which  ended  in  the  ruin  of  the  Persian  empire. 

A  terrible  AVar  rages  between  the  Romans  and  the  Sabines,  in 
which  the  latter  are  often  defeated. 

Darius  Hystaspis,  king  of  Persia,  after  one  fruitless  invasion  of 
Greece,  dies,  when  just  ready  to  begin  a  second,  and  at  the 
same  time  to  march  against  the  revolted  Egyptians. 

Xerxes,  king  of  Persia,  after  reducing  Egypt  to  a  worse  servitude 
than  before,  marches  an  army  of  near  3,000,000  of  fighting 
men  into  Greece,  and  engages  the  Carthaginians  to  invade  the 
Greek  colonies  in  Sicily  at  the  same  time.  The  most  of  this 
army  was  ruined,  and  Xerxes  forced  to  escape  homeward  in 
a  fishing-boat, 

Artaxerxes  Longimanus,  or  long  hands,  succeeds  Xerxes  his  fa- 
ther in  the  throne  of  Persia,  and  reigns  41  years.  In  the  se- 
venth year  of  his  reign,  he  sends  Ezra,  and  in  the  20th,  Ne- 
hemiah,  to  promote  the  repairs  of  Jerusalem.  Some  think  hira 
to  be  Ahasuerus,  the  husband  of  Esther,  Ezra  vii.  viii.  Neh.  i.  ii. 

The  Peloponnesian  war,  betwixt  the  Athenians  and  Lacedemo- 
nians, breaks  out,  and  lasts  52  years. 

Sanballat  builds  a  temple  on  mount  Gerizim,  for  Eleazarhis  son- 
in-law,  where  he  and  his  successors  officiate  as  high  priests  of 
the  Samaritans,  Jo.  iv. 

Nehemiah  dies,  after  he  had  governed  the  Jews  about  36  years. 
About  this  time,  or  twelve  years  later,  Malachi  prophesies, 
Neh.  xiii.  Mai.  i. — iv. 


Yr.  of 
worlil 

3(j00 


3620 
o«35 


J644 


3654 
3668 


366£ 


■Re  fore 
Clirisl 

404 


384 

369 


360 


350 


336 


336 


3690 

3692 
3712 
3719 
3724 


3732 


3754 
3772 


!14 


312 


292 


285 


280 


278 


250 
232 


(     607     ) 

Darius  Nothiis,  king  of  Persia,  dies  in  the  lOlhyear  ofhia  reigu, 
and  is  succeeded  by  Artaxerxes  Miicmou,  who  reigns  44 
years.  In  Ihe  beginning  of  his  reign,  his  brother  Cyrus  at- 
tempts to  wre^t  the  government  from  him;  and  Xenophon,  an 
assistant  of  Cyrus,  alter  his  defeat  and  deatii,  makes  tlie  famous 
retreat  with  his  10,000  (J reeks. 

Terrible  wars  rage  l)et  ween  the  Syracusansand  the  Carthaginians, 
— —  \  dreadful  plague  depopulating  the  city  and  territory  of 
Carthage,  their  tributary  Africans,  and  the  Sardinians  revolt. 

The  Gauls  take  and  burn  Rome,  but  are  routed  by  Camillus. 

Epaminondas  and  Pelopidas,  Thebans,  having  freed  their  state 
from  the  yoke  of  the  Lacedemonians,  attempt  to  render  it  the 
mistress  of  all  Greece. 

The  cruel  Artaxerxes  Ochus  succeetls  his  father  in  the  throne 
of  Persia.     He  cruelly  murders  the  .lews. 

Philip,  king  of  Macedonia,  begins  his  conquests;  Dyon  frees 
Syracuse  from  the  tyranny  of  Dionysius  the  elder. 

After  64  years'  struggling  to  free  themselves  from  the  Persian 
yoke,  Egypt  is  terribly  ravaged  and  reduced,  nor  has  a  native 
ever  since  reigned  therein. 

Alexander  the  great  of  iMacedonia  begins  his  reign;  in  two 
years  he  finishes  the  reduction  of  Greece,  begun  by  his  father- 
In  A.  M.  3671,  he  marches  into  Asia;  in  three  y^ars  he  reduces 
the  whole  Persian  empire;  and,  in  J. M.  3681,  dies  at  Baby- 
lon. About  the  same  time,  or  soon  after,  Jaddua,  the  Jewish 
high  priest,  dies,  Dan.  vii.  viii.  xi. 

After  some  years'  contention  among  his  captains  for  the  chief 
rule,  Alexander's  empire  is  divided  into  four  principal  parts; 
but  the  two  most  noted  and  lasting  were  the  kingdoms  of 
Egyiit  and  Syria,  Dan.  xi. 

A  terrible  war  rages  between  the  Romans  and  Samnites :  the 
Syracusans,  and  other  Sicilians,  are  cruelly  oppressed  by  the 
tyrant  Agathocles,  who  makes  war  with  the  Carthaginians. 

Seleucus,  alter  much  struggling  with  Antigonus,  another  of  Alex- 
ander's captains,  renders  himself  king  of  Babylon,  and,  not 
long  after,  of  Syria,  &c. 

The  era  of  the  Selucide,  or  kingdom  of  the  Greeks  in  Syria, 
begins. 

Simon  the  Just,  a  famous  high  priest  and  governor  of  the  Jews» 
dies. 

Demetrius,  the  son  of  Antigonus,  dying,  Seleucus,  the  king  ot 
Babylon,  seizes  on  all  his  dominions  in  Asia  and  Syria. 

The  Samnites,  after  many  dreadful  overthrows,  obtain  an  alli- 
ance with  the  Romans; — About  the  same  time  the  Sabines  are 
reduced:  several  Greek  states  unite  themselves  in  the  Achae- 
an league,  and  are  headed  by  Aratus:  the  Gauls,  invited  by 
the  king  of  Bithynia,  to  assist  him  against  his  rebellious  bro- 
ther, enter  Asia,  and  settle  in  Galatia. 

After  some  years  spent  in  a  mad  warfare  with  the  Romans,  Si- 
cilians, Macedonians,  and  Lacedemonians,  Pyrrhus,  king  of 
Epirus,  is  slain  in  an  attack  upon  Sparta. 

Arsaces  erects  the  potent  kingdom  of  the  Parthians. 

The  first  war  of  about  30  years,  between  the  Carthaginians  and 
Romans,  wherein  tlie  formtr  lost  700  ships  of  war,  and  ihe  Int- 


Yr.  of  Before 
w«rld   Christ 


3772 

37771 
3786 


(     008 


3808 


3812 


3829 


3837 


3835 


3872 


3887 


ter  500,  is  finished  to  the  disadvantage  of  Carthage.     Sicily^ 
soon  after  is  given  up  to  the  Romans, 

232  The  disbanded  mercenaries  of  Carthage  rise  in  arras,  and,  after 
three  years  of  bloody  war,  are  reduced  by  the  Carthaginians. 
Meanwhile,  Rome  is  overflowed  by  the  Tiber,  and  the  upper 
part  of  it  is  burnt  to  the  ground. 

227  The  Carthaginians  under  Hamilcar,  the  father  of  Hannibal,  in- 
vade Spain,  and  in  nine  j^ears  reduce  the  most  of  it. 

218  Upon  Hannibal's  taking  and  destroying  the  city  of  Saguntum  in 
bpain,  the  Romans  declare  war  against  the  Carthaginians. 
Hannibal  marches  from  Spain  into  Italj-^,  and  there,  though  ill 
supported  by  his  state,  maintains  the  war  against  the  Romans 
about  22  years,  and  sometimes  reduces  them  to  the  very  brink 
of  ruin.    His  state  obliged  him  to  bring  home  his  army,  to  pro- 

196      tect  their  country;  the  second  Carthaginian  war,  soon  after 
ended  to  the  advantage  of  the  Romans.    Meanwhile,  the  Ro- 
mans had  conquered  the  most  of  Spain. 
Antiochus  the  Great,  of  Syria,  wars  v/ith  Ptolemy  Philopater  of 
Egypt,  Dan.  xi. 

192  While  the  Romans  wage  war  with  the  Gauls,  and  Nabis  tyran- 
nizes at  Sparta,  Antiochus  the  Great,  instigated  by  the  now 
fugitive  HanaibaL  and,  after  various  conquests  of  the  shores 
>jnd  isles  of  the  Mediterranean,  enters  into  a  league  wilh  part 
of  the  Greeks  in  Europe,  and  commences  a  war  against  the 
Romans;  but,  in  two  years,  he  is  obliged  to  sue  for  peace  on 
the  most  shameful  terms.  About  this  time,  Phdo]>a^men,  lord 
of  the  Greeks  of  the  Achaean  league,  carries  on  a  war  with 
Nabis,  the  tyrant  of  Sparta. 

175  Seleucus,  king  of  Syria,  is  poisoned  by  Heliodorus  his  treasurer, 
and  intended  usurper  of  the  throne.  Antiochus  Epiphanes, 
his  brother,  succeeds  him;  who,  for  about  12  years,  proves  a 
terrible  sceurge  to  the  Jews  and  Egyptians,  and  at  last  dies 
miserably,  Dan.  viii.  xi. 

167  Mattathias,  a  Jewish  pnest,  finding  that  the  high  priests  were 
monsters  of  wickedness,  and  bought  their  office  from,  and 
every  way  complied  with,  the  vv^icked  Antiochus,  he  levies  an 
army;  and  he  and  his  sons,  Judas,  Jonathan,  and  Simon  Mac- 
cabeus, perform  wonders  of  bravery  against  the  Syro-Grecians, 
and  at  last  deliver  their  country,  Dan.  viii.  xi. 

.  Perses  the  king  of  Macedonia,  and  his  allies,  the  Epirots,  Achae- 

j     ans,  and  Bithynians,  are  reduced  by  the  Romans,  and  the 
!     power  of  the  European  Greeks  is  abolished. 

149  The  Romans  send  home  300  noted  Achasans,  after  they  had  kept 
them  [)risoners  about  17  years.  While  the  Carthaginians  are 
en-gaged  in  war  with  Massinisla,  king  of  Numidia,  the  Romans 
villanously  declare  a  third  war  with  them  ;  which,  in  two  or 
three  years,  issues  in  the  total  ruin  of  the  Cartliaginians,  and 
the  utter  demolition  of  their  capital,  A.  M.  3858. 

132  Attains,  the  last  king  of  Pergamus,  dies;  and  the  Romans  pre- 
I     tend  to  be  his  heir.     The  Romans  finish  their  conquests  of 
Spain. — Soon  after,  Hircanus,  the  Jewish  king  entirely  shakes 
off  the   Syro-Grecian  yoke,  and  conquers  the   Samaritans, 
Edomites,  and  others. 

11 7iPtolemy  Physcon  dying,  leaves  the  kingdom  of  Cyrene  to  his  son 


/ 


Yr.  of  Before 
world    Cbriiit 


3889 


3901 


3898 


115 


103 


106 


3910 


3916 


94 


88 


3933 


3936 
3937 


3040 

3950J 

3952 

3960 
Vol. 


71 


68* 
67 


64 


54 

52 

44 
II. 


(     609     ) 

Apion;  and  emimwers  Cleopatra,  Iii3  queen,  to  bestow 
Egypt  u()on  Iiis  other  two  sons,  Alexander  or  Lathyrus,  as 
she  pleases. 

The  two  brothers,  Cyzicenus  and  Gryphns,  contend  in  a  war  for 
the  kii)u;doni  of  Syria. — Not  long;  after,  the  Scordisci  of  Thracia 
cut  off  the  Hoinan  army  of  Fortius  Cato:  and  tlif^  Cimbri,  from 
Germany,  ravage  France  and  Switzerland.  After  murdering 
Heimpsal,  his  adopted  parent's  eldest  son,  Jugurllia  seizes  ott 
the  whole  kingdom  ofNurnidia:  but,  after  much  l)!ood«hed, 
is  taken  captive  by  the  Romans;  and  not  long  after,  his 
kingdom  is  reduced  to  a  Roman  province. 

Alexander  Janneus,  the  son  (»f  Hircanus,  succeeds  his  brother 
Aristobulus,  in  the  goveriunent  of  the  Jews,  and  raises  that  na- 
tion to  a  considerable  pitch  of  grandeur;  rendering  himself 
master  of  the  territories  around,  and  compelling  the  people  to 
leave  their  dwellings,  or  to  receive  circumcision ;  but  by  wars 
rendered  his  kingdom  unhap|)y.  He  so  heartily  hated  the 
Pharisees,  who  had  done  him  some  outrage,  that,  having  de- 
feated the  rebels,  he  caused  800  of  the  jjrincipal  Pharisees  to 
be  crucified  in  one  day,  while  he  and  his  concubines  feasted 
upon  an  opposite  scaffold  ;  he,  moreover,  caused  their  wives 
and  children  to  be  butchered  before  their  eyes.  After  his 
death,  his  wife,  by  his  advice,  favoured  the  Pharisees. 

Tigranes  of  Greater  Armenia,  recovers  his  father's  throne;  is 
chosen  king  of  Syria,  and  conquers  Armenia  the  Less,  Cap- 
padocia,  (fcc.  Mithridates,  king  of  Pontus,  begins  to  flourish ; 
who,  for  26  years  carries  on  a  most  terrible  war  against  the 
Romans.  Sometimes  his  conquests  were  very  extensive,  con- 
taining Lesser  Asia,  and  extending  to  Greece — Sylla  and  Lu- 
cullus,  the  Roman  generals,  obtain  great  advantages  against 
him,  but  Pompey  finally  reduces  him. 

After  the  Romans  had  reduced  their  revolting  confederates  in 
Italy,  a  civil  war  commences  between  Marius  and  Sylla,  two 
of  their  chief  men ;  which,  for  a  considerable  time,  renders 
Rome  a  shambles  of  human  blood.  It  is  said  Sylla  murdered 
about  100,000  citizens,  and  destroyed  or  proscribed  90  sena- 
tors and  2600  knights. 

The  Roman  slaves  rise  in  arms  against  their  masters;  but  are  re- 
duced with  the  loss  of  50,000.  Next  year  the  famed  Hera- 
clea  of  Pontus,  is  betrayed,  plundered,  and  reduced  to  ashes, 
by  the  Romans. 

Crete  is  reduced  by  the  Romans. 

Pompey  attacks  the  pirates  :  and,  in  four  months,  takes  or  sinks 
1300  of  their  ships;  kills  10,000,  and  takes  above  20,000  of 
their  forces  prisoners,  and  takes  120  of  their  towns,  or  strong- 
holds. 

After  the  reduction  of  Pontus,  Pompey  rccove.s  Syria ;  and  next 
year,  under  the  pretence  of  deciding  between  Hircanus  and 
Aristobulus,  takes  Jerusalem  on  a  Sabbath-day ;  enters  the 
sanctuary,  and  views  the  furniture  thereof. 

Crassus,  the  Roman,  perfidiously  seizes  28,000  talents  pertaining 
to  the  Jewish  temple,  and  never  after  prospers. 

Cassius,  the  Roman,  attacks  the  poor  remains  of  the  Jews  that 
sided  with  Aristobulus,  and  carries  off  30,000  prisoners. 

After  Julius  Caisar  had  murdered  multitudes  of  the  Helvetians, 
4  H 


¥r.  of 
world 


3960 

3966 
3974 


3996 


4001 

4002 

4004 
4010 

4017 

4020 


4029 
4031 


Before 

Christ 


44 

38 
30 


2 

A.D 
1 

7 

14 
17 


26 
28 


4036;     33 


4038 
4040 


4044 
4047 

4051 


4056 


4056 


35 
37 


41 

44 

48 


52 


53 


(     610     ) 

Gauls,  Belgians,  and  Britons  in  his  wars  with  these  nations,  and 
in&nite  numbers  of  Romans  in  his  civil  war  with  Pompey, 
he  becomes  emperor  or  dictator  for  life;  but  is  soon  after 
murdered. 

Cassius,  one  of  his  murderers,  imposes  a  tribute  of  700  talents 
upon  the  Jews. 

Jerusalem  is  taken  by  Herod  and  Sossius  the  Roman. 

After  two  j'^ears  spent  in  war  with  Brutus  and  Cassius  the  de- 
stroyers of  Julius  Caesar,  and  12  more  with  Antony  his  partner, 
Augustus  becomes  the  sole  emperor  ot  the  Romans. 

After  reducing  the  empire  to  a  pacific  state,  Augustus  pretends 
to  be  willing  to  lay  down  his  authority.  The  citizens  of 
Rome  are  found  to  be  4,233,000. — Horace  and  Mecenas  die. 
Caecilius  Isiodorus  dies,  worth  4116  slaves,  3600  oxen,  and 
200  thousand  of  other  cattle,  and  three  millions  sterling  in 
cash. 

Onr  Saviour  is  born; — peace  reigns  throughout  the  whole  world; 
but  Caverhill  contends,  he  was  born  A.  M.  4009,  or  A.  D.  6. 
Matt.  i.  Luke  ii.  Herod  dies;  Archelaus  succeeds  him  as  king. 

Five  seditions  happen  in  Judea,  and  are  headed  by  Judas  or 
Theudas,  and  by  Simon,  Athronges,  &c.  Acts  v. 

Christ's  parents  return  from  Egypt,  and  settle  at  Nazareth. 

Judas  of  Galilee,  and  Sadducus  raise  a  bloody  insurrection  in 
Judea. 

Augustus  dies  on  the  19th  of  August,  and  Tiberius  his  adopted 
stepson,  succeeds  him,  Luke  iii. 

A  most  terrible  earthquake  overturns  twelve  cities  in  Lesser 
Asia,  and  buries  most  of  the  inhabitants  in  the  ruins.  Tacsa- 
rinas,  a  Numidian,  begins  to  raise  commotions  in  Africa, 
which  continue  seven  years. 

Caiaphas  is  made  high  priest ;  Pilate  governor  in  Judea. 

Or  two  years  before,  John  Baptist  begins  to  preach. 

Jesus  is  baptized.  Matt.  iii.  Mark  i.  Luke  iii. 

Christ  is  crucified,  rises  from  the  dead,  and  ascends  to  heaven. 
The  Holy  Ghost  descends  on  the  apostles  ;  and  multitudes  of 
Jews,  at  Pentecost,  and  afterwards,  are  converted  to  Christ, 
Matt.  xxvi. — xxviii.  Luke  xxii. — xxiv.  Acts  i. — v. 

Or  five  years  after,  Paul  is  converted.  Acts  ix.  xxii.  xxvi. 

Tiberius  dies,  and  Caius  Caligula,  his  ado|)ted  son,  succeeds  him  ; 
who,  in  the  4th  year,  is  succeeded  by  Claudius,  the  son  of 
Drusus,  grandson  to  Tiberius. 

Cornelius  and  his  family  are  baptized.  Acts  x.  xi. 

James  the  brother  of  John  is  beheaded :  Herod  is  eaten  up  of 
worms.  Acts  xii. 

Two  tumults  hai)pen  at  Jerusalem;  in  one  of  which  ten  thou- 
sand Jews  are  killed  by  tlie  Romans. — At  this  time,  it  is  said, 
the  citizens  of  Rome  amounted  to  6,900,000,  which  is  more 
than  two-thirds  of  the  number  of  the  whole  inhabitants  of 
England. 

The  council  of  apostles  is  held  at  Jerusalem. 

Claudius,  having,  with  30,000  men,  in  eleven  years,  drained  the 
lake  Fucinus,  by  a  great  canal,  exhibits  a  diverting  show,  of 
19,000  criminals,  in  100  gallies,  engaged  in  a  sen-tiglit. 

Felix  succeeds  Cumanus  in  the  government  of  Judea ;  and  next 
year  Nero  succeeds  Claudius  in  the  empire. 


Vr.  of 

vorl.J 


k.  D 


(     (iH     ) 


-10(57 


6J 


1070 


4071 


4072 
4073 

4084 


4003 


4101 


4119 


68 


GO 
70 

81 


95 


98 


116 


4140 


4166 


4195 


137 


163 


192 


Nero,  now  become  a  monster  of  cruelty,  causes  Rome  to  be 
burnt,  and,  layinj^llie  Idaine  on  the  Cliri^tians,  commences  a 
persecution  aijainat  Ihcm. — (Jessius  Floius  succeeds  Alhinus 
in  the  i^overnment  of  Judea.  At  his  arrival,  the  Jews  [lelt 
him  witii  stones,  which  occasions  a  dreadlul  series  of  murders, 
rapines,  &c.  Kev.  vi.  xii. 

100,000  Jews  are  massacred  at  Cesaroa,  Ptolemais,  and  Alexan- 
dria, besides  multitudes  (liat  Floriis  murdered  in  other  places. 
Cestius  Gallus  lays  siege  to  Jerusalem,  at  (he  feast  of  tal)erna- 
cles;  but  suddenly  raises  it  without  a  reason,  and  has  4500  of 
his  troops  cut  oll'in  (heir  retreat.  Ves|)asian  invades  Galilee 
wi(h  an  army  of  00,000;  takes  Gadara,  Gamala,  <tc.  Matt, 
xxiv.  Luke  xxi.  Mark  xiii. 

Nero,  now  become  odious  to  all  for  his  murders,  &c.  hearing  of 
the  revolt  of  the  German  lej^ions,  causes  his  own  death. 

After  Galba,  Otho,  and  Vitellius,  had  each  of  them  been  empe- 
ror  some  months,  Vespasian  is  chosen  emperor  by  the  armies 
in  Judea  and  Egy|)t. 

Ves[)asiau  leaves  Titus,  his  son,  to  prosecute  the  war  against  the 
Jews. 

Jerusalem  is  taken  and  razed;  and,  in  three  years  more,  the 
war,  in  which  about  1,350,000  Jews  are  cut  off,  is  finished, 
and  the  land  of  Judea  is  sold  for  the  em|)eror's  use,  Deut. 
xxviii.  xxix.  xxxii.  Matt.  xxiv.  Luke  xix.  xxi. 

After  a  short  reign  of  two  years,  Titus  dies,  and  is  succeeded  by 
his  bloody  and  brutish  brother  Domitian. 

Apollonius  Tyaneus,  a  Heathen  magician,  and  ape  of  Christ, 
flourisheth.  His  life  was  not  written  till  about  an  hun- 
dred years  after,  from  fabulous  mejnoirs  and  traditional  ro- 
mances. 

After  barbarous  murders  of  multitudes  of  Romans,  Domitian 
raises  a  second  persecution  against  the  Christians;  but,  by  his 
wife  and  others  is  next  year  assassinated,  to  the  great  joy  of 
his  subjects,  and  is  succeeded  by  Nerva. 

Trajan,  the  adopted  son  of  Nerva,  succeeds  him:  bis  wars  with 
the  Dacians  and  Parthians,  Arabs  and  Jews,  mostly  success- 
ful, distiuguish  his  reign.  He  persecuted  the  Christians, 
Rev.  vi.  xii. 

The  Jews  of  Syria,  Egypt^  &c.  revolt,  and  are  reduced  with 
great  bloodshed  ;  but  are  scarcely  quieted  till  about  20  years 
after,  when  Adrian  cut  offBarcocaba  their  leader,  and  580,000 
men,  destroyed  935  towns,  &c.  Perhaps  about  a  million  of 
Jews  were  cut  off,  besides  those  which  fell  by  the  sword, 
Deut.  xxviii.  Matt.  xxiv.  Luke  xvii.  xix.  xxi. 

Adrian  in  the  20th  year  of  his  reign,  finished  his  new  city  of 
Jerusalem,  which  he  called  Elia  Capitolia;  and  next  year  he 
died,  and  was  succeeded  by  Antoninus  Pius.  Both  of  them 
were  persecutors  of  the  Christians,  Rev.  vi.  xii. 

Marcus  Aurelius,  another  persecutor,  succeeds  Antoninus  Pius. 
His  reign  is  noted  for  distressful  wars  with  the  Parthians  in 
the  east,  and  with  the  Germans,  Marcomans,  and  Quadians, 
in  Europe. 

The  temple  of  Vesta,  and  the  temple  of  Peace,  where  the  vessels 
of  tlie  Jewish  sanctuary  were  deposited,  are  burnt  to  the 
ground. 


Yr.  of   A.  D. 

world 


(     612     ) 


4196  193, The  Saracens  defeat  the  Romans.  After  a  butchering  reign  of 
twelve  years,  the  emperor  Commodus  dies,  and  is  succeeded 
by  Severus,  who  in  his  victorious  reign  of  eighteen  years,  al- 
most recovers  the  pristine  grandeur  of  the  empire. 

4229  226  Or  six  years  later,  Artaxerxes,  a  noble  Persian,  having  rendered 
I  himself  king  of  his  country,  demands  from  the  Romans  their 
}      territories  in  Asia,  and  receives  a  terrible  defeat. 

4253  250jWhile  Decius  the  emj)eror  terribly  persecutes  the  Christians,  a 
plague,  of  fifteen  years  continuance,  begins  to  ravage  the 
I     empire,  Rev.  vi.  xii. 

4265  262  Odenatus  sets  up  for  king  of  Palmyra  or  Tadmor;  and  for  eleven 
3'ears  he  and  Zenobia  his  queen  performed  wonders  of  bra- 
very against  the  Persians  and  Romans. 

4316  313  After  the  Christians  had  for  ten  years  been  terribly  persecuted 
by  the  Heathens,  and  after  the  empire  had  for  about^lOO  years 
been  a  scene  of  bloody  struggling  with  the  Persians,  and  with 
the  Goths  of  various  denomination,  and  xvith  a  multitude  of 
usurjiers,  Constantine  the  Great  defeats  Maxentius  the  Hea- 
then emperor,  and  publishes  an  edict  in  favour  of  the  Chris- 
tians, Rev.  vi.  xii. 

4326  323  Constantine  having  defeated  Lucinus,  his  heathenish  partner, 
becomes  sole  emf»eror,  and  applies  himself  to  abolish  idolatry 
and  superstition,  and,  in  about  two  years  after,  convenes  the 
council  of  Nice  to  settle  the  affairs  of  the  Christian  church. 

4332  329  Constantine  begins  to  build  Constantinople,  where  Byzantium 
had  been  built,  about  987  years  before;  and  soon  after  the 
imperial  residence  is  removed  to  it,  A.  D.  334,  and  so  more 
opportunity  is  given  to  the  rise  of  Antichrist. 

4340  337  Constantine  the  Great  dies,  and  divides  his  empire  among  his 
three  sons,  Constantine,  Constans,  and  Constautius.  Great 
contention  and  v/ar  in  the  empire,  and  bloody  persecution  of 
the  orthodox  by  the  Arians,  ensue,  Rev.  viii. 

4364  361  Julian  the  apostate,  and  nephew  of  Constantine,  succeeds  the 
last  of  his  sons,  and  re-establishes  Paganism ;  but  is  cut  ofi', 
after  he  had  been  Cesar  seven  years,  and  emperor  two. 

4398  395  Theodosius  the  Great  dies,  after  he  had  been  emperor  16  years ; 
and  with  great  activity  had  brought  the  empire,  and  the  Chris- 
tian church  to  much  the  same  condition  as  Constantine  the 
Great  had  left  them  in.  After  his  death,  ensued  terrible  ra- 
vages of  the  Goths,  Huns,  Vandals,  &c.  till  the  western  part 
of  the  empire  was  abolished.  Meanwhile  the  church  Avas 
plagued  Avith  the  continued  Arian,  and  the  rising  Pelagian, 
Nestorian,  and  Eutychian,  heresies,  and  the  contentions  and 
persecutions  that  issued  therefrom.  Rev.  viii. 

4448  445  The  Britons  subject  to  the  Romans,  being  terribly  distressed  by 
the  Scots  and  Picts,  invite4he  Saxons  into  England  for  their 
assistance.  These  barbarous  Heathens,  from  time  to  time, 
assisted  by  their  countiymen  from  Germany,  ruin  the  British 
church,  and  murder  most  of  the  ancient  Britons,  except  a 
small  handful  in  Wales.  Soon  after,  the  Saxons  become  a 
kind  of  Christians. 

4479  476  Augustulus,  the  last  emperor,  is  deposed  by  the  Ileruli,  and 
other  Barbarians,  which  he  had  disbanded  from  his  army, 
headed  by  Odoacer,  whom,  though  but  a  private  soldier 
of  the  guards,  they  had  chosen  for  their  general  or   king. 


Trot    A. 


U. 


4496 


4609 


493 


006 


4625 


4635 


4669 


622 


G32 


606 


(    ei3    ) 


4715 

4717 
4755 


4763 
4803; 


About  this  time,  the  empire  began  to  ceosiet  of  ten  paKicuIar 
sovereignties. 

Otioacer  is  reducetl,  and  treacherously  murdered  by  Theodoric 
king  of  the  Goths,  \vlio  seizes  on  his  t<riilory  ;  but  jibont  60 
years  after,  in  J.  D.  553,  lliis  kingdom  o1  (he  Golhs  is  redu- 
ced by  Narses,  the  famed  general  of  Justinian,  the  emperor  of 
the  eastern  parts  of  the  Roman  emitire. 

After  the  Roman  bishops  had  long,  and  chiefly  for  the  last  300 
years,  by  force  or  fraud,  struggled  for  tiie  supremacy  over  the 
whole  Christian  church,  Boniface  the  third,  by  (latttriiig  the 
base  Phocas,  emperor  of  Constantinople,  procures  himself  the 
character  of  «/i?wrsft/  bishop;  and  from  this  time  we  date  the 
rise  of  Antichrist,  Rev.  ix.  x.  xi.  xiii. 

Much  about  the  same  time,  Mahomet,  the  eastern  impostor,  com- 
menceil  his  pretences  to  a  supernatural  mission  and  character, 
but  it  was  some  years  after  before  he  made  his  public  appear- 
ance, Rev.  ix.  1 — 11. 

Mahomet  was  expelled  from  Mec«a;  upon  which  he  began  to 
propagate  his  delusions  by  the  sword.  From  this  the  era  of 
the  IMahometans,  called  the  Hegira  or  flight,  viz.  of  Maho- 
met begins. 

Or  two  years  after  the  Mahometan  Saracens  conquer,  and  put 
an  end  to  the  kingdom  of  Persia,  after  it  had,  for  400  years, 
been  a  terrible  scourge  to  the  Roman  empire. 

Pope  Vitalian,  it  is  said,  orders,  that  public  prayers  be  perform- 
ed in  the  Latin  tongue,  and  so  marks  the  western  churciies 
with  an  implicit  subjection  to  Rome. 

Bj'  this  time  the  eastern  or  Greek  church,  was  much  alienated 
from  the  Romish. 

Great  contention  about  the  worship  of  images  began  in  the 
church.  While  the  eastern  emperors,  Leo  Isauricus,  Constan- 
tinus  Copronymas,  and  Charles  the  Great  of  France  and  Ger- 
many, and  multitudes  of  the  clergy,  opposed  it,  the  Popes  and 
others  promoted  it. 
1 4  The  Saracens  enter  Spain,  and  continue  there  about  900  years 
before  they  are  finally  driven  out. 

Pope  Zacharias  begins  to  dispose  of  kingdoms,  and  gives  aAvay 
the  kingdom  of  France  from  the  true  heir  and  line  to  Pipin, 
whose  young  master,  king  Childeric,  is  shut  up  in  a  monastery. 
In  return  of  which,  Pipin,  about  four  years  after,  assists  Pope 
Stephen  to  commence  a  civil  prince  of  the  duchy  of  Rome, 
and  places  adjacent ;  and  Charles  the  Great,  the  son  of  Pipin, 
having  by  the  Pope's  assistance,  seized  the  kingdom  of  the 
Lombards,  confirms  the  Pope's  civil  right  to  his  territories,  and 
adds  thereto ;  nay,  kisses  the  steps  of  the  stair  as  he  went  up 
to  the  Pope. 

About  this  time,  the  empire  of  the  Saracens  ^vas  in  Its  principal 

grandeur. 
After  reducing  the  kingdom  of  France,  and  great  part  of  Ger- 
many, Charles  the  Great  has  the  title  of  emperor  confirmed 
to  him  by  the  Pope.  'Tliis  is  the  rise  of  the  German  empire. 
Afterwards,  we  find  the  German  electors  confirmed  in  their 
power  l)y  the  Pope;  and  sundry  of  the  emperors  deposed, 
when  they  displeased  his  Holiness. 


712 


760 


800 


Yr.  of  A. 

world 


4823    820 


n 


: 


4013 

5053 

to 

5083 


5069 
5099 


»163 


5206 


5213 
—63 

5284 


910 
1050 
1080 


1066 
1096 


1160 


120C 


1210 
—60 

1231 


5373 


1370 


5403  1400 
5436  1453 


5495,1492 

I 
5520  1517 


(     614     ) 

Claude,  bishop  of  Turin,  with  great  boldness  and  success,  propa- 
gates the  truth,  in  opposition  to  Popery.  Multitudes  about 
Savoy  and  Piedmont  embrace  and  adhere  to  it,  Rev.  xi. 

By  this  time  the  Saracens  were  divided  into  a  vast  number  of 
sovereignties,  and  their  empire  much  weakened. 

The  Seljukian  Turks,  who  had,  for  almost  300  years  before,  been 
pouring  themselves  from  the  north-east,  into  Persia,  Mesopo- 
tamia, Armenia,  &:c.  erected  the  four  sultanies,  or  kingdoms, 
of  Bagdad,  Damascus,  Aleppo,  and  Iconium,  not  far  from  the 
Euphrates.  But  some  place  the  erection  of  Tangrolipix  king- 
dom in  Persia,  A.  D.  1033  or  1037,  and  his  conquest  of  Bag- 
dad in  1041,  Rev.  ix.  13,  &c. 

AVilliam,  with  an  army  of  Normans,  conquers  England. 

The  European  Christians  begin  their  mad  expeditions,  or  croi- 
sades,  for  the  recovery  of  Canaan  from  the  Turks,  and  other 
Mahometans.  At  the  expense  of  many  millions  of  lives,  this 
war  is  to  no  purpose  carried  on  about  200  j^ears.  Meanwhile, 
the  Seljukian  Turks  not  a  little  harassed  the  Constantinopoli- 
tan  empire. 

About  this  time,  or  sooner,  the  Waldenses  in  Savoy,  Piedmont, 
and  the  south  of  France,  become  famous  in  their  zealous  op- 
position to  Antichrist ;  and,  on  that  account,  about  a  million 
of  them  are  afterwards  murdered  by  the  Papists. 

The  French  and  Venetian  croisaders,  in  their  way  to  Canaan, 
drive  the  usurping  emperor  of  Constantinople  from  his  capital, 
and  retain  it,  and  part  of  the  empire,  for  57  years. 

The  Tartars  under  Jenghiz-kban  and  his  sons,  overrun  almost 
all  Asia,  and  a  part  of  Europe,  and  found  the  three  Tartar 
empire  of  China,  Persia,  and  Kipjak. 

Or  about  20  years  later,  the  Ottoman  Turks  found  their  empire, 
and  begin  their  ravages  on  the  Christians. 

About  the  same  time,  the  treachery  of  Edward  king  of  England, 
in  the  affair  of  Bruce  and  Baliol,  occasions  a  ruinous  and  last- 
ing war  between  Scotland  and  England.  About  40  or  50  years 
after,  Edward  the  Third's  claim  to  the  crown  of  France  occa- 
sions a  fatal  and  permanent  war  between  France  and  England. 

About  this  time  Wickliff,  and  his  followers  in  Britain,  become 
famous  for  their  bold  opposition  to  Popery,  and  their  adherence 
to  truth,  Rev.  xi.  xiii.  xiv. 

About  this  time,  John  Huss,  and  Jerome  of  Prague,  and  their 
Bohemian  and  other  German  followers,  commence  their  op- 
position to  Popery,  and  are  terribly  persecuted  and  murdered, 
Rev.  xi.  xiii.  xiv. 

Tamerlane,  with  a  great  army  of  Tartars,  ravages  a  great  part 
of  Asia,  and  gives  the  Ottoman  Turks  a  most  terrible  defeat, 
and  carries  about  their  emperor  Bajazet  in  an  iron  cage. 

Couslantinoj)le  is,  v/ith  prodigious  bloodshed,  taken  by  the  Ot- 
toman Turks.  On  this  occasion  multitudes  of  Greeks  retire 
into  the  western  parts  of  Europe,  and  contribute  to  the  re- 
vival of  learning  in  Italy,  &c. 

America  is  discovered  b}"^  Columbus,  a  sailor  of  Genoa,  support- 
ed by  the  king  of  Spain. 

The  Reformation  from  Popery  is  begun  by  Luther,  Zuinglius, 
&c.  and  for  about  50  years  makes  astonishing  progress.     That 


N, 


Yr  •« 

world 


6528 
5570 


5601 


5621 


5644 


5691 


571 


5741 


5792 
5796 
5798 
5801 

5802 

5869 
5944 


A.  D. 

1525 
1567 


1598 


1613 


1641 


1688 


1714 


1738 


1789 
1793 
1795 
1798 

1799 

1866 
1941 


(     615     ) 

« 
same  year,  about  90,000  German  boors  take  up  arm?,  but  are 
crushed,  Rev.  xiii.  xiv. 

The  war  of  the  Anabaptists,  Boors,  Szc.  bej^ina  in  Germany,  iu 
which  about  600,000  perish. 

in  this  and  the  year  r()!k)\vino;,  about  500,000  or  600,000,  mostly 
Protestants,  desert  their  habitations  in  the  Netherlands,  and 
flee  into  other  countries,  to  avoid  the  terrible  cruelty  of  Uie 
DukeUPAlva,  deputy  ol"  the  kina;  of  Spain,  who  boa^led,  that 
besides  those  slain  in  war,  he  cut  off  above  18,000  by  the 
hand  of  the  public  executioner. 

After  near  40  years  struaigling,  and  the  murder  of  perhaps  near  a 
million,  the  Protestants  of  France  obtain  in  their  favour  the 
edict  of  Nantz,  but  which  is  recalled  by  Lewis  14th,//.l>.  1685. 

The  German  Emperor  commences  a  war  against  the  Protestants 
of  Bohemia,  and  of  the  Palatinate  of  the  Rhine,  which  once 
threatens  the  ruin  of  the  Protestant  interest  in  Germany;  but 
after  a  war  of  30  years  most  of  them,  except  the  Bohemians, 
have  their  liberties  confirmed  to  Uiem  by  the  treaty  of  Mun- 
ster,  or  Westphalia,  in  1648. 

While  God  grants  a  noted  revival  to  the  churches  in  Britain,  the 
Papists  of  Ireland  massacre  about  200,000  or  300,000  of  the 
Protestants. 

The  attempts  of  James  II.  of  England,  and  Lewis  XIV.  of 
France,  to  ruin  the  Protestant  interest,  are  checked  by  Wil- 
liam Prince  of  Orange,  and  King  of  Britain. 

An  attempt  to  overthrow  the  Protestant  religion  in  Britain  is 
happily  frustrated,  by  the  seasonable  death  of  Queen  Anne, 
and  accession  of  the  family  of  Hanover. 

A  few  clergymen  of  the  church  of  England,  with  united  efforts, 
labour  faithfully  to  propagate  the  genuine  doctrines  of  Chris- 
tianity. Their  zeal  is  remarkable,  and  their  ministry  is  crown- 
ed with  abundant  success.  Being  shut  out  of  the  churches  on 
account  of  the  multitudes  of  j)eople  who  follow  them,  they 
publish  the  words  of  eternal  life  in  the  streets,  or  houses.  This 
was  the  rise  of  the  Methodists  :  a  people  every  where  spoken 
against  by  ignorant  and  wicked  men. 

A  revolution  takes  place  in  France,  by  which  the  ancient  go- 
vernment is  com(»letely  overturnetU 

The  king  of  France  is  put  to  death  by  his  treacherous  subjects, 
in  a  manner  very  similar  to  that  of  Charles  I.  king  of  Elngland. 

The  Republican  form  of  government  is  adopted  in  France,  ami 
acknowledged  by  some  of  the  powers  in  Eurofie. 

The  government  of  the  Po])e  is  overturned,  and  the  property 
belonging  to  his  Holiness  is  chiefly  seized  by  the  French. 

In  this  year  likewise  appears  the  true  spirit  of  Popery  in  the  horrid 
insurrection  in  Ireland,  which  cuts  off  several  myriads  of  persons. 

The  consular  government  of  France  commences,  but  soon  gives 
way  to  that  of  the  imperial.  By  the  various  changes  of  go- 
vernment which  have  lately  taken  place  in  France,  the  influ- 
ence of  Popery  is  very  greatly  diminished,  and,  it  is  to  be 
hoped,  will  still  diminish. 

About  this  time  we  expect  the  downfall  of  Antichrist,  and  Ma- 
hometism. 

We  expect  the  full  glory  of  the  Millennium :  but  others  place 
this,  and  the  former  event,  1 50  years  later  than  our  calculation. 


C   eie   ) 

Since  the  second  edition  of  tliis  Work  was  printed  oBf,  various  and  im- 
portant changes  have  taken  place  in  Europe  and  South  America.  Spain 
and  Portugal  have  been  awfully  visited  by  the  sword,  by  comparative  fa- 
mine, and  by  pestilence.  Many  myriads  of  our  fellow-creatures  have  been 
cut  down  in  war :  and  the  scourge  is  still  making  desolate.  The  Pope  has 
been  deprived  of  his  temiwralities,  and  he  is  now  in  a  state  of  confinement. 
Popery  appears  to  be  rapidly  declining  on  the  Continent;  aad  it  must  de- 
cline as  the  light  of  the  gospel  is  diffused,  and  the  power  of  grace  is  known 
and  felt  in  the  hearts  of  men.  In  South  America,  likewise,  the  Romish 
superstition  is  losing  ground  :  the  people  seem  resolved  to  shake  off  the  fet- 
ters with  which  they  have  been  for  ages  bound. 

The  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  (the  first  human  Institution  in 
the  world,)  has  been  patronised  by  many  persons  of  the  highest  respecta- 
bility in  the  land;  and  various  auxiliary  Societies  have  been  formed  to  aid 
the  parent  Society,  and  to  furnish  the  poor,  at  home  and  abroad,  with  the 
words  of  eternal  life.  The  Word  of  God,  without  comment  or  gloss  of  any 
kind,  is  by  this  Institution  sent  to  most  parts  of  the  known  world.  Great 
things  may  be  expected  to  follow  this  blessed  exertion  of  piety  and  pru- 
dence, and  this  judicious  application  of  property.  May  pure  and  undefiled 
religion  abundantly  prevail,  till  the  knowledge  of  the  Lord  shall  cover  the 
earth,  and  all  people  shall  praise  his  excellent  Name ! 


THE    EN1>. 


/ 


^M^'l^, 


.w 


fjyy 


.ia,ai^LmiAM^llt^ 


